Howdy!
I’m your hostess, Kerry Beck … and yes, I say “howdy”. I live a mile from Texas A&M, where everyone says howdy. So, “Howdy!”
I’m so excited to share these experts with you to give you confidence to hop off the conveyor belt of education and raise your kids to lead and influence with success. I’m Gigi to my grandkids, so I’m having fun teaching all four of them, at times. I love it. I homeschooled my 3 kids for 10 years. They’re all adults and my girls are moms, themselves. I’ll also share “un-edited” interviews from each of my kids with their view of our homeschool.
When we homeschooled, we used a Christian Leadership Education Approach. It was eclectic with the goal of:
- Raising our kids to lead for Jesus Christ, instead of follow the crowd
- To be able to think critically & Biblically
- To make wise decisions using the lens of Scripture
You’ll hear all about Christian Leadership in our Leadership track each day of the Summit. I believe kids should be prepared for adult life, so we are offering our second track, Life Skills for Leaders. Don’t you want to raise your kids to be strong leaders, ready for adult life?
Most importantly, I want to share my faith with you. It’s my faith in Jesus Christ that gives me strength and courage to walk through days of rejection – loneliness – abandonment and leads me to peace, joy, victory and real forgiveness. Who could ask for more?
Sit back and let our Summit Experts encourage YOU! Help STOP the overwhelm. Give you confidence to finish this year strong.
Who Will Help You Finish This Year Strong?
Andrew Pudewa is the founder and director of the Institute for Excellence in Writing and a father of seven. Traveling and speaking around the world, he addresses issues related to teaching, writing, thinking, spelling, and music with clarity, insight, practical experience, and humor. His seminars for parents, students, and teachers have helped transform many a reluctant writer and have equipped educators with powerful tools to dramatically improve students’ skills. Although he is a graduate of the Talent Education Institute in Japan and holds a Certificate of Child Brain Development from the Institutes for the Achievement of Human Potential in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, his best endorsement is from a young Alaskan boy who called him “the funny man with the wonderful words.” He and his heroic wife, Robin, have homeschooled their seven children and are now proud grandparents of eighteen, making their home in northeastern Oklahoma’s beautiful green country.
Find out more at IEW or, if you prefer social media, check out facebook or Instagram
Andrew’s Summit Workshops is titled: Culture, Curriculum, and Care: Building Community in a Time of Need
Dr. Melanie Wilson is a Christian psychologist turned homeschool mom of six graduates. She hosts The Homeschool Sanity Show podcast and is the author of story-based curriculum that includes Training Aliens Social & Emotional Skills curriculum. her books are available at Fun to Learn Books and you can follow her on Facebook and Instagram
Dr. Melanie’s Summit Workshop is titled: How to Help Your Homeschooled Child Make & Keep Friends
Erin Cox is a seasoned homeschooling mom of four, ranging from elementary age to young adult. Alongside her husband Danny, she serves over 100,000 homeschool families through publishing Charlotte Mason and Classical education curricula, all from their homestead in central Alabama. When Erin isn’t wrangling sheep, Australian shepherds, two rambunctious boys, or her energetic grandbaby, she enjoys audiobooks, podcasts, and the occasional quiet moment with embroidery. Connect with her at ShopGentleClassical.com and LifeAbundantlyBlog.com. You can find her on Instagram and Facebook.
