CONFERENCE SPEAKERS

Dr. Roger Smith, author of Parenting with Influence, is a primary care physician in rural Louisiana where he oversees the medical care delivered in four small town clinics. He is board certified in Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, and has a special interest the relationships in the home and community. His vlog, Parenting Matters Now, can be found on YouTube, Facebook, and RogerSmithMD.com. Dr. Smith speaks on parenting, marriage, education, and leadership, and offers parenting tips through his podcast, Parenting Matters Now.

Over the last 25 years, Dr. Smith has served in leadership roles in numerous organizations, including 4-H, Boy Scouts, Homeschool Speech and Debate, and the Chamber of Commerce, and has been a mentor at a local faith-based substance abuse program. He currently serves on the board of his state and national homeschool organizations.

Dr. Smith, influenced by science education, spiritual teachings, psychosocial research, and personal experience, delivers insights with southern flare, applied with common sense.

Jan Smith loves people and speaks straight to the heart! She is mother of 4 adult children, manager of the family farm and businesses, and mentor of many young moms. Jan began homeschooling in 1989 in rural Louisiana where no one had heard of homeschooling. After 2 other families joined her, she began a 3-family co-op. Learning together at home was key to the strong family relationships the Smiths experience today.

Upon graduation from homeschool, all 4 children completed university studies on scholarships. Because of the positive impact on family relationships, she works to protect freedom to home educate for future generations through her leadership on her state and national homeschool organizations, as well as by equipping others through speaking at conferences. She also loves teaching God’s word at women’s events. Jan mentors young mothers in her community through a weekly Bible study and monthly parties in her home for the couples. Playing keyboard at church, reading to the grandchildren, riding horses, and growing flowers and vegetables keep her life after homeschooling far from empty.

Eryn Lynum is a second-generation homeschool mom of four. She holds a degree in Biblical studies and is a certified master naturalist. Eryn is the host of Nat Theo: Nature Lessons Rooted in the Bible, a podcast for kids and families which is regularly ranked as a Top Ten podcast in multiple categories on Apple Podcasts. Weekly lessons explore God’s designs in creatures, plants, and other natural wonders while teaching Biblical truth and faith lessons.

Eryn is the author of five books helping families nurture faith and wonder through Bible-based nature study. She released two new titles in 2026: Where Wonder Leads: An Adventure in God’s Wild and Wonderful World and Made to Marvel: 52 Family Devotions Exploring the Wild Wonders of God’s Creation. Eryn has been featured on broadcasts including Focus on the Family, FamilyLife Today, 1,000 Hours Outside, Homeschool Compass, Christian Parenting, and Raising Christian Kids. She speaks around the United States at homeschool conferences, schools, and churches. Eryn has been married to her husband, Grayson, for 17 years and they have three sons and a daughter. They call the Rocky Mountains of Colorado home and love hiking and finding wildlife (and sometimes bringing it inside). They have a pet dog, cat, three axolotls, snails, fish, and a jumping spider named Clark. Explore the Nat Theo podcast and curriculum as well as free Bible and nature resources at www.TheNaturalTheologyProject.com. Find Eryn on Instagram at www.instagram.com/erynlynumauthor.

Julie Walker, the Chief Marketing Officer for the Institute for Excellence in Writing (IEW), was a schoolteacher and homeschool leader for many years. She and her husband of thirty-eight years provided a home education for their three sons. After their youngest son graduated, she went back to school herself completing her MBA at Biola University. This spring she will celebrate fifteen years working with IEW. She most recently produced, directed, and helped to write the Structure and Style® for Students video courses. She currently hosts the popular Arts of Language podcast with Andrew Pudewa.