Vicki Bentley is the mother of eight daughters, foster mom of over 50, and grandma to 15 wonderful grandbabies (so far). Vicki has homeschooled 17 children since 1988, alongside her husband Jim, and led a local support group of over 250 families for 14 years. She has served on the executive board and convention committee of the Home Educators Association of Virginia and has addressed state and national conventions, university teacher organizations and many mothers’ groups. She is the author of My Homeschool Planner, Everyday Cooking, The Everyday Family Chore System, Home Education 101: A Mentoring Program for New Homeschoolers, High School 101: Blueprint for Success, and other homeschool and homemaking helps as well as coordinating HSLDA’s Toddlers to Tweens and Group Services programs. Vicki has a heart for moms, with strong practical wisdom and encouraging words.

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Steve is a homeschool dad who personally homeschooled his own children from 1998 through 2004. He and his wife Katrina live in Louisville, Kentucky and have five children ranging in age from 21 to 27. From 1997 to the present, Steve has worked with VideoText Interactive, where his main focus has been to advise and counsel parents who want to make sure that their children excel in high school math. In addition, Clark edited and produced Life Skills for the Homeschooler, a book that addresses dozens of practical issues that many homeschoolers forget to teach. Clark is also President of the Homeschool Speakers & Vendors Association, which helps homeschool speakers and vendors in the promotion of their products and services with the goal of ensuring that all homeschoolers in the US and Canada have access to the very best curriculum available.

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Dana has been a husband for almost 18 years, father for 17 years, Lutheran pastor for ten years and saved by grace through faith in Christ for 39 years!  Lover of theology and history, good books, woodworking projects, and firearms, he lives in the eager and joyful anticipation of the glorious return of the King of Kings. Come Lord Jesus!

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This year's Convention offers several Panel Discussions.  These are workshops hosted by a group of seasoned homeschoolers who are ready to encourage you and answer your questions!

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Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar could not be classified as “normal” homeschooling parents, especially because they have nineteen children. However, their children have much to share on why they are grateful for the way their parents have taught them at home. Jill (far left) has a passion to communicate principles her parents have used that really have made the difference in her life.

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Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar could not be classified as “normal” homeschooling parents, especially because they have nineteen children. However, their children have much to share on why they are grateful for the way their parents have taught them at home. Jana (second on left) has a passion to communicate principles her parents have used that really have made the difference in her life.

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Denise, a homeschool mother of four, is the author of the multiple award-winning book, Uncovering the Logic of English: A Common Sense Solution to America’s Literacy Crisis, and The Logic of English series of curriculum and learning materials. She is the founder and president of Pedia Learning, Inc., a company focused on improving English literacy worldwide through curriculum development, books, educational software and training. She is an educator, speaker and curriculum designer who has worked in the field of literacy instruction since 1995. She and her husband have always home-schooled their children, and their company, Pedia Learning, was born out of their own experiences homeschooling children who struggled with reading and spelling. In 2007, Denise was trained in a multi-sensory Orton-based approach to teaching reading and spelling. In addition to public speaking, Denise has taught a variety of classes for home-school students at co-ops and offered training for home-school parents in reading and spelling instruction.

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ICHE encourages grandparents who are not home educating their children or grandchildren themselves to attend this convention for free!  We desire for grandparents to understand what we're doing and why we're doing it.

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Sandi and her husband Steve joined the ICHE Board in 2006. They have homeschooled five children for the past eleven years. Prior to family and conviction to homeschool, Sandi was employed as a consultant to senior management in the health-care arena and taught business development in a local university MBA program. Upon the birth of their first child, God began to call their hearts home and teach them the truths of becoming a visionary family for His glory. Steve and Sandi have a growing ministry to train parents in a Biblical vision for their families.

For more information please visit www.chicagoconservatory.org.

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Steve and his wife Sandi joined the ICHE Board in 2006. They have homeschooled five children for the past 16 years; two of their children have graduated from high school and are now receiving advanced education and mentorship through The Chicago Conservatory of Arts and Sciences, a family entrepreneurial endeavor. Steve is the President of an investment management firm in Chicago as well as a teaching elder in a family-integrated church. Prior to family and conviction to homeschool, Sandi was employed as a consultant to senior management in the health care arena and taught business development in a local university MBA program. Upon the birth of their first child, God began to call their hearts home and teach them the truths of becoming a visionary family for His glory. Steve and Sandi have a growing ministry to train parents in a biblical vision for their families.

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Jeffrey and his wife Melissa have five children. In 1993 the Lord introduced them to homeschooling through some godly friends. The encouragement they received showed them the need to shepherd their children’s hearts ‘from the beginning’. Jeff and Melissa believe the family should reflect the biblical model of discipleship from one generation of believers to another. Jeff and Melissa serve on the leadership team of a local support group, HEART. Their involvement in HEART and in family ministries through their own church has given the Lewis family many opportunities to grow in their faith and to see God’s hand turning the hearts of parents toward their children year after year. In 2006, Jeff and Melissa joined the Board of Directors of Illinois Christian Home Educators, ICHE.

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Dan and his wife Sharon founded A Friend To All God’s Creatures over 15 years ago. Now known as Incredible Bats, they have been educating the public about the benefits of bats with the use of live Egyptian Fruit Bats. They have reached a large audience across the Midwest dispelling the myths of these incredible creatures. Sharon is a public school teacher/librarian with a Masters of Education degree. Dan has served as a teaching elder at a small Chicago area church for many years. Early on, Dan realized that instead of merely giving secular talks about bats, these incredible creatures could be used for a creation ministry. So, along with secular venues, Dan has taught in churches, Bible camps, homeschool groups and creation seminars.

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One of Christine’s greatest passions is to encourage and help families who are homeschooling their special and struggling students. She and Fernando have been married for 25 years, and have been homeschooling for 19 years. Together, they have successfully graduated three of their four sons from homeschool high school, including their oldest son who is on the autism spectrum. Christine has assisted with ICHE’s Special Needs Committee for several years, and has served as ICHE’s Coordinator for Special and Struggling Learners since 2009.

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Phillip is a former pastor and was a speaker for two years with a national youth ministry prior to starting Media Talk 101 in 2005. He is author of the book What Wouldn’t Jesus Do? Media choices in the light of following Christ and has ministered to youth and families over the last 20 years, sharing at camps, retreats, conferences, Christian schools and church services around the country. Phillip is also passionate about family-integrated church and ministry. He has served as a co-pastor at Living Water Fellowship in Bulverde, Texas with Richard ‘Little Bear’ Wheeler, and was director and teacher for Living Water School of Ministry. He and his wife Mary have been married for 20 years and home educate their four children.

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Norm is the founder and executive director of The Spirit of Elijah Ministries, International. He and his wife Alma live in Bulverde, Texas and have four children and 14 grandchildren. They began homeschooling in 1984 and are still involved in the homeschooling of their grandchildren. Norm has been a keynote and conference speaker at state and international homeschool conventions since 1992. God has given him a pastor/teacher's heart to teach how the Gospel applies to all relationships and circumstances in life. His knowledge of Jesus Christ and the Scriptures coupled with his homeschool experience enables him to specifically speak to the many challenges homeschool parents, children and young adults face on a daily basis. What makes Norm unique is that he speaks from his heart to the hearts of his listeners with a reliance upon the Spirit and presence of Jesus Christ. You'll find his messages Biblical, practical, inspirational and encouraging.

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