8Special SpeakersGeorge SarrisGeorge W. Sarris is an actor/narrator/spokesman, working primarily in the commercial environment <strong>of</strong>New York City. He has been the principal spokesman for radio and television commercials and industrialfilms for companies such as AT&T, IBM, American Express, Burger King, Duracell, Pizza Hut,Sprint, and Honda. Mr. Sarris holds the degrees <strong>of</strong> Bachelor <strong>of</strong> Science in Speech from NorthwesternUniversity, and Master <strong>of</strong> Divinity from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. He served on thestaff <strong>of</strong> the Mass Media Ministry <strong>of</strong> Campus Crusade for Christ for 4 years, and served on the Board<strong>of</strong> Directors for Screen Actors Guild in Boston for 6 years. He is currently Executive Coordinator <strong>of</strong>Mastermedia International/New York. Mr. Sarris has developed a unique, one-man show entitled, TheWorld’s Greatest Stories. The texts for the stories he tells are taken directly, word for word, from theBible. They are told, however, using the art <strong>of</strong> a dramatic storyteller. The live performances <strong>of</strong> thesestories have been enthusiastically received by a wide variety <strong>of</strong> audiences at conferences, in churches,at <strong>Christian</strong> Schools and camps, and for local community events. The CD’s and video cassettes areenjoyed by many thousands <strong>of</strong> people. Mr. Sarris is publisher <strong>of</strong> Ecclesiastes by Solomon, in cooperation with the International BibleSociety. He is a featured speaker at conferences throughout this country, addressing issues related to both teens and adults. Mr. Sarrisresides in Trumbull, CT with his wife, Suzan. They have 5 children.Elizabeth SmithElizabeth Smith, wife <strong>of</strong> Home School Legal Defense <strong>Association</strong> President Mike Smith, taught three<strong>of</strong> her four children at home from 1981 to 1996, when the youngest entered college. For over 25 years,Elizabeth’s practical wisdom has encouraged audiences at homeschool conferences, symposiums, andwomen’s retreats throughout the United States. Michael and Elizabeth have appeared several times onFocus on the Family’s radio program. Elizabeth is the Director <strong>of</strong> Development for the Home SchoolFoundation, the charitable arm <strong>of</strong> HSLDA, and serves on the Board <strong>of</strong> Directors <strong>of</strong> Breakthrough IntercessorsPrayer Ministry. She is also a founding Board member <strong>of</strong> the National Black Home Educators,and teaches women’s Bible studies at her local church. She serves as an Area Director over 9 countiesfor the state <strong>of</strong> Virginia Auxiliary to Gideons International. Elizabeth has lobbied on pro-family issuesin her state capitol and in Washington, D.C., for the National Center for Home Education and the FamilyFoundation <strong>of</strong> Virginia since 1993.Mike SmithMike Smith is the President <strong>of</strong> Home School Legal Defense <strong>Association</strong>, an organization which he hasbeen involved with since its beginning. HSLDA was established to protect the right <strong>of</strong> parents to teachtheir children at home. HSLDA now represents over 81,000 member families. Mike became involved indefending homeschoolers after he and his wife, Elizabeth, decided to homeschool their children. Theyhave four children. Three have been homeschooled and have all graduated from college. Mike has beendoing keynote speaking to homeschool conferences for over 25 years. His desire is to communicatein every message the benefits <strong>of</strong> home education and his overriding belief that God has raised up thismovement for a special purpose at this time in history. Mike communicates that the benefits <strong>of</strong> homeschoolingfar exceed the burdens, with special emphasis on encouragement.
