May 4, 2024

Lori Gabbitas

Nearly 30 years ago, Lori Gabbitas began meeting with young mothers who were concerned about the true success of their children in a world that can’t define success. She built the foundation of Pinehurst Academy to keep curiosity and wonder alive in her children and help them never lose the love of learning. For years, she has been practicing the simple and beautiful pattern of learning using the Arts as described in the Well Educated Heart (WEH). And today, she is actively involved as a mentor in The Mothers of Influence community and in Belle Ame at Home (part of Well Educated Heart).

Lori enjoys counseling with mothers in groups, and one on one, helping them embrace basic principles that awaken within them the courage and the confidence to teach their own children. To that end, she leads a virtual group discussion with mothers every week via zoom to encourage and champion mothers and their essential role in our society. Her greatest passion, outside her family, is helping mothers and mothers-to-be find softer hearts and learn to be sensitive to true learning – learning that lasts a lifetime.

Lori is a California native and life long resident who loves the natural beauties that surround her. She and her husband have four children who, for over two decades, filled Pinehurst Academy and today are grown and on their own. The oldest three have graduated from or are attending college with GPAs over 3.6, the youngest recently returned from full time missionary service and is continuing his learning with online classes. They have added 3, son to be 4 grandchildren to the family whose parents plan to continue the legacy and teach and train them at home.

Jessica Smith

Learning doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. All you need are a few universal tools to teach all subjects. One of the most powerful tools is narration. In this class you'll learn 1) what narration is, 2) why it's so effective, and 3) how you can use it with all your school subjects! Every educator should be utilizing this powerful tool and I'm so excited to share all my tips and tricks with you.

Jessica is a homeschool graduate who is now homeschooling her four boys. Jessica graduated from BYU with a BS in Family Studies and Human Development. She is a Certified Family Life Educator (CFLE-P) and focuses on marrying her passions of teaching and parenting to support and educate homeschooling parents. She is a bibliophile and hopes to open a living books library in her home someday. In her spare time she nurtures a garden in her backyard, sourdough in her kitchen, and little boys all over the place.

Jen Bentley

Homeschooling through high school can be a daunting endeavor, but as the administrator in your own homeschool, you get to make the adjustments to curriculum, methodology, and assessment that make the most sense for your family and your child. Jen as graduated two of her four homeschooled kids and offers her wisdom and experience of curating a tailored experience for their unique learning style and personalities.

Jen Bentley is a northern Nevada mom of 4 bright and ever-changing children. She had been homeschooling for 10 years and has graduated 2 of her children. Jen is passionate about sharing her mothering and homeschooling journey, and encouraging others in theirs.

Dru Simerson

Helping youth become adults requires more than book learning. Youth who have the opportunity to experience a broad spectrum of hands-on learning and the chance to lead in meaningful ways will be well-equipped to take on the challenges of the modern world. Becoming well-rounded means knowing how to use hands and mind and how to get along with others. Dru Simerson brings local youth to help make his point as he explains his unique, yet time-honored approach to growing confident kids. Local construction business owner that supports and is involved with local youth agricultural programs and youth focused events. Through the programs and events a culture of youth public speaking, common sense business practices, and everyday husbandry is considered a normal daily youth activity among their peers. Contact: keystoneagriculturalsociety.org, info@kasnv.org

Sidney Armstrong

If you have kids who have neurological differences, taking those into account when teaching them is vital. Sidney has helped countless mothers navigate learning disabilities and neurological development to help their children succeed in learning. There are wonderful strategies and resources that can meet your child where he or she is at and support their optimal growth.

Kathleen Taylor

How do we stay calm and focused when everything around us seems to be falling apart? Inflation, strained relationships, job loss, health challenges. Are we supposed to grin and bear it? Come listen to proven ways to get different results in life. Kathleen will share what she used personally to handle the pain of divorce, work through depression and raise her income.

Kathleen Taylor lives in Idaho with four of her half a dozen children. She is a Chinese Medicine practioner, a Whole Food Nutritional Counselor, Mental Wellness Coach and Rare Faith Facilitator. She enjoys reading and hosting puzzle competitions.

Jami Hepworth

You probably know that you ought to teach your kids reading, writing, science, history, and math. But do you know why it matters to their lives now and in the future? Do you have a clear picture of the objectives for WHY your child will be served by a well-rounded education? In this course, Jami will guide you through the WHY? HOW? and WHAT? of each subject and show you how to develop a plan for meaningful learning in each subject that takes into account the development and phase of learning your child or teen is currently experiencing.

Jami is a single mom who has homeschooled her kids from the beginning. She and her five kids love to hike and try new recipes. Jami is a fearless seeker of truth who shares her insights and memes on social media with an audience of thousands. In her work as a life coach, she has learned to listen deeply and find the underlying needs, hurts, and concerns that people harbor as she helps them resolve the pain and seek healing. She has created numerous courses for homeschoolers

Nancy Jones

Charlotte Mason, Classical, Leadership Education, Waldorf, Unschooling, Well-Educated Heart—oh my! There are so many different educational philosophies and approaches to homeschooling. How will you pick the best one for you? Do you have to choose just one? A lot of brilliant people have added to the conversation of what it means to be educated and they have illuminated different paths to help a student get there. In this seminar, you will be introduced to some overaching themes, thinkers, and ideas in educational philosophy and gain insights on how they can be used as customizable tools to help you teach the individual in front of you: your own unique child in your own unique home.

Nancy Jones is thrilled to be the mother of five fabulous daughters. She has been homeschooling for 10 years and has put her experience as a musician, editor, and researcher to use in understanding and applying the best of what she finds in a variety of educational philosophies and approaches. Her undergraduate degree in English and her master’s in American Studies from Penn State have helped her mentor her kids and other youth in close reading, discussion of, and writing about classic literature. In 2017 Nancy founded what is now known as Carson City Symphony Youth Chorus, and after a hiatus for baby number five is again the director of the chorus for children 4+. Nancy and her husband enjoy playing racquetball, hiking in Nevada’s beautiful mountains, and reading aloud with their girls.

Jessica Smith

In this class you’ll learn how to apply Charlotte Mason’s methods to teach language arts simply (and effectively!) from first grade through high school. All you need is paper, a pencil, and some good books!

Jessica is a homeschool graduate who is now homeschooling her four boys. Jessica graduated from BYU with a BS in Family Studies and Human Development. She is a Certified Family Life Educator (CFLE-P) and focuses on marrying her passions of teaching and parenting to support and educate homeschooling parents. She is a bibliophile and hopes to open a living books library in her home someday. In her spare time she nurtures a garden in her backyard, sourdough in her kitchen, and little boys all over the place.