Our 2026 Speakers
Jen Mackintosh Weaver
Catholic Speaker & Writer at
Wildflowers and Marbles
After 24 years of homeschooling, Jen has learned that education is as much about curiosity, resilience, and humor as it is about lesson plans. Widowed in 2022, she walked a road she never expected, becoming (overnight) a single working parent, while continuing to homeschool three children still at home. In a beautiful plot twist, she was recently remarried to a widower and retired Special Forces Captain, blending a lively family of five children and seven stepchildren into one wonderfully full life. Four of the 12 children are still at home and homeschooling.
She lives in the foothills of the Ozarks in Lebanon, Missouri, where homeschooling, home life, and hospitality all intersect - sometimes loudly!! When she’s not navigating the logistics of a big family or cheering on lifelong learners, Jen can be found redesigning kitchens, dabbling in remodeling, rearranging furniture, photographing beauty in the ordinary, or disappearing down a documentary rabbit hole.
She brings both hard-won wisdom and lighthearted honesty to conversations about faith, family, education, and what it looks like to keep building a meaningful life - one season at a time.
Jenny Bales
"Homeschooling 101: A Beginner How-to"
Jenny has poured her heart into homeschooling her four children for over 19 years; she has graduated her oldest two students and continues to home educate her younger two boys. Through Heart of a Mother, she has inspired and connected thousands of Catholic moms via her online community and professional consulting services, applying her approachable “whatever works” philosophy to help homeschool moms find peace and grow in confidence. When she’s not homeschooling or talking about homeschooling, Jenny delights in gathering with other moms, laughing with her family, and living a life filled with Jesus in the Eucharist, sweet tea, jigsaw puzzles, detective novels, and college football.
Amy Lerner
"Chaos to CALM(er): Practical Tips for Building Order from Overwhelm"
Amy is a wife and mother to five children. An "accidental homeschooler," she has loved the freedom and flexibility offered through homeschooling over the past 16+ years. Amy enjoys working with Heart of a Mother Homeschool Consulting. She loves saint stories, good chocolate and (almost) everything Italian.
More information coming soon...
~ Breakout Session Speakers ~
Jenny Bales
"Root Causes to Real Progress: Hope & Help for Your Struggling Learners"
Jenny is a Homeschool Mom of 19 years and a professional Catholic Homeschool Consultant who has learned to navigate the many challenges young learners face both in her own home and through helping other families. By customizing her homeschooling approaches, schedules, and curricula to meet the unique needs of her children and guiding other mothers to do the same, she’s discovered that homeschooling is most successful when it looks differently for each family, perhaps even for each individual student.
Jenna Scott
"Homeschooling with Joy: How to School with Babies and Toddlers Underfoot"
Jenna is a wife and mother who lives in Coppell and is a parishioner of St. Ann Parish. She has eight kids aged 12 down to 6 months old, and has welcomed four babies into the home since beginning homeschooling in 2020. She is no stranger to chaos or crying and loves exchanging tips and tricks for homeschooling through it all! Jenna's love of the faith and prayer has borne many personal apostolates including Equipped, a program for first time moms, the St. Ann Homeschool Ministry, and her podcast, The Better Part. She is excited to be a part of the DFW Catholic Home Educators Conference and looks forward to learning alongside other faithful homeschooling parents!
Natalie Williams
"Insider Tips from an Admission Counselor: How to NOT Stress About College Applications"
Natalie Williams is a native Texan who is passionate about talking with homeschoolers and their success in the world. She was homeschooled grades K-12 along with her four siblings and graduated from the University of Dallas with a double bachelor's degree in Art History and French. She began working for her alma mater shortly after as the Homeschool Admission Counselor, and now facilitates partnerships with UD and homeschool organizations. She has spoken at over 20 homeschool co-ops and conferences on transcript building, application tips, high school timelines, and more. In her free time she enjoys ballroom dancing, reading, and catching up on her extensive knitting wishlist.
~ Panelists ~
"From Breakfast to Bedtime: What Homeschooling Actually Looks Like"
• Julie Dougherty, Tricia Kelley, Terra Roeber, & Roula Vazquez
"Yes, You Can!: Equipping High Schoolers for a Strong Future"
• Joanna Chabot, Katie Guy, Brittany Velasquez, TBD
"Math, Reading, and Everything In Between: Building a Strong Foundation in the Elementary Years"
• Whitney Fleming, Audra Nakane, Stephanie Reisinger, & Teresa West