Kathryn (Bell) Gomes: Homeschooler, Math Teacher, Author

Kathryn (Bell) Gomes is a veteran math teacher and the author of Apologia’s Exploring Creation with Mathematics series, a Christian math curriculum for elementary students. She holds a B.S. in mathematics from the University of Pittsburgh, and an M.Ed. in mathematics from the University of Pennsylvania. She has two decades of experience teaching math in diverse settings — from multicultural classrooms to homeschool students. This background gave her insight into how to make math accessible, clear, and relevant to a wide range of learners.

Kathryn spent three years teaching mathematics in inner-city Philadelphia through Teach for America. She then taught in the most ethnically diverse high school in Pennsylvania. During this time, Kathryn designed Algebra 1 and Algebra 2 curricula for English Language Learners. She also taught math to homeschooled students for 13 years, becoming known for her fun, practical tips. She currently teaches SAT/ACT Math online through AIM Academy.

Formerly homeschooled herself (daughter of homeschool educator Debra Bell), Kathryn now teaches her own children at home. So she is very familiar with the unique challenges of teaching homeschool math, including the lack of structured age-appropriate resources. With her background as a homeschool student and her experience as a math teacher, Kathryn developed a passion for helping homeschoolers navigate the stumbling blocks of learning math, equipping parents to make math both rigorous and rewarding.

Gomes wrote Apologia’s Exploring Creation with Mathematics series to address a gap she saw in homeschool math education — a need for an engaging curriculum designed specifically for homeschool families. She seeks to improve mathematics education for homeschoolers, increasing rigor while still maintaining the creativity and free-thinking that she enjoyed in her schooling.

“I was homeschooled K-12 and I loved it, but math was not the strongest part of my home education. I’ll never forget my first day in a calculus class at the University of Pittsburgh. I was so unprepared! I survived and was able to graduate with a degree in mathematics, but not without noting quite a few things I wish I had done differently in high school. I taught mathematics in the public schools of Philadelphia for seven years, hold a Masters in Math Education from the University of Pennsylvania, and authored Apologia’s elementary math program. Now that I am homeschooling my own kids, I’m committed to helping other homeschooled students enter college prepared and confident in their math skills.”

Gomes wrote Apologia’s Exploring Creation with Mathematics series to give homeschool families a well-structured and inspiring math program that honors both academic rigor and the joy of learning. Her motivation was to equip homeschool parents with a tool that could make math not only challenging but enjoyable. She wanted to combine conceptual understanding with practical skills, ensuring students built a strong foundation while keeping the learning process fun and hands-on. The series reflects her belief that math should be taught in context, connected to real-life problems, and presented with color photos, projects, and Christian connections that point to the Creator.

Kathryn and her husband, Jason, live near Philadelphia with their three children. When she is not working on something math-related, Kathryn is probably trying out a science experiment, cooking something spicy (“we love Indian food!”), or running in a local Philly race (“look towards the back of the pack . . . I’m quite slow”).