2022 Louisiana Homeschool Conference Schedule
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| 9-10:00 | Welcome and Panel Discussion |
| 10:15-11:15 | What Are You Aiming For? Lavon/Jessica Welch Help! High School Is Coming – Roger/Jan Smith Becoming A Proficient Homemaker – Karen Tero Reading Problems? Recognizing Problems and Helping Your Child – Jenny Morse |
| 11:30-12:30 | A Look in the Rearview Mirror–What Would I have Done Differently – Lavon/Jessica Welch How to Get Started Homeschooling – Susan Theall Homeschool Styles: What Is Best for You? Jesse Leger Teaching Children to Serve – Jodie Ellis |
| 12:30-1:15 | Lunch |
| 1:15-2:15 | Managing Fear in the Midst of Chaos – Roger/Jan Smith Discipling Your Child – Karen Tero Special Needs in the Homeschool–Helping Your Child – Jenny Morse |
| 2:15-2:45 | Vendor/Exhibit Table |
| 2:45-3:45 | Ladies’ Tea – Lessons I’ve Learned Men’s Huddle – the Dad’s Role |
| 4:00-4:30 | Closing |
Levon & Jessica Welch
Lavon and Jessica Welch hail from Covington, LA where Lavon is a financial planner and Jessica enjoys helping him as well as mentoring young women and being a Mimi. They have 4 children ranging in age from 24-32 and 3 grandsons. They began their homeschooling journey 27 years ago
having homeschooled their children through high school. “It has been a great journey and we are so thankful for the fruit.”
Workshops:
Lavon & Jessica Welch – What are You Aiming For? : Along the way in homeschooling we can struggle to feel successful. It is easy to be distracted by others or our own feelings of inadequacy. When the target is constantly moving, it is hard to hit the bull’s eye The Welches want to share some insights and practical ideas that can give you confidence and encouragement to make your homeschooling really count and to get Mom and Dad on the same team. Come be inspired to set your eye on the target and stay the course. You will be equipped to determine what you are aiming for as well as the why and the what of your homeschool journey. Come be equipped to experience the success God desires for you.
Jessica Welch – A Look Back in the Rearview Mirror : Having completed homeschooling 4 kids and launching them, Jessica will give some insights gained from looking back. She will discuss the strengths and struggles that were part of her journey. She will share what she would do differently as well as things that made a difference. Come be inspired to stay the course with your family knowing that it is worth the hard work.
Jenny Morse
Jenny Morse is a homeschool veteran mom of 19 years with three grown and flown children. She has a passion for homeschool families and for those who struggle with reading. After recently becoming an empty nester, she finished her bachelor’s degree and is currently training to become a dyslexia therapist. Jenny describes herself as “naturally caffeinated” due to the energy and enthusiasm she puts towards life in the Lord. She and her husband, Tim, have enjoyed moving into parenting adult children, and count them among their best friends.
Workshops:
Help for Reading Difficulties-Recognizing Reading Problems and Helping Your Children who Struggle With Them : How do you know if your child’s reading development is normal? What should you do if you suspect difficulties? Find out what to look for and how to help when reading, writing, and spelling are challenging or down right impossible. Resources and curriculum suggestions will be covered.
Homeschooling Children with Special Needs-How to Help Those Who Need More : Balancing health needs, learning differences, and attention issues with all of the other homeschooling goals and demands can be difficult. Come be encouraged and learn some strategies from a mom who has been there.
Karen Tero
Karen Tero, a Louisiana resident for most of her life, now makes her home in Decatur, MS. She and her husband (David) have twelve children, ages 12-39, and seven grandchildren. They are in their 35th year of homeschooling. Karen has always had a heart for discipleship. When her children were younger, she struggled with being “tied down” and unable to minister outside of her home. It was during this time that the Lord helped her to see that her children were not a hindrance to her ministry, but rather, they were her ministry. As she embraced this truth, she began a lifelong journey of discipling her children. She has had the joy of seeing her children walk in truth. Their love for the Lord and involvement in ministry and discipleship has multiplied their parents’ discipleship efforts beyond imagination. Through the years, Karen has shared lessons learned “in the trenches” of family life at conferences and retreats, as well as through family ministry opportunities. As many of their children have moved on to start their own families or to pursue their own careers, she has taken the opportunity to begin a discipleship ministry at TheProficientHomemaker.com to encourage other women to embrace and become proficient in their God-given roles as wives, mothers, and homemakers.
Workshops:
Discipling Your Children will focus on the mother’s role in instilling godly character into the lives of her children through discipleship. She will be discussing the following qualities of discipleship. What is it? Who is responsible? When does it begin? Where does it take place? Why is it important? How is it done? In answering these questions, we will discover the challenges and rewards of discipling our children.
The Proficient Homemaker: Have you ever felt inadequate after reading the description of the virtuous woman in Proverbs 31? Are your days filled with stress as you juggle the responsibilities of being a wife, mother, and home-keeper? Do you find yourself wondering if you are doing enough – and doing it well enough? Or are you simply looking for encouragement and motivation to keep you moving forward in your quest to be a godly wife and mother? Join us as we explore the many facets of homemaking and discuss what it takes to obtain proficiency in each area.
