Teaching Parents Association - Meeting the Needs of Home Schooling Families

2008 TPA Convention Speakers

Dr. Jay Wile will be the keynote speaker for the 2008 TPA Convention.  Many homeschoolers have used Dr. Wile’s science curriculum ‘Apologia Science’.  Jay Wile learned about his love for chemistry when his dedicated parents bought him his first chemistry set. Many stink bombs and a few explosions later, he was hooked! Although he loved chemistry, he also had many other interests. For a while, he thought about becoming a concert pianist, but unfortunately, his fingers were not long enough (no kidding!). As he was finishing up his high school years, he became extremely interested in the theater and began to pursue a career in acting. Partly because he learned the science behind some of the special effects of the plays in which he performed, he eventually went back to his first love: chemistry.

He went to the University of Rochester in upstate New York to study chemistry, and while he was there, he began working on nuclear chemistry experiments. He became so fascinated with nuclear chemistry that he stayed at the University of Rochester and got a Ph.D. in that field. For several years, he did research in the field under the auspices of the Department of Energy and the National Science Foundation. This research led to several grants and many publications. While doing research, Dr. Wile was also an assistant professor of chemistry.

Dr. Wile’s love of science is demonstrated by the many awards he has won for excellence in teaching and research. He has also presented numerous lectures on the topics of Nuclear Chemistry, Christian Apologetics, Homeschooling, and Creation vs. Evolution. He has published more than 30 articles on these subjects in nationally-recognized, peer-reviewed journals, and has 9 books to his credit.

Dr. Wile’s teaching credits include The University of Rochester, Indiana University, Ball State University, and The Indiana Academy for Science, Mathematics and Humanities, a high school for gifted and talented students. He currently spends his full-time efforts creating innovative science curriculum and speaking as a homeschool advocate throughout the US and other countries.  Please see more about Dr. Wile at his website: Apologia Science

Please come and hear Dr. Wile speak at the keynote session Friday 7:00 p.m. - Homeschooling: The Solution to our Education Problem
and the Saturday keynote at 1:30 p.m - Reasonable Faith: The Scientific Case for Christianity

Dr. Wile will also be speaking at workshops throughout Friday and Saturday.  His workshop topics will be: “Teaching Criticial Thinking”,
“Why Homeschool Through High School”, “What about K-6 Science”

Out 2nd keynote speaker is Ginger Plowman.  She is the founder of Preparing the Way Ministries, is the author of “Don’t Make Me Count to Three!”, “Wise Words for Moms” and “Heaven at Home”.  Moms, do you need some encouragement?  Maybe you need some tips to keep the peace in your home on those long homeschool days when it feels like you are not getting anything accomplished.  Ginger Plowman has some practical and Biblical words of wisdom for moms who want to make the most of the homeschooling experience for their children, and keep the peace along the way!

She is a contributing author of several books, including God Allows U-Turns, Rest Stops for Busy Moms and The Groovy Chicks Road Trip to Peace.

Ginger is an award-winning writer whose articles have appeared in numerous publications, such as Focus on the Family, Baptist Press, HomeLife Magazine, P31 Woman, and Crosswalk.com.

An enthusiastic and compelling communicator, Ginger is frequently interviewed on television shows, such as The 700 Club, The Harvest Show and Primary Focus, as well as national radio programs, including Family Life Today with Dennis Rainey, Revive Our Hearts with Nancy Leigh DeMoss and Focus on the Family Weekend Magazine. As a nationally known speaker, Ginger ministers at women’s events, parenting conferences and home school conventions across the country.

Ginger and her husband Jim live in Opelika, Alabama, where she home schools their two children, Wesley and Alex.  You can learn more about Ginger at her website: gingerplowman.com

Please come hear Ginger speak Friday at 1:30 p.m. on “Heaven at Home”.  She will also be speaking at workshops throughout Friday and Saturday.  Her workshop topics include:  “Reaching the Heart of Your Child” and “Taming the Tongue”.

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