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Welcome, CHAP and MACHE Leaders!
HEAV is pleased to invite leaders from Christian Homeschool Association of Pennsylvania (CHAP) and Maryland Association of Home Educators (MACHE) to LeaderLife!
SOLD OUT!
LeaderLife Conference
March 28 & 29, 2025
"Transformational Leadership"
Romans 12:2
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
Leaders, Edupreneurs, and Founders
You can have a thriving homeschool community – co-op, microschool, learning center, hybrid school – where families participate, leaders step up, and you have more time to spend with your family.
LeaderLife Registration Is Full.
$119 members/$169 non-members
Not a Member? Sign up now for $45, and save $50 on your registration!
Save an Additional $10!
Bring a friend from your support group, and you will each get $10 back.
Note: Refund is limited to $10/per person.
Schedule
Friday, March 28, 2025
Leader Intensive: A Pre-Conference Event
9:30 a.m. Pre-Conference Registration
10:00 a.m. Welcome ~ Giorgio’s
10:10 a.m. What Homeschool Groups Are and How to Plan One | Giorgio’s
Classroom Management: The Rules of Engagement | Gallery A & B
10:55 a.m. Coffee Break
11:10 a.m. How to Start and Run a Co-op, Microschool, or Hybrid | Giorgio’s
How to Start and Run a Support Group or Learning Center | Gallery C
Crisis Management and Emergency Action Plans | Gallery A & B
Noon Lunch on your own
LeaderLife Conference | Rotunda Ballroom
1:00 p.m. Check-In & Registration
1:30 p.m. Welcome & Introductions
1:45 p.m. Spotlight Introductions
2:00 p.m. Mastering Conflict: Turning Confrontation Into Opportunity ~ Doug Bartsch
3:00 p.m. Coffee Break
3:30 p.m. Spotlight Introductions
4:00 p.m. Workshop Breakout Sessions
Vision & Influence: Two Faithful Companions ~ Zan Tyler | Giorgio’s
Building Culture & Developing Effective Leadership Teams ~ Ashlee & Landon Sharrett |
Gallery A & B
Leadership as a Ministry ~ Kym Kent | Gallery C
5:00 p.m. Wrap Up
6:30 p.m. Dinner | Promenade Ballroom
7:45 p.m. Dessert Reception | Promenade Ballroom
Saturday, March 29, 2025 | Rotunda Ballroom
8:30 a.m. Welcome & Prayer
8:45 a.m. Spotlight Introductions
9:00 a.m. Constructive Conflict: Turning Tension Into Transformation ~ Doug Bartsch
10:00 a.m. Coffee Break
10:30 a.m. Conflict Prevention: Turning Chaos Into a Leadership System ~ Doug Bartsch 12:00 p.m. Workshop Breakout Sessions
Rooting Your Organization: Developing Your Mission, Vision, & Core Values (Part 1) ~ Ashlee & Brandon Sharrett | Giorgio’s
Optimizing Your Co-op’s Website & Workflow for a Seamless User Experience ~ Catherine Kim | Gallery A & B
Overcoming Lies That Hinder Leadership ~ Kym Kent | Gallery C
1:00 p.m. Lunch | Promenade Ballroom
2:30 p.m. Spotlight Introductions
3:00 p.m. Workshop Breakout Sessions
Strategic Planning: Masimizing Your Organization’s Impact (Part 2) ~ Ashlee & Brandon Sharrett | Giorgio’s
To Be Determined | Gallery A & B
Keys to Avoiding Burnout ~ Kym Kent | Gallery C
3:45 p.m. Coffee Break
4:15 p.m. Homeschool Group of the Year Panel Discussion ~ Naked Apple Tribe
5:00 p.m. Give-aways, Closing Thoughts & Farewells
5:30 p.m. Prayer & Closing
Hotel
Reserve your room now at the BEAUTIFUL
DoubleTree by Hilton – Just $139*
*The discount rate of $139 is good through this Friday, March 14, at midnight.