Erin’s Summit Workshop is titled: TBA
Julie H Ross believes that every child needs a feast of living ideas to grow intellectually, emotionally, and spiritually. As a former public school teacher, Curriculum Coordinator, and Assistant Director of a Homeschool Academy, Julie Ross has worked with hundreds of students and parents throughout her career.. She has also been homeschooling her own five children for the past 20 years. Julie Ross developed the Charlotte Mason curriculum, A Gentle Feast, to provide parents with the tools and resources needed to provide a rich and abundant educational feast full of books, beauty, and Biblical truth. As Certified Chrisitan Life Coach, Julie helps moms find a life of freedom from the negative thoughts and patterns that are holding them back. Julie lives in South Carolina with her family. When she’s not busy homeschooling, reading children’s books, hiking, or writing curriculum, you can find her taking a nap. BS Elementary Education, Penn State University Certified Life Coach, Life Mentoring School CEO Gentle Feast Press
You can connect with Julie in her private Facebook group The Feast Life Community
Julie’s Summit Workshop is titled: Getting Unstuck: Get Out of The Mental Ruts That Are Holding You Back
Davis Carman got started on his homeschool adventure with a providential two-by-four on the side of his head. Twenty-six years and seven graduates later, he hopes to share some of the lessons he’s learned along the way to help other families enjoy the most successful, satisfying, and Christ-centered home school possible.
His mission is to help homeschooling families learn, live, and defend the Christian faith. This is accomplished in part through his work as president of Apologia Educational Ministries, the #1 publisher of creation-based science, math, Bible and worldview curriculum, and online instruction for homeschooling families.
He is the author of five illustrated books for preschoolers, which are designed to instill a biblical worldview. He blogs at Apologia and is the co-host (along with his wife Rachael) of the Let’s Talk Homeschool podcast.
He believes that if there was ever a time to homeschool, it is now!
Davis’ Summit Workshop is titled: The First Five Years of Homeschooling (I Mean Parenting)
Peggy Ployhar is the founder and CEO of SPED Homeschool, the main host of Empowering Homeschool Conversations, a popular live broadcast and podcast that addresses relevant issues related to homeschooling diverse learners, a breast cancer survivor, the owner of Eternal Aerial Arts, and an aerial arts instructor and performer. She and her husband Doug live in League City, TX and after 19 years of homeschooling have now graduated all three of their children from their home school.
Discover more about Peggy’s work on her website and stay connected by following her on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube
Peggy’s Summit Workshop is titled: Self-Care Strategies for Busy Homeschool Parents
Zan Tyler’s homeschool journey began in 1984 when homeschooling was illegal and she was threatened with jail. For eight years, she and other families battled for homeschool freedom and established landmark homeschool legislation in South Carolina. In 1990, she founded the South Carolina Association of Independent Home Schools (SCAIHS) and served as its president for ten years. Zan loves to empower parents as they answer their God-given calling to homeschool. She is an inspirational speaker and author. For sixteen years, Zan worked with Christian publishers developing homeschool curriculum and resources. She is now a consultant with BJU Press Homeschool. Zan’s greatest privilege in life was homeschooling their three children through high school. Zan is the host of the Zan Tyler Podcast, sponsored by BJU Press Homeschool. Join Zan and a special guest each week for real encouragement, engaging stories, and practical wisdom for surviving and thriving on the homeschool journey.
Connect with Zan through her website, subscribe to her podcast, and follow her on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
Zan’s Summit Workshop is titled: Essential Traits for Homeschool Leadership
Katie Kimball, the national voice of healthy kids cooking, is a former teacher, two-time TEDx speaker, writer, and mom of 4 kids who founded the Kids Cook Real Food eCourse, which was recommended by The Wall Street Journal as the best online cooking class for kids. Her blog Kitchen Stewardship helps families stay healthy without going crazy, and she’s on a mission to connect families around healthy food, teach every child to cook, and help families instill those all-important life skills!
Katie’s Summit Workshop is titled: Five Brain Hacks That Will Help People Remember What You Say
Meredith Curtis, homeschooling mom of five amazing children and Grand-Merey to five angels, writes, speaks, and loves to encourage families in their homeschooling adventure. Traveling, reading cozy mysteries, and laughing with her beloveds makes her glad! With gratefulness to the Lord, she is a curriculum creator, publisher, and the author of Who Dun It Literature & Writing, HIS Story of the 20th Century, and Seven R’s of Homeschooling. You can find Meredith at PowerlineProd.com, along with her online store and blog. Listen to her on the Finish Well Podcast. Join one of her online classes at True North Homeschool Academy.
