2008 Convention Speakers

Michael Farris
Michael P. Farris is Chairman of the Home School Legal Defense Association and Chancellor of Patrick Henry College. Since founding HSLDA in 1983, Farris has used his extensive experience in both politics and appellate litigation to defend parental rights and help grow the organization to over 80,000 member families. He is also the founding president and current Chancellor of Patrick Henry College, a Christian institution with the mission of training students through a classical liberal arts curriculum and apprenticeship methodology to impact the world “for Christ and for Liberty.” Farris has written over a dozen books, including three novels, a constitutional law textbook, and works on marriage, parenting, homeschooling, political advocacy, and religious liberty. His daily radio program, Home School Heartbeat, airs on several hundred stations nationwide. In recognition of his work in home education, Education Week has named Farris one of the “Top 100 Faces in Education of the 20th Century.” Heritage Foundation awarded him its Salvatori Award for American Citizenship in 2002. Mike and Vickie Farris live in Purcellville, Virginia, and have ten children and ten grandchildren.

Kevin Swanson
Kevin Swanson was raised and homeschooled by his parents on the Japanese mission field in the 1960's and 70's. After graduating from homeschooling, Kevin attended a large California university where he was elected student body president by a student body of 17,000. He and his wife, Brenda, are now homeschooling their five children. Kevin has 35 years of experience in the homeschooling movement and has served as Executive Director of Christian Home Educators of Colorado for the last seven years. He has served in various other leadership positions in corporate management, church, and other non-profits. For the last 3 years Kevin has hosted a daily radio program, Generations - a Homeschool and Biblical worldview program broadcast on air across the Rocky Mountain Front Range and via the web to all 50 states and over 30 countries around the world. He is also the author of two books: The Second Mayflower and Upgrade: The Ten Time-Tested Secrets of a Successful Education. Serving as a resource on home education, he has been featured on hundreds of media outlets, including Dr. James' Dobson's Focus on the Family and the Fox News Network.

Tom Clark
Tom Clark is a life-long teacher of mathematics and science with 35 years experience at all levels. As a result of all of his experience, he is convinced that everyone has the ability to understand mathematics. In the last several years, he has focused on the development of multimedia programs that challenge traditional methods of instruction, and has directed his attention toward helping homeschooling parents become more effective instructors. He is founder of VideoText Interactive, a company that specializes in bringing the textbook to life through technology. The company’s first major program, “Algebra: A Complete Course,” has been acclaimed by homeschoolers worldwide. The newly released program “Geometry: A Complete Course (including Trigonometry),” is already receiving rave reviews.

Dianne Craft
Dianne Craft has 25 years experience teaching children who are bright, but struggle with learning. Some children struggle because of a “glitch” in the processing of information, sometimes referred to as a learning disability. Some children struggle because of a “glitch” in the processing of information (sometimes referred to as a learning disability). Others are affected by ADD/ADHD, dyslexia, sensory integration issues, autism, Asperger’s syndrome, Down syndrome, and Turner’s syndrome. Dianne approaches these problems in a unique way, applying the latest brain research as well as expertise in the biochemical factors that contribute to children’s behavioral, attention, and learning struggles. Dianne has a Master’s Degree in Special Education, is a Certified Natural Health Professional and a former homeschool mom. She is president of Child Diagnostics, Inc., a private consultation firm in Denver, Colorado. In her daily practice, she sees families from all over the country, helping them find ways to make learning easier for their children. She has created teaching tools for parents and teachers such as, The Right Brain Phonics Program, Brain Integration Therapy manual, and The Biology of Behavior CD set. Dianne is passionate about making learning easier for children everywhere.

Michael Donnelly
Mike serves as staff attorney for member affairs in the states of Maine, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, Ohio, Utah, Vermont, Wyoming, the District of Columbia, and manages HSLDA’s involvement on behalf of persecuted homeschoolers in the Federal Republic of Germany. Mike received his Juris Doctorate from the Boston University School of Law with honors graduating at the top of his class. He is a member of the New Hampshire and Massachusetts State Bars. Before his legal career, Mike served in the United States Army including combat service as a cavalry officer in the first Persian Gulf War. His previous experience includes founding a top 30 Internet marketing and advertising firm as well as private business consulting and legal practice. Mike has served on a variety of non-profit boards and is a frequent speaker and writer on the subject of homeschooling. He appears regularly on radio and TV programs to talk about homeschooling and the persecution of German homeschoolers. Mike and Patty homeschool their six children in Charles Town, West Virginia.

Tammy Duby
Tammy Duby is a homeschool mom of 18 years, a mother of two, and a borrower of other people’s children. She holds degrees in Elementary and Early Childhood Education. Her teaching takes a hands-on approach, while emphasizing literature and history. Her workshops offer a blessing, a good laugh, and practical ideas parents can implement right away. Tammy is the co-author of the Ultimate Lap Book™ Handbook, and is currently working on a curriculum project for Common Sense Press. She and her husband Mike own Tobin’s Lab: Hands-On Science. While equipping families to teach science at home, their special joy is ministering to parents at conferences and at support group workshops. The live in the country near Culpeper, Virginia, with Megan, age 14, and Tobin, age 21.