DoubleTree by Hilton is a gorgeous 3-star hotel in Charlottesville. It features a fitness center, a terrace, a restaurant, an indoor pool, free shuttle service, and room service.
$139/night
Choose a double queen OR a single king with a sleeper sofa.
Meet Your LeaderLife Speakers
Doug is a seasoned leadership coach, pastor, homeschool dad, and business professional with a passion for helping leaders reach their full potential. He is also a certified emotional intelligence coach. Doug and his wife, Kim, have two grown children, both married, and two adorable grandchildren.
Beyond his pastoral role, Doug serves as the director of training for The Ministry Institute, equipping both marketplace and ministry leaders worldwide.
As the first Certified Maximum CEO Trainer and Coach, he has been mastering and applying the Maximum CEO Leadership System since 2003 in church, nonprofit, and business settings. His deep understanding of this scripturally based system, combined with decades of real-world experience, allows him to train and coach leaders, teams, boards of directors, and marketplace executives with expertise.
LeaderLife Workshops
Mastering Conflict: Turning Confrontation into Opportunity
Too many organizations struggle with unresolved conflict, and too many leaders are sidelined because they lack the skills to navigate it effectively. But conflict isn’t just a challenge—it’s an opportunity. When handled well, it strengthens teams, deepens trust, and drives growth. In this session, you’ll discover a proven process to defuse emotional tension, restore relationships, and build up others. Conflict resolution is a performance skill—one that can be developed with intention and practice. Join us to learn how to turn difficult conversations into powerful leadership moments.
Constructive Conflict: Turning Tension into Transformation
Leadership is a noble pursuit, but too often, leaders feel overwhelmed and frustrated—not only because of the challenges they face but because they lack the skills to foster constructive conflict. When handled correctly, conflict isn’t a roadblock—it’s a catalyst for growth, innovation, and stronger teams. In this session, you’ll learn a proven process to turn issues and problems into opportunities and discover how to lead meetings that drive real results. Join us to transform the way you approach differing opinions and create an environment where tough conversations lead to powerful outcomes.
Conflict Prevention: Turning Chaos into a Leadership System
Unclear leadership structures create frustration, inefficiency, and ongoing conflict—but it doesn’t have to be that way. The key to preventing chaos isn’t just putting out fires; it’s building a leadership system that fosters clarity, accountability, and growth. In this session, you’ll discover a proven framework to position your leadership for effectiveness, gain clarity on your true role as a leader, structure your organization for long-term success, and lead with emotional intelligence. Walk away with practical strategies to turn potential chaos into a system that drives progress, teamwork, and results.
Ashlee and Landon are high school sweethearts and the proud parents of nine beautiful children. After 14 years of moving around the country as a U.S. Navy family, Landon left the service, and their family joyfully planted roots in Virginia. They are now answering God’s calling to minister to homeschooling families, connect them to Jesus and each other, and restore education to the home.
Veteran homeschoolers with 15 years of experience, Ashlee and Landon have also led a homeschooling cooperative, Naked Apple Tribe, for the past five years.
The past five years have been remarkably successful for Naked Apple Tribe. Ashlee founded Naked Apple in 2020, establishing its base of operations in Vint Hill, Virginia. In 2024, the Tribe expanded to a second location in Front Royal, Virginia, to accommodate rapid growth and serve additional families. What began as a small gathering of local families has now grown to include more than 70 families and nearly 200 students from across Northern Virginia. The Tribe’s success stems from its commitment to serving the whole family through all phases of life, providing a safe, supportive environment where members do life together.
ABOUT NAKED APPLE TRIBE
Naked Apple’s mission is to build cooperative communities that raise the next generation of leaders—Christ-followers with servant hearts and a biblical foundation, equipped and willing to be the hands and feet of Jesus in the world. The Tribe’s core values—Connect with Joy, Shelter with Truth and Love, Serve with Wisdom, Restore with Hope, and Empower with Purpose—guide its mission and foster strong, supportive relationships among members.