Meredith’s Summit Workshops are titled: Give Your Children & Teens the Tools of Learning and 7 Steps to Finding Balance & Sanity as a Family in a Busy World
Amanda Pelser is a wife, a homeschooling mom of four boys, and an aspiring homesteader. After finding herself bedridden with chronic pain, fatigue, and autoimmune conditions, Amanda was left hopeless by the conventional medical community. Desperate for a change, she used her background as a seminary-trained researcher to integrate her Christian faith with the practice of homeopathy and reclaim her health. With 10+ years of experience using homeopathy, now, as a certified homeopath, Amanda gives hope to Christian moms who are ready to find biblically aligned health for themselves and their families.
Connect with Amanda at Rooted Homeopathy for personalized wellness consults and homeopathic educational opportunities.
Amanda’s Summit Workshop is titled: Homeopathy Basics: 4 Essentials for Empowered Family Wellness Care
Christy Gandara, a homeschool success strategist, encourages families to focus on what matters most and to use their unique gifts. In 2010, she and her three “bugs” embarked on a transformative year-long homeschool journey using daily holidays as their curriculum. Inspired by this experience, Christy founded Happy Hive Homeschooling in 2020. With 19 years of classroom teaching experience and a passion for homeschooling, she writes a holiday of the day curriculum, provides homeschool consulting, and offers educational strategy courses. Outside of her work, Christy enjoys feeding the birds and squirrels or walking her cat Percy in her California yard. Married for over 26 years, Christy and her husband now watch their children apply their homeschooling lessons to life.
You can find Christy at happy hive homeschooling
Christy’s Summit Workshops are titled: Child-Led Learning – The Power of Self-Assessment and From Tears to Triumph: Helping Your Children Overcome Disappointment
Abby Banks is a former classroom teacher, now homeschool mom of two (having graduated three kids so far) and pastor’s wife. On her blog at 4onemore.com and the Homeschool with Moxie Podcast you will find actionable strategies that take you from overwhelmed to confident in your homeschool adventure. Abby is passionate about creating entrepreneurial courses for teens and Inductive Bible study courses for homeschool families. Subscribe to her YouTube channel for curriculum reviews and homeschool solutions.
Abby’s Summit Workshop is titled: How Can I Teach My Child to Study the Bible if I Never Learned Myself?
Pauline is a homeschool mom of 3 kids between the ages of 13-18 years old. She loves COOK-ing up adventures with her family as they learn and grow together in The Bigger Story. She writes about gospel-centered motherhood and raising gospel-powered kids, as well as how to unschool as Christians.
You can find her on her blog and on Instagram
Pauline’s Summit Workshop is titled: Beyond ‘I’m Sorry’: Gospel-Centered Conflict Resolution for Raising Peacemakers
Leilani Melendez, homeschooling mom of four kids, applies her 10+ years of experience as a middle school classroom teacher to provide homeschool evaluator services & consultations to families. She also shares guidance, resources, and support through her YouTube Channel “Living With Eve” and other social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram. She has recently wrote “Freedom To Learn: Choosing Your Path to Homeschool Victory.” A book that covers the basics to help new homeschooling parents get started, but also delves deep and shares parents’ stories that encourage even the most seasoned homeschooling parent. Leilani’s youngest has Down’s Syndrome, which has inspired her to start connecting with other families on similar journeys to share support, information, and encouragement.
