Lara Lee
Lara Lee works with SPED Homeschool. She was once a full-time professional graphic designer at a curriculum publisher for many years until she retired to be a wife, mother to two special needs sons, author, blogger, and homeschool teacher. She is getting her master’s degree in special education. She also knows what it is like to overcome a disability herself. She is dyslexic, yet she writes fantasy fiction novels and has also contributed short stories to multiple anthologies and magazines. She has moved numerous times and has lived in multiple countries as well as multiple states. Currently, she lives in Texas (again) with her husband and two sons who all regularly participate in her misadventures and random schemes.
Peggy Ployhar
Peggy Ployhar, SPED Homeschool Founder & CEO, is a leader in the special education homeschooling community and a frequent writer and speaker on specialized education homeschooling issues. This physicist turned home educator left a lucrative career in the medical device industry to teach the struggling learners in her own home, which eventually turned into a lifetime calling. Peggy founded SPED Homeschool in 2017 and now leads an organization that empowers thousands of families across the globe each year to create specialized home education plans. Peggy is also the host of the very popular live broadcast and podcast, SPED Homeschool Conversations, a weekly talk show where her guests address relevant issues related to customizing homeschooling for unique learners.
Peggy is the former THSC (Texas Home School Coalition) Special Needs Team Lead, MACHE (Minnesota Association of Christian Home Educators) Special Needs Coordinator and MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) Area Coordinator for MN, ND and SD. She is certified by the American Association of Christian Counselors and trained as a Precept Bible Study leader.
In her free time Peggy enjoys cooking, aerial silks, paddle boarding, hiking and reading.
Amy Bodkin
Amy Bodkin is an Autistc Adult, School Psychologist, and Homeschool Mom to her two Autistic kids. She consults primarily with homeschool families as the Special Needs Consultant at A Charlotte Mason Plenary. She works with families who have experienced chronic health conditions, disabilities, trauma, asynchronous development, etc. Her practice is guided by Charlotte Mason’s idea that “Children are born persons” and makes it her goal to see each child as an individual, not a diagnosis.
Elizabeth Porter
Elizabeth Porter is a National Board Certified Teacher with a Master’s Degree in Elementary Education and a Bachelor’s in French and Applied Linguistics. Elizabeth also holds a French Degree in called a DEUG Français Langue Étrangère (FLE) from the Université de Caen in Normandy, France.
Elizabeth began her career teaching elementary and middle school English in Normandy France, then returned to the United States in 2002 where she taught for three years at the French Immersion School of Washington. Elizabeth then taught high school French and was a World Languages Curriculum Specialist in Washington State and Iowa. She has nearly 20 years of experience working in education. She opened Bon Voyage World Languages Academy in 2016, a non-profit online language school with the mission of fostering open minds and compassionate hearts through linguistic and global education.
Elizabeth is the author of “Pathways to Language Fluency: Changing How We Think About Language in the United States,” and “The Performance Based Solution.” She writes Performance Based Learning curriculum for World Languages, Social Studies, and English Language Arts. She is also the host of the podcast “Language with the Five Senses Education,” highlighting the Language with the Five Senses Method, Performance Based Learning, Brain-Friendly Learning, and Choice in Education.
Elizabeth is a dynamic teacher who is passionate about language, education, and how our brains are naturally wired for learning.
Elizabeth lives in Washington State with her husband David, her two sons Daniel and Noah, and her dog Oscar. She loves France and all things French.
Meaghan Jackson
Meaghan Jackson of Joyful Mud Puddles is a Parenting and Homeschool Coach. She has taken her passion for bringing peaceful calm to family life and pairs that with her background in education to help parents become more confident and well equipped. What better way to describe the messy, fun exciting life of a mom with three boys than Joyful Mud Puddles!
Louise Fox
Louise Fox is a homeschooling mum for nearly 20 years. She grew up in the UK and moved to Israel in 1990 after completing her BA at Cambridge University. Her four “kids” are aged 25, 23, 20 and 16. Louise was a La Leche League Leader for close to 15 years and has spoken through the years at conferences on a variety of parenting and homeschooling topics.
Sarah Collins
Sarah Collins, MSOT, OTR/L is an occupational therapist with a background in both pediatrics and home health. In fact, working as an OT actually led her to homeschooling. When in a client’s home, Sarah was introduced to homeschooling and was amazed at the atmosphere of learning within the home. Later that year, due to a move, the opportunity to begin the Collins Academy of Excellence arose. Though the style of homeschooling has changed and morphed over the years, the overarching goal of ushering the kids towards their specific purpose has remained. After 2 years of homeschooling, Sarah consistently noticed that families were asking the same questions and though were experts on their child, could benefit from consulting with an occupational therapist for guidance within their homeschools. As a result, Collins Academy of Excellence grew into Collins Academy Therapy Services with the purpose of educating families on how to create homeschools specifically designed for their student’s needs. The other half of Collins Academy of Excellence is training Occupational Therapists to best serve the homeschool community. Combining both of these allows Collins Academy Therapy Services to provide resources for homeschools and occupational therapist to come together in guiding children towards their specific purpose in life.
Yehudis Litvak
Yehudis Litvak is the owner of HomeschoolBoost.com, the host of Digital Homeschool Convention, co-founder of Ani VeAmi – the Jewish Living Education curriculum, and the author of its curriculum guides. She has been homeschooling for twelve years. She is passionate about giving every child an opportunity to thrive socially, emotionally, and academically in a homeschool environment. Yehudis loves to read and write living books, and she is the author of a Young Adult historical fiction trilogy, as well as numerous short stories. You can find her at Homeschool Boost and Ani veAmi.