The strength of the organization lies in the culture of service that Ashlee and Landon have instilled in their leadership team, reinforced by the operational systems and processes they have developed. In recognition of their excellence in operations and their impact on the local homeschooling community, Naked Apple Tribe was awarded the 2024 Herzog Foundation Excellence in Christian Education Award for Homeschool Cooperative of the Year.
Known as the “Homeschool Mythbuster,” Kym Kent actively dispels misconceptions and highlights the success of families educating outside the traditional model. With over twenty-one years of homeschooling experience, she is the cofounder and director of eXtend Homeschool Tutorial in Bowie, Maryland. A passionate advocate for homeschooling and educational freedom, she empowers families and edupreneurs to create innovative and meaningful learning programs.
A compassionate cheerleading connector, she has emerged as a leader in championing homeschooling and educational freedom for families while empowering nontraditional educational entrepreneurs to build programs that meet the needs of students and families in their communities.
A University of Maryland, College Park graduate, she previously worked in special education litigation before beginning her homeschooling journey in 2003. She is recognized for her dynamic math classes, making the subject engaging while preparing students for advanced studies.
Kym mentors homeschoolers and edupreneurs through national workshops and conventions, including SXSW EDU and the MACHE Convention. A guest on the LiberatED podcast, she has also contributed to books and articles on homeschooling.
As a community connector for the VELA Education Fund, she speaks on sustainable homeschooling models and avoiding burnout. In February, she was named a 50CAN National Voices Fellow, advocating for homeschoolers nationwide.
Beyond her work, Kym finds joy in worshiping the Lord and spending time with her family.
LeaderLife Worskshops
Leadership as a Ministry
As leaders, especially in the homeschool arena, we are called to guide, direct, and serve. Looking at the life of Jesus, who fully embodies perfect leadership, we’ll draw practical insights and apply them to our roles as leaders and ministers, understanding that they truly are one and the same.
Overcoming Lies That Hinder Leadership
Whether through past experiences or what we’ve been told, we can find ourselves consciously or subconsciously holding onto beliefs about ourselves and about God that hinder us as leaders. In this interactive workshop, we’ll walk through a three-step process to live transformed lives and share these truths with others to transform our communities.
Keys to Avoiding Burnout
In this interactive workshop, we’ll discuss the body’s physiological response to stress and burnout and work through immediate steps to counter this response. Using the acronym GRACE, we’ll also cover practical strategies to address and avoid burnout to sustain you for the long run.
A passionate speaker, author, and curriculum consultant, Zan’s deepest desire is to equip parents to raise children who love the Lord, embrace their callings, and cherish the freedoms of our great American heritage. She and her husband, Joe, homeschooled their three children from kindergarten through high school—a privilege she treasures most.
LeaderLife Worskshop
Vision & Influence: Two Faithful Companions
Catrina Jackson is a dedicated wife, mother, and mentor with a diverse background in leadership, merchandising, and management across multiple industries. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and a Master of Arts from Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia. After a rewarding 16-year career with Barnes & Noble College Division, Catrina chose to support her husband’s tile business and embrace the role of homeschooling their three children.
Catrina sees her current role as convention director as the perfect culmination of her varied experiences, calling it her “dream job.”
She is passionate about defending the freedom to homeschool and helping families, regardless of their shape or size, discover the beauty and value of the homeschooling journey.
As the director of the Aiming High Homeschool Co-op in Williamsburg, Catrina is thrilled to further her mission of serving families and expanding her impact as a member of the Home Educators Association of Virginia (HEAV) family. Above all, her faith, family, and neighbors are central to her life, and she finds joy in nurturing those relationships.
Her favorite quote is: “It doesn’t matter who gets the credit as long as God gets the glory.”
Outside of her professional life, Catrina and her family enjoy spending time together, especially playing games and making memories wherever they go.
LeaderLife Worskshop
Classroom Management: The Rules of Engagement
As teachers, we all know how difficult it can be to keep students engaged, especially when a lesson seems to be dragging or the content does not effectively engage students. But what if there were a way to make learning both enjoyable and productive? Join the HEAV convention director in a workshop discussion designed to equip you with the tools and confidence needed to create a positive, well-managed learning environment in which both students and teachers thrive. By the end of this workshop, you will have a collection of creative, play-based activities to keep your students engaged and excited about learning.
