2011 Speaker List
Concert - Inclued in the price of the Convention Pass
Click on each speaker's name to be redirected to their website.
Click HERE for Convention Speakers Sessions
For Teen Convention Information CLICK HERE
SHEM Homeschool Convention
Keynote Speaker
The Learning Parent - Rick Boyer
Home schooling pioneer Rick Boyer is a man on a mission. With his wife, Marilyn, Rick has taught all fourteen of his children at home since 1980. Today he takes his dynamic message of Biblical discipleship-based home education across America and around the world. The Boyers believe that Scripture gives a powerful model for the upbringing of children and that when followed, boys and girls grow into wise, proactive Christian adults who achieve great works for the glory of God. Rick’s unique blend of Scriptural wisdom and side-splitting humor always puts nervous beginners at ease, while his three decades of hands-on experience provided the backdrop for his practical application of Bible truth to day-to-day parenting. Through his heartfelt speaking style, his several books on home schooling and family life and his many audio recordings for children and adults, Rick Boyer reaches hearts as well as minds. Come and hear Rick share God’s plan for raising up a generation of giants for God!
The Learning Parent - Marilyn Boyer
Marilyn Boyer, with her husband Rick is the parent of 14 children, all home schooled since kindergarten. Marilyn’s message of hands-on, heart-to-heart parenting has travelled around the world through her books, recordings, and her challenging, encouraging talks to home schooling parents. With three decades of home education experience behind her, Marilyn understands the needs of children and parents as well. She has a rare ability to apply the practical truths of Scripture to the task of childrearing, always with her goal in mind of raising up sons and daughters who will have passion for the needs of the world around them and will exhibit servant leadership in engaging the culture and fighting the battle for the faith. Marilyn shows how learning is in fact simple, natural, and normal. She takes the mystery out of education and shows how God’s plan is the answer for all the challenges of parenting in troubled times. Come and hear Marilyn Boyer for a double dose of inspiration and encouragement!
Keynote Speaker
Diana Waring Presents - Diana Waring
To hear Diana - Click Here
Extremely happily married since 1979, Bill and Diana Waring home schooled their three children more than twenty years. The Waring kids, all in college and careers now, have been the proving grounds for the precepts, concepts, and encouragements Diana teaches -- the real-life examples of the wonders of home schooling!
In 1999, they traveled to New Zealand, fulfilling their dream of having a missions experience as a family before the children left home. For five months, they attended Youth With A Mission (YWAM) Discipleship Training Schools. In the remainder of the time, they traveled throughout New Zealand speaking and ministering a practical and encouraging message to home schooling families. Since then Diana has been with homeschoolers and missionaries across the US and Canada, in Europe, England, Asia and recently Australia.
Their family business, "Diana Waring Presents” produces books, recordings, videos, and the History Revealed curriculum from Answers in Genesis. The Waring's mission: "To serve families by encouraging, equipping, and educating in an entertaining way."
Missouri Law - Scott Woodruff, Esq.
Scott Woodruff, a follower of Christ since his conversion in 1971, earned his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Virginia in 1980. After working for John Ashcroft, and subsequently a major regional insurance company, Scott came to work for HSLDA in 1998.
He is a member of the bar of the Supreme Court of the United States, and licensed in Virginia and Missouri. He has assisted thousands of home educating families in dealings with social workers, police officers, truant officers, principals, superintendents, and prosecuting attorneys. He has represented HSLDA members in court, and appeared before many state legislatures to fight against repressive homeschool legislation. Scott is a frequent speaker at homeschool conferences and on radio programs across the country.
Scott and his wife, Jane, have homeschooled their three children. Sarah continues to be taught at home. Their daughter Betsy, a national merit finalist, will attend Hillsdale College on an academic scholarship this fall. Their son, Christopher, a national merit finalist, attends Baylor University on an academic scholarship.
