SPEAKERS & WORKSHOPS
Our conference offers an exceptional line-up of speakers with workshops covering a wide variety of topics related to your homeschooling efforts.
We invite conference speakers who present messages of hope and encouragement along with plenty of practical ideas and insight to help you teach, nurture, and develop the gifts in your child.
You'll leave our conference refreshed, re-energized, strengthened, inspired, and full of fresh ideas for your year ahead.
Check out our exciting 2026 Conference featured speaker line-up below! Watch for listings of additional speakers, too,. You'll find them displayed here in the coming weeks.
2026 FEATURED Speakers
Click on each featured speaker photo to view biographical information.ANDREW PUDEWA
ANDREW'S WORKSHOPS
• However Imperfectly
• Cultivating Language Arts PreK-High School
• Renaissance Education
• Nurturing Competent Communicators
• Reading Strategies for the Struggling Learner
HEIDI St. JOHN
HEIDI'S WORKSHOPS
• The Heart of the Home
• War of the Worldviews
• Legacy & Influence: 3 Ways to Focus on the Now to Influence the Future
• Help & Hope for the Overwhelmed Mom
• Prayers for the Battlefield
KEVIN SWANSON
KEVIN'S WORKSHOPS
• Christ-Centered Homeschooling in the 21st Century
• The 10 Secrets to the Best Education for Your Child
• The Homeschool High School
• A Biblical Worldview for History
2026 Workshop Speakers
Trisha Pull
Trisha Pull has thirteen years of experience teaching at home and is currently home educating five of her six children in grades 7, 8, 9, 11, and 12. In 2025, she joyfully graduated her first student, thereby reducing her teaching load by nearly 17%.
She has used a variety of teaching approaches, because different kids have different learning needs, and she believes that school customized to the individual student is one of the great strengths of homeschooling.
Following Jesus, not by obligation, but as a relationship driven by hearing His voice, is Trisha's goal in all she does.
Trisha has a bachelor's degree in oboe performance and music education.
Her favorite hobbies are music, University of Kansas basketball, tea, strategy board games, and running. Home renovation television shows are one of her vices.
TRISHA'S Workshops
• Homeschooling: Starting Off Right*
• Leveraging Learning Styles*
• Finding Curriculum to Fit Your Family
* Start Homeschooling Special Track
Andi Elliott
Andi Elliott is a homeschool consultant, speaker, and founder of Homeschool Builders, helping parents homeschool with confidence, flexibility, and purpose.
A gifted child and entrepreneur herself, Andi understands the challenges and potential of raising children with unique strengths.
She has homeschooled through overwhelming seasons—including caring for a child with terminal illness, experiencing loss, and adopting an older teen—while keeping a thriving homeschool environment.
Andi equips families with practical strategies, tools, and planners to organize their homeschool, prioritize essentials, foster independence, and integrate life skills in children of all ages.
She inspires parents to embrace intentional planning, flexible strategies, and practical approaches that reduce overwhelm. Her sessions provide guidance to raise confident, capable children while keeping the joy in learning alive.
ANDI'S WORKSHOPS
• Teaching Life Skills
• Beyond the Bubble
Kerry Williams
Kerry is a devoted mother of four and passionate advocate for homeschooling, with a particular focus on learning styles.
She’s been using RightStart Math since 2010 and believes in fostering a love for math through hands-on, engaging methods.
A lifelong lover of books, Kerry enjoys reading and discovering new titles to share with others.
Along with her husband, she runs a charming bookshop/coffeehouse, where they create a warm, welcoming space for the local community.
When she's not teaching, reading, or managing the shop, Kerry loves to travel and explore new places with her family.
KERRY'S Workshops
• Building a Solid Math Foundation
• Set the Math Worksheets Aside:
Let's Play Games
• Kids Who Learn Differently & the Parents Who Want Answers
Kathie Morrissey
Kathie Morrissey is the mother of 8 children, wife to Alan for 44 years, and a committed homeschooling mom of 31 years.
She is the founder of The Character Corner, where she loves to blog about parenting, family life, homeschooling, and life in general.
Kathie is a popular speaker at homeschool conventions, support groups, and ladies' retreats.Her heart’s desire is to help and encourage parents to be purposeful in raising Godly children with strong Christian character, who walk in purity and have a heart for God.
