Speakers You'll Love!

Ann Agent

holistic traditions restored

Although growing up attending public school, Ann Agent's parents made sure she was reading well before going to Kindergarten and by age 8 she was reading at a 12^th grade level. They also kept telling her she should be homeschooled. This inspired her heart to interview all prospective marriage partners by telling them she planned on homeschooling her children. Most thought she was nuts, but finally one said yes!

Teaching their children to read was perplexing because what worked for her, didn't work for their 3 sons. Ann was also self-employed for 15 yrs as an educational consultant, which allowed her to share her love of reading while she was teaching her own. All three boys have grown up and are off on their own. Now that Ann and her husband are 'empty nesters' they are living off-grid in the Pacific Northwest, in an effort to return to the traditional ways that have long been forgotten.

Life is learning, and learning is life. As an autodidact, Ann's passions are mentoring people who are new to homeschooling, tutoring struggling readers, as well as teaching natural healing and traditional skills that are becoming lost in our modern world. 

Altesa Baker

CREATIVE CONNECTIONS 

AND ACTORS TRAINING ACADEMY

My journey as an actor began in college, so I thought. (It turns out I was booked in a diaper commercial at 9 months old and my mom "forgot" to tell me.) Absent that fun fact throughout my childhood and adult life, the study of acting was a deeply personal choice. I had found something I loved and became voracious in my appetite to learn.  This lead me to Grad school where I earned my MFA and also where my personal choice met the professional push into the entertainment industry. It was in school, in the midst of theory and practice, change and challenge, that I grew as a human and artist.  It's a path I continue to be grateful for as it has shaped and continues to shape who I am on all levels. My love for the study of acting and it's effectiveness to transform one's life is why I choose to use it's disciplines and craft to help others grow and meet their personal and professional goals.

My educational background includes an MFA in Acting, Actors Studio Drama School, NYC and a BA in Social Work, Rutgers University, NJ.

You can find me on the homeschool playground on IG:  @That_Homeschool_Life 

and playing the role of arts education thought leader at IG: @actorstrainingacademy

Not into social media... No worries, I have a website:  https://www.altesabaker.com/

Shiloah Baker

CLASSICAL MOTHERING

Shiloah Baker is the mother of eleven and grandmother of three.  She has been a homeschooling mom for 17 years.  She specializes in ways to help special needs.  Most of her children have adhd, learning disabilities such as autism spectrum disorder, specific learning disabilities, oppositional defiant disorder, and Down Syndrome.  In her spare time, she runs her home business Lifeology which helps people to release their emotional baggage and paradigms that keep them stuck.  She also enjoys traveling, reading, puzzles, and time with her friends and family.

Connect with Shiloah:
Website:  https://tjed-mothers.com/

Jenn Cherry

CURIOUS ABOUT CLASSICS

Jenn Cherry is the mother of four full-of-life kids.  She has been homeschooling for 16 years and has found ways that work well and many ways that don't.  But most importantly, she has found joy in the way homeschooling has brought her family closer together.

Jenn lives in Northern Utah and loves to build, garden, and be in nature where she can get back to the basics.

Forming meaningful relationships with her kids has been a lifelong pursuit and something she feels very passionate about.  This is why she is launching her new website, Curious About Classics, where she hopes to help other parents connect with their kids on a deeper level through the classics.

Connect with Jenn:
Website:  https://curiousaboutclassics.com

Rachel DeMille

THOMAS JEFFERSON EDUCATION

Rachel DeMille is the co-creator of TJEd, co-author of Leadership Education: The Phases of Learning and the award-winning educational resource, This Week in History, and cast member of the popular Mentoring in the Classics series. She is an accomplished musician, writer, literary editor, public speaker, consultant and momschool organizer; a musician, a foodie, a beach blonde, a poet, a polyglot and a birth coach. Wife to Oliver, mother of 8 and counting (with grandkid count at 10 plus 1 more in the making as of this writing), Rachel is on a mission to heal families and inspire others to detect, refine and unleash their genius. Currently building a mini-farm and a multi-generational family school for her tribe’s cohort of life-long learners.

