Vendor Presentations 2026
Exploring College and Career Pathways for Homeschool Students - 5:30 p.m. Room 1
Homeschool students have unique opportunities to explore college and career pathways earlier and more flexibly than their peers. This session will introduce families to a variety of options available during the high school years, including Post-Secondary Enrollment Options (PSEO), hands-on summer academies, and career-focused programs. Attendees will learn how students can begin taking college courses, explore potential career interests, and gain real-world experience before graduating high school.
This presentation will also highlight how students can build confidence, develop independence, and make more informed decisions about their future. Whether your student already has a clear direction or is still exploring possibilities, this session will provide practical insight into how to take the next steps with clarity and confidence.
Ellie Breunig, Recruitment and Admissions Specialist at Pine Technical & Community College
Ellie Breunig is a Recruitment and Admissions Specialist at Pine Technical & Community College, where she works closely with students and families exploring college and career pathways. She supports prospective students in areas such as nursing, liberal arts, and psychology, helping them navigate programs, admissions, and next steps. Ellie is passionate about helping homeschool students find flexible and confidence-building pathways into higher education.
Homeschool students have unique opportunities to explore college and career pathways earlier and more flexibly than their peers. This session will introduce families to a variety of options available during the high school years, including Post-Secondary Enrollment Options (PSEO), hands-on summer academies, and career-focused programs. Attendees will learn how students can begin taking college courses, explore potential career interests, and gain real-world experience before graduating high school.
This presentation will also highlight how students can build confidence, develop independence, and make more informed decisions about their future. Whether your student already has a clear direction or is still exploring possibilities, this session will provide practical insight into how to take the next steps with clarity and confidence.
Ellie Breunig, Recruitment and Admissions Specialist at Pine Technical & Community College
Ellie Breunig is a Recruitment and Admissions Specialist at Pine Technical & Community College, where she works closely with students and families exploring college and career pathways. She supports prospective students in areas such as nursing, liberal arts, and psychology, helping them navigate programs, admissions, and next steps. Ellie is passionate about helping homeschool students find flexible and confidence-building pathways into higher education.
It's Not Just for Kids:
Catholic Copywork as a Screen-Free Devotional Tool for Families - 5:30 p.m. Room 4
In this interactive presentation, attendees will revisit the multipurpose benefits of this low-prep and screen-free activity that traditionally has been geared towards children and explore how applying it to Catholic devotions can expand its use to assist teens and adults in their faith as well. Attendees will review the myriad multipurpose benefits of copywork in regular homeschooling practice and discover new ways to integrate it as a beautiful tool into family prayer life for children, teens, and adults.
Emily Dieter, Owner and Product Creator at Tracing Tradition
Although not a homeschooling mom (yet!), Emily is the face behind Tracing Tradition and a stay-at-home mother of four young children who loves creating faith-inspired everyday products that aim to help families build up their domestic church. You can find her unique customizable Catholic prayer dry-erase boards on Etsy and Sacred Anchor Artisans, a new Catholic marketplace, as well as select popular designs on the Catholic Company website.
Catholic Copywork as a Screen-Free Devotional Tool for Families - 5:30 p.m. Room 4
In this interactive presentation, attendees will revisit the multipurpose benefits of this low-prep and screen-free activity that traditionally has been geared towards children and explore how applying it to Catholic devotions can expand its use to assist teens and adults in their faith as well. Attendees will review the myriad multipurpose benefits of copywork in regular homeschooling practice and discover new ways to integrate it as a beautiful tool into family prayer life for children, teens, and adults.
Emily Dieter, Owner and Product Creator at Tracing Tradition
Although not a homeschooling mom (yet!), Emily is the face behind Tracing Tradition and a stay-at-home mother of four young children who loves creating faith-inspired everyday products that aim to help families build up their domestic church. You can find her unique customizable Catholic prayer dry-erase boards on Etsy and Sacred Anchor Artisans, a new Catholic marketplace, as well as select popular designs on the Catholic Company website.