Roger & Jan Smith
Roger Smith, M.D. is married to Jan Caldwell Smith and has four adult children who were all homeschooled. Though the Smiths have no children at home, they have sought to remain involved with Homeschool Louisiana to “give back” for all the years they were strengthened by the work of Homeschool Louisiana. Roger is an internal medicine physician in Wisner, LA where he is involved in River of Life Church and teaches a Sunday School Class for men from a residential drug rehab program.
Workshops:
Roger & Jan Smith – Managing Fear in the Midst of Chaos : Fear can paralyze us in the pursuit of something good. Even avoiding fear does not eliminate it, so we must attack it a different way. In this session, Jan will share practical ways that we can manage the fear that arises and the chaos that accompanies it. A bit of humor will shed light on the fact that some of our fears are imagined, while other real issues escape our notice. Some time-tested tips offered here may help with the fear, even if the chaos remains.
Roger Smith – Dad’s Essential Role : What’s a dad to do? In a busy home, dads often find themselves being dragged along in all the activity involving the children. But can it be another way? The influence of the father can be the thing that helps all the activity stay on course. Dr. Smith will share ways he and others have made significant contributions to the home in the midst of a busy career. This session will not be an attempt to produce guilt about failures, but will offer solutions and hope for increasing the influence of dad in the home, resulting in everyone being happier.
Roger & Jan Smith – Help! The High School Years Are Coming! Many parents are confident managing decisions and educational choices through the middle school years, but shake with fear when looking ahead to the high school years. The issues do seem to have greater consequences, but the Smiths will show a mindset and approach that can energize you to make them the best years. Your emerging adults can become the one who praises you, instead of being your greatest critic. Together, you can not only save tons of money, but you can launch your teen to find purpose.
Jessie Leger
Andre and Jessie Leger live in Mandeville, LA. They are parents of five children, affectionately known as the Fab Five. They began homeschooling back in the dark ages, before the internet, and 23 years later have graduated all of their children and three nieces from their home. Andre has a BA in Psychology from LSU and is an Information Systems Technology Specialist at Ochsner Health Systems. Jessie worked in ministry at the Care Pregnancy Center as Director of Finance and Legislative Aide before leaving the workforce to homeschool their children. In 2011, Jessie joined the HOME Classes team where she teaches history and government. When their oldest son was a junior in highschool, Jessie began serving with TeenPact Leadership Schools, after serving eight years, she stepped into the role of Louisiana State Coordinator in 2017. As the Directors of Legislative Affairs for Homeschool Louisiana they stay abreast of bills in the legislature that pertain to home education and family issues. The Legers have developed relationships with many elected officials in Louisiana and will continue to meet with legislators to keep them informed of issues homeschool families care about.
Workshops:
Homeschool Styles : In this workshop you will be equipped to choose the best curriculum for your family. Homeschooling is a unique journey for each parent and student and choosing a curriculum that works for you can make the difference between crashing or soaring.
Jodie Ellis
I currently live in Metairie, Louisiana since 2003. I have four children two adult children, two children who are being homeschooled. My family started our homeschool journey 12 years ago. I also have two grandchildren that I hope to see home schooled one day, too. I am a licensed hairdresser in two states and donate my time to several charities in the Greater New Orleans area. I have a passion to connect with others and I lead a weekly lady’s support group and attends One Hope church. I served five years on a local board two of which were president. As my husband and I were asked to serve on the Homeschool Louisiana state board, God began to stir in my heart that He wanted me to start a mission minded homeschool group that would shepherd the hearts of children to serve others as well as many local communities. I answered His call and stepped out in faith. I stand in amazement on all of the things that have been done through this group, the lives that have been touched and changed as well as witnessing the transformation in the children’s hearts.
Workshops:
Teaching Your Children to Serve – Learn how serving builds character, compassion, empathy, relationships, emotional well-being and self esteem. Learn simple ways to get started.
Susan Theall
Susan is a homeschooling mother in Hammond, LA. She has homeschooled in Kenner and St. Charles Parish. She has graduated students and is still homeschooling as part of Homeschool Tangipahoa. She has experience with preparing high school transcripts for college, starting a homeschool group, and at-home therapies for special needs children.
Workshops:
Homeschooling 101: Are you new to homeschooling? Have no idea how to get started? We will cover the Louisiana homeschooling law, homeschooling styles and curriculum choices. Bring your questions and get some answers.
Ladies Tea Time
The final session of the conference will be an exclusive moms-only Tea Time. Spend the day gathering information, strategies, and tips for a successful homeschool experience and then join for fellowship and encouragement so you leave feeling refreshed, reinvigorated, and well prepared for the days ahead. Each female conference speaker will offer their parting words of inspiration so don’t leave early! You’ll want to absorb every last drop of their wisdom!