Connect with Rachel:
Website:  https://tjed.org/

Lori Gabbitas

WELL EDUCATED HEART / 

MOTHERS OF INFLUENCE

25 years ago, Lori Gabbitas began meeting with young mothers who were concerned about the true success of their children in a world that struggles to define success. She built the foundation of Pinehurst Academy to keep curiosity and wonder alive in her children and help them hold onto their love of learning. For years, she has been practicing the simple and beautiful pattern of learning as described in the Well Educated Heart (WEH). And today, she is actively involved as a mentor in The Well Educated Heart and Mothers of Influence community.

Lori enjoys counseling with mothers in groups, and one on one, helping them embrace basic principles that awaken within them the courage and the confidence to teach their own children. To that end, she leads a virtual group discussion with mothers every Friday morning via zoom to encourage and champion mothers and their essential role in our society. Her greatest passion, outside her family, is helping mothers and mothers-to-be find softer hearts and learn to be sensitive to true learning – learning that lasts a lifetime.

Lori is a California native and life long resident who loves the natural beauties that surround her. She and her husband have four children who, for over two decades, filled Pinehurst Academy and today are grown and on their own. The oldest three have graduated from or are attending college with GPAs over 3.6, the youngest is currently involved in missionary service. She currently runs Pinehurst Academy for Young Ladies and offers group and private consulting. Come and chat with Lori.

Connect with Lori:

Penny Gardner

PENNY GARDNER

Penny Gardner is the mother of six children (ages 23 to 38) and grandmother of ten. She has degrees and experience in Elementary Education and Music Education. Penny knew she would be educating her own children before they were born so she had time to read many books on the subject. She started using Charlotte Mason's approach in 1994, when her oldest child was in 5th grade, with wonderful results. Penny is the author of Charlotte Mason Study Guide; Italics, Beautiful Handwriting for Children; and the Nine-Note Recorder Books. She has presented multi-media seminars all over the U.S. and in Canada and has now converted the seminar to a video presentation.

Connect with Penny:
Website:  https://pennygardner.com/

Donna Goff

MENTORING OUR OWN

Donna Goff is the owner and Director at MentoringOurOwn.Com. She is known as the Homeschool Mommy Mentor, helping moms succeed in homeschool, family, home and life. Donna and her husband, Roger, are parents of seven children and fourteen grandchildren. She began homeschooling in 1983 and is still in the trenches. She earned BA Art (’80) and MA Ed. (08).
Donna loves to be a wife, mother, and grandmother. She also loves blogging, presenting, learning, organizing momschools, mentoring homeschool moms, gardening, engaging in the lost arts, singing, creating stained glass murals, micro sand-carving in glass, frugality, provident living, writing poetry, nature studies, family history and sharing.
Since 1995, Donna has been presenting and keynoting at home school conferences in California, Oregon, Nevada, Utah, Washington, Nebraska, Virginia and online. She created the Mentoring Our Own Yahoo Group in 2002. Donna founded a private cyber-school and cottage school / home education hybrid in 2002. In 2009, Donna and her daughters Julia Groves and Jennifer Walton co-founded Princess Academies/ Royal Academe, and finally Mentoring Our Own.

Connect with Donna:
Website:  https://mentoringourown.com/

Mia Sachiko Greenhill

TRUTH AND BEAUTY LIFE

Mia Greenhill is a wife, homeschooling adoptive mom, and a Certified Christian Life Coach, who loves learning and teaching about all things related to the pursuit of truth and beauty.

After leaving the Denver Metro area, she and her husband chose to carry on the family tradition of ranching and farming in Western Colorado. Their family has experienced the value of life education through the shared trials and triumphs of raising cattle, farming, and caring for horses, farm dogs, barn cats and each other.

Their twin sons recently launched to Lynchburg, Virginia for college, while Mia continues to home educate their youngest son, and a daughter who came to their family through international adoption. Mia’s heart for special needs adoption continues to bring her to the end of herself and right where God wants her to be.

Mia’s background includes a B.A. in Tech Journalism focused on Public Relations from Colorado State University. Her experience includes non-profits, health and wellness organizations, as well as partnering with her husband in his real estate businesses. Currently, she looks forward to connecting with women who are seeking walk out brave choices, because we all find greater courage and joy as we gather.

