Workshop Presenters

Christopher Bernd is the Outreach Coordinator at Discovery Center Museum in Rockford, Ill. For the past nine years, he has been educating and inspiring learners of all ages. He is best known for his fantastic science demonstrations on physics, chemistry, fire, and more! He enjoys engaging in scientific discourse, so if you have any questions, bring them his way!

Shegan is co-founder of Kids Science Labs and teaches children of all ages. He is quite comfortable with his inner geek and is passionate about ensuring our kids have great academic choices. He has taught kids all over the country amazing problem solving and was named Most Outstanding TA at Stanford, where he taught the Intro to Engineering Lab. Shegan loves to laugh and engage kids in fixing problems and figuring out how stuff works!

Judy Dorsz is an instructor at Bartlett Nature Center, which offers nature studies for grades PreK-12. Programs are geared to encouraging active participation by the students through hands-on activities and outdoor exploration.

Judy Fabjance is thrilled to be back at this conference sharing her passion of improvisation. Judy teaches students aged 3 to 99 and of varying abilities. She has been teaching improv for thirteen years with The Second City and also teaches improv for Homeschool Co-ops, Emerald City Theatre Company, Keshet, After School Matters, birthday parties and businesses. She has been studying improvisation, acting and comedy writing at the best training grounds in Chicago; The Second City, io and The Annoyance for over twenty years. She writes and performs in a sketch comedy group that performs locally and nationally and has been with GayCo producitons for fifteen years. Please visit her website at www.iteachimprov.com to find out how Judy can come to you to teach improv.

Dan Greco is the president and primary exhibit handler for Field Trips on Wheels Foundation, NFP. Field Trips on Wheels Foundation was founded in 2008 to perform live animal exhibits for school-age children attending classes in Hoffman Estates, Illinois, and surrounding areas. Field Trips on Wheels Foundation, NFP, prides itself in making its program available to public and private schools, homeschools, scout gatherings and education-themed birthday parties or events. Because reptiles are among the hardiest and easiest animals to transport, our exhibit includes representatives from all four modern reptile groups: the chelonians (turtles and tortoises), snakes, lizards and crocodilians. We are an Illinois not-for-profit corporation and a 501(c)3 charitable organization.

Play-Well TEKnologies provides project-based programs designed to teach principles and methods of engineering to children, ages 5-14, using LEGO®. Our curriculum is designed by engineers, building on the math and science skills students learn during the school year. Utilizing over 100,000 pieces of LEGO® for each class, we engage our students in solving real-world engineering challenges that explore concepts in physics, architecture, and engineering. We have been teaching homeschool classes and, in the process, growing future engineers since 1997. Amy Good's Bio: Inspired by her grandfather’s motto, “The Best Should Teach”, Amy earned a Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Colorado University and spent four years as a teacher in the Denver Public School system. She feels teaching others is the best way to leave behind a legacy and is excited to continue her inspiration for thinking outside of the LEGO® box as the Midwest Regional Manager for Play-Well.

Rebecca Jaxon grew up in St. Charles, Ill. She earned her master’s degree in Clinical Psychology, then got a job in the computer field. She discovered homeschooling when her eldest was two years old, and soon left work to homeschool her three children. Her family has lived in several states, but spent most of those years in Champaign, Ill., where they helped found a HOUSE chapter. They worked with the InHome conference for many years. With her computer skills, she built the conference's first database. Rebecca has been an attendee, presenter, board member, volunteer, and head of the registration committee, so she knows the conference inside and out and is committed to seeing it endure. Rebecca knows the importance of connecting with other homeschoolers and also of watching for legal challenges to homeschooling. She has worked against several such threats, and though her children are grown, she represents HOUSE to the Ad Hoc Committee for Home Ed Legal and Legislative Matters.

Pam Kaloustian began sewing, knitting, and crafting at a very young age. It has been a passion ever since. Over the years, she has created and taught several classes that promote the values of imagination, originality, and inventiveness. She maintains there is no greater gift than one hand or "Pam" made. She loves to inspire others and draw out their talents. Professionally, Pam is a marketing executive who has spearheaded product development activities for several consumer product companies in the US and Canada.