Bruce Eagleson
Dr. Bruce K Eagleson has practiced emergency medicine for nearly 30 yrs. He and his wife have exclusively homeschooled their four children for 22 years. They have three high school at home graduates and are still homeschooling the youngest. Their first and third children did college at home. Dr. Eagleson sees himself as a homeschool evangelist. Bruce is recognized nationally as the chairman of The National Alliance of Christian Home Education Leadership. The Eaglesons have served for 12 years on and the board of directors of the Christian Homeschool Association of Pennsylvania (CHAP). He currently chairs that board. Dr. Eagleson also founded the CHAP Foundation. In addition, Dr. Eagleson is the author of the CHAP getting started book, Keys to Homeschooling in the Keystone State. Bruce also writes a regular column for the CHAP newsletter. Bruce’s teaching has been received enthusiastically at many conferences including ENOCH of NJ, Mass HOPE, TEACH CT, HoME, CHAP, Sandy Cove’s and Harvey Cedars’ Bible Conference homeschool week, and the National Alliance of Home Education Leadership. Topics he speaks on include: character lessons from historical figures, apologetics, a vision to homeschool, creation, getting started in homeschooling, what to do after high school, and many Bible topics. Dr. Eagleson has been described as a principled, courageous, and visionary national home school leader.

Generations of Virtue team
Generations of Virtue, under the direction of Julie Hiramine (who is unable to be with us this year), equips parents to empower their children to be pure in our culture today. They have encouraged parents both in the U.S. and internationally through speaking engagements and written materials. Generations of Virtue is based in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Walt & Glenda Grayum
Walt and Glenda Grayum are former MassHOPE board members and veteran Christian homeschoolers with a heart for parents who are just beginning the journey. They are currently completing their 21st year of homeschooling. All six of their children have been homeschooled from the beginning, and include two college graduates, two college students, one junior high student, and one elementary school student. They’ve “been there, done that, read the book, watched the movie, bought the t-shirt…” and have a wealth of experience helping homeschooling families get off to a great start!

Maggie Hogan
Maggie and Bob Hogan live in a (formerly) Amish farmhouse in Dover, DE where they began homeschooling their two (now grown) sons in 1991. She is a regular contributor to homeschooling internet sites as well as print magazines like Homeschooling Today and The Old Schoolhouse. She’s a nationally known speaker and co-author of The Ultimate Geography and Timeline Guide, Gifted Children at Home, Hands-on Geography and other resource books. Involved in local, state, and national homeschooling issues, they both serve on boards of home education organizations in Delaware. They’re also owners of Bright Ideas Press, publishers of the award winning: The Mystery of History series, Christian Kids Explore series and All American History series. When not reading or writing, Maggie can be found drooling over scrapbooking supplies and book catalogs.

Rebecca Keller
In 2001 Dr. Rebecca W. Keller began to develop a formalized training program to equip non-science teachers (usually other moms) to feel comfortable with the material. Today, Real Science-4-Kids, with its easy-to-use teacher-friendly manuals and engaging, kid-friendly text, is in 50 states as well as Australia, Canada, Japan and Korea. Dr. Keller’s team continues to develop and test products. She is introducing Kogs-4-KidsTM, an interdisciplinary curricula program, in Spring 2008. Dr. Keller didn’t set out to be an author. A former research assistant professor at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, Dr. Keller worked in the molecular biology field. Her background in biophysics, molecular biology and neuroscience, coupled with her love of the dramatic to let her prepare interesting “labs” for her children and neighbors. “Science is fun,” she says. A home-school mom, she developed Real Science-4-Kids after searching for a science curriculum that taught solid science concepts in a manner understandable for youngsters.

Teresa Moon
A nationally featured seminar speaker and author, Teresa Moon holds graduate degrees in Curriculum/Instruction and in Education Administration. In addition to homeschooling her two sons, Wendell, now a senior in college and Devin, a recent high school graduate, Teresa is the author of several books, publisher of educational curriculum, communications consultant, Executive Director of Communicators for Christ, President of CFC’s sister organization, Communicators Advantage Project (CAP) and President of the non-profit organization, Institute for Cultural Communicators (ICC). Teresa conducts workshops across America to encourage students and their parents, teachers and tutors, offering insight from her experience as an educator and sharing practical tools for coaching cultural communicators. Teresa has inspired students of all ages to think critically and speak persuasively, producing nationally recognized student speakers. Leading her staff of trained peer mentors to conduct communications conferences from coast to coast, she challenges students and their parents to refine the skills of communication to impact the culture. Teresa Moon is the author of several books and resources including Evaluating for Excellence: A Handbook for Evaluating Student Progress and the Beginning Public Speaking multimedia curriculum.

Ginger Plowman
Ginger Plowman, Founder of Preparing the Way Ministries, is the author of Don’t Make Me Count to Three!, Wise Words for Moms, and Heaven at Home. She is a contributing author of several books, including God Allows U-Turns, Rest Stops for Busy Moms, and The Groovy Chicks Road Trip to Peace. Ginger is an award-winning writer whose articles have appeared in numerous publications. An enthusiastic and compelling communicator, Ginger is frequently interviewed on television shows as well as national radio programs. As a nationally known speaker, Ginger ministers at women’s events, parenting conferences, and home school conventions across the country. Ginger and her husband, Jim, lie in Opelika, Alabama, where she homeschools their two children, Wesley and Alex.

Jim and Karen Stobaugh
Jim and Karen Stobaugh have four home educated adult children. They have a strong burden for the new leadership group that God is calling forth from the homeschooling community. Jim has written the well-received, and one of the best resources for the 2005 SAT exam, SAT and College Preparation Course for the Christian Student (1998) as well as a Language Arts Critical Thinking Literary series, American and World History Unit Studies, and two new books, Fire that Burns but does not Consume; Devotions for Thoughtful Christians (2003) and A Companion to 50 Classics (2004). Jim and Karen reside in Holsopple, Pennsylvania.