BIOGRAPHIES 2012

 

Mike Smith

Attorney Mike Smith is the President of HSLDA, an organization that he helped found in 1983. Established to protect the right of parents to teach their children at home, HSLDA now represents over 80,000 member families. Mike and his wife Elizabeth began homeschooling their children in 1981. He has been defending families for 28 years. Mike has been speaking to homeschool audiences for 23 years. His columns on home education appear regularly in the Washington Times, and he has been a guest on numerous television and radio programs, including Focus on the Family with Jim Dobson and Hannity and Colmes on Fox News. He believes that there is a revival taking place in America through the homeschool movement and that, through the second and third generation of homeschoolers, there is great potential to return America to its moral and religious foundation.

Tracy Klicka

Tracy is the widow of Christopher Klicka, who was Senior Counsel of Home School Legal Defense Association. Married 21 years, they were blessed with seven children, whom they homeschooled since their birth. Through many trials over the years (including the near—death of their twins during her pregnancy, and Chris’ struggles with multiple sclerosis), Tracy has learned firsthand what walking by faith is all about. She has seen over and over again the outpouring of God’s grace in her life, and the precious importance of the Scriptures in sustaining and empowering believers. Her message for moms is one of hope and joy in God, who is able to make all grace abound to us (II Corinthians 9:8). She has written dozens of articles, has been interviewed on both national and international media, and has spoken at numerous state homeschool conventions to encourage women to see God’s faithfulness as they take him at His Word.

Mark Hamby

Mark Hamby (M.S., M.Div., Th.M., D. Min. cand.) is founder and president of Lamplighter Ministries International. He lives in Northeastern Pennsylvania with his wife, Debbie. They have three adult children living in various parts of the country. Jennifer is the graphic arts and illustration director for Lamplighter. David works for Apple and oversees video production for Lamplighter. Jonathan, their eldest, is married, lives in CA as a commercial broker, and functions as his dad’s personal counselor!

As author, speaker, and Bible teacher, what Mark enjoys most is helping his audience to remove the mask in order to expose the heart. Through the genre of storytelling and the life-changing power of God’s Word, Mark’s audiences learn that we serve a God with whom nothing is impossible.

While his children were young, Mark’s role as a shepherd taught him many leadership principles: “a shepherd leads, feeds, and protects,” and “when our lives speak louder than our words, others will follow.” After experiencing an extraordinary redemptive transformation within his family, Mark went on to publish his first book, which gave birth to Lamplighter Publishing and later expanded into Lamplighter Ministries International.

Lamplighter Ministries has begun its largest undertaking with the inception of Lamplighter Theatre, in which the Lamplighter family collection of rare books is adapted for radio drama. Now heard on over 900 radio stations in 11 countries, listening to Lamplighter Theatre’s riveting radio dramas is quickly becoming a favorite “family activity,” enjoyed by both children and adults. In a shifting culture steeped in confusion, Lamplighter dramas present absolute truths upon which we can stand firm. Each breathtaking episode, while keeping listeners on the edge of their seats, is resolved with a solid sense of God’s thoughts and God’s ways.

Mark hated to read when he was young. In fact, he had never read a book from cover to cover even after receiving a college degree. But Mark’s life changed dramatically after meeting Charlie T. Jones, whose words he will never forget: “You will be the same today as you will be five years from now, except for the people you meet and the books you read!” That statement, along with the twelve biographies that he read soon after, changed the course of Mark’s life forever. He is still praying the prayer that he found in that first book, “The world has not yet seen what God can do through one man wholly committed to Christ; I pray I be that man.”

Truly, Mark’s life and testimony are evidence that there is a God who can do exceedingly abundantly above all that we can ask or think!

Mike Snavely

Mike Snavely was reared in rural South Africa, the son of missionary parents. His father was a bush pilot for a remote hospital station among the Zulu people. Throughout his life he has been fascinated with wildlife and had a wide variety of interesting experiences growing up in that region, including a vast array of "pets". After graduating from Oak Hills Christian College in Minnesota in 1979, he returned to South Africa to work for the National Parks Service in the world-famous Kruger Park. Following this, he began a career as an African wildlife artist.

In 1985 he married Carrie Baum who grew up near Hershey, Pa. Carrie attended Lancaster Bible College and was an executive secretary for the Pa. Turnpike Commission before becoming a full-time mom.

In 1986 they returned to South Africa with TEAM (The Evangelical Alliance Mission) and served by teaching at Durban Bible College. Since returning to the U.S. they have developed a ministry of teaching subjects related to creation, in seminar format, using nature and wildlife as a basis. They founded this ministry in 1995 as a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation, after several years of informal teaching on the subject.

Mike and Carrie have three children - Luke, John and Laura - who are home-educated.

