Speakers

John Bennett

John is a homeschooling dad of three kids and is also a high school and middle school math teacher. He spoke at the 2007 HSC Conference. Braingames! (Adult); Braingames -- Let's Play! (Family)

Joe Betts-LaCroix

Joe holds degrees from Harvard and MIT in Earth Sciences. He currently runs a computer company that he co-founded. He is a homeschooling dad of two. He also has taught electronics classes at the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry and has spoken to groups at Harvard. Dangerous Electronics (Family)

Lisa Betts-LaCroix

Lisa is a homeschooling mother of two. Before kids she worked as a film and television actor as well as a business coach and communication skills trainer. She currently leads a DI team and teaches Improv. Theatre Improvisation for Family Fun (Family); Problem-Solving Challenges for the Whole Family (Family)

Catherine Bratton

Catherine holds a Masters Degree in Education and Geography, and teaches adult education. She has given workshops in art, cooking and geography for Yolo County homeschoolers. She is a writer who has made contributions to California HomeSchooler Magazine. She has homeschooled her two sons for the last nine years. Inspired Learning: Finding and Feeding the Passions of Young People (Adult)

Heddi Craft

Heddi is a former elementary school teacher and curriculum consultant. She runs a resource center of educational toys, games, and learning materials where she also holds workshops on educational issues. She is homeschooling her three children ages 6, 4, and 1. Starting an Educational Lending Library (Adult); Setting Goals for Your Homeschooling (Adult); What Are Learning Styles? (Adult)

Scott and John Davis

Scott and John are homeschoolers who have been involved in martial arts for several years. Scott is working towards a degree in Kinesiology. John took 2nd place at the 2007 Full Bread MMA Tournament. He plans on pursuing a career in aviation. Scott plans on opening his own training studio. Kray Maga Israeli Self Defense (Family)

Kimberlee Davison

Kimberlee is an eleven year homeschooling parent of eight children, ranging from gifted to learning disabled. She has founded and directed a large homeschool cooperative. She has been published in national magazines and has also taught math at a community college and owned/operated an after school math tutoring center. Kimberlee has speaking experience with homeschoolers and adult community lectures covering topics from art history to religion. Write Me Some Math: How To Teach Math Without a Text (Adult); When Mom Can't Get Off the Bed...or the Phone: Plan B Days (Adult); More, More, More: Ways to Find and Accept Your Limits (Adult)

Val Gray

Val is an Educational Psychologist and Special Educator based in Australia. She has over 25 years of experience working with students with a wide range of special learning needs including gifted and talented, learning difficulties, down syndrome. Understanding and Adapting to Students with Special Learning Needs (Adult); Understanding and Adapting to the Needs of Gifted and Talented Students (Adult); Creative Teaching (Adult); Creative Minds (Family); Challenge Me!! (Teen)

Jay Hamilton-Roth

Jay founded Many Good Ideas to help small businessess brainstorm, design, and implement effective marketing strategies. He has used his hightech background from MIT to help him launch five businessess. And, he is a homeschooling Dad. Create A Successful Home-Based Business (Family)

Elisa Henderson and Lily Zaballos

Elisa is 13 years old and has homeschooled her whole life. This will be her 10th year attending the conference. Lily is 13 years old and has homeschooled her whole life. This will be her 5th year attending the conference. Rag Doll Making (Family)

Audrey Hollingsworth

Audrey has experience as an assistant director for the youth production of The Wizard of Oz at the Solano Youth Theatre. She has been acting with the same company for four years. Dress-Up Improv (Family)

Rusty Hopewell

Rusty is a registered dietician and holds a masters in nutrition. For the past five years has worked in nutrition education in the public schools. Rusty's family attended last years conference and have begun homeschooling their two small children. Education Through Nutrition (Family)

Hazuki Kataoka

Hazuki Kataoka writes, publishes, and performs kamishibai (Japanese paper theater) dramas, and works with teachers to bring the joy of kamishibai storytelling to American classrooms. Hazuki is a Tokyo native who graduated from San Jose State University's journalism program. Japanese Paper Theater (Kamishibai) Storytelling (Family)

Mary Ann Malkoff

Mary Ann has been homeschooling her two children for four years. She has huge amounts of volunteer time and has regularly taught classes, led meetings, raised funds and spoke for groups up to 3,000 people. Her family lives full time in their RV, touring the US and Canada for the last three years. The Grand Adventure (Adult); Living Your Dream (Adult); Family Volunteering Projects (Family)

Kristin Masters

With many years of experience as a leader of diversity and conflict resolution work, Kristin creates safe and inviting spaces for people to engage with their values, intentions, purpose and growing edges. A committed and joyful homeschool mom, she loves to offer parents time to remember what they want for their kids, and what to do for themselves. How to Hear Demands Differently (Family)