Jumana, a high school junior, is currently studying at Triton College. Throughout her homeschool years, she developed a love for arts and crafts. She has been recognized at the DuPage County Fair for her needlework, among other projects. This year, she will be teaching crochet techniques and friendship bracelets at the conference.

Paul Laprade is Professor of Music and Director of Choral Activities at Rock Valley College, where he conducts the Concert Choir, Chamber Singers, and Women's Choir, and teaches courses in music theory and voice. Ensembles under his direction have performed throughout North America, and have been invited performers to the White House for Presidents Clinton (1994) , Bush (2001), and Obama (2009). He is currently the Artistic Director and conductor of the professional choir, ElysianVoices. His articles and reviews have appeared in several journals, and have been delivered at several academic conferences. He will be the guest conductor for the Illinois ACDA Two-Year College Choral Festival in April 2012. Laprade studied choral conducting under Joseph Flummerfelt, Allen Crowell, James Jordan, Donald Neuen, and in workshops with Robert Shaw.

Marlene Molewyk has homeschooled her children for the past ten years. Before becoming a stay-at-home mom, she worked as: a broadcast journalist for the NBC affiliate in Traverse City, Michigan; a production assistant for The Oprah Winfrey Show; and a corporate public relations manager for Ameritech. In addition homeschooling, Molewyk is currently a freelance writer, and her articles have been published in Practical Homeschooling and Liberti magazines. Molewyk lives in the Chicago suburbs with her husband and five children. She holds a bachelors degree in communications and political science from the University of Michigan.

Caitlin is a junior at Drake University where she is studying music business and psychology. She was unschooled all the way through high school and attended Rock Valley College in Rockford, Ill., part-time during high school. She loves to play the piano and sing and, of course, play games!

Tracy is a writer who lives outside of Chicago, Ill. She’s also a mom, a wife, and owned by two dogs and a gecko. Huge chunks of her time are spent homeschooling her two kids, cooking gluten- and nut-free food actually worth eating, and trying to figure out how to clean her house less often. In a perfect world she’d be a best-selling author who speaks fluent Spanish, Italian, German and Latin, and travels across Europe, but as of today she hasn’t done all of that … yet.

Sara and Bob Sakol Segall are the parents of an avid baseball card collector. Ryan has been collecting baseball cards since 2007 and has been actively trading them since 2010.

Michael Stachnik has over 20 years experience working in museums. He enjoys teaching all ages about various topics but has a particular interest in Native American history. The incorporation of demonstrations and touchable objects make his educational presentations come alive!

Mark, a homeschooled senior, splits his academic time between classes at North Central College, literature club, and several online classes. He was involved in Boy Scouts from first grade until he turned 18 this past fall, enjoying camping and high adventures. Mark is also a member of 4H. When he is not studying, walking the dog, or searching the internet for obscure factoids, he can be found at the Karate dojo either teaching or taking classes. He has studied karate with Sensei Sharkey for over eight years and has achieved an Adult Black Belt.

Dustin began his career in alternative education over ten years ago as a recreation leader at Brehm Preparatory School. Since then he has created and led numerous summer camps and after-school programs. Currently he is an educator at Chicago Children’s Museum and the director of Tinkering School Chicago. Dustin creates authentic and empowering hand-on experiences for children and does so with passion and an unyielding curiosity.

Ann has homeschooled her two kids, now 21 and 17, since the beginning of time. She has been sewing longer than that. She has been self-employed as a quilter since 1980, which includes repair and conservation of antique quilts, making her own quilted artwork, and teaching and lecturing through quilt shops, adult education programs, and historical societies. Her kids are both performers, which has opened up the world of costuming, and she is heading into that as her next career.

Matt started home education in 1981. At 6th grade, his education became more of a trades apprenticeship in his parent’s family businesses. These consisted of a bookstore, auto repair and salvage, and construction. Between consistently stimulating work environments and a love of reading anything he could get his hands on, he ended up with a love of learning that continues to serve him well, as he is involved in experiential education and camp programming. He found his love of service and camp work as a counselor at 15 years of age. He has had opportunity to travel and serve in many places around the world in numerous capacities. He has been involved in a grassroots education initiative for cultural understanding in the schools of northern Wisconsin. He is currently the Program Director at YMCA Family Camp Nawakwa in Lac Du Flambeau, Wisc.