Deonna Hollist

The HEALTHY family summit

Deonna Hollist is a passionate homeschool mama of five. She has homeschooled for over 14 years in the beautiful mountains of Idaho. Deonna has worked in the wellness field for 15 years. She loves inspiring others about homeschooling, health and leadership. Her passions include spending time with her family, books, beaches, and her never-ending desire for learning.

Connect with Deonna:
Website (coming soon):  http://thehealthyfamilysummit.com/

Mary Ann Johnson

MARY ANN JOHNSON

Mary Ann Johnson is the mother of seven children and has been happily married for 50 years and blessed with 15 grandchildren and is a family connection expert.  

Her book, Becoming a Present Parent, focuses on what she knows and does best – helping children and parents connect.  You can get a FREE chapter of her new book at becomingapresentparent.com

Her website, maryannjohnsoncoach.com, is an online community reaching thousands of people. She created Family Connection Mentoring and is well known in the homeschool community as The Home School Coach.

Dianne Kelley

THE SIMPLE SCHOLAR

Dianne Kelley is known as the “unconventional speaker”, has authored eight homeschool programs and books, and she presents on topics that most other leaders won’t talk about.  

Dianne started homeschooling in 2003, has worked with thousands of homeschoolers and hundreds of homeschool group leaders, and participated in many issues which affect the homeschool community as a whole.  She is candid when talking about socialization, overcoming roadblocks in homeschooling, and out-of-the-box techniques for teaching in more exciting ways.  

While she serves families with children of all ages, Dianne particularly specializes in working with middle to high school level groups to help prepare for college entry and is familiar with the latest developments affecting future college students, including how to leverage early college. In 2004, she founded a national support organization, Home Education Council of America, where for many years, she led online seminars and webinars in a live, innovative setting. Dianne now serves the homeschool community from her personal site, TheSimpleScholar.com

Connect with Dianne at The Simple Scholar:
Website:  https://thesimplescholar.com

Dianne also helps homeschool parents launch their own unique businesses in her Barefoot Big Shots programs.

Connect with Dianne at Barefoot Big Shots:
Website:  https://barefootbigshots.com

Tresta Neil

CALLED TO LEARN

Tresta's husband, Thom, introduced her to the idea of homeschooling after their fourth child was born and she thought he was crazy. After "trying" it for a year she is now a strong advocate for teaching and learning truth no matter the venue. Five of her eight children had dyslexia, one very severe, she has discovered many ways to help children with dyslexia and ADHD learn math. 

She is the co-founder of Called to Learn, restoring and preserving Gospel culture of learning patterned after the biblical tabernacle, with her husband. She  has a podcast called, Gospel Theory. 

You'll notice she loves symbolism, how God gets us to ask questions.

Connect with Tresta:
Website:  https://calledtolearn.com/

John Notgrass

NOTGRASS HISTORY

John Notgrass is a homeschool graduate who has worked in educational publishing since 1997. Notgrass History publishes history, geography, and government curriculum for all ages, and John  loves to explore ways to use media and technology to enhance the learning process. In addition to spending time with his family, John enjoys Euro-style board games and traditional English country and contra dancing. John lives in the St. Louis area.

Connect with John:
Website:  https://notgrasshistory.com

Nicholeen Peck

TEACHING SELF GOVERNMENT

When it comes to parenting, Nicholeen Peck is a worldwide phenomenon and leader — and for good reason! Her proven system based on four simple skills transforms even the most out-of-control teenagers and homes from chaos to calm within days. Though she's an international speaker, author, mentor, former foster parent of many difficult and troubled teens, and even president of the Worldwide Organization for Women (an approved consultant for the United Nations), Nicholeen spends most of her time at home with her husband and four children, which she knows will be her greatest impact and legacy. The fact that she has such an international influence while still being a stay-at-home mom is evidence of the effectiveness of her teachings. 

Connect with Nicholeen:
Website:  https://teachingselfgovernment.com/

and Podcasts: Teaching Self-Government Podcast.