Grace & Truth Books - Dennis Gundersen
Dennis Gundersen is President and owner of Grace and Truth Books, which has been in operation since 1993. He has served as Senior Pastor of three different churches in the Tulsa, Oklahoma area since 1981 but since 2009 has been focusing all his efforts on publishing and writing. He is currently author of two books: "Your Child's Profession of Faith" and "Courtship or Dating: So What's the Difference", and is a frequent speaker at church conferences, men's retreats and home education conventions. He and his wife Naomi have been married since 1976, and have four adult sons, two of whom are married. Grace and Truth Books has published over 60 books, most of which are reprints of children's books from the 1800's. Dennis first came to faith in Christ in 1971, while at that time pursuing a career as an FM-rock DJ. He is an avid mountain climber and photographer.
Henderson State University, Mathematics - Fred Worth
Dr. Fred Worth earned a B.S. in mathematics from Evangel College, Springfield MO., an M.S. and a Ph.D. in mathematics from the University of Missouri-Rolla, Rolla MO. He taught one year at St. Anthony High School in Jersey City, NJ, and six years as a teaching assistant at the University of Missouri-Rolla. He has been a professor of mathematics at Henderson State University in Arkadelphia, Arkansas for 20 years. He is also the associate pastor at Twin Rivers Church of the Nazarene near Arkadelphia. Fred and his almost-completely-perfect wife, Beth, have one son, Mark, who lives in Wichita, Kansas with his wife, Debra and their son, Christopher. They homeschooled Mark from birth until he went away to college. For the past eleven years, Fred has spoken at numerous homeschool conventions in Arkansas, as well as in Texas, Missouri, New York and Oklahoma. Many of his presentations have been mathematical in nature, seeking to help homeschool parents more effectively teach mathematics to their children. Additionally, Fred has made a number of presentations on more pastoral topics, aimed at encouraging homeschool parents, particularly fathers, in making their homeschool experience as effective and rewarding as possible.
CollegePlus! - Woody Robertson
As a first generation homeschool graduate, Woody has a huge burden for those coming up behind him and seeks to help them wisely answer life's biggets questions concerning their future. He is passionate about equipping the next generation with resources and tools that help maximize their impact and help launch them into life. In 2004, Woody co-founded CollegePlus! after earning his accredited BSBA in General Management in 18 months for under $10k! Woody's theme is to live a real life with a real relationship with a real God. He has settled in San Antonio, TX with the CollegePlus! team and his wife Gina - the girl of his dreams!
Department of Conservation - Jay Barber
Jay Barber, a Conservation Education Consultant, has a career experience spanning a 27 year period in six states and one West African country. He conducted his first teacher workshop at the age of 21 as a wildlife management major and later on received a Master of Science in Environmental Science. He has worked for the Missouri Department of Conversation since 1994 both as a Conservation Education Consultant and Education Regional Supervisor.
DPI - Steve Counts
Steve Counts is best known for his ability to give sound advice and guidance. Currently, Steve owns Digital Print Ink, a local Springfield company, serving its customers for a third of a century. DPI specializes in helping businesses and organizations grow through targeted communication to existing, new and former clients. DPI still provides traditional print on paper along with complete mail services. Steve sees great opportunites in preparing older children and teens through internships and apprenticeships readying them for real world careers.
Springfield Police Department - Mark Riggin
Mark Riggin has been in several aspects of law enforcement for the past 21 years. He has spent the last 16 years working for the Springfield, MO Police Department and is currently working in the traffic section as a Major Crash Investigator and motor officer. Mark graduated from Evangel University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology with a minor in Sociology. He also has three years of training from the Assembly of God Theological Seminary working towards his masters in theological studies. He is married to Veronica and has 7 (soon to be 8) children ranging in age from 13 to 1. Mark and Veronica have home schooled from the beginning.
Christina McGough
Christina has been involved in student ministry with her home schooled husband, Chris, for the past 16 years. She has been an active student of natural health for 15 years, served as an ND assistant, and currently offers classes and services in various natural health modalities. Her passion to educate families on the way God created our bodies, what fuels our bodies need for our individual circumstances, and the natural resources for that fuel has led to both of her children being born at home and raised with natural health practices, herbal supplements, and homeopathics. Christina currently home schools both of her children, is a Certified Natural Health Practitioner, a Loomis Digestive Health Specialist, and is working on her ND degree with and emphasis in children's health.
