About the Pride Family

Bill Pride is a graduate of both Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Covenant Theological Seminary, with a Master's in Mathematics from University of Missouri - St. Louis. After an early career as a system programmer and college instructor, for the past 26 years, Bill has managed Home Life, Inc., which since 1993 has published Practical Homeschooling magazine. He still teaches occasional college math courses.

Mary Pride is the publisher of Practical Homeschooling magazine and the founder (with Bill) of the world's most-visited homeschool web site[link to home-school.com]. In 1986 her book, The Big Book of Home Learning, was the first-ever mass-market book about homeschooling. It won both the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association gold medal and the Silver Angel award. Subsequent editions came out regularly through 2004, when the rise of the Internet made it possible for homeschoolers to locate curriculum resources with relative ease. To this day, many new how-to-homeschool books use Mary's approach to breaking down homeschooling via learning styles, teaching styles, curriculum styles, and family goals.

Mary is also the author of a number of books on topics of interest to Christian women, as well as four children's books. A graduate of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, she has two degrees in engineering.

Bill and Mary Pride are the parents of nine totally homeschooled children. All have graduated from homeschool and at this point six have earned at least one college degree.

The oldest, Ted, who is physically handicapped, earned his fully accredited Computer Science degree - with honors - via distance learning, while maintaining the family's websites. He owns a web design and programming business.
Joseph and Sarah both became National Merit Finalists and received full scholarship offers to several top universities.
Joseph subsequently graduated from the Coast Guard Academy with honors and served for five years. While at sea, his vessel made the largest cocaine bust in US maritime history. He also led a team as part of the BP oil spill cleanup effort.
Sarah subsequently graduated from Patrick Henry College with honors, and now works there as assistant to the director of communications. In her spare time, she is a second-level black belt. She also founded the first Christian film festival in her area.
Magda received a full-tuition scholarship to the college of her choice, from which she graduated with a 3.95 GPA and three degrees: Forensic Science, Chemistry, and Mathematics. She is now pursuing a PhD in Materials Science with a full scholarship plus stipend.
Franklin just graduated from a major engineering school with a double major in Management and Games & Simulations Science. He has already started his first business and consults on iPhone apps and software design.
After earning an A.A. degree with honors, Mercy completed her LN program and is working full time as a practical nurse. She plans to go back to school for her RN while continuing to work.
As a top achiever on the ACT exam, Gregory was awarded the Missouri four-year "Bright Flight" scholarship. After trying a few other options, he has settled on Accounting for his college major.
Madeleine graduated homeschool early, at age 17. She is now completing an initial science degree, and hopes to go into a family-friendly medical field.
Lillian graduated homeschool even earlier, at age 15. She is a Nursing major in a very highly ranked public university, where she received their top scholarship.

Pride Family It's been said that the world is divided into two kinds of people: scruffy and neat. Clearly, we are "scruffies." And our kids are always on the move! I got them to sit still-ish for a nanosecond last Christmas, when this photo was taken. Greg would like you to know that he has lost 27 pounds since then!

From left to right: Gregory, Franklin, Magda, Theodore, Joseph, Lilian, Mercy, Madeleine, Sarah.