Catherine Kim is the founder of Homeschool Platform LLC, an organization dedicated to equipping homeschool co-ops and support groups with innovative tools that streamline administration and strengthen community engagement. With a background in education, technology, and business development, she understands the unique challenges that homeschool leaders face and is committed to providing solutions that simplify operations and empower their growth. Catherine and her team continuously develop resources tailored to the evolving needs of the homeschool community, ensuring that leaders have the tools they need to thrive.
LeaderLife Worskshop
Workshop: Optimizing Your Co-op’s Website & Workflow for a Seamless User Experience
Your co-op’s website is more than just an online presence—it’s a tool designed to simplify management, improve communication, and enhance the user experience for families. In this session, we will explore best practices for website design, navigation, and workflow optimization to ensure that your site works for you rather than against you.
You will learn:
- The key elements of effective website design and user-friendly navigation
- Common website pitfalls that cause frustration—and how to fix them
- Best practices for mobile responsiveness, page speed, and accessibility
- How to streamline workflows using forms, automation, and integrations
- Real-world examples and a live website audit to see improvements in action
Even if you already have a website, this session will help you fine-tune navigation, improve mobile responsiveness, and optimize your workflow so that your site is easier to manage and more engaging for families. This interactive, content-packed session will provide practical takeaways that you can apply to any website, regardless of platform or provider. Whether you’re looking to improve an existing site or planning a refresh, you will leave with actionable strategies to make your website more engaging, efficient, and effective for your co-op, hybrid, or microschool.
Support Group Intensive
A Pre-Conference Event | Friday, March 28, 10 a.m. to noon
Starting and Running a Support Group, Co-Op, Microschool, or Hybrid
Prospective Leader Track
Experienced Leader Track
Homeschooling is a great way to unleash your creativity—but we know starting from scratch can be daunting. Don’t reinvent the wheel! Learn from others who have gone before. Learn the difference between a co-op and support group and discover what you need to know to get started!
No matter how big of a team we have, leaders take on large burdens when running a group. Challenges in our private lives, complaints from our members, and simply having too big of a burden will lead to burnout in even the best leaders. We’ll help you mitigate burnout with tips on how to maximize the skills of your team members and manage your own schedule.
A cooperative can be as simple as parents working cooperatively together with little to no money changing hands, to a complex drop-off, multi-day, academic program that functions like a private school. No matter where you begin on this spectrum, there are important guiding principles that are common to all homeschool co-ops.
Support groups range from simple social media groups to large groups that offer resources, multiple events, and community. Support groups can be excellent assets to families and provide a sense of community. Craig will address the purpose and characteristics of your group, administration, parent engagement, conflict management, time management and building teams, and more.
Homeschooling is a great way to unleash your creativity—but we know starting from scratch can be daunting. Don’t reinvent the wheel! Learn from others who have gone before. Learn the difference between a co-op and support group and discover what you need to know to get started!
No matter how big of a team we have, leaders take on large burdens when running a group. Challenges in our private lives, complaints from our members, and simply having too big of a burden will lead to burnout in even the best leaders. We’ll help you mitigate burnout with tips on how to maximize the skills of your team members and manage your own schedule.
Most of us are just homeschool moms and while some of us have children with special needs, the skills to handle children with disabilities in our co-op can be beyond our expertise. We have tips on how to train our leaders and bring in people with the right skill set so we can support the growing population of homeschooled students with special needs.
A cooperative can be as simple as parents working cooperatively together with little to no money changing hands, to a complex drop-off, multi-day, academic program that functions like a private school. No matter where you begin on this spectrum, there are important guiding principles that are common to all homeschool co-ops.
Support groups range from simple social media groups to large groups that offer resources, multiple events, and community. Support groups can be excellent assets to families and provide a sense of community. Craig will address the purpose and characteristics of your group, administration, parent engagement, conflict management, time management and building teams, and more.