Green catechesis: Mary Gardens and teaching the faith through Creation - 5:30 p.m. Room 5
Mary Gardens for today's world. Enter into the 'Enclosed Garden' and learn how the medieval person viewed the world and how we can our faith through creation. God's First Word. Learn about ecology, botany, copy work, science, history, geography, art and more. Imagination is the limit.
Kelly Kraft, Former Homeschooling Educator and owner of Morning Star Seed Company
Former agronomist turned homeschooling parent of 24+ years. Used my love of homeschooling and agronomy and created a flower seed business that sells the legends and lore of the flowers found in Mary Gardens of the Middle Ages.
Mary Gardens for today's world. Enter into the 'Enclosed Garden' and learn how the medieval person viewed the world and how we can our faith through creation. God's First Word. Learn about ecology, botany, copy work, science, history, geography, art and more. Imagination is the limit.
Kelly Kraft, Former Homeschooling Educator and owner of Morning Star Seed Company
Former agronomist turned homeschooling parent of 24+ years. Used my love of homeschooling and agronomy and created a flower seed business that sells the legends and lore of the flowers found in Mary Gardens of the Middle Ages.
Plotting the Young Writer's Path - 5:30 p.m. Room 8
Ellen Finnigan will present five, very basic frameworks through which parents can view the craft of writing and better understand a young writer’s development. Parents of middle school and high school students will be able to use these frameworks to ensure consistent progress and steady growth when designing a course of study for their students.
Ellen Finnigan, Independent Educator
Ms. Finnigan has been teaching writing online to homeschooled students, in one form or another, since 2008. She taught in the English and Literature department at Kolbe Academy for nine years (2013-2022) and now teaches independently through her own company, Teach to the Text. She has a B.A. in English from Boston College and an M.F.A. in Creative Writing from the University of Montana.
Ellen Finnigan will present five, very basic frameworks through which parents can view the craft of writing and better understand a young writer’s development. Parents of middle school and high school students will be able to use these frameworks to ensure consistent progress and steady growth when designing a course of study for their students.
Ellen Finnigan, Independent Educator
Ms. Finnigan has been teaching writing online to homeschooled students, in one form or another, since 2008. She taught in the English and Literature department at Kolbe Academy for nine years (2013-2022) and now teaches independently through her own company, Teach to the Text. She has a B.A. in English from Boston College and an M.F.A. in Creative Writing from the University of Montana.
Who Are the Knights of Columbus? - 5:30 p.m. Room 9
A history of the Knights of the Columbus, what we do today, and why you should be a member.
Andrew Poole & David Goedtke
Bother Andrew and Poole homeschooled their children, David was a Catholic school band teacher
A history of the Knights of the Columbus, what we do today, and why you should be a member.
Andrew Poole & David Goedtke
Bother Andrew and Poole homeschooled their children, David was a Catholic school band teacher
How To Teach Music When You're Not Musical - 5:30 p.m. Room 103
In this workshop, we will explore why music education is important, what elementary music instruction looks like, and how everyone can teach music with the curriculum "How To Teach Music When You're Not Musical: Lesson Plans, Ideas, and Resources for the Elementary Homeschool."
Stacy Saxton, Music is Forever
Stacy Saxton is a homeschooling veteran with a BA in Music Education and 40 years experience teaching music. She home educated her two children through high school as a widowed single mom while teaching music privately and in a local Christian school. After her children graduated, she saw a need for a relevant, inexpensive, truly elementary music curriculum that everyone could use, so she used her experience and gifts in teaching to create the curriculum to fill that need. If she had any spare time between students, Stacy would enjoy researching brain and body health, spinning, crocheting, sewing, hiking, and spending time with her four grandchildren and two children.
In this workshop, we will explore why music education is important, what elementary music instruction looks like, and how everyone can teach music with the curriculum "How To Teach Music When You're Not Musical: Lesson Plans, Ideas, and Resources for the Elementary Homeschool."