Elizabeth Elliot
Elizabeth Elliott – B.Sc., NDDT – Program Director
Elizabeth has a Bachelor of Science degree and have also pursued advanced studies in Neuro-Developmental Delay Therapy with the Institute of Neuro Physiological Psychology in Chester England (INPP), as well as becoming a Certified Listening Fitness Trainer with The Listening Fitness Center, Canada.
Her training with INPP and LiFT has allowed her to approach children’s difficulties and disabilities from a developmental perspective.
Elizabeth is a workshop speaker who has conducted workshops in several homeschool conventions across the country.
She is also a former homeschool mom who homeschooled both her kids all the way through high school. Both of them are currently pursuing their bachelors degrees.
As the homeschool mom of a daughter who struggled with learning and academics, Elizabeth knows first-hand the pain, frustration and sometimes the helplessness that come with having a struggling learner.
If you are a parent seeking help for your child, Elizabeth knows exactly how you feel, she has been there. Be encouraged, there is hope!
Penny Rogers
Penny Rogers is an autism/homeschool advocate, speaker, and consultant at Our Crazy Adventure in Autismland. Based on her own personal and sometimes difficult experiences having a child with autism, Penny hopes to educate other families of children with autism on how to navigate their world from pre diagnosis to adulthood.
You can find Penny at:
Blog: Ourcrazyadventuresinautismland.com
FB: facebook.com/ourcrazyadventuresinautismland
Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/LifeInAutismland
TW: twitter.com/autismlandpenny
Insta: Instagram.com/ourcrazyadventuresinautismland
Pin: pinterest.com/pennyrogers
YT: youtube.com/autismlandpenny
Gabi Angelina
Gabi Angelina is a linen-loving, hat-obsessed homeschooling momma and CEO.
With nearly a decade of entrepreneurial and homeschooling experience, Gabi teaches the inner workings of digital course and online membership creation to mothers around the world, enabling them to stay home and focus on what matters most.
Believing that mothers truly have the power of change, she supports her clients in living their life with their children by design.
You can find Gabi at www.gabiangelina.com.
Jackie Masek
As a former Application Developer, Jackie Masek formulated a plan of action over the years to best educate her two sons. Her oldest has ADHD. Every software package goes through a Project Management System with distinct steps and tasks. As you go through these steps, consider how they apply to where you are on this homeschool journey. This road map will keep you from going over the edge or falling off a cliff. If you already fell off the road this will help you get back on the journey again.
Blog: https://HomeschoolLounge.com
FB: facebook.com/HomeschoolLounge/
Pin: https://www.pinterest.com/HomeschoolLounge/_created/
You can find Jackie in this homeschool group:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/HipHomeschoolMomsCommunity/
Beth Ellen Nash
Beth Ellen Nash has her Education degree from the University of Wisconsin—Madison and has 21 years’ experience working with dyslexics and other struggling learners. She was the founder, director, and lead teacher for 8 years at Hope Academy, a school for struggling middle and high school students in Madison, WI.
In 2011, she shifted toward an individualized online and homeschool hybrid option and founded Wings to Soar Online Academy to empower outside-the-box learners with skills and confidence for success through Path to Success™ Personalized Learning Plans for kindergarten through 12th grade.
Beth Ellen is currently Director and Intervention Specialist for Wings to Soar Online Academy. Beth Ellen has tutored, assessed, and consulted with hundreds of families. She is the author of the Amazon #1 bestselling book, Dyslexia Outside-the-Box as well as Wings to Soar Spelling Foundations. She is also the creator of the Wings to Soar: Fostering Whole-Person Well-Being app and the Becoming the Me I Wanna Be course.
In addition, Beth Ellen is a sought-after speaker for many homeschooling and educational conferences.
Beth Ellen tailors her talks to the needs of the audience drawing upon her experience with students ages 3-21 with dyslexia, ADHD, autism spectrum, RAD, OCD, anxiety, depression, learning disabilities, and those who otherwise learn differently from traditional schooling.
Jennifer Roberson
Jen Roberson is an ADHD homeschool mom of 6 kids ranging 13-3. She has 3-4 kids on the Autism Spectrum, 2 kids with ADHD, 1 kid with severe apraxia of speech and 3 others have needed speech therapy and 2 with dyslexia. As a natural perfectionist, she’s had to adjust to her family and learn what works for them. She loves photography, spreadsheets, art, science fiction, cats, reading, and basically anything that’s not boring and repetitive.
Jess Arce
Jess Arce, aka Coach Jess began homeschooling her second youngest son in 2009, unexpectedly while they were living in Texas. The following year, the family moved back to Las Vegas and she continued to homeschool him as well as her youngest son, who has severe Dyslexia & profound Dyscalculia. She immediately realized she needed to homeschool him differently than she originally intended. That is when she began using an Orton-Gillingham based program and incorporating multisensory activities into their day. Within no time he was learning to read. A few years later they moved to Southern California and they decided it was beneficial to homeschool her daughter with profound dyslexia, who was struggling in traditional high school.
Teaching and real estate, and a lot of spunk, turned out to be a perfect combination for a successful career as a Dyslexic specialist. A few months after working with her son, homeschool families asked Coach Jess to work with their children, and her company Lexia Learners was born. Today, Coach Jess focuses on training her tutors, in order to help more families and homeschoolers experience success.