Foundations of Leadership Education
Leadership Education
Essential Traits for Homeschool Leadership, by Zan Tyler
Are you ready to inspire others in their homeschooling journey? Join veteran homeschool advocate Zan Tyler as she shares practical ways to develop and communicate a compelling vision for home education while balancing family life. Drawing from decades of experience, Zan will show you how to build authentic relationships and encourage others effectively, creating lasting impact in your homeschool community. Whether you’re leading a support group or mentoring other families, you’ll gain tools to champion homeschool freedom for the next generation.
Visionary Education: A Look Under the Hood at Your Educational Assumptions, by Jean
Look Under the Hood at Your Educational Assumptions (Or: How Hand Work Can Create Competent & Confident Self-Learners). I’ll share my 20+ years of homeschooling experience and my knowledge about how people learn while I show you how incorporating hand work in your homeschool will benefit your kids.
Character Building & Parenting
Teach Kids Character Through Christian History, by Danika Cooley
Learn to teach kids character through Christian history. Explore 4 reasons to teach Christian history, and discover great tips for incorporating the study of Christian history into your homeschool.
Beyond ‘I’m Sorry’: Gospel-Centered Conflict Resolution for Raising Peacemakers, by Pauline Cook
What if conflict in your home became an opportunity to disciple your kids instead of just correcting their behavior? In this interview, we’ll move beyond surface-level solutions like forcing a quick “I’m sorry” and dive into the heart of gospel-centered conflict resolution.
Discover how to:
- Release my kids from obligatory apologies and focusing on heart transformation has cultivated authentic relationships and Christ-like peacemakers in our home. This approach not only resolves conflict but also points your family to the life-changing grace of the gospel.
- Address the root issues behind sibling squabbles and everyday clashes.
- Disciple your children to recognize their own sin and their deep need for Jesus.
- Foster an environment where the Holy Spirit leads your kids to genuine repentance and reconciliation.
The First Five Years of Homeschooling (I Mean Parenting), by Davis Carman
The first five years of parenting are crucial times of development for young children. Foundations are set that give them a perspective of God, themselves, and others. During these early years, children gain an understanding of love, obedience, and responsibility. Their worldview will be shaped by the books you read to them (including the Bible) and the freedom they are given to sing, dance, play, and explore the great outdoors of God’s wonderful Creation. Is this parenting, homeschooling, or both? In this workshop, you will discover ten lessons your young children should learn and experience that can make a big difference in the first five years of their life.
How Can I Teach My Child to Study the Bible if I Never Learned Myself?, by Abby Banks
Bible literacy is a growing concern in the church, even among those who grew up in Christian homes. Sometimes our kids know the Sunday School stories, but they don’t know the life skill of how to read and study the Word for themselves. This session will discuss the case for Bible literacy, why it’s important to find resources that dive deeper than simply learning Bible facts, plus how families can start studying whole books of the Bible together – even if you never learned yourself!
Love of Learning & Lifetime Learners
Give Your Children & Teens the Tools of Learning, by Meredith Curtis
Are you worried that your children are learning all they need to learn? Do you want to set your children up for success in life? Are you giving your children the tools of learnings so they can be lifetime learners? Meredith Curtis will show you how to equip your children and teens with the tools of learning so they can be strong leaders who are always learning. She will give you tips to “major on the majors” and “minor on the minors” in your home education. Explore the Seven R’s with Meredith: Relationships, Reading, (w)Riting, (a)Rithmetic, Research, Rhetoric, and Right Living. Leaders are lifetime learners so give them the tools to keep growing and leading for the rest of their lives and walk in the path the Lord has chosen for them in the future.
Igniting a Lifelong Love of Learning: Homeschooling with Curiosity, Joy, and Passion, by Jen Duncan
The ultimate goal of homeschooling is not just academic success but a love of learning that lasts a lifetime. This session will equip you with practical, heart-centered strategies to foster that love in your children. From hands-on learning and creative problem-solving to fostering a growth mindset and making education relevant to their passions, you’ll walk away with a toolbox full of ideas to transform your homeschool into a hub of excitement and discovery.