Matthew McGregor

Matthew is a Waldorf homeschooling dad of two small children. He is also a life long lover of the wilderness. Like his baby girl, Isabella, he is happiest when hes outside with some trees to watch. Like his 6 year old son, Max, he knows its been a great day if hes good and dirty. Like his wife, Carrie, he believes there is no such thing as bad weather, only inappropriate clothing. Sharing his love of nature through primitive technology, games, and camping is his passion. His greatest joy is wandering through the wilderness with out time or destination. If you have some time, ask him about it.Wilderness Survival Primer (Family); Make an Earth Shelter (Family); Making Friction Fire (Family); Nature Based Games (Family)

Christopher Melville

Christopher was raised in Mendocino County and attended Melville Montessori School from kindergarten through the 12th grade. He holds two bachelor's degrees and is currently a Montessori preschool/kindergarten teacher. He has also developed alternative methods for violence prevention with neighboring schools in his community and runs an after-school program based on these principles.

Susan Nelson

Susan is a long time homeschool mom of three children. She has also worked for over twenty years as a supervising teacher in a public ISP. She has been a presenter at various conferences, and also coordinated and organized several home education conferences in her local community. She has also published several articles on education, as well as a book. Think Outside the Book (Family)

Lucy Sargeant

Lucy maintains an art studio in San Jose, where she also teaches figure and representational drawing at San Jose State University. She graduated from SJSU with a double major bachelors degree and later became staff illustrator and assistant art director in charge of illustration for Sunset Magazine. She also has her Masters of Fine Arts degree in pictorial art. Young Artists Drawing Workshop (Family)

Daniel Shaindlin

Daniel Shaindlin is a homeschooling dad of two boys for ten years. He is the founder of Concert Opera of Manhattan. Has performed as operatic baritone and tenor for 25 years before becoming a screenwriter. Has much experience working with teens and adults in vocal technique, stage deportment, musicality, presentation and interpretation. Vocal Technique and Interpretation for Teens and Adults (Family)

Ben Smith

Germ Warfare (Family)

Kathy Smith

Kathy Smith is a longtime unschooling mom of six children and a current HSC Board Member. Strengthening Sibling Bonds (Adult); Your Teen's Worrisome Friendships (Adult)

Sarah Smith

Sarah 15, is a long-time unschooler. She is interested in life sciences, art, and manga to name a few interests. Sarah is nearly finished with her second fantasy book, and has some ideas for getting it published. She recently started a local environmental youth group, but still loves to spend time with friends working on perfecting the art of manga. Anime/Manga Discussion (Family)

Pam Sorooshian

How NOT to Pass on Math Anxiety (Adult); Unschooling Teens (Adult); Fun Math Activities for Young Children (Family)

Paul Stang

After 8 years as a professional engineer, Paul went on a world vision quest that focused on cultural architecture (unknowingly studying sacred geometry). He awoke from a dream, in Iceland, in which he was teaching at a new Waldorf school. Now, 12 years later,he has taught at university, highschool, elementary, kindergarten, and homeschooling, in the USA and Europe, while also leading adult workshops internationally since 2000. Seeking Wisdom in Mathematics (Family)

Susan Stewart

Susan K. Stewart is a teacher, writer, and speaker. She began teaching their children at home in 1981 and is considered a pioneer in the modern home education movement. Susan is the author of Science in the Kitchen: Fearless Science At Home For All Ages. Susan is now helping homeschool her granddaughter. Does Color Have Friction: Everyday Science (Adult); YouTube, MySpace, and Blogs. Oh My. (Adult); Beyond Google (Adult); Herding Cats (Adult)

Craig and Angela Usher

Angela Usher is a licensed clinical social worker specializing in perinatal care and neonatology, an artist of mutliple mediums, and on most days, a powerful being of joy and wonder. Craig Usher is a homeschooling dad, writer, and teacher with a penchant for mud and silliness.. Together, Angela and Craig Usher are enthusiastic homeschooling parents, loving partners, social workers, teachers, artists, HSC volunteers, and friends who strive to balance all these parts to create lives of outrageous love, joy, creativity, and discovery. For the Parents: Simple Tools to Strengthen Your Relationship (Adult); Choosing to Connect: Great Family, Great Relationship (Adult)

Elizabeth Vana Bryant

Elizabeth is the Legal chair for HSC. Homeschooling Legal Issues 101 (Adult)

Patricia Zaballos

Patricia Zaballos first learned about writer's workshops when she taught elementary school--a career which has both helped and hindered her subsequent life as a homeschooling mother of three. For the past eight years, she has facilitated writer's workshops for homeschoolers. She also writes personal essays and participates in a workshop for adults. Her recent essay on homeschooling appeared in the May/June issue of Mothering. The Writer's Workshop: Inspire Your Kids' Writing! (Adult)