Dr. Rochelle Matthews-Somerville

Prior to receiving her calling to homeschool, Dr. Rochelle Matthews-Somerville completed an MS in Special Education with a focus on Autism/Asperger’s Syndrome and Behavior Disorders and a doctorate in Psychological and Cultural Studies with a concentration in Learners with Severe and Communication Disorders.

Rochelle has over 20 years of clinical experience serving youth and their families in the field of Early Childhood and Special Education and has served as a university professor, county-wide autism specialist, and K–12 resource teacher and educational consultant in both the private and public education arenas. She has a passion for teaching and loves speaking at local conferences and across local school districts.

Over the past 10 years, Rochelle has also shared her gifts with the homeschool community as she has served as program director, community instructor, and assessment liaison. She genuinely enjoys providing encouragement and support to other homeschooling families in all ways possible, and she joined Home School Legal Defense Association as a special needs educational specialist in July 2019, presently serving as team leader.

Rochelle is the mother of six beautiful children (five boys and one girl) and has been homeschooling for 11 years. She lives with her husband and children in Charles County, Maryland.