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 certified Master Naturalist, Bible teacher, national speaker, and author. Eryn lives in Northern Colorado with her husband, Grayson, and their four children, whom they homeschool—mainly in the great outdoors. Eryn has has been featured on FamilyLife Today, Proverbs 31 Ministries, Christian Parenting, MOPS International, Bible Gateway, Her View From Home, and For Every Mom. Every opportunity she gets, she is out exploring God’s creation with her family and sharing the adventures. To learn more about Eryn, visit ErynLynum.com.

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.