Meet Zan

“My story is about the greatness and faithfulness of the Lord—and how He uses ordinary people to accomplish His extraordinary plans.”

Zan’s homeschool journey began in 1984 when homeschooling was illegal. The State Superintendent of Education threatened Zan with jail for insisting on homeschooling her son. For the next eight years, she and other homeschool families battled for homeschool freedom and the establishment of landmark homeschool legislation in South Carolina. To this day, her legislative success in South Carolina has spearheaded legislation to ensure homeschool freedom in other states. In 1990, she founded the South Carolina Association of Independent Home Schools and served as its president for ten years. Her fight for homeschool freedom has led her to serve as the National Grassroots Director for ParentalRights.org, to advocate for homeschooling in the media (appearing on NBC’s Today Show) and at the nation’s capital, and to write profusely about the benefits of homeschooling.

Zan’s deepest desire is to encourage parents to raise children who love the Lord, understand their callings in life, and become active citizens who understand the freedom principles undergirding our great American heritage. She is an inspirational speaker and author, a consultant for BJU Press and the Home School Legal Defense Association, and the founder of the South Carolina Association of Independent Home Schools (SCAIHS). For sixteen years, Zan worked with Christian publishers to develop homeschool curriculum and resources.  She considers the twenty-one-years she and her husband, Joe, spent homeschooling their own three children from kindergarten through high school to be one of the greatest privileges of her life.

Meet Zan

“My story is about the greatness and faithfulness of the Lord—and how He uses ordinary people to accomplish His extraordinary plans.”

Zan’s homeschool journey began in 1984 when homeschooling was illegal. The State Superintendent of Education threatened Zan with jail for insisting on homeschooling her son. For the next eight years, she and other homeschool families battled for homeschool freedom and the establishment of landmark homeschool legislation in South Carolina. To this day, her legislative success in South Carolina has spearheaded legislation to ensure homeschool freedom in other states. In 1990, she founded the South Carolina Association of Independent Home Schools and served as its president for ten years. Her fight for homeschool freedom has led her to serve as the National Grassroots Director for ParentalRights.org, to advocate for homeschooling in the media (appearing on NBC’s Today Show) and at the nation’s capital, and to write profusely about the benefits of homeschooling.

Zan’s deepest desire is to encourage parents to raise children who love the Lord, understand their callings in life, and become active citizens who understand the freedom principles undergirding our great American heritage. She is an inspirational speaker and author, a consultant for BJU Press and the Home School Legal Defense Association, and the founder of the South Carolina Association of Independent Home Schools (SCAIHS). For sixteen years, Zan worked with Christian publishers to develop homeschool curriculum and resources.  In 2015 she was presented with the Chris Klicka Award for her dedication and commitment to home education worldwide. She considers the twenty-one-years she and her husband, Joe, spent homeschooling their own three children from kindergarten through high school to be one of the greatest privileges of her life.

Praise for Zan

Zan’s story and testimony are inspiring. Her struggle to homeschool when homeschooling was illegal in the USA is incredible, and how she led the battle for homeschool freedom in South Carolina is truly inspiring. Zan is a treasure to the homeschool community nationally and internationally.

Michael Farris

Board Chairman of HSDLA, Chancellor Emeritus of Patrick Henry College

Media Kit

For Events and Publications

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For your convenience, we have provided brief write-ups and photos. Please use only the photos and biogoraphies provided here for promotional and publicity purposes. If you have another request, please contact us directly.

Looking for more info on Zan and Joe’s speaking topics? The Speaker Packet is helpful resource when planning your next event.

WHERE ZAN HAS SPOKEN

With over three decades of speaking experience, the Tylers know how to reach the hearts of their audience. 

“Loved Zan & Joe Tyler as speakers SO much! So encouraging, so real, so engaging, and relatable. I knew right from that first session that I didn’t want to miss any of their sessions! Thank you for bringing in speakers who genuinely love the Lord and have a heart for homeschoolers.”

Invite the Tylers to Speak at Your Event

For the past 35 years, Zan and Joe Tyler have been actively involved in the American homeschool movement teaching and mentoring others. At their speaking engagements, they take their audiences beyond the demands of everyday life to embrace a wondrous, life-giving vision of family life.

Audiences agree, “Zan and Joe are inspiring, engaging, funny, full of enthusiasm, encouraging, real, relatable, passionate, uplifting, empowering—authentic!” 

Podcast Interviews

Zan’s Guest Appearances on Podcasts

Help for Homeschool Burnout

Parenting
with Ginger Hubbard

Five Reasons Homeschooling is Awesome

Off the Bench
with Heidi St. John

Stories of a Homeschool Pioneer

Homeschool Talks
with HSLDA

Creating a Family Vision, Part One

Schoolhouse Rocked
with Yvette Hampton

Subscribe to the Podcast

Subscribe and listen to the Zan Tyler Podcast sponsored by BJU Press Homeschool. Join Zan and a special guest each week for real encouragement, engaging stories, and practical wisdom for surviving and thriving on the homeschool journey. Listen wherever you get your podcasts!

Explore the Podcast

Dive deep into episodes. Learn more about Zan's guests. Access show notes and helpful links. Prefer to do more than listen? Enjoy video recordings of podcast episodes. Looking for help and encouragement in a specific area? Easily filter episodes by topic to find the resources you need!