Leilani has a passion for encouraging families to seek God and raise their children with a biblical worldview, mindset and to put Him first. As a result, Leilani has recently been creating Early Elementary Packets that can be used for young children (PK – 3rd) and children with learning differences. These packets are part of a series entitled “Learing With God”. They teach basic academic concepts while teaching about who God is to all children. They can be found on her website
Leilani’s Summit Workshop is titled: Church Hurt: What I learned When I Stayed
Mandee Hamann, businesswoman and former earlychildhood/children’s pastor is mom to 2 young adults and 1 teenager. After her own family struggled with toxic screen issues, she was introduced to ScreenStrong. The ScreenStrong lifestyle changed everything for her family. Mandee became a ScreenStrong Ambassador and is committed to spreading this powerful message. She occasionally guest hosts on the ScreenStrong Families Podcast and is a member of the ScreenStrong team as the Ambassador Liaison. She enjoys training & equipping Ambassadors from all over the globe to spread the ScreenStrong Solution to screen conflicts in the home. Follow ScreenStrong on Facebook and Instagram
Mandee’s Summit Workshop is titled: Kids’ Brains & Screens with ScreenStrong’s Mandee Hamann
Debbi Hockman is a ministry wife, mom of three, and proud Grammie to three little blessings. With 32 years of marriage and a wealth of homeschooling experience, she understands the joys and challenges of raising children to love God. A seasoned English teacher and mentor to Emerging Adults (ages 18–25) for over 20 years, Debbi is passionate about equipping families with the tools they need to thrive. As the founder of The Life We Share, Debbi provides practical advice, digital resources, and creative ideas to help homeschool moms teach with confidence. She also writes engaging books that combine faith and education in ways kids love. With a heart for the future, Debbi is dedicated to helping moms and kids use AI safely and wisely, preparing them to navigate an ever-changing world with faith and purpose.
You can find all of Debbi’s contact links here.
Debbi’s Summit Workshops are titled: Smart Solutions with AI: Homeschool Help for Moms and AI and Your Future: Unlocking the Potential of AI for Teens
Jodie is the rebel mom behind lifeunboxed.blog. She is a wife, homeschool mom of 6, writer, podcaster, and accidental entrepreneur. She helps momtrepreneurs break free from the 9–5, be their own boss, raise their kids, and enjoy their lives. Jodie gives moms the tools they need to be successful on their own terms—in any field or career path. Jodie was working from home and homeschooling her kids before it was cool. She has been running her successful virtual assistant business (jodierperry.com) since 2014. She is a homeschool graduate herself and has accumulated years of homeschool experience as both student and teacher. Jodie understands the challenges of raising your kids, running a business, and keeping your sanity…most days. She shares her experience with other moms so they can confidently work from home and homeschool. One of her favorite things to do is create and publish books. Whether it is inspiring notebooks to spark the inner creative. Or fun unit studies to add to your homeschool. Her brain is always buzzing with a new idea. In her spare time, you can find her drinking coffee, reading a good book or designing one, and watching British cop shows. Yes, all at the same time.
Follow Jodie on Facebook, Instagram and on Youtube
Jodie’s Summit Workshop is titled: Make a Plan, Execute the Plan, the Plan Goes Off the Rails, Make a New Plan
Michelle Osborn is the owner and founder of Homeschooling Teens Successfully specializing in providing support for families that are homeschooling Teens. She is a wife, a 22-year homeschool veteran, and mom of four children and grandma to eight! Michelle’s passions include serving by leading worship at her church and encouraging homeschool moms through one-on-one coaching, courses, social media and speaking engagements. She has found her niche in helping parents homeschool their teens through the high school years and on to pursue their dreams.
Follow Michelle on her socials: Yellow House Book Rental’s Facebook Page, Homeschooling Teens Successfully Facebook Community, Instagram, and Pinterest.
Michelle’s Summit Workshop is titled: Graduate Early, Succeed Faster: Strategies for Homeschool Teens
Sarah Collins, MSOT, OTR/L is an occupational therapist with a background in both pediatrics and home health, and a homeschooling parent. She currently serves families as a homeschool consultant through HomeschoolOT. She focuses on helping parents make the match between the homeschool and their children’s current skill set all while working towards what their children specifically need and want to do to occupy their time (hello occupation!). She does this by consulting with homeschool parents around the world, teaching classes on sensory processing, executive functioning, handwriting and communicating nationally at conferences. You can find Sarah on her website, her podcast The OT is IN, or on Instagram.
