The Midwest Parent Educators Conference and Curriculum Fair will be held March 31 and April 1 in Kansas City. Metrovoicenews.com is a sponsor of this annual homeschooling event.
The annual event, which attracts thousands, could break its own record this year with the explosive growth of home education during the Covid pandemic. Data shows public schools lost more than one million students between the fall of 2019 and the fall of 2020 and more during 2021 and 2022. Even after the pandemic ended, parents continuing the practice of homeschooling even after public schools reopened. Estimates show that public schools have lost over 1.2 million students overall.
This years conference returns to the KCI Expo Center. The Vendor hall opens at 9am and includes more than 120 vendor booths. Here, interested parents can talk about homeschool curricula, learning techniques and more.
Attendees can also attend homeschool workshops with special tracks led by more than 60 workshop presenters. Organizers say they’ll share “personal, practical insights from their homeschool experience.” Workshops will include popular topics such as how to homeschool, homeschooling high school, household management, family nutrition, and small-business entrepreneurship. Exclusive tracks are available for homeschool beginners as well as those homeschooling children with special needs.
This year, there will also again be special children’s programming for ages 5-12, with registration is available at the door. This allows parents to attend the workships worry-free.
Also for beginners will be Mentor Moms who have gone before you and re happy to share their stories of homeschooling and life while raising families.
This year’s featured main hall speakers include Durenda Wilson and Todd Wilson
Durenda and her husband, Darryl, have eight kids (7 graduated) and nine grandchildren.
With more than twenty-seven years of home education experience, Durenda is a trusted voice and resource at homeschooling conventions and on The Durenda Wilson Podcast.
As an author, speaker, and podcaster she says her greatest joy is reminding parents how doable and effective homeschooling is and that they are, in fact, qualified for the job! Her books include The Four Hour School Day, The Unhurried Homeschooler, and Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart.
Todd Wilson (unrelated to Durenda) is a dad, grandfather, writer, conference speaker, and former pastor. Todd’s humor and down to earth realness have made him a favorite speaker at homeschool conventions, retreats, and churches across the country.
As founder of Familyman Ministries and the Smiling Homeschooler, his passion and mission are to remind dads and moms of what’s most important through weekly e-mails, podcasts (The Familyman Show & The Smiling Homeschooler), seminars, and books and products that encourage parents. Todd, and his wife Debbie, homeschool two of their eight children (six have graduated from their homeschool with four married) in northern Indiana and travel America in the Familyman Mobile.
You can check out a full list of conference speakers on this page.
The conference runs from 9am to 6pm on Friday and from 9am to 5pm on Saturday. Sponsors include Metro Voice, Great Wolf Lodge, Kanpat, Blue Valley Insurance, Andys Frozen Custard, Spurgeon College, AMA Martial Arts, Harding University, Home Works, Samaritan Ministris and Tobelrs Flower.
- Admission is free for current MPE members whose membership doesn’t expire until after May 1, 2023. At-the-door registration is $75 per family and will be available at the door. This includes access to more than 60 conference workshops and the vendor hall. Cash, card, and check will be accepted at the door.
- Admission to the Vendor Hallonly is available online AT THIS PAGE (please fill out the form) and at the door for $35 per family for the two days. Cash, card, and check will be accepted at the door.
You can read more at www.familymanweb.com.
–Metro Voice