Meet the 2025 MACHE Convention Speakers
We have an exciting line-up of top-notch speakers to encourage and equip you in the homeschool journey.Keynote Speakers
Will Estrada
Keynote Speaker
Will Estrada began his legal career working for HSLDA in January 2004 as a legal assistant to HSLDA Senior Counsel Scott Woodruff. After graduating from Oak Brook College of Law and Government Policy with his Juris Doctor in 2006, he moved on to direct HSLDA’s Federal Relations department and serve as HSLDA’s federal lobbyist.
Will worked as a career federal employee in the Office for Civil Rights at the US Department of Health and Human Services from 2018 to 2021. In November of 2021, he resigned from the federal government and was selected by the Board of ParentalRights.org to serve as the first full-time president of ParentalRights.org and the Parental Rights Foundation.
In June of 2023, Will decided to return to his roots at HSLDA, this time serving as a senior counsel and contact attorney for HSLDA members in the states of California, Wyoming, Illinois, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and New Hampshire. He works to make homeschooling possible for thousands of member families and hundreds of thousands of homeschool students by advocating in state legislatures for homeschool freedom, working to ensure that homeschool graduates are treated equally, and that the laws protecting the rights of homeschool families are followed by government officials.
Will is a member of the following state and federal bars: U.S. Supreme Court, First Circuit Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals, California, and District of Columbia. In June of 2023, Will was selected by Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin to serve a four-year term on the Board of Visitors of Christopher Newport University in Newport News, Virginia.
Will and his wife, Rachel, have two sons, Dominic and Merrick, and live in Northern Virginia
Darren Jones
Leadership Summit Keynote Speaker
Darren Jones has worked at HSLDA since 1996, first as a legal assistant and then as an attorney in various capacities. He spends his time at the office:
- 20% talking to members in legal difficulties, persuading them that it’s not as bad as it could be and HSLDA has got their back
- 60% advising homeschool group leaders about everything from crafting statements of faith (he prefers the Nicene Creed) to designing policies to protect children at co-ops
- 10% writing legal briefs (and wondering how in the world documents of 30 pages can possibly be called “brief”)
- 10% keeping HSLDA and its sister organizations in compliance with the charitable solicitation laws of way too many competing jurisdictions
- 100% advocating for the fundamental right of parents to direct the education of their children
Darren and his wife Sara homeschool as a team and have graduated the oldest two of their four children. He enjoys board games, teaching Sunday school, and speaking at homeschool conferences around the country.
Featured Speakers
Gretchen Roe
Featured Speaker
Gretchen Roe homeschooled her six children in Severna Park, Maryland, for 21 years, and all have now graduated, with three having graduated from Maryland colleges. Initially a reluctant homeschooler, she now considers it “the best journey” of her life. Her degree in psychology and child development has led her to spend 27 years advocating for homeschooling and developing close relationships with families whose children have unique learning needs. A former business owner and nonprofit board member, she joined Demme Learning in 2014 as a Placement Specialist and currently serves as the company’s Community Outreach Coordinator. In her free time, she enjoys spending time outdoors, raising animals and chickens, and beekeeping. She is also a high school swim coach and a second-degree Taekwondo Black Belt.
Dr. Rochelle Matthews-Somerville
Featured Speaker
Dr. Rochelle Matthews-Somerville is a passionate educator committed to equipping and encouraging homeschooling families, especially those with out-of-the-box learners. With over 25 years of experience in Early Childhood and Special Education, she has served as a university professor, autism specialist, educational consultant, and K-12 resource teacher. She holds an MS in Special Education with a focus on Autism/Asperger’s Syndrome and Behavior Disorders, as well as a doctorate in Psychological and Cultural Studies, bringing a wealth of expertise to support diverse learning needs.
In 2010, Dr. Matthews-Somerville co-founded EFM Educational Consultants with her mother, a lifelong educator, to empower families seeking to support their children, particularly those with unique learning challenges. A devoted wife and mother of six, she has not only served the regional homeschool community in metropolitan area as a program director, math instructor, and assessment coordinator but she has also homeschooled her own children for nearly 19 years, successfully graduating two of them.
She remains deeply committed to creating supportive and inclusive learning spaces for all children, ensuring parents feel confident, connected, and equipped with the supports needed to provide an enriching education for their children.
Julia Nalle
Featured Speaker
LaNissir James
Featured Speaker
LaNissir is the Executive Director of MACHE and a Maryland homeschooler for almost two decades. She and her husband Lorenzo are homeschooling their seven children from preschool to college-bound (four kids graduated to college and currently homeschooling three).
With decades of professional experience in various forms of homeschooling, LaNissir is a sought-after expert on home education.
If you have found yourself suddenly homeschooling due to the pandemic, homeschooling from the beginning or deciding to homeschool in high school, LaNissir can help you with everything from getting started to finding the best curriculum. She is also the go-to expert on transcripts and creating a four-year plan for your college bound, trade school or career focused homeschooler.
As a homeschooling mom and leader, LaNissir has a passion to serve the home-educating community. She provides social, spiritual, academic, and supervisory support for families in Maryland and encourages and equips homeschool graduates nationwide.
As a High School Educational Specialist and Outreach Coordinator with Homeschool Legal Defense Association (HSLDA), LaNissir enjoys working closely with families, guiding them through the high school process.
LaNissir holds a BS in Journalism from the University of Maryland and is certified in MBTI and DISC personality assessments.
Sue Manning
Featured Speaker
Sue Manning is a longtime homeschool mom of 3. She is still actively homeschooling a high schooler, and has two graduates – one a college graduate, and one enrolled in a trade apprenticeship program.
As a Veteran herself, as well as a military spouse for many years, Sue has experience and connections with homeschooling throughout the US and overseas. She is passionate about helping Military family members find ways to offer educational consistency to their children as they serve our country.
Her other areas of expertise include homeschooling 101, homeschooling special needs, and creating connections in the homeschool community.
Sue has been on the Board of Directors for the Maryland Association of Christian Home Educators (MACHE) since 2022. She also serves homeschool families in Southern Maryland through the Charles County Homeschool Connector, which seeks to assist new homeschoolers as they begin their journey by connecting them with experienced homeschoolers.