Do you know what to do to keep your group’s meetings and events safe and secure for all involved? Not just from outside threats, but also from internal concerns. Policies, training, risk management, and Virginia law will be discussed.
Feel like you’re flying blind in your leadership?
You’re not alone! Many of us
- stumbled into leadership by necessity, without considering our particular talents and abilities,
- focus on filling gaps and fixing weaknesses, and
- use brute strength to just “get the job done.”
Stop struggling and stop trying to reinvent the wheel. Join us at the DoubleTree by Hilton for two days of training, encouragement, and fellowship at Virginia’s conference just for homeschool leaders.
Empower Yourself and Revitalize Your Team!
Come to LeaderLife.
Jubilee Pricing!*
Come for as low as $79, thanks to our registration sponsors.
Schedule
FRIDAY, March 15, 2023
Support Group Intensive: A Pre-Conference Event
9:30 a.m. Pre-Conference Registration
10:00 a.m. Welcome
10:10 a.m. What Homeschool Groups Are and How to Plan One | Scholars Initiative Conference Room
Welcoming Families with Special Needs| Multipurpose Room
Ways to Avoid Burnout | Member Lounge
10:55 a.m. Coffee Break
11:10 a.m. How to Start and Run a Co-op | Scholars Initiative Conference Room
How to Start and Run a Support Group |Multipurpose Room
Bring Your Co-op into the Digital Age |Member Lounge
Noon Lunch on Your Own
LeaderLife Conference | Gathering Room A
1:00 p.m. Check-In & Registration
1:30 p.m. Welcome and Introduction
1:45 p.m. Support Group Spotlight
2:00 p.m. Impact Teams: Changing the Way We Value Gifts ~ Wil & Meeke Addison
3:00 p.m. Herzog Foundation Presentation | Member Lounge
3:00 p.m. Coffee Break
3:30 p.m. Protecting Our Children and Protecting Your Organization ~ Darren Jones
4:25 p.m. Hispanic Outreach Update ~ Karim Morato
5:00 p.m. Friday Night at the Museum Tour
6:30 p.m. Dinner | Gathering Room B
7:45 p.m. Dessert Reception | Promenade
An evening of good food, fun, fellowship, and encouragement.
SATURDAY, March 16, 2023 | Gathering Room A
8:30 a.m. Welcome & Prayer
8:45 a.m. Support Group Spotlight
9:00 a.m. The Most Essential Leaders ~ Wil & Meeke Addison
9:45 a.m. Convention Update & Black Outreach ~ Jessica Vasquez
10:25 a.m. Coffee Break
10:55 a.m. Financial Management and Reporting ~ Carol Topp
11:40 a.m. Seriously, Don’t Work Alone – Team Building ~ Anne Miller
12:12 a.m. Board Management ~ Chris Davidson
12:45 p.m. Lunch Buffet
2:00 p.m. Leader Panel – Ask Us Anything
2:30 p.m. Mentoring Update ~ Amy Martinez
2:40 p.m. Legislative Update ~ Callie Chaplow
2:00 p.m. MACHE Breakout Session | Scholars Initiative Conference Room
3:00 p.m. Coffee Break
3:30 p.m. Support Group Spotlight
3:55 p.m. The Fault in Our Feels: How Culture Exalts Feelings and Leaves Us Anxious ~ Wil & Meeke
Addison
4:45 p.m. Giveaways, Closing Thoughts, and Farewell
5:15 p.m. Prayer and Closing
Full Conference Registration
Thanks to our Sponsors-
Jubilee Pricing!
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Save $313 Thanks to Sponsors!
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Members Save $20
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Includes Pre-conference Support Group Intensive
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Buffet Luncheon
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Dinner and Dessert Fellowship
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All Conference Materials
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Yummy Refreshments
Support Group Intensive Only
Pre-Conference Event-
Choose from 6 Workshops
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10 am to noon
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Intensive Materials Included
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Yummy Refreshments
Prices Increase After March 5.
March 6 – March 15, 2024: $89/member; $109/non-member
HEAV member? Be sure to access your member benefits page to grab your discount code before you register.