Stacy Saxton, Music is Forever
Stacy Saxton is a homeschooling veteran with a BA in Music Education and 40 years experience teaching music. She home educated her two children through high school as a widowed single mom while teaching music privately and in a local Christian school. After her children graduated, she saw a need for a relevant, inexpensive, truly elementary music curriculum that everyone could use, so she used her experience and gifts in teaching to create the curriculum to fill that need. If she had any spare time between students, Stacy would enjoy researching brain and body health, spinning, crocheting, sewing, hiking, and spending time with her four grandchildren and two children.
Mission as Essential to Mature Discipleship - 6:30 p.m. Room 1
Missionary vocation is an essential indication of mature discipleship. The grace of this vocation begins with Baptism. So, can a child be a missionary? The answer is yes. Find out how to engage this calling with the Pontifical Mission Society of the Missionary Childhood Association.
E. Jona Winkelman, S.T.L., Mission Education Coordinator, Missionary Childhood Assocation, Center for Mission, Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis
Jona is the representative for the Missionary Childhood Association, one of The Pontifical Mission Societies. She has been an educator teaching in college, high school, elementary school, and homeschool specializing in charisms and the extraordinary graces of the Holy Spirit. She now works to encourage mission education in the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis.
Missionary vocation is an essential indication of mature discipleship. The grace of this vocation begins with Baptism. So, can a child be a missionary? The answer is yes. Find out how to engage this calling with the Pontifical Mission Society of the Missionary Childhood Association.
E. Jona Winkelman, S.T.L., Mission Education Coordinator, Missionary Childhood Assocation, Center for Mission, Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis
Jona is the representative for the Missionary Childhood Association, one of The Pontifical Mission Societies. She has been an educator teaching in college, high school, elementary school, and homeschool specializing in charisms and the extraordinary graces of the Holy Spirit. She now works to encourage mission education in the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis.
Protect, Prepare, and Accompany Your Kids to Live Porn Freeive Porn Free - 6:30 p.m. Room 4
Hear practical strategies to reduce the chances that your child will struggle with pornography. This presentation will explain the science behind pornography's addictive qualities and identify three keys for parents to focus on BEFORE their children encounter pornography for the first time.
Parents will:
1. Gain resources to protect their kids from exposure to pornography.
2. Learn strategies to prepare their kids prior to their first encounter with pornography.
3. Learn the keys to accompany their kids as they learn to navigate sexuality and the risks of pornography.
Jeremy Rohr, Founder, Freedom to Love
Jeremy has worked and volunteered in youth ministry for over 25 years. He and his wife Cindy have been leading a retreat at their parish since 2007 to share practical applications of Saint John Paul II’s Theology of the Body with couples preparing for marriage. They are also Certified Catholic Life Coaches.
Jeremy provides one on one coaching with men to help them learn to live free of pornography. He developed the FREE OUR SONS course to equip fathers and other men to help young men to live free of pornography.
Hear practical strategies to reduce the chances that your child will struggle with pornography. This presentation will explain the science behind pornography's addictive qualities and identify three keys for parents to focus on BEFORE their children encounter pornography for the first time.
Parents will:
1. Gain resources to protect their kids from exposure to pornography.
2. Learn strategies to prepare their kids prior to their first encounter with pornography.
3. Learn the keys to accompany their kids as they learn to navigate sexuality and the risks of pornography.
Jeremy Rohr, Founder, Freedom to Love
Jeremy has worked and volunteered in youth ministry for over 25 years. He and his wife Cindy have been leading a retreat at their parish since 2007 to share practical applications of Saint John Paul II’s Theology of the Body with couples preparing for marriage. They are also Certified Catholic Life Coaches.
Jeremy provides one on one coaching with men to help them learn to live free of pornography. He developed the FREE OUR SONS course to equip fathers and other men to help young men to live free of pornography.
How Music Critically Impacts Your Child's Development, Learning Challenges and all 8 Intelligence - 6:30 p.m. Room 5
I will share how Music affects your child's Development and all 8 Intelligences. I will share specific research and testimonies on how each Brain center is changed permanently by learning music and will also give specifics on how the method of music instruction is also critical to the magnitude of the changes a child can experience. I will also have time to open discussion up to share specifics on how music will help your student with any learning challenges they are experiencing. There will be interactive examples of musical aspects taught in our method and how that is connected to a child's development, overall learning and intelligences.
