The National Leaders Conference program is designed with you and your organization’s needs in mind! You’ll hear from keynote speakers eager to encourage and share their leadership experience with you. Want to build your knowledge in a specific area? Choose from workshops on a variety of relevant topics. Whether you are a legislative liaison, board director, or content manager, you’ll find speakers and sessions meant for you.

Our schedule will continue to be updated, so check this page often! 

Floor Plan

Wednesday | Sept. 24, 2025
TIME
EVENT/SPEAKER
LOCATION
11:30 AM–5:00 PM
Registration
Universities Grand Foyer
6:00–8:30 PM
Opening Festivities and Dinner

Andy B's Bowl Social

Thursday | Sept. 25, 2025
TIME
EVENT/SPEAKER

LOCATION

6:00–9:00 AM
Complimentary Breakfast Buffet

Embassy Suites Breakfast Lounge

7:30–9:00 AM
Late Registration

Universities Grand Foyer

8:00–9:00 AM
Newcomers Breakfast

Arabian Ballroom

8:30–9:00 AM
Morning Prayer
Wicklow
9:00–9:35 AM
Worship and Devotions
Daniel Heffington
Chris Butler
Universities Grand Ballroom
9:35–9:50 AM
Break / Youth Dismissed to Kids and Teen Programs
9:50–11:00 AM
General Session
Michael Farris
Universities Grand Ballroom
11:00 AM–12:30 PM
Meet and Greet Exhibitors
Universities Grand Foyer
11:30 AM–12:00 PM
Midday Prayer
Wicklow
12:30–2:00 PM
HSLDA Lunch
HSLDA Compassion
Universities Grand Ballroom
2:15–3:30 PM
Workshop I: How Good and Pleasant It Is: The Quest for Harmony
Darren Jones
Pioneer I
Workshop II: Effective Advocacy in Your State
Will Estrada
Joel Grewe
Russ Hiebert
Peter Stock
Pioneer II
Workshop III: Don't Be Afraid of AI
Aaron Fessler
Pioneer III
Workshop IV: Leading a Gen Z Mind
Renton Rathbun
Pioneer IV
3:30–4:00 PM
Break
Universities Grand Foyer
4:00–5:15 PM
General Session: Media That Moves Policy: Strategic PR for Advocacy Impact
Richard Lorenzen
Universities Grand Ballroom
9:00–9:30 PM
Evening Prayer
Wicklow

Friday | Sept. 26, 2025
TIME
EVENT/SPEAKER
LOCATION
6:00–9:00 AM
Complimentary Breakfast Buffet
Embassy Suites Breakfast Lounge
8:30–9:00 AM
Morning Prayer
Wicklow
9:00–9:35 AM
Worship and Devotions
Daniel Heffington
Chris Butler
Universities Grand Ballroom
9:35–9:50 AM
Break / Youth Dismissed to Kids and Teen Programs
9:50–11:00 AM
General Session: Fired Up! Kindling and Keeping the Spark in Your Team
Dr. Andrew Johnston
Universities Grand Ballroom
11:00 AM–12:30 PM
Meet and Greet Exhibitors
Universities Grand Foyer
11:30 AM–12:00 PM
Midday Prayer
Wicklow
12:00–1:00 PM
Lunch Cash Cart
Universities Grand Foyer
1:00–10:00 PM
Free Time
1:00–4:00 PM
Optional Intensive: The Secrets of Synergy: Six Foundations of Interdependence
Dr. Andrew Johnston
Pioneer I
Optional Intensive: High-Stakes Communications: A Media Relations Playbook for Policy Advocates 
Richard Lorenzen
Pioneer II
Optional Intensive: Cutting-Edge Homeschool Research
Dr. Albert Cheng
Dr. Brian Ray
Pioneer III
9:00–9:30 PM
Evening Prayer
Wicklow

Saturday | Sept. 27, 2025
TIME
EVENT/SPEAKER
LOCATION
6:00–9:00 AM
Complimentary Breakfast Buffet
Embassy Suites Breakfast Lounge
8:30–9:00 AM
Morning Prayer
Wicklow
9:00–9:35 AM
Worship and Devotions
Daniel Heffington
Chris Butler
Universities Grand Ballroom
9:35–9:50 AM
Break / Youth Dismissed to Kids and Teen Programs
9:50–11:00 AM
State of the Nation
Universities Grand Ballroom
11:00 AM–12:30 PM
Meet and Greet Exhibitors 
Universities Grand Foyer
11:30 AM–12:00 PM
Midday Prayer
Wicklow
12:30–2:30 PM
Ladies' Luncheon
Universities Grand Ballroom
Men's Huddle
Darren Jones
Eagles I/II
2:45–4:00 PM
Workshop I: Aspirations and Pitfalls: Aim High, but Watch Out Below
Darren Jones
Pioneer I
Workshop II: Understanding and Establishing Healthy Boundaries: A Christian Perspective
Carla Fuller
Pioneer II
Workshop III: Fourth and Inches: THE Playbook on How to Defeat Anti-Freedom Homeschool Bills
Ashton Bandy
Aziza and Chris Butler
Will Estrada
Scott Woodruff
Pioneer III
Workshop IV: Leading a Deconstructing Generation
Renton Rathbun
Pioneer IV
4:00–6:00 PM
Free Time
6:00–8:00 PM
Closing Banquet
Jim Mason
Universities Grand Ballroom

 

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