Seminar Speakers

Our Mission As Speakers

Encouragement is the key to success as a homeschooler. Without it, we can all grow weary...or worried! Whether it's in person, in print, or through audio, we provide the encouragement to follow the calling to homeschool. Click here to read our workshop topics and descriptions. We hope to be have the chance to encourage you!

Debbie Strayer

Encouragement. Information. Inspiration. These are a few of the results of attending a seminar by Debbie Strayer. Delivered at conventions nationally and support groups locally, Debbie's gift for speaking brings each topic to life with humor, honesty, and years of homeschooling experience. This, along with her educational expertise will undoubtedly be a bright and guiding light for homeschool moms who need one.

Debbie Strayer received her bachelor's and master's degrees in education from Florida State University and is an experienced public school teacher and mentor of younger teachers. She is the former editor and co-founder of Homeschooling Today™ magazine, the author of Gaining Confidence to Teach, one of the co-authors of the Learning Language Arts Through Literature series and editor of The Homeschool Answer Book by Dr. Ruth Beechick.

Debbie is also an experienced graduation speaker. Her journey as an educator and homeschooling parent translates into inspiration and encouragement for homeschool graduates. Retreats for homeschoolers are another area of delight for Debbie. Bringing encouragement and refreshment to homeschooling mothers is an area of great satisfaction and success.

What Others Say About Debbie Strayer:

"In 1994, when we decided to homeschool our children we attended the HERI Curriculum Convention. Our very first workshop was "Gaining Confidence to Teach", with Debbie Strayer. Debbie's ministry is encouragement. She is humble, talented, and has a passion for homeschool families. She can put even the most fearful, skeptical, and/or hesitant parent at ease. Ten years later we can honestly say that our family was blessed by Debbie's humor, insight, and wisdom. We consistently seek opportunities to have her continue to minister to families in the Jacksonville area.
- Ron and Princess Evans (Convention Coordinators of HERI)

"Debbie Strayer is a popular speaker at the FPEA. She is able to touch the hearts of her audience and connect in a way that helps people understand what they are experiencing. I've been very happy with Debbie's ability to reach out to homeschoolers and creatively make them think.
- Muffy Amico (Florida Parent Educators Association Convention Director)

Debbie - "Thank you for allowing God to use you. It seems that you bring tears to my eyes every time I hear you speak because you look right into my heart and you know where I live. God has given you such wisdom and insight. I have listened to you speak for 13 years now and I never get tired of hearing you. You encourage me and I am grateful. Keep on doing what you are doing."
- Joanne Mastronicola (Jacksonville, FL)

"Debbie imparts sound educational help that all homeschoolers can use everyday. Her experiences as a classroom teacher, student evaluator, educational consultant and homeschooling parent give her depth to draw on for any situation. All of that, and she makes us laugh! No one will leave her workshop without practical help and encouragement that will inspire their lives."
- Common Sense Press

"Debbie is a dynamic speaker who, besides homeschooling her own children and writing curriculum, has worked for years with other homeschooling families. Thus she knows better than practically anyone else the problems that families face and the solutions that work for them."
- Dr. Ruth Beechick (Author, speaker, mentor)

Want Debbie to speak to your group? Contact her for details about scheduling her for your conference, book fair, support group meeting, retreat, or leadership conference.

Ashley (Strayer) Wiggers

Encouragement. Information. Inspiration. These are a few of the results of attending a seminar by Debbie Strayer. Delivered at conventions nationally and support groups locally, Debbie's gift for speaking brings each topic to life with humor, honesty, and years of homeschooling experience. This, along with her educational expertise will undoubtedly be a bright and guiding light for homeschool moms who need one.

Ashley (Strayer) Wiggers grew up in the early days of the home schooling movement taught by parents, Greg and Debbie Strayer, who are authors of numerous home schooling materials. Ashley recently retired from a 10-year career as a national champion synchronized swimmer, is a swim instructor at the YMCA, and coaches the Pulaski County High School swim team. In her “spare” time she speaks at home school seminars across the country, edits a monthly online newsletter for Geography Matters, and has written Profiles from History which will be available in spring of 2009. Ashley makes her home in Somerset, KY, with her husband, Alex, and their faithful Golden Retriever, Mandy.

What Others Say About Ashley (Strayer) Wiggers:

"Having Ashley share her experiences of growing up and homeschooling with a learning disability was one of the highlights of our event with Debbie and Ashley. Our parents agreed that it was both encouraging and inspiring to hear Ashley's thoughts and feelings. She did a beautiful job of
communicating a glimpse into the lives of our children with learning disabilities. Thank you, Ashley!!"
- Sharon Hensley, M.A. (Author, Director of Almaden Valley Christian School and homeschooling parent since 1991)

"It was our pleasure to welcome both Debbie and Ashley Strayer to speak to a group of our homeschool moms at a recent event in Palm Beach County. We were so encouraged by the stories they shared, practical examples of "real" homeschool challenges and how their family worked together to overcome them. It was so refreshing to hear Ashley share her stories as a homeschool graduate. She offered a fresh perspective of home education from the eyes of a student who has truly 'been there'."
- Kim Bouchillon (Parents Educating Children (PEC))

Want Ashley to speak to your group? Contact her for details about scheduling her for your conference, book fair, support group meeting, or retreat.