About Us

Ray Notgrass is a Christian, a homeschooling dad, and a writer. He is the author of Exploring America, Exploring World History, Exploring Government, and Exploring Economics, all for high school. Ray is also co-author of Exploring Tennessee and Exploring Georgia curricula for middle school. He is thankful that the materials he has written are encouraging the hearts and minds of many homeschooled students while helping prepare them to teach their children after them. Parents and students alike enjoy listening to Ray talk about American history and Christian worldview at homeschooling conventions.

Ray earned a bachelor's in history from Middle Tennessee State University, a master's in history from the University of Kentucky, and a master's in religion from Harding University. Before launching Notgrass Company full-time, Ray was a campus minister and then a preaching minister for a total of twenty-two years. He served with churches in Mississippi, Illinois, and Tennessee.

Ray met Charlene while they were in college at Middle Tennessee State. They were married in 1974. Ray enjoys reading and listening to classic literature and biographies, traveling, spending time with his children and their spouses, and admiring his grandchildren, to whom he is "Notty." Ray is deeply in love with Charlene, the most wonderful person in the whole wide world.

Charlene Notgrass is a Christian, a homeschooling mother, and a writer. She is the author of America the Beautiful, Daily Encouragement for Homeschooling Mothers, A Record of the Learning Lifestyle, Celebrate Thanksgiving, and Celebrate the Savior. Charlene created the Draw to Learn series and has written Draw to Learn Psalms and Draw to Learn the Life of Jesus. With Ray, she co-authored Draw to Learn Proverbs and Draw to Learn the Letters of Paul. Charlene received a bachelor's in urban planning from Middle Tennessee State University.

Charlene has always loved being a mother and is now relishing the role of mother-in-law and grandmother. She is proud of her new grandma name, "Little Mama." Charlene enjoys reading, quilting, drawing, painting, sewing, improving their old house, teaching a weekly Bible class for women, and spending time with Ray, her husband since 1974.

Charlene loves to encourage homeschooling mothers. Among her popular speaking topics are "Homeschooling: From Burden to Lifestyle," "Making Your Homeschooling Simpler and More Effective," and "Hang On, You Can Make It." She also loves to work with children, especially in her annual role as assistant director when Mary Evelyn puts on one of her historical dramas with homeschooled children.

John Notgrass is a follower of Jesus Christ. He is thankful for the training his parents, Ray and Charlene Notgrass, gave him, and his goal is to be a great husband and father and a blessing to people. John is the author of Make It Your Ambition, a book for young adults, and he has produced One Soldier's Story, a DVD of his first-person portrayal of his grandfather's World War II experiences.

As the Business Manager and IT Director for Notgrass Company, John handles the bookkeeping and taxes, oversees the computers and equipment, does graphic design, responds to customer e-mails, and manages the website. John also travels to conferences and other events, where he presents as an historical actor, musician, and speaker.

John and his wife, Audra, are both homeschool graduates. They met at a homeschool conference in 2005 and were married in 2009. John and Audra live in Cookeville, Tennessee, with their son Avery. They also have two daughters, Melody Hope and Glory Dawn, who are safe in the arms of Jesus. John and Audra enjoy traveling, making music, and working with their church. They have a personal website about their life together.

Bethany Poore, daughter of Ray and Charlene Notgrass, is a homeschool graduate. Some of her favorite homeschooling memories are listening to her dad read aloud, studying Spanish and geometry around the dining room table with her mom and sister, learning home economics in the kitchen and at her mom's sewing machine, taking field trips to plays, and criss-crossing America in the back of the family minivan with her brother and sister.

Bethany has been part of Notgrass Company since its start in 1999. Her main roles are customer service and curriculum development. She has assisted in the creation of several Notgrass Company products. Her favorite project to date is We the People, the book of original source documents that accompanies the America the Beautiful curriculum.

Bethany's other (and favorite) job is being a wife to her husband, Gregory. Together they stay actively involved in their church and community. Bethany also loves to read, sew and craft, cook and bake, and spend time with family and friends. Bethany is never more in her element than when she is interacting and learning with children. She has worked with children through Sunday school, drama, chorus, traditional dance, after-school care, quilting classes, baby-sitting, and assisting homeschooling mothers.

Mary Evelyn McCurdy was homeschooled by her parents, Ray and Charlene Notgrass. Mary Evelyn (most commonly called Mev) has been working with Notgrass Company since she was in high school. She is the author of Draw to Learn Acts, Learn to Draw, and Katy. She also wrote the Student Workbook and Lesson Review that accompany the America the Beautiful curriculum. Mev has also enjoyed working as the graphic designer on several other Notgrass Company publications. Mev helps Nate with order fulfillment and also manages the email newsletter.

Mev enjoys writing and creating art in many forms. When she was fifteen she organized the Homeschool Dramatic Society, and since then she has produced 13 original historical musical dramas with homeschooled students in Middle Tennessee. In addition to writing the scripts and songs and serving as director and choreographer, Mev loves to be on stage performing with her cast. In 2008 she and her mom took one of Mev's productions to Belize and directed school children there in a musical production for their community.

Mev married Nate, the man of her dreams, in 2010. They welcomed a daughter, Clara, into their arms in May of 2011. Mev is looking forward to a brand new homeschooling journey ahead of her.

Nate McCurdy married Mev Notgrass in April of 2010 and joined Notgrass Company the following September. He is in charge of inventory management, receiving, and order fulfillment. He has enjoyed traveling to homeschool conventions and getting connected with the homeschooling community through this work. He says it is the most fulfilling work he has ever done.

Nate grew up in Michigan and moved to Tennessee in 2000 to attend Tennessee Technological University. His parents and most of his siblings followed him south. Nate enjoys spending time with family. Since the arrival of his and Mev's little girl in May of 2011, Nate has discovered that fatherhood suits him quite well.

Nate has a love for history and is particularly interested in the Civil War era. He enjoys working with his hands. He built a log cabin using logs from an old barn and other materials obtained from various structures that were being torn down. He has constructed numerous set and prop pieces for the Homeschool Dramatic Society. Nate constructed a working cannon that he fires on the Fourth of July. He likes to tinker and build and experiment with all sorts of interesting things!