Gail Brubaker

Mrs. Brubaker is a state certified teacher in Pennsylvania. After 17 years of teaching students of all abilities, from learning support to gifted, she developed Applied Grammar to enable all of her 3rd grade students to master the elements of English grammar. She has developed the original concept into a grammar and writing program that can take a student from their first sentences to the end of High School. Mrs. Brubaker conducts seminars on topics of interest to Homeschoolers, as well as holding workshops for teachers.

Steve Clark

Steve Clark is a “homeschool dad” who personally homeschooled his own children from 1998 through 2004. He and his wife, Katrina, live in Louisville, Kentucky, and have 5 children, ranging in age from 23 to 29.  From 1997 to the present, Steve has worked with VideoText Interactive, where his main focus has been to advise and counsel parents who want to make sure that their children excel in high school math.
In addition, Clark edited and produced “Life Skills for the Homeschooler,” a book that addresses dozens of practical issues that many homeschoolers forget to teach. Clark is also President of the Homeschool Speakers & Vendors Association, which helps homeschool speakers and vendors in the promotion of their products and services, with the goal of ensuring that all homeschoolers in the US and Canada have access to the very best curriculum available.

Deanne Crawford

Deanne’s journey into homeschooling began in 1997 when she removed her oldest child from the neighborhood K-8 school. Deanne and her husband, Manuel then educated their daughter, Amanda, through high school and is currently teaching their son, Jackson, a junior. Eclectic in her approach, she preferred to pick and choose what she felt will work best for her children and is a self proclaimed “curriculum junkie”. With a background as a registered nurse, she feels giving children a love for science is a vital part of home-education and is one that is best “caught not taught”. She currently works part time at Rainbow Resource Center as a curriculum consultant, and desires to encourage and equip families in their homeschooling journey.

Karen DeBeus

Karen DeBeus is so excited to share her ideas about simplifying our lives and focusing on God. She loves all things simple and yearns for simpler times. Her family dreams of traveling across the country in an RV someday…to enjoy the world God created without any fancy entertainment…just the view from the window, with her family all together…Karen has been married for 11 years to the love of her life and has 4 children. God called her to homeschool when her youngest was about to enter kindergarten. After thinking “I could NEVER do THAT,” God had other plans…She obeyed the call and is now, not only loving homeschooling, she is passionate about educating others about homeschooling and encouraging families along the way. Karen also assists her husband at their church where he is the High School Youth Coordinator. They are active in their church and hope to pursue further ministry opportunities as God leads. She is the author of Simply Homeschool: Having Less Clutter and More Joy in Your Homeschool, a short eBook written to encourage moms to put God first in their homeschools. She is also the author of Simply Living…for Him, her blog, where her goal is to encourage families, moms, and individuals, to put God first in all they do. Simplifying is about getting back to the basics and reducing the physical clutter in our lives, as well as lessening “mental clutter. “ Karen also is a monthly contributor at several online publications.

Michael Donnelly

Mike serves as staff attorney for member affairs in the states of Colorado, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, Ohio, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia, Wyoming, the District of Columbia. As director of international relations he oversees HSLDA’s support of persecuted homeschoolers in the Federal Republic of Germany and coordinates support to encourage greater freedom for homeschoolers all over the world. Mike is an adjunct professor of government at Patrick Henry College where he teaches constitutional law.

Dawn Hudson

First the student and now the educator of her own three children, Dawn Hudson sees homeschooling from both sides. This second generation homeschooler brings a “practitioners” bent into her home classroom, giving her insight into what works and what could cause unexpected problems! Dawn has worked for Focus on the Family, Christian Bookseller’s Association, and as a Colorado state legislative aide. Now Dawn truly works in her favorite environment: first as a wife, mom, and a homeschooling teacher; then as a voice of support tohomeschooling parents. As a consultant for My Father’s World, Dawn fields questions from homeschooling parents who are looking for better methods and innovative techniques. She is also actively involved in her church and local homeschooling community, encouraging parents to train their children to be shining examples of God’s love.

Susan Kemmerer

Susan Kemmerer is the author of the highly acclaimed book, Homeschool Supermom...NOT! She and her husband Dale have, by God's grace, been homeschooling their nine children for almost twenty-five years - with 5 graduated and 4 to go (or twelve more years of homeschooling ahead!). Susan has authored a number of textbooks, including "Apples Daily Spelling Drills for Secondary Students" and "Research in Increments." She has had articles published in several homeschool periodicals, and has spoken at support groups (including CHEA Leadership, ENOCH Leadership, Covenant Fellowship of PA, and Sovereign Grace of NJ) and at conferences across the country (including CHAP, MidSouth, LEAH, SouthEast, NOVA, CHEA, Midwest Homeschoolers, and ENOCH). In her spare time, Susan enjoys reading, writing, and needlework. Besides being with their children and grandchildren, the Kemmerer's love spending time in fellowship with the believers in their local church, Grace Community Church of Souderton (a Sovereign Grace church) where they had the privilege of serving as care group leaders. Dale and Susan (along with their children) run their business, Schoolhouse Publishing, from their home in Franconia, PA.