Mom & Dad Encouragement
Culture, Curriculum, and Care: Building Community in a Time of Need, by Andrew Pudewa
What is the nature of culture? What is the nature of curricula? Explore how each affects the other. Andrew Pudewa will discuss the single element that rests at the core of our success in teaching our children. Furthermore, we can integrate all these ideas as we work to build community with like-minded fellow homeschoolers in a time when we all feel an increasing need for it. From his three decades of teaching and parenting experience, Andrew will share useful concepts and humorous stories to answer these questions and help invigorate your homeschool.
God did not Give us Hearts of Fear-2 Timothy 1:7, by Shannon L. Mokry
Homeschool is hard work, but God prepared you for it. Not only did he prepare you, but he encourages you to not live a life of fear, but to be a role model by living out the gifts he did give you. The gifts of Power, of Love, and of Sound Mind
Moving to Independent Learners
Child-Led Learning – The Power of Self-Assessment, by Christy Gandara
Empower your child to take ownership of their learning with our Child-Led Learning – The Power of Self-Assessment workshop. This session will explore how self-assessment helps children reflect on their progress, set meaningful goals, and foster a deeper sense of independence – all critical components of thinking for themselves. You’ll learn practical strategies for teaching your child to evaluate their own work, overcome common challenges, and use self-assessment tools like rubrics, checklists, and reflection journals.
Whether you’re new to homeschooling or looking to enhance your child-led learning approach, this workshop will provide you with valuable tools to help your child grow into a confident, self-directed learner.
Want Independent Learners?- First, Master Your Homeschool Schedule, by Amber J. Smith
Homeschooling can help your child become an independent, lifetime learner. How can you help lay a path to lead your child to self-direction and task management? In this interview, veteran homeschool mother of ten Amber J. Smith shares the habits that prepared her teens to handle their high school workloads. Listen in if you want students ready for college, the trades, and a healthy, independent life.
- Establish routine, daily habits, and clear expectations to prepare your kids for independence before they are ready.
- Give Clear EXPECTATION
- ROUTINES start young.
- Building Daily HABITS
Graduate Early, Succeed Faster: Strategies for Homeschool Teens, by Michelle Osborn
Graduating early isn’t just about finishing high school faster; it’s about setting your teen up for success in the real world. Teens who graduate early can take ownership of their next steps, whether it’s college, entrepreneurship, or volunteer work. By navigating real-world challenges sooner, they develop confidence, adaptability, and resilience—traits that will serve them for a lifetime.
Your teen doesn’t need to graduate early to start learning and implementing these life skills described in this session. Whether they graduate in two years or four, these skills will set the foundation for a confident, capable young adult ready to take on life.
AI and Your Future: Unlocking the Potential of AI for Teens, by Debbi Hockman
This session explores how to use AI safely and responsibly while maintaining creativity and originality. Teens will learn how to leverage AI as a tool for academic success and career preparation, turning it into a coach rather than a crutch. This session provides actionable tips and best practices to help teens develop skills that will set them apart in any future career they pursue.
Teach How to Think!, by Lisa Nehring
Discover how the 4 C’s of education—Critical Thinking, Collaboration, Creativity, and Communication—are the keys to equipping students not just to succeed, but to excel in a rapidly evolving world.
Explore practical strategies for teaching students how to think, not what to think, fostering independence and intellectual growth. Learn how to encourage students to ask better questions, solve complex problems, and engage meaningfully with others. We’ll dive into actionable methods for nurturing creativity while building collaborative skills that empower students to innovate and thrive in teams.
The heart of this session is Communication: how it drives the other three C’s and why teaching students to articulate their ideas effectively can transform their learning experiences. This talk offers actionable takeaways for educators, parents, and mentors, leaving you inspired and equipped to guide the next generation of thinkers and doers.