After 31 years of homeschooling, all eight of Kathie's kids have now graduated. Her greatest encouragement to young moms is to be faithful in teaching and training their kids while leaving the results to God.
KATHIE'S Workshops
• Training Character into Your Children
• Dealing with a Difficult Child
• Managing Multi-Level Teaching
Scott Woodruff, a follower of Christ since his conversion in 1971, earned his juris doctor degree from the University of Virginia in 1980.
He's worked for HSLDA since 1998, assisting thousands of home educating families in dealings with social workers, police officers, truant officers, principals, superintendents, and prosecuting attorneys.
Currently, he serves at the HSLDA Director of Legal and Legislative Advocacy.
Scott has represented HSLDA members in court and has appeared before many state legislatures to fight against repressive homeschool legislation.
He is a frequent speaker at homeschool conferences and on radio programs across the country.
Scott and his wife, Jane, homeschooled all three of their children.
Scott's Workshop
• Understanding Iowa's Homeschool Law* Start Homeschooling Special Track
Ben DEFORD
Ben DeFord is the fifth of six children that his parents successfully (and happily!) homeschooled through high school.
As a kid, Ben loved everything related to biology, and he seriously considered working in the agricultural industry before God directed his steps into teaching, a career that he had not seriously considered to that point.
Ben is a beloved middle school teacher at Des Moines Christian School, where his passion is to help his students find their own love of biology and "all things science."
BEN'S Workshop
- You CAN Teach Science!
JEREMY VOS
Jeremy Vos serves as the Homeschool Iowa Lobbyist. He and his wife, Jodi, are also retired 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 also help with our Homeschool Iowa Capitol Day event.
JEREMY'S Workshop
• Homeschool Iowa Advocacy & Legislative Update
Ebon Carter
Ebon Carter has been married to his wife, Ranee, for 24 years, and they have two amazing daughters, both of whom are married. Their first grandchild is due to arrive in March 2026.
EBON'S Workshop
• Marriage Workshop
CHAD STEWART
Chad Stewart has been a professional animator in film and television for over 35 years! He’s animated at studios such as Disney and Sony on such films as:: Tarzan, The Emperor’s New Groove, Fantasia 2000, The Polar Express, Stuart Little 2, and Surf’s Up.
Ten years ago, Chad was inspired to share his knowledge of animation with kids via the wonders of the world wide web, starting The Animation Course, the first online animation class for students ages 11 to 18.
Through this venture, Chad and his wife Kayla have helped over 6000 students explore and learn about animation and filmmaking.
Chad and Kayla's family includes 4 adult birth daughters and 4 adult sons, adopted from Liberia, West Africa. As a family, they completed an over 20-year homeschooling journey!
CHAD'S Workshops
• Hands On! Design Your Own Character*
• Hands On! Animation Flip Book*
* TEEN Sessions Workshops
"Keep up the great work
in choosing such excellent speakers
to come and speak into our lives."
~ Homeschool Iowa Conference Attendee
Speaker Inquiries
Speaking at the Homeschool Iowa Conference is by invitation only. Speakers are carefully selected to fit Homeschool Iowa's philosophy, vision, and mission, and to not conflict with the Homeschool Iowa Board of Directors’ biblical worldview. Because of the high volume of speaker inquiries we receive, we are only able to follow up with those we are inviting to speak. If we are interested in having you speak, we will contact you before the year end preceding the scheduled conference date.
Speaker packets should include:
- Contact information, including email address, phone number, mailing address, company name, and website
- A list of all proposed workshop titles and descriptions
- Speaker biography
- A high-resolution (300dpi) digital photo
- Any requirements or accommodations you request for your speaking
- References or listings of previous speaking engagements
- At least two hour-long recordings of your recently presented workshops
Submit your packet to:
Homeschool Iowa
ATTN: Conference Speaker Coordinator
PO Box 158
Dexter, IA 50070
or to: speakers @homeschooliowa.org
By sending your audio recordings, you are consenting to allow Homeschool Iowa to upload them to a secure site for the speaker committee to access during the review process. Please note that submitted items, including workshop recordings, will not be returned.
Join us at the 2026 Homeschool Iowa Conference!


