Emily Moore

My name is Emily Moore and I grew up homeschooled and loved it! I am currently enrolled with CollegePlus! and am pursuing a degree in Marketing Communications. I am also enrolled in Trinity College of Natural Health’s Certified Nutritional Consultant (CNC) program. I have been interested in health ever since my mom was diagnosed with late stage disseminated Lyme Disease. We found that the way to get healthy was through a diet based on what the Lord gives us in scripture. It is my desire to teach children how to eat healthy, make healthy choices, and why they should do so. If a child is healthy when they are growing up, they are more likely to be healthy throughout the rest of their life.

Liz Moore

Liz Moore is married to Andy and has been a homeschooling mom to 3 girls since 1995. She currently has 2 at home and the oldest is "homeschooling" college through the college plus program. Liz became "obsessed" with nutrition after suffering with an "incurable" and "untreatable" Lyme Disease infection for 16 years. Liz received an amazing healing using sound biblical nutritional principles and immune targeted supplements. In 2008 Liz went back to school and completed a certification as a Nutritional Consultant a Certification as a Natural Health Professional and a Doctorate of Naturopathy. Liz is committed to sharing her knowledge with individuals and families to help them recover, maintain and protect their health through nutrition.

Kellie Ann Peterson

Kellie Ann Peterson has a Bachelor of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy and has worked for Youth Development Inc and PB&J Family Services. She has over 20 years experience working with at risk youths, families in crisis, including families with domestic violence, addictions and families with a history of incarceration. She worked closely with New Mexico’s Children Youth and Family Department in assisting reunification of parents and children, taught parenting classes in correctional facilities and co-facilitated support groups for both adults and children. She has experience as a pre-school teacher and a professional nanny. She has worked with mentally ill and developmentally delayed adults. She enjoys teaching attachment and bonding activities. She has frequently used animals to assist in showing unconditional love towards hurting individuals during counseling sessions. She currently teaches parenting at New Mexico’s Community College as a Welfare to Work instructor. She is an author and traveling speaker for memory techniques. She lives with her husband in New Mexico and has four grown children & six grandchildren.

Cheryl Reynolds

Cheryl Reynolds was introduced to Classical Christian Education when considering homeschooling options in 2005. An avid learner, Cheryl scoured books and attended training workshops in preparation to begin teaching her three children. She found it discouraging when what she knew about classical education was harder to implement than she had anticipated. Committed to this model, Cheryl was determined to find a way to rethink how she was educated in order to successfully apply the trivium when teaching her children. Now in her seventh year of homeschooling, Cheryl desires to encourage and equip others who desire to effectively utilize this method of education. Cheryl lives in Bowie, MD and is happily married to Paul, her husband of 16 years. She is the Area Manager for Classical Conversations in Washington D.C., Maryland, Delaware and New Jersey.

Mike Riggs

Mike, and his wife Carolyn, graduated their two children from home school and have six grandchildren. Their son is a college graduate and he and his wife have one child. Their daughter is the mother of four who are also being homeschooled. Mike and Carolyn are co-founders of Lamp & Quill International, a devotional Bible curriculum, and co-authors of The Trojan Horse in Christian Education. Their focus is based on years of service to children and their families through Sunday schools, Christian school teaching and as the church Director of Christian Education. Mike and Carolyn met while Mike was in college, and they were participating in a college discipleship ministry. Both Mike and Carolyn have focused on helping individuals grow in the Lord and teaching families how to pass on a godly inheritance to their children.

Elaine Sullivan

Elaine Sullivan, BSN, is the Owner and Director of The Brain Gym in Yardley, PA. Elaine began her career as a Registered Nurse working in critical care, including attending patients neurologically impaired by stroke and traumatic brain injury. Elaine became interested in helping children with learning difficulties when her own daughter struggled with language processing issues and an inability to understand the sound codes of the English language. She discovered that there are many different educational approaches to deal with learning disabilities but Elaine’s interest centered in the remediation of the cognitive deficits. Elaine was trained and certified by The National Institute for Learning Development in Norfolk, VA in 1996 as an Educational Therapist and worked with their program for over ten years helping many children. Then in November of 2007 Elaine became a certified trainer for the Processing and Cognitive Enhancement (PACE) and Master the Code programs in Colorado Springs, CO. For more than a decade Elaine has helped dozens of children overcome all types of learning issues. She says, “There is nothing better than seeing a child reach their potential and enjoy learning again.” Her daughter reached her potential; she recently graduated from University with honors and a double major. Elaine and her husband have three daughters, two sons-in-law and two beautiful grandsons. She and her husband have served as missionaries to the Chamorro people for eight years. They have served the American church in the area of missions and outreach since 1993.