Life Skills for Leaders
Special Workshops provided by the Summit’s Partner, Unbound…fighting against human trafficking. We will email info about these 2 live workshops to all Basic & All Access Pass holders.
NOTE: Kerry will donate 5% of the Summit’s profits to Unbound. Some speakers will donate 5% of their commissions. Kerry will double each speaker’s donation by matching it.
Keeping Students Safe for Parents / Caregivers
by UnboundBCS
A one hour training that explains what human trafficking is, how to identify it and how to respond. This training is specifically tailored to parents and caregivers of children and youth in order to expand on topics including: internet safety, child vulnerabilities and pornography. This training has been reviewed and supported by the Texas Governor’s Office and has been presented to thousands of caregivers across Texas.
Keeping Students Safe Students
by UnboundBCS
A one hour training that explains what human trafficking is, how to identify it and how to respond. This training is specifically tailored students aged 6th grade and up. While discussing mature topics, our training discusses these concepts in an age-appropriate manner. This training has been reviewed and supported by the Texas Governor’s Office and has been presented to thousands of students across Texas.e for their son.
Spiritual & Body Care
Homeopathy Basics: 4 Essentials for Empowered Family Wellness Care, by Amanda Pelser
Are you ready to explore a biblically aligned, scientific approach to natural health for your family? In this session, Amanda will introduce you to homeopathy and unpack how this system of health and wellness aligns with both biblical principles and scientific foundations. We’ll cover the four essential tools every beginner needs to begin using homeopathy effectively at home. You’ll learn how to adopt a mindset shift from the conventional system, the importance of quality reference resources, why a remedy kit is vital, and how to confidently dose for acute situations. By the end of this workshop, you’ll have a clear path to using homeopathy confidently and successfully, equipped with actionable insights and resources to support your journey into this powerful, hope-filled approach to family wellness.
Getting Unstuck: Get Out of The Mental Ruts That Are Holding You Back, by Julie Ross
As the thermostats of our home, we are constantly setting the temperatures within our family by the thoughts that we repeatedly think. In order to transform our homeschools, we need to transform the negative thoughts that keep us stuck in self-defeating cycles. In this powerful talk, Certified Christian Life Coach and creator of A Gentle Feast, Julie Ross, will help you identify your negative mental patterns and give you practical tools to develop a success mindset. Including a combination of Charlotte Mason’s teaching on mental habits, cutting edge neuroscience, and Biblical principles, this talk will leave you empowered to transform your thoughts for a more positive homeschool.
Self-Care Strategies for Busy Homeschool Parents, by Peggy Ployhar
Do you feel like there’s never enough time in the day to care for your home, teach your kids, and maybe even manage a job? Self-care often takes a backseat in the chaos, but it doesn’t have to. Join Peggy Ployhar, SPED Homeschool Founder, CEO, and recent cancer survivor, as she shares her journey from near burnout to finding balance in the midst of a busy homeschooling life.
In this inspiring and practical talk, Peggy will show you how to weave self-care into your daily routine—no matter how full your plate is. You’ll gain real-world strategies and creative tips for prioritizing your well-being so you can show up fully for your family and your homeschooling goals. Walk away with renewed energy and actionable ideas to thrive as both a parent and educator.
Relationships & Social Skills
Church Hurt: What I learned When I Stayed, by Leilani Melendez
There are so many different congregations out there, so why not just leave when someone in your congregation offend you? Or maybe it’s several people that kick you off of the worship team or exclude you from a church event. In this talk I want to challenge you: what if you stayed and lovingly confronted these people and your own sin. What if you learned from your experience and grew closer to those that hurt you?
From Tears to Triumph: Helping Your Children Overcome Disappointment, by Christy Gandara
Is your child feeling down after a setback? Do you struggle to find the right words to comfort them? Join Christy Gandara of Happy Hive Homeschooling for this informative workshop and learn practical strategies to help your child navigate disappointment and build resilience.