Sarah‘s Summit Workshops are titled: Baking Together- What You’re Actually Doing for Your Kids and Planning, Organization, and Time Management, OH MY!!
Danika Cooley is an award-winning children’s author and Bible-curriculum developer. Bible Road Trip™ is used across the globe and weekly she encourages tens of thousands of parents to intentionally raise biblically literate children at ThinkingKidsBlog.org. She is the author of the Who What Why Christian history series, When Lightning Struck!: The Story of Martin Luther, and Help Your Kids Learn and Love the Bible. Learn more about Danika here
Find Thinking Kids Press products and Danika’s books here
Danika‘s Summit Workshop is titled: Teach Kids Character Through Christian History
Simit Patel is a software developer with over 20 years of experience in building web sites and digital systems. Outside of work, he and his wife have three children — a path that has fueled his interest in education. He combined his passion for education and software development to create educational solutions that leverage artificial intelligence to create unique learning experiences. Learn more at Pallas Center and PallasMath.
Simit‘s Summit Workshops are titled: Getting Started With Using AI in Your Homeschool and Use Technology — Don’t Let It Use You
Jeri Ann began her quilting journey in 1989 under the guidance of her grandmother, who taught her the foundational skills of cutting and piecing. Inspired by her mother’s quilt classes, Jeri Ann began to learn and explore various quilt techniques. For over a decade, Jeri Ann was an active member of a quilting group, where she collaborated on numerous projects and shared her passion for the craft. These experiences fostered her love for quilting and ignited a desire to share her knowledge with others. In 2022, Jeri Ann embarked on a new chapter by launching her quilt blog. Jeri Ann believes that learning is a lifelong process, and she is excited to continue exploring the endless possibilities of quilting. Alongside larger projects, Jeri Ann enjoys teaching small, quick-to-make quilts and smaller sewn projects. She is striving to make quilting and sewing exciting and enjoyable for everyone. Facebook, Facebook Group, Instagram, Website, Pinterest.
Jeri Ann‘s Summit Workshop is titled: You Can Make A Raggy Edge Quilt!
Jean Rudd is a veteran homeschooling mom of 3 sons. Trained in mechanical engineering, she has been a manufacturing engineer specializing in automation and process improvement, a technical writer and software trainer for proprietary systems, an instructional designer, and a web designer and trainer back when the internet was invented. For the past 24+ years, she has been focusing on educating the next generation. She now offers Charlotte Mason-style homeschooling tips, self-learning strategies & DIY handicraft ideas at Self Educating Family. Follow her on Pinterest.
Jean’s Summit Workshops are titled: Lifeskills: Public Speaking — How to Start and Run a Public Speaking Club with your Kids and Leadership Education: Visionary Education: A Look Under the Hood at Your Educational Assumptions (Or: How Hand Work Can Create Competent & Confident Self-Learners
Shannon L. Mokry lives in the great state of Texas with her husband, daughters, and service dog Theo. Shannon is a homeschool mama with a creative personality, her favorite creative outlets are writing and illustrating! With over twenty books currently published and more in the works, Shannon has a passion for good literature, and a drive to help provide books that encourage children and parents alike. Shannon’s career as a children’s book author started in 2016, when she realized that she had been living in fear and set out to be a better example for her daughters. Choosing to do things, even when she is afraid, is the example she truly wants to set. Brave people don’t do things to be brave, they do things despite their fear. Writing a good story, even lots of good stories, doesn’t mean anything if you hide them away. She wants to encourage the next generation to step out in faith and truly live. With that in mind she has helped her youngest daughter launch her own writing career, that daughter now has three books of her own published.
