Nancy began as the ultimate homeschool skeptic. Now, after 20+ years teaching her own four children, she has become the “go-to lady” for many and a champion of the cause.

She's a certified teacher and has spoken at homeschool conferences in over 10 states where she is known for her enthusiasm, energy, and encouragement.

Having graduated all of her children, Nancy finds it exciting to have graduated herself to being a mentor for other homeschool families.

She and her husband own HEPPNER’S LEGACY, a homeschool store in Elk River, MN, where they delight in ministering to the unique needs of families year round, and where parents say, “Come for the books. Stay for the therapy.™”

Nancy's Workshops

• Exploring Learning Styles for More Effective Instruction*
• Engaging Early Learners
• Homeschooling: The BIG Picture

* Beginning Homeschooling Special Track Workshop

Mandee Hamann is a businesswoman and former Early Childhood and  Elementary pastor with an additional 10+ years of youth ministry experience alongside her husband, Jeremy.

She is mom to three teenagers, and 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 ScreenStrong's solutions to screen conflicts in the home.

MANDEE'S Workshops

• Kids' Brains and Screens
• You Are More Than Your Screen*

* Teen Track Workshop

Dr. Joe O'Tool is the founder of Lifestream Brain + Body Clinic ('13).

He began his career as a Doctor of Chiropractic and is now one of only three Board-Certified Functional Neurologists in the state of Iowa. He and his team focus on all things brain related, including concussion prevention and recovery, helping kids with learning/behavior/development concerns, and more common concerns like dizziness, vertigo, brain fog and healthy aging. 

Dr, Joe is passionate about neuroscience, overall health, and changing lives. He and his wife, Angie, also have a passion for homeschooling (fun fact - they were both homeschooled!) and love how doing so allows them to experience life together as a family.

They are active members in their local church and love hearing how God works in the lives of His people all over the world. The O'Tools also serve as members of the Homeschool Iowa Board.

DR. JOE'S WorkshopS

• The Slow Brain & The Fast Brain
• The Split Brain: Right Brain and Left Brain for the Student and Teacher

A 25-year veteran in technology services, Nick Reddin specializes in driving technical innovation, agile transformation, and operational efficiencies for Fortune 500 companies.

Nick combines deep technical expertise with a futurist's perspective, enabling him to bridge the gap between current realities and disruptive workforce trends on the horizon. He is a highly sought-after consultant, advising leaders on how to adapt their people, processes, and technologies to thrive in the face of AI, workflow automation, and digital disruption.

Blending real-world knowledge and experience with visionary thinking, Nick empowers enterprises to gain a competitive edge by getting future-ready. 

Nick and his wife, Dana, homeschooled their six chioldren for two dozen years, and they currently serve as members of the Homeschool Iowa Board of Directors. 

NICK'S Workshop

• Embracing AI:
  A Homeschooler's Guide

Becca Groves is a wife of Rory and a mother of six children (ages 1-13) with a passion for helping women see the high calling of our daily work.

The Groves family founded Gather & Grow, a ministry dedicated to rebuilding the family economy and encouraging productive households. They spend their days homesteading, homeschooling and hosting workshops on their farm in southern Minnesota.

BECCA's Workshop

• Our Daily Bread: A Demonstration Workshop on Bread-Making

Jeremy Vos serves as the Homeschool Iowa Lobbyist. He and his wife, Jodi, are also Homeschool Iowa Board Members.

Jeremy and Jodi have been married for over two decades and have four children, two of whom they are still homeschooling.

They have been active in their local homeschool group and are now serving as our Homeschool Iowa Capitol Day coordinators. 

JEREMY'S Workshop

• Protecting Homeschool Freedom in Iowa

Diana Plorins serves as the Homeschool Iowa Regional Representative for Region 14, the Polk County area. She and her husband, Jim, have homeschooled three children through high school.  They recently adopted two young children and began a second season of homeschooling.

Diana and Jim were initially reluctant about homeschooling.  Over time (and through speakers at H.I. conferences), they realized God’s desire for them to use homeschooling as a means for discipling their children.  They have now been homeschooling for fifteen years.   

Diana has provided leadership as a support group board member.  As a Regional Representative, she provides guidance for homeschool families and presents workshops for homeschool groups.  Diana hopes to encourage and equip families, so they can confidently homeschool through high school.  

You can find her website here.

DIANA'S Workshop

• Homeschooling High School, Part 1*
• Homeschooling High School, Part 2*

* Homeschooling High School Special Track Workshop

Mark serves as the Vice President of Enrollment at Faith Baptist Bible College in Ankeny, Iowa. 

He enjoys spending time with his family, hunting, fishing, mentoring college students, and speaking to teens.  Mark and his wife, Erin, have four children. 

MARK'S Workshop

• Bringing Clarity to Your Calling: Decision Making and the Will of God*

*Teen Track Workshop

Brian and his wife, Paula, live in Pella, Iowa.  He and Paula have pastored over 25 years. 

They are the primary presenters at Developing Great Relationships, a biblically based marriage enrichment ministry, and they travel locally and nationally as guest speakers. 

Brian and Paula love their two children, Amber and Chase and their spouses and two grandbabies!

Brian 's Workshop

• The Power and Influence of Healthy Marriages

Joni Moede has been married to her husband, Paul for 33 years. After hearing Ken Ham at the 1999 Homeschool Iowa Conference, they knew they were supposed to homeschool. They had one son and homeschooled him his whole life.

Out of the challenges and rewards of homeschooling, Joni sees the calling to be a mom as the “most important job in the world.” She is the mentoring moms coordinator for HEED and has mentored other moms for many years.

Joni 's Workshop

• Helping Children and Teens Develop their Relationship with God

Tim serves as the Executive Director of Tech Journey, a Des Moines nonprofit with a mission of inspiring youth to engage with and explore technology.

With over 25 years of corporate, non-profit and higher education experience in information technology, he enjoys helping the next generation become more digital literate as creators of technology rather than consumers..

Tim lives in Johnston and enjoys spending time with his family, serving the local church and traveling.

TIM'S Workshop

• Coding & Robotics*

* Teen Track Workshop