Discover how to:
- Acknowledge your child’s emotions and provide support.
- Teach effective problem-solving skills.
- Foster a positive mindset and encourage resilience.
- Create a supportive environment that promotes emotional well-being.
- By fostering resilience, you invest in your children’s future happiness, success, and overall quality of life.
How to Help Your Homeschooled Child Make & Keep Friends, by Melanie Wilson
A major concern of those considering homeschooling is how it will affect their kids’ friendships.
In this session, we’ll discuss how to help homeschoolers of all ages find friends and develop the skills needed to keep healthy friendships.
Marriage Tips when Your Spouse Isn’t a Believer or Walking with God, by Erin Cox
Listen to Erin’s marriage story and walk away with practical tips when you and your spouse are not on the same page. Whether your spouse is not a believer or not walking with God or not in the same place spiritually as you are, you’ll be encouraged by God’s faithfulness and simple tips you can implement today.
We defeat the enemy by the word of our testimony. (Revelation 12:11) Erin’s testimony does just that.
Flip The Scale: Teaching Our Kid to View Failure As Success, by Sarah McCubbin
Every parent wants their teens to become successful adults. However, oftentimes we are raising kids paralyzed by anxiety, afraid of failure or struggling to take action on the next thing they need to do. What if your teens knew…really understood and believed that failing was a form of success. It’s easy to look around and see successful people…but that is almost always built on mountains of failed attempts. Let’s talk about how we can flip our kids thinking about failure.
Entrepreneurship & Business Skills
Entrepreneurship Skills to Grow the Whole Child, by Shannon L. Mokry
Being an entrepreneur is more than just a finding a way to make money. It teaches communication skills, organization skills, money management skills, potentially computer skills, writing skills, I could go on. Encouraging our children in creating their own businesses, and helping them through the process gives them a safe place to learn, fail, and grow in as many ways as it teaches knew skills. How a person fails is just as important as how they succeed. The process also helps them figure out what things they are good at, and what they enjoy in small amounts, but not so much in large amounts, leading to healthier choices as they grow into young adults and Independance.
The Perfect Match: Entrepreneurial Life and Homeschool Freedom, by Amber J. Smith
Homeschooling can give your family the freedom to pursue a radically different life with freedom and lasting success. As restauranteurs, small business owners, and once-micro-homesteaders, homeschooling allowed us to follow our dreams with our kids at our side.
A Few Ways Homeschooling Gives You the Freedom to Build Your Best Life What could Homeschooling change for you?
- Bring your kids to work
- Create Your schedules
- Involvement in your kid’s lives, dreams, and goals
Money Skills
Tech Skills
Smart Solutions with AI: Homeschool Help for Moms, by Debbi Hockman
In this Life Skills Leadership Summit session, we’ll explore how you can use AI in your homeschool to simplify lesson planning, spark creativity, and tailor learning to your kids’ unique needs—all while keeping things safe and responsible. If you’re ready to see how AI can make homeschooling even more engaging and effective, this session is for you.
Kids’ Brains & Screens, by Mandee Hamann
A discussion around how screens are affecting developing brains and what options parents have around screentime in their homes.
Getting Started With Using AI in Your Homeschool, by Simit Patel
Artificial intelligence (AI) can be a tremendous boon for homeschool parents. If you’re a parent short on time but passionate about offering your child a personalized education, learn how you can get started with using artificial intelligence to accomplish your goals. A simple step-by-step approach will be offered, as well as free resources to help you get started.
Use Technology — Don’t Let It Use You, by Simit Patel
Most will agree that computing technology has become an unavoidable part of our world that can afford its users many opportunities. However, a feeling that technology may also be robbing us of something is also increasingly prevalent. What are the promises and perils of technology, and how we can enjoy the opportunities while protecting ourselves from its pitfalls? Learn how technology can empower or imprison you, and how you can ensure you are using it in the best and safest manner for your family.