You can find both Shannon and Charlotte Mokry on her website SillyGeese Publishing and on Facebook
Shannon’s Summit Workshops are titled: Lifeskills: Entrepreneurship Skills to Grow the Whole Child and God did not Give us Hearts of Fear-2 Timothy 1:7
Amber Smith helps families find the right tools and build the mindset they need to create a homeschool that fits their unique, individual lives. In 2014, she created 200fingersandtoes.com, a blog for the growing homeschooling community. There she serves in her role as a homeschool courage lender. Working directly with parents, Amber developed a course to overcome the six main roadblocks that keep families from experiencing success. At InDueSeason.net, Amber shares relatable, and thought-provoking homeschool tools to help families dig deeper and create a personalized map that will be their guide from the first day to graduation.
Amber’s Summit Workshops are titled: Want Independent Learners?- First, Master Your Homeschool Schedule and The Perfect Match: Entrepreneurial Life and Homeschool Freedom
Traci Bakenhaster is an experienced coach, mentor, and advocate for homeschool families with teens, with over 13 years dedicated to preparing young people for adulthood. As the founder and CEO of Adulting University, Traci equips homeschool families with the tools, support, and resources they need to teach essential life skills, career exploration, college readiness, and personal growth. With a Master of Science in Business Psychology, a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, and two Associate Degrees, Traci blends academic expertise with real-world experience. She’s a certified Youth Mental Health First Aid instructor, a Ramsey Solutions Master Financial Coach, and a teen coach with Teen Wise, where she specializes in helping young women navigate friendships, girl drama, and personal confidence. From higher education to career tech, Traci has worked with countless teens and families, empowering them to succeed in school, life, and beyond. At her core, Traci is also a proud homeschool mom. She and her husband of nearly six years homeschool their two kids—a pre-teen son and a toddler daughter—while managing the chaos and joy of a busy home. Their adventures wouldn’t be complete without their three fur babies: Bear, a lovable Great Pyrenees, and two cats, Elsa and Figaro. Whether exploring the outdoors, chasing after pets, or diving into learning moments with her kids, Traci’s family is her “why”—the heart behind everything she does. Through Adulting Unplugged, Traci combines her expertise and personal experience to be a trusted partner for homeschool families, helping them raise confident, self-sufficient teens ready to take on the real world.
You can connect with Traci and discover more resources at Adulting-University.com. Join our free Homeschool Connect Community today!
Traci’s Summit Workshop is titled: Preparing to Launch: A Homeschool Parent’s Guide
At Ten Minute Momentum, Sarah McCubbin helps parents teach their kids valuable life skills, social skills and leadership skills to prepare them to step confidently into adulthood. She and her husband have 9 kids ages 5 to 20 in live in Northeast Ohio.
Follow Sarah on Instagram and Facebook
Sarah’s Summit Workshop is titled: Flip The Scale: Teaching Our Kids To View Failure As Success
Jen Duncan is a seasoned homeschool mom, experienced co-op teacher, and passionate advocate for helping families cultivate a lifelong love of learning. With years of hands-on experience homeschooling and developing resources for children across different ages and stages, she understands the beauty—and the challenges—of creating a home where curiosity thrives and learning feels joyful. Through her teaching, writing, and speaking, Jen equips parents with practical strategies, encouragement, and heartfelt wisdom to inspire their children to become self-motivated learners. Her approach balances structure with creativity, reminding parents that homeschooling isn’t about perfection—it’s about building relationships, fostering curiosity, and making space for discovery. When she’s not teaching or supporting fellow homeschool parents, you can find Jen enjoying good books, exploring nature, and diving into creative projects with her husband and son.
Connect with her at lifebeyondthelessonplan.com as well as on Facebook and Instagram.
Jen’s Summit Workshop is titled: Igniting a Lifelong Love of Learning: Homeschooling with Curiosity, Joy, and Passion