Karra Buller, Director & Education Consultant, Children's Music Academy
I have a Bachelor's Degree in Neurological Psychology and Music. I have taught music in many forms over my 37 years of teaching. I have also homeschooled my own children and helped teach children with developmental, neuro-divergent or learning challenges. I have taught at education conferences and symposiums for the past 7 years on how music education is fundamental to the development of a child mentally, physically and emotionally. We provide holistic and complete music education for children in the Metro area.
I will share how Music affects your child's Development and all 8 Intelligences. I will share specific research and testimonies on how each Brain center is changed permanently by learning music and will also give specifics on how the method of music instruction is also critical to the magnitude of the changes a child can experience. I will also have time to open discussion up to share specifics on how music will help your student with any learning challenges they are experiencing. There will be interactive examples of musical aspects taught in our method and how that is connected to a child's development, overall learning and intelligences.
Karra Buller, Director & Education Consultant, Children's Music Academy
I have a Bachelor's Degree in Neurological Psychology and Music. I have taught music in many forms over my 37 years of teaching. I have also homeschooled my own children and helped teach children with developmental, neuro-divergent or learning challenges. I have taught at education conferences and symposiums for the past 7 years on how music education is fundamental to the development of a child mentally, physically and emotionally. We provide holistic and complete music education for children in the Metro area.
Building a Solid Math Foundation-Because Confidence Matters! - 6:30 p.m. Room 8
Just like a house needs a strong foundation to stand tall, children need a solid base in math
to tackle more complex ideas with confidence. Without a solid foundation, things can start to
crumble. In this session, you’ll learn simple, effective ways to teach math from the ground
up, helping children understand the basics in a way that builds their confidence. When kids
have a solid math foundation, they don’t just get the right answers—they feel empowered to
keep growing, trying, and even enjoying math as they advance to more challenging
concepts.
Kathleen Cotter Clayton, Vice Pesident and Curriculum Developer, RightStart Math
Kathleen Cotter Clayton is the daughter of Dr. Joan A. Cotter, author and creator of the RightStart™ Mathematics program. She is one of the first children to grow up under the RightStart principles. Kathleen has a degree in Home Economics and a minor in Business from the University of Minnesota and has two Masters Degrees from the University of Mary in Bismarck, North Dakota. Kathleen and her husband Steve have six adult children and six delightful grandchildren.
Kathleen is currently responsible for curriculum development, marketing, and sales. She travels all across the US and Canada, sharing the RightStart mission of helping children understand, apply, and enjoy mathematics. In her spare time, Kathleen designs and creates quilts and loves to travel all around the world.
Just like a house needs a strong foundation to stand tall, children need a solid base in math
to tackle more complex ideas with confidence. Without a solid foundation, things can start to
crumble. In this session, you’ll learn simple, effective ways to teach math from the ground
up, helping children understand the basics in a way that builds their confidence. When kids
have a solid math foundation, they don’t just get the right answers—they feel empowered to
keep growing, trying, and even enjoying math as they advance to more challenging
concepts.
Kathleen Cotter Clayton, Vice Pesident and Curriculum Developer, RightStart Math
Kathleen Cotter Clayton is the daughter of Dr. Joan A. Cotter, author and creator of the RightStart™ Mathematics program. She is one of the first children to grow up under the RightStart principles. Kathleen has a degree in Home Economics and a minor in Business from the University of Minnesota and has two Masters Degrees from the University of Mary in Bismarck, North Dakota. Kathleen and her husband Steve have six adult children and six delightful grandchildren.
Kathleen is currently responsible for curriculum development, marketing, and sales. She travels all across the US and Canada, sharing the RightStart mission of helping children understand, apply, and enjoy mathematics. In her spare time, Kathleen designs and creates quilts and loves to travel all around the world.