Hands On at Home
Baking Together- What You’re Actually Doing for Your Kids, by Sarah Collins
Led by an occupational therapist, this session breaks down the task of baking to discuss the motor skills, social skills, cognitive skills, and academic skills that you are naturally addressing. Then, it provides actionable steps to adapt or accommodate so every child regardless of age and ability can participate in this family pastime
You Can Make A Raggy Edge Quilt!, by Jeri Little
Come along with me as I show you how to make this quilt from start to finish. Learn about the fabric and how to cut out the blocks. Next, learn how easy it is to sew the blocks and put them together to form rows and then the rows to form the quilt! Learning to sew is a life skill that can turn into a hobby or career and you never stop learning new areas of the craft to explore!
Prepare for Adult Life
Preparing to Launch: A Homeschool Parent’s Guide, by Traci Bakenhaster
Raising confident, capable teens ready for life after high school doesn’t have to be overwhelming. In this workshop, you’ll learn the six essential life skills every teen needs, and practical ways to help them thrive. Join us and take the guesswork out of preparing your teen for success! Ideal for families with teens ages 12+
Future Proof Your Kids: Raising Self Starters and Innovators, by Lisa Nehring
In the era of the 4th Industrial Revolution—where AI, automation, and digital innovation are reshaping every aspect of life—the skills our children need to thrive go beyond traditional education. This talk will explore how parents can prepare their kids for this rapidly evolving future by focusing on two critical areas: autodidact skills and an entrepreneurial mindset.
Discover how teaching children to become self-directed learners equips them to adapt, innovate, and excel in a world where knowledge is constantly evolving. Learn the essentials of fostering an entrepreneurial spirit: risk-taking, problem-solving, resilience, and creative thinking. Packed with practical tips and real-life examples, this session will empower parents to guide their children toward a future filled with opportunity, confidence, and success in the industries of tomorrow.
Time Management & Organization
Make a Plan, Execute the Plan, the Plan Goes Off the Rails, Make a New Plan, by Jodie Perry
Transform your chaos into calm with practical life skills to juggle homeschooling, work, and life. Learn the secret to making a plan, executing the plan, and a when the plan inevitably goes off the rails, you need to make a new plan. From over a decade of experience homeschooling six kids and running two businesses, Jodie knows how to tackle your overwhelm and turn your plans into action.
7 Steps to Finding Balance & Sanity as a Family in a Busy World, by Meredith Curtis
How on earth does Meredith juggle family life, homeschooling, leading worship, and being a pastor’s wife? She will share from her life ways to stay Christ-centered in the midst of hectic schedules, chaos, and interruptions. One woman cannot do it all so learn principles of delegation, choosing the best over the good, prioritizing, streamlining, and setting aside time to relax. Every person’s capacity is different. How do you know what your limitations are? How can you be more effective in juggling your different responsibilities right now?
Planning, Organization, and Time Management, OH MY!!, by Sarah Collins
Led by an occupational therapist, this session breaks down these executive functioning skills so viewers understand the neuroscience and development and can artfully apply to their homeschools.
Plan Your Entire Homeschool Year With Trello (In 90 Minutes!), by Elisa Giorgio
Led by an occupational therapist, this session breaks down these executive functioning skills so viewers understand the neuroscience and development and can artfully apply to their homeschools.
Communication & Public Speaking
Five Brain Hacks That Will Help People Remember What You Say, by Katie Kimball, CSME
Mrs. Kimball coaches grown-ups who are speaking on TEDx stages, and in this workshop she’ll teach you some of the same powerful strategies she teaches them to help them write memorable, engaging talks. Good communication is a valuable life skill no matter your future profession!
Public Speaking: How to Start and Run a Public Speaking Club with your Kids, by Jean
I’ll share my 5+ years of experience with a Homeschool Speech Club and give you actionable steps to start a club with your kids.