News Releases

Contact:
Stephen Lunsford, NTHEN
214-495-9600 or administration@NTHEN.org

Kristine Tanzillo, Dux Public Relations
972-889-9577 or Kristine@DuxPR.com

Homeschool Conference and Bookfair Should be Biggest Ever
Aug. 6-7 Event Expected to Draw More Than 3,000 Families

ALLEN, Texas – July 26, 2004 – With pre-registered attendees running well ahead of last year’s pace, the 2004 Summer Homeschool Conference and Bookfair next week will be the biggest event in its nine-year history, the North Texas Home Educators’ Network (NTHEN) said today.

The ninth annual Conference is Friday and Saturday, August 6 and 7, at the Plano Centre in Plano, Texas, and should draw more than 3,000 homeschooling families, more than 10 percent larger than last year’s crowd. Attendees come from the Dallas-Fort Worth area, all over the entire northeast quarter of Texas, and even from surrounding states.

Steve Lunsford, Vice President of Allen-based NTHEN, said the growth in Conference participation reflects the increasing number of homeschooling families in the region.

“More and more parents are choosing to homeschool their children, and with the increasing availability of resources for them, it makes them more effective teachers,” Lunsford said. “The Conference is designed to make as many resources available to them in one place as possible.”

He added that with three dozen educational workshops and more than 125 exhibitors showcasing books, multimedia, and other educational tools, the Conference is packed with helpful information and materials for parents who homeschool already, or for those exploring the alternative.

Workshops at the Conference range from advice for beginning homeschooling parents to specific guidance in writing, algebra, geography, and history. Specific workshops also cover educational topics such as how to get homeschooled students into top colleges, accelerating a child’s learning, understanding learning styles, parent-taught driver education, and how to occupy younger children while parents teach the older ones.

In addition to the workshops, the Conference features two keynote speakers. They are Michael Farris, President of Patrick Henry College and Founder of the Home School Legal Defense Association, and David Barton, Founder of civic grassroots organization WallBuilders.

The Conference runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, August 6 and 7. Onsite registration fees are $10 per adult and $5 per child. Additional Conference information is available online at www.nthen.org or by calling 214-495-9600.

The North Texas Home Educators’ Network, sponsor of the Homeschool Conference and Bookfair, is a 15-year-old non-profit organization whose mission is to educate, inform, and mentor homeschool group leaders. NTHEN fosters cooperation among home education support groups, promotes special events such as high school graduations to the homeschool community, and educates the general public about homeschooling.

More About the North Texas Home Educators’ Network
NTHEN is the largest of several regional homeschool organizations in Texas, serving local support group leaders in more than 80 counties and from more than 160 support groups throughout north and northeast Texas. NTHEN conducts special meetings, leads regional activities, co-hosts leadership seminars and retreats, provides consultations, and offers helpful online information. More information about NTHEN is available online at www.nthen.org or by calling 214-495-9600.

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