PARENTING & HOMESCHOOL CONFERENCE

Since 1984, CHEA has been hosting an annual homeschool event that features workshops for homeschoolers at all stages, an exhibit hall with curriculum, resources, and services, children's and teen conventions, high school graduation, and much more. Join other homeschool families from across the state as you are encouraged and equipped for the school year ahead. This is an event you don't want to miss!
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Speakers

We are excited for all the workshop speakers who will be joining us this year. They bring experience from a variety of backgrounds, and we are eager for you to hear what they have to share with us in July.

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS

Ginger Hubbard

Ginger Hubbard

Ginger Hubbard, bestselling author of Don’t Make Me Count to Three, Wise Words for Moms, and I Can’t Believe You Just Said That, speaks at women’s events, parenting conferences and home school conventions across the country, and co-hosts the Parenting with Ginger Hubbard Podcast. Ginger is a veteran homeschooling mother of two children and stepmom to two stepsons. She and her husband, Ronnie, reside in Opelika, AL, where they enjoy working together from home.

For more information visit www.GingerHubbard.com

Heidi St. John

Heidi St. John

MomStrong International

As a popular author and speaker, Heidi St. John has been speaking on marriage, family and cultural issues for over 15 years. She has a passion to encourage moms and set them free to boldly become who God has created them to be. Heidi has been married to her husband Jay since 1989. Together they have seven children and four grandchildren! They have homeschooled some of their kids all the way through high school and are finishing up with a couple at home. Heidi is the author of seven books, with a new book releasing this fall titled MomStrong 365: A Daily Devotional to Encourage and Empower Everyday Moms.

Join Heidi at MomStrong International, an online ministry where thousands of women come together for weekly Bible Studies, Scripture writing, online and in-real-life fellowship.

FEATURED SPEAKERS

Kristi Clover

Kristi Clover

Kristi Clover is a home organization and #momlife expert. She’s also the author of M.O.M. = Master Organizer of Mayhem and Homeschool Basics, the host of the Simply Joyful Podcast, and a popular conference speaker. Her passion is to help Christian women find sanity and joy in the throes of mom life. She loves to share about her adventures in motherhood and home life through a variety of media that you can find at KristiClover.com. Kristi lives in San Diego with her husband, Steve, and their five children.

Be sure to connect with Kristi online for an extra dose of encouragement. She’s @KristiClover on most social media networks.

Natalie Mack

Natalie Mack

Natalie Mack is an author, speaker, and experienced military home educator, with over 21 years of service to military homeschooling families and support group leadership. She is known for her words of encouragement and advocacy for homeschooling, particularly during the journey from high school to college. Natalie is a mom of five: three college graduates, one college junior, and a 10th grader. She is now experiencing new adventures as her husband, a Navy chaplain, recently retired after serving for 34 years.

James Mason

James Mason

President, HSLDA

Jim Mason joined HSLDA’s litigation team in 2001, and after serving as vice president of litigation and development for seven years, he became president of HSLDA in 2022. He has represented homeschooling families in a range of situations. Jim was instrumental in litigating the 2008 California case Jonathan L., in which a state appellate court reversed its previous ruling that homeschooling was illegal. This put an end to years of controversy over the legal status of homeschooling. Jim and his wife Debbie homeschooled their children through high school and currently live in Virginia.

Ana Willis

Ana Willis

Ana is a wife and homeschool mom of three who turned into a homeschool blogger. She is also a women’s pastor, co-owner of CharlotteMasonInspired.com, and a passionate Bible and Hebrew teacher. She loves helping homeschool moms find joy and fulfillment in their homeschool calling. Ana studied Theology at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and has a double bachelor’s degree in Biblical and Jewish Studies from Israel College of the Bible. She is the founder of Hebrew for Homeschoolers.

Learn more about how Ana equips and encourages homeschool moms at www.theycallmeblessed.org and at thehomeschoolsisterhood.com.

Emeal "E.Z." Zwayne

Emeal "E.Z." Zwayne

President, Living Waters

Emeal “E.Z.” Zwayne is the President of Living Waters, the official spokesman for the National Bible Bee organization, and a cohost of the National Bible Bee Game Show. He serves as an Executive Producer of the Way of the Master television program and all Living Waters films. A dynamic communicator, he speaks at conferences and churches nationally and around the world. E.Z. served as an associate pastor for several years. He and his wife, Rachel, have been homeschooling their five children for more than 20 years.

GENERAL SESSION SPEAKERS

Kim Amador

Kim Amador

Kimberly is a wife and mom of four – ages 3, 5, 7 and 9 – and currently serves as Preschool Co-Coordinator at her local PSP. She was a full-time RN, turned stay-at-home mom, turned homeschool mom, and now seeks to encourage other families to explore their God-given freedom found in homeschooling. She and her husband, Danny, share a vision to come alongside other families to raise the next generation, bold for Jesus.

Teresa Foltin

Teresa Foltin

Teresa Foltin has a B.A. in English Literature and an M.S. in Student Affairs in Higher Education. Previously the Director of Student Activities at an American University in Germany, she is now a mom of five and has been homeschooling since 2004. She is interested in adoption, travel, horses, gardening and reading.

Rachel Gomez

Rachel Gomez

Rachel Gomez has over 30 years of experience in special needs education. Her journey began working at a special needs program for adults before homeschooling her own children, including her son with ASD. Answering the call to homeschool and focusing on ability instead of disability has given her a unique perspective. Rachel helps families by providing unique recommendations for play and therapy through educational products. She homeschools her three younger children while supporting her son’s education at community college.