Featured & Workshop SpeakersStan JohnStan John is first and foremost the husband to LeAnn, his bride <strong>of</strong> 27 years, and a homeschooling father<strong>of</strong> four. In some circles, he is known as the dad who schooled his son through grades 7-12. Stan Johnhas been at Focus on the Family for 24 years, where he currently serves as the Senior Vice President <strong>of</strong>Global Ministry Development. Stan’s passion is to seek the big picture <strong>of</strong> global trends and to provideleadership by applying visionary principles to every aspect <strong>of</strong> life. In doing so, Stan served in launchingFocus on the Family’s Adoption and Orphan care initiative, Church initiative, and works with the FocusInternational <strong>of</strong>fices to expand the reach <strong>of</strong> the ministry around the world. He is currently working onestablishing a partnership with Home Education leaders across the nation to establish a network <strong>of</strong> familieswho will minister to families. Stan has trained hundreds <strong>of</strong> homeschool families to be hosts <strong>of</strong> Focuson the Family’s TRUTH PROJECT, a comprehensive Biblical worldview study for small groups. Hisvision is to see the <strong>Homeschool</strong> movement re-establish a “Culture <strong>of</strong> Family” in our nation, producinghealth in struggling communities and churches.Sam RohrerSince his remarkable election to the Pennsylvania House <strong>of</strong> Representatives in 1992, Sam Rohrer hasbeen one <strong>of</strong> the leading voices for state government reform and family-affirming public policies. Hisoutspoken support for constitutional principles has been the hallmark <strong>of</strong> his public service. More thanopposing negative public policies, Sam has been a champion for consensus-building public policy alternativesand solutions.The son <strong>of</strong> a union steelworker, Sam strongly advocates issues that impact working families. By promotingthe role <strong>of</strong> parents in their children’s education, opposing tax increases on employees and workers,and crafting landmark legislation to eliminate school property taxes, Sam continues to build broadbipartisan coalitions on a range <strong>of</strong> important issues.Sam and his family’s love <strong>of</strong> the outdoors fuels a passion to improve the stewardship <strong>of</strong> Pennsylvania’snatural resources. As the Republican chairman <strong>of</strong> the Game and Fisheries Committee, he was an outspokenproponent <strong>of</strong> commonsense conservation policies that respect private property and protects the rights <strong>of</strong> tens <strong>of</strong> thousands <strong>of</strong>hunters and anglers. Because <strong>of</strong> his uncompromising support for Second Amendment freedoms he has earned the consistent backing <strong>of</strong>sportsmen and gun owners.In 2007, Sam was appointed to the Speaker’s Commission on Government Reform, which brought new levels <strong>of</strong> transparency and accountabilityto the state legislature. In his current role as Republican chairman <strong>of</strong> the House Finance Committee, he continues to arguefor strong, structural limits on state government taxes and spending. In recent months, Sam has been leading opposition to the explosivegrowth <strong>of</strong> federal spending, regulations and unconstitutional mandates in Pennsylvania. This year, he led an effort to pass the “10thAmendment Resolution,” challenging the expanded reach <strong>of</strong> the federal government in areas ranging from healthcare to education.Sam and his wife Ruth Ann are the parents <strong>of</strong> six children and three grandchildren. The Rohrer family considers their commitment t<strong>of</strong>aith and family as their highest priorities.State Representative Daryl MetcalfeFor many years, Representative Daryl Metcalfe has been a champion for issues which face <strong>Christian</strong>parents in Pennsylvania. He continues to be a family-friendly voice in the Pennsylvania legislature andis currently running for Lieutenant Governor in our state. Representative Metcalfe lives in CranberryTownship with his wife, Elke, and daughter, Lisa. He has been recognized by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette as the Pennsylvania General Assembly’s “No. 1 Conservative,” and a multiple-time, highestrankinglawmaker on the Pennsylvania Liberty Index, He has worked to advance a fiscally conservative,pro-taxpayer agenda and protect the lives, jobs and property <strong>of</strong> residents from unlawful invasion andillegal immigration.During his tenure, Representative Metcalfe has been a leader on the issues <strong>of</strong> taxpayer protection, educationreform, ending Pennsylvania’s illegal alien invasion, the preservation <strong>of</strong> Second Amendmentfreedoms, outlawing teacher strikes and Right to Work. His other legislative initiatives include proposalsto completely eliminate property taxes in the Commonwealth and requiring voter referendum for any and all future local taxincreases. He has worked with CHAP and HSLDA on homeschooling issues, parental rights issues, and proposed marriage amendmentin Pennsylvania.9