Christian Association of Parent Educators or CAPE-NM
We’re a non-profit organization established in 1996 by homeschooling families, dedicated to informing, encouraging, and supporting the homeschooling families in New Mexico. We believe that the liberty of parents to direct the upbringing and education of their children is a fundamental right. We are funded by supporting families and donations.
We have a variety of methods of communicating with new and veteran homeschool families.
• We use a voice mail service to record calls and we return them as soon as possible.
• We respond to individual email questions, and have an active Facebook page.
• CAPE Communiqués are sent via email free of charge with updates and announcements. We use a professional email service to protect you from spam and phishing.
CAPE hosts an annual convention in Albuquerque, with dynamic speakers and many curriculum vendors from across the country.
CAPE at the Capitol is homeschool day in Santa Fe, celebrating the Governor’s annual official proclamation of Home Education Week in New Mexico.
We hold an annual Fall Family Retreat, to help every family learn to lead—in their homes, churches, and communities.
We work with the NM Public Education Department (PED) to guide families through the legal process of homeschooling and provide current information on NM laws which affect home education in our state. We work with the legislature to provide the best possible homeschool laws.
Local school districts and local schools sometimes need information on home education and we are pleased to provide it.
We work to promote the success of homeschooling in every community, helping to increase awareness and respect for our educational choice.
We support every homeschool family regardless of their race, religion, ethnicity, or style of home education, but we also believe that our children are gifts from God to be nurtured, discipled, educated, loved, and prepared for their future.
CAPE Board of Directors: John & Cathy Heckendorn, David & Emily Jones, Sam & Vikki Wingerd and Russ and Kristie Hooper.
Dave and Emily Jones have two children who were homeschooled from K-12. They looked forward to attending Convention each year of their homeschooling journey. In 2012, they began volunteering to serve at Convention in Hospitality and eventually began coordinating the Exhibit Hall. They began serving on the CAPE Board in 2016 and are blessed to support homeschoolers throughout New Mexico year round.
Sam and Vikki homeschooled four of their children, since 1997, from preschool thru high school. They have volunteered with Recording, Registration, Runner Supervisor, the Cape Table, and the CAPE Graduation, and were added to the Board of Directors in 2020. On a personal note, Sam and Vikki live in Albuquerque. They have five children, the oldest is married and has three boys. They attend Faith Chapel Foursquare Church, where they serve in leadership and the Worship ministry. Most importantly, they are grateful for all of the many difficulties and trials the Lord has brought them through; and thankful for God’s saving grace.
John & Cathy Heckendorn began their homeschooling journey in 1995 by attending their first convention before CAPE was ever in existence. They were hooked and never looked back!! They have since homeschooled all four of their children K-12, and are now enjoying watching them start their own families with their own plans to homeschool. John & Cathy began serving with CAPE in 2002 by volunteering before and during the convention and were asked to join the Board in 2014. They enjoy spending time with their growing family, fellowshipping with friends – new and old, reading, playing on the ranch, and encouraging families as they write their own homeschool stories!
Russell and Kristie have homeschooled their eleven children, K-12, with seven still at home. They attended their first Convention before they started their homeschooling journey in 2006. Any opportunity to connect with the homeschooling community through CAPE has brought refreshment and encouragement by connecting with other like-minded families. They have served at the CAPE table and as Runner Coordinators and were honored to join the CAPE Board in 2023 to be able to further serve and give back to the NM homeschool community.
