DHC 2020-2021 School Year Speakers

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Digital Homeschool Convention

Katie Waalkes

Growing up Homeschooled: Lessons Learned from a Student Who is Now the Teacher

Katie is a wife of 12 years, mother to 6 kids, and runs the youtube channel “Life in the Mundane”. She is passionate about encouraging parents in their biblical parenting and helping homeschool mom’s in their journey. Katie has a unique perspective on homeschooling as both her and her husband grew up homeschooled. As a second generation homeschooler she has been both the student and teacher and has much to offer on the topic. She hopes to be able to help you start making the most of the little moments in life as the mundane moments are often the most impactful. You can find Katie at lifeinthemundane.com or on youtube, instagram, or FB as “Life in the mundane.”


Abigail Zieger

Perspective from an Education Major Turned Homeschool Mom

Abigail Zieger is a former music education major turned homeschool mom of four kids. When she’s not learning alongside her children, she’s teaching music, performing, or writing. Her blog, Woven Homeschool, is a place for homeschool parents to find perspective and resources to help them on their homeschool journey.


Tal Hoover

How to Deal with Sibling Fights When Homeschooling

Tal Hoover is the founder of Blessed Grove Homeschooling and Academy online. Tal is a professional educator, curriculum writer, and homeschool mother of 7 children. She has a Bachelor’s degree, certificates in legal studies, and a TEFL endorsement for teaching ESL. Tal has over 15 years of home education experience and nearly a decade of experience in tutoring, online instruction and instructional design and business coaching and development. She specializes in teaching Biblical and world history, multicultural studies, comparative religions, art history, and of course, professional artisan cookie decorating. She also teaches and encourages parents in home based entrepreneurship. Her spare time is spent teaching, singing, writing, reading and operating her baking business.


Amber Smith

How to Streamline Your Multi-Child Homeschool

Amber Smith is a second generation homeschooler. She lives in Southern Iowa with her chef husband of 25 years and their eleven wild children. Her desire to help homeschool parents avoid burnout, build their best life, and school with strong relationships, led her to start blogging at 200 Fingers & Toes. She leads a course to help families lay a firm foundation with their own homeschool goals in mind, and she is the host of the In Due Season podcast.

As a speaker, writer and reviewer, Amber contributes to blogs such as, Timberdoodle and Sonlight and has written for The Old Schoolhouse Magazine. She shares practical ideas for busy homeschool families, helping them to keep their goals, commit to their dreams, and build a love that is vibrant and active at home.


Teresa Wiedrick

Teresa Wiedrick is eager to share the freedoms of the homeschool lifestyle with the skeptical, the intrigued, and the curious. 

Fifteen years ago she searched for arguments against homeschooling. That search shifted her family’s next decade. 

Teresa is keenly aware of the intensity and demanding nature of this lifestyle.

Teresa is a hearty advocate of home education and encourages homeschool mamas that they need to take care of themselves if they want to take care of their families.

Teresa’s new book can be found here:

https://www.subscribepage.com/homeschoolmamaselfcare


Teresa can be found online at: 

www.capturingthecharmedlife.com

www.instagram.com/homeschool_mama_self_care_

www.facebook.com/homeschoolmamaselfcare


Julie Mendez

Julie Mendez is a mom to two girls and also a Career Coach with Working While Homeschooling ( www.WorkingWhileHomeschooling.com).

Combining her passion for homeschooling and supporting mothers, under the new umbrella, Working While Homeschooling, Julie Mendez’s goal is to encourage  all women, homeschooler or otherwise, to identify their dream and pursue it with ingenuity, passion, and determination. She believes her calling is to aid others in finding fulfilling work that utilizes their unique talents. One of Julie’s greatest rewards is hearing from excited clients about that new job offer they just received.

Julie Mendez has three career-related certifications, ten years as a Career Coach, five years in the recruiting industry in both New York and Washington, DC, and a degree from New York University. In addition, Julie’s background includes a bit of a gypsy lifestyle following her spouse’s career around the world, and even a stint working at the US Embassy in Rome, Italy. She is also a regular Event Speaker for multiple organizations including national career networking sites, regional career groups, employment-related teleseminars for US Embassy communities, and teleseminar presenter for the National Resume Writers Association. Her background has given her a unique perspective into the recruitment process and the job search strategy that gets women back to work (in a job they love) quickly.