Not a member? You can join or renew right on your convention registration! You’ll get your member discount right away and get great benefits all year long.
Carol Topp, CPA is a retired homeschool mother, accountant, and author of 15 books including Homeschool Co-ops: How to Start Them, Run Them and Not Burn Out. She has advised hundreds of homeschool group leaders on finances, tax exempt status, and running their homeschool organization though her books, podcasts and webinars. Her website, HomeschoolCPA.com, was awarded Top Accounting Blog five times, but her greatest compliment came from an audience member who, after sitting for 90 minutes, said, “You kept my attention the entire time.” That’s high praise for a CPA! She semi-retired in 2022 and stays active moderating the I Am a Homeschool Group Leader Facebook group.
Karim Morato is a bilingual consultant and the Hispanic outreach coordinator at HSLDA. She is a certified Spanish teacher with 16 years of teaching experience in public schools. Now, with her master’s degree in curriculum and online learning from George Mason University, Karim has developed her own curriculum and is passionate about supporting leaders and Hispanic parents in her community. Karim and her husband homeschool their three children.
Lanissir is joyful and energetic with a mission to impact the lives of people to live joyfully and fearlessly as they pursue their God-sized dreams. A much sought-after speaker, she loves to inspire people by using humor and real life experiences., providing social, spiritual, academic, and supervisory support for families. Lanissir earned her BS in journalism from the University of Maryland College Park, is Myers-Briggs Type Indicator® certified, and is pursuing a master’s degree in biblical studies. She and her husband, Lorenzo, have seven children. Her hobbies include reading, traveling, photography, and kayaking.
Darren Jones, homeschool graduate and HSLDA litigation attorney, is a favorite at HEAV LeaderLife conferences! He will present a session that focuses on homeschool protections for children, the co-op, and support group organizations.
Eliminate the Guesswork.
- Grow in your leadership potential.
- Gain confidence as a leader.
- Create a team you can count on.
- Work more efficiently.
- End burnout.
- Connect with other leaders.
- Reach your diverse community.
Why LeaderLife Works
Relevant & Practical
Real-life examples and experiences from leaders you can trust provide skills you can apply right away to problems you face.
Life-Changing & Dynamic
Make connections and forge relationships that will forever change your leadership, your group, and your life!
Fun & Interactive
Who doesn't want to have fun? Gifts, activities, round-table discussions and leader panels bring each session to life!
Each year, we hear how this leadership conference has changed leaders’ lives and made THE difference in their leadership style, in their groups, and in their own families. Leaders sacrifice so much, and we want to support you. We’re in this together. Come find your community. Come find your tribe.
Meet Your HEAV LeaderLife Team
Anne Miller
President and Executive Director
Sheri Payne
Director of Leader Support
Leadership is not so much about technique and methods as it is about opening the heart. Leadership is about inspiration — of oneself and of others. Great leadership is about human experiences, not processes. Leadership is not a formula or a program; it is a human activity that comes from the heart and considers the heart of others. It is an attitude, not a routine.
Travel, Parking, and Hotel
Getting There
Driving is always an option, of course, but there are many ways to get to DC—and getting there can be half the fun! Revel in the experience. Consider creating your own adventure, or even carpooling to take advantage of express lanes.
Take the Train!
Often overlooked, train travel can be the easiest and most comfortable way to go.
Amtrak has a stop at Union Station, and the conference hotel is easily accessible, just a short Metro—or Uber or Lyft—ride away. Multiple daily train routes run from Norfolk and Roanoke, with stations along the route with parking.
Thank You To Our 2025 Sponsors!
Thanks to the generosity of these sponsors who have invested so highly in homeschooling families and leaders across the nation.
NEW!
Add an optional T-shirt when you register for the LeaderLife by MARCH 1st!
WOMEN’S T-SHIRTS
- Cost is $21
- 2 Color option: heather gray and black
- Women’s Size options: S, M, L, XL, 2XL
MEN’S T-SHIRTS
- Cost is $20
- 2 Color option: heather gray and black
- Men’s Size options: S, M, L, XL, 2X