Rebecca Kocsis

Rebecca Kocsis

Rebecca Kocsis and her husband homeschooled all five of their children, graduating their youngest in 2006. They are now the proud grandparents of an ever-growing tribe of energetic boys and girls (12 to date) who are their greatest delight. Rebecca served for 15 years as a private school satellite program administrator and for several years on CHEA’s Regional Advisory Board. Today, she is still passionate about private home education and helping families homeschool, serving on CHEA’s board of directors.

Davy Liu

Davy Liu

Davy Liu identifies himself as a Chinese Forest Gump. He struggled with making straight A’s, but later found his life’s calling in making straight lines. His artistic talent quickly led him to work for Walt Disney on classic films such as Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, The Lion King, Mulan, and the Star Wars franchise. Davy is the founder of Kendu Kids. He is an innovative creator who brings stories of faith and hope to the world.

John McGowan

John McGowan

John is an attorney with a litigation practice in Los Angeles and is also an allied attorney with Alliance Defending Freedom, the world’s largest legal organization committed to protecting religious freedom and parental rights. He and his wife, Juleene, are homeschooling their two boys, ages 14 and 15. John is especially passionate about CHEA’s mission to protect the God-given right of parents to direct the education and training of their children.

Natalie Nuñez

Natalie Nuñez

Wife and mama to three crazy littles (ages 2, 4, and 6), Natalie always believed she would be an involved parent, but never imagined her motherhood journey would include home education! Unofficially three years into homeschooling, Natalie is still learning what works for her family and what needs finessing. She is a Preschool Co-Coordinator at her local co-op and loves coming alongside the mamas, building community, and celebrating the beautiful chaos of the little years.

Michelle Phororo

Michelle Phororo

Michelle has been part of the homeschooling community for 22 years. Having graduated three of her children, she is ready to begin the adventure again with her four-year-old son. She has a B.S. in Child Development and an M.A. in Education from California State University, Fullerton. Currently, she enjoys leading her STEM preschool students as they explore their natural curiosity, while inspiring parents to find their unique style and purpose in their own homeschool journey.

Betsy Pierce

Betsy Pierce

Betsy is a second-generation homeschooling mom of eight children, ages 1 to 16, and considers herself blessed beyond measure to raise them. She and her husband Nathan met while at The Master’s University and moved to Placer County in 2004 when Nathan began his work at Family Protection Ministries, now a calling for the whole family. She has served the homeschooling community for many years at various levels and is looking forward to the first family graduation in 2024!

Nathan Pierce

Nathan Pierce

Nathan began working at Family Protection Ministries (FPM) in 2002 to protect private homeschooling in California. He was homeschooled himself from kindergarten through high school and received a B.A. in Political Studies from The Master’s University. Currently he serves as Director and Legislative Liaison for FPM. He works behind the scenes at the State Capitol, meeting with legislators to advocate on behalf of homeschoolers. He and his wife Betsy are actively involved in their church and homeschool their own eight children.

Penny Ross

Penny Ross

Penny Ross taught her own three children at home from birth through high school graduation. She led the homeschool ministry at her church before opening her own business. At Tools for the Home Educator in Torrance, CA, she mentors and coaches the next generation of homeschoolers. Penny’s specialty is helping families determine their own homeschooling style and then assisting them in mapping a pathway to success. She is married to her college sweetheart, Greg, and together they delight in seven grandchildren.

Jay St. John

Jay St. John

Jay St. John is the Executive Director of Firmly Planted Family, a non-profit organization that focuses on encouraging families to thrive within a biblical framework. A gifted worship leader and song-writer, Jay is also the homeschooling father of seven children and “Papa” to his grandchildren. In 2017, Jay and his wife, Heidi, opened the “Firmly Planted Homeschool Resource Center” which serves as a full-time homeschool support to families in the Portland/Vancouver area. Jay and Heidi have been married since 1989.

Richard Stepanek

Richard Stepanek

Richard was taught evolution in school and in church. He believed it until God opened his eyes at a “Discover Creation” seminar. Rich joined Alpha Omega Institute as a full-time speaker in 1997 and has taught both in the US and internationally. Rich has done extensive studies in Genesis and its relevance to the rest of Scripture and loves to teach on this topic. His wife, Sue, often travels with him in the ministry.

Christa Svoboda

Christa Svoboda

Christa always dreamed of having many children who she would school at home. Now she has six, aged 4 months to 13 years. A second-generation homeschooler, Christa received her master’s in elementary education and loved being a classroom teacher before beginning life with a new mission of motherhood. She recently hosted a podcast, Seek Wholly Living, where she had conversations with other expert moms who choose to pursue motherhood with hope, joy, and purpose!

Jenny Vandever

Jenny Vandever

Jenny Vandever, a second-generation homeschooler, has led in an array of homeschool-focused ministries over the past decade, with a focus toward building Christ-centered community. Jenny is married to Andrew Vandever (CHEA Board of Directors), who is her ideal Amazing Race partner and main cheerleader as she teaches their girls to write persuasive essays, multiply exponents, and locate Paraguay on a map.

Julie Walker

Julie Walker

Julie Walker, the Chief Marketing Officer for the Institute for Excellence in Writing (IEW), was a schoolteacher and homeschool leader for many years. She and her husband home educated their three sons. After their youngest son graduated, she returned to school, completing her MBA at Biola University. In 2007 Julie began working with IEW, and she most recently produced, directed, and helped to write the Structure and Style® for Students video courses. She currently hosts the popular Arts of Language podcast with Andrew Pudewa.

Roger Wheelock

Roger Wheelock

Roger Wheelock is President of Greater Than I Ministries, a non-profit established to provide creative biblical worldview teaching materials. Roger is an ordained pastor, worship leader, and songwriter with over 30 years of experience in Christian leadership. His passion is to help light a fire in Christians to lead our culture by applying the brilliance of the Word of God in every vocation and location of life; to know what we believe and to make a difference in this decaying world around us!