Classical Education on Screens? - 6:30 p.m. Room 9
The use of technology in education is one of the main concerns of our current moment. With the Internet and social media sapping us of authenticity and depth, screen time on the rise, and growing sense of anxiety over the overuse of technology, we may ask if there's any good that can come out of online schooling. How can we use technology to help our kids responsibly and fruitfully grow in knowledge, virtue, connection, and discipline? This session will cover the lessons learned over the last seven years of teaching for an online academy.
Zachary Krueger, Humanities Teacher and Dean of Discipline for Oxrose Academy
Zach is a father and homeschooler of six children. He served as a missionary in FOCUS for five years (mainly in the southeastern United States) and worked in various church roles in the Diocese of Sioux Falls, SD for the last eight years. He has taught online for Oxrose Academy for the last seven years, and taught for a brick and mortar Catholic school in Sioux Falls for four.
The use of technology in education is one of the main concerns of our current moment. With the Internet and social media sapping us of authenticity and depth, screen time on the rise, and growing sense of anxiety over the overuse of technology, we may ask if there's any good that can come out of online schooling. How can we use technology to help our kids responsibly and fruitfully grow in knowledge, virtue, connection, and discipline? This session will cover the lessons learned over the last seven years of teaching for an online academy.
Zachary Krueger, Humanities Teacher and Dean of Discipline for Oxrose Academy
Zach is a father and homeschooler of six children. He served as a missionary in FOCUS for five years (mainly in the southeastern United States) and worked in various church roles in the Diocese of Sioux Falls, SD for the last eight years. He has taught online for Oxrose Academy for the last seven years, and taught for a brick and mortar Catholic school in Sioux Falls for four.
Before They Go: The Two Stories Your Teen Needs to Hear From You - 6:30 p.m. Room 103
Before our children step into the world on their own, there are two stories they must hear. One they must hear from you. Both are love stories.
The first is the greatest love story ever told: the Gospel message. This is the story of who God is as our loving Father, who we are as His beloved children, and what Christ has done for us.
The second is the story of how that love has taken root in our own lives.
In this talk, Catholic author Verity Lucia invites parents to rediscover the power of personal testimony in the home. While many teens hear about the tenets of faith, far fewer hear how God has moved in the lives of those closest to them. Parents will be encouraged and equipped to reflect on their own faith journey and share it in a way that forms identity, inspires faith, and prepares their children to stand firm in a broken world.
The Gospel is God’s love letter to us. Our testimony is our love letter in return — a witness to a love received, and a life given back to the Father who first loved us.
Verity Lucia, Catholic Author & Homeschooling Mama https://www.verityluciabooks.com/
Verity Lucia is a Catholic author and homeschooling mother who has worked with teens in Confirmation and retreat settings, guiding them as they wrestle with faith, identity, and truth. She is passionate about helping families move beyond surface-level religion into a lived, personal faith that can withstand the world.
Before our children step into the world on their own, there are two stories they must hear. One they must hear from you. Both are love stories.
The first is the greatest love story ever told: the Gospel message. This is the story of who God is as our loving Father, who we are as His beloved children, and what Christ has done for us.
The second is the story of how that love has taken root in our own lives.
In this talk, Catholic author Verity Lucia invites parents to rediscover the power of personal testimony in the home. While many teens hear about the tenets of faith, far fewer hear how God has moved in the lives of those closest to them. Parents will be encouraged and equipped to reflect on their own faith journey and share it in a way that forms identity, inspires faith, and prepares their children to stand firm in a broken world.
The Gospel is God’s love letter to us. Our testimony is our love letter in return — a witness to a love received, and a life given back to the Father who first loved us.
Verity Lucia, Catholic Author & Homeschooling Mama https://www.verityluciabooks.com/
Verity Lucia is a Catholic author and homeschooling mother who has worked with teens in Confirmation and retreat settings, guiding them as they wrestle with faith, identity, and truth. She is passionate about helping families move beyond surface-level religion into a lived, personal faith that can withstand the world.
