Patricia Agatston
Licensed Professional Counselor and Prevention Specialist
Cobb County School District’s Prevention/Intervention Center
Marietta, GA

Patricia Agatston is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Prevention Specialist with the Cobb County School District’s Prevention/Intervention Center in Marietta, Georgia. She is also a nationally certified trainer and Technical Assistance Consultant for the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program. Dr. Agatston is co-author of the book, Cyber Bullying: Bullying in the Digital Age with Robin Kowalski, Ph.D., and Susan Limber, Ph.D that was recently published by Wiley-Blackwell Publishers.  She was a participant in the CDC’s Expert Panel on Electronic Media and Youth Violence, and presented with co-authors Dr. Robin Kowalski and Dr. Susan Limber on Cyber Bullying at the International Bullying Prevention Conference in November 2007. 

Lisa Niedbala Ammons, Ed.S.
School Improvement Specialist
Educational Services Division
First District Regional Educational Service Agency (RESA)
Brooklet, GA

Lisa Niedbala Ammons is a School Improvement Specialist with First District RESA. Lisa serves as the English/Language Arts coordinator, with her primary work including reading and writing instruction and school improvement planning. Lisa also provides instruction and support in other areas such as standards-based classrooms and grading, differentiated instruction, and curriculum development. Prior to her work with FDRESA, Lisa spent nine years as a classroom teacher in public, private, and charter school systems in Florida and Georgia. Lisa's most recent classroom experience was in the Savannah-Chatham Public Schools as part-time curriculum coordinator, part-time English/Language Arts teacher at Savannah High School. Lisa received her B.A. in English and Secondary Education from Flagler College, an M.A. in Integrated Studies in Education from Cambridge College, an Ed.S. in Curriculum, Instruction, Administration and Management from Nova Southeastern University, and Educational Leadership certification from the University of Georgia. She also holds an endorsement in Gifted Education.

Angela Bancroft, LMFT, NCC, AT
Colorado Springs, CO

Angela Bancroftis a licensed clinical marriage and family therapist, nationally certified counselor and art therapist with fifteen years of clinical therapy experience and six years in program management and clinical staff supervision. A graduate of Jamestown College and the College of Notre Dame, Angela will receve her second masters degree from Columbia College in the Fall of 2009.

Bryce Barnhart
Director of Professional Development,
Associated Marine Institutes (AMI)
Palm Beach, FL

Bryce Barnhart is the Director of Professional Development for Associated Marine Institutes (AMI).  Bryce has been with AMI since 1992 where he began as a dive instructor in Palm Beach.  Between 1994 and 2004 he has held the positions of operations specialist, executive director, director of training and director of professional development.  Bryce holds a B. S. in Criminal Justice from Florida Gulf Coast University and has completed his masters in education at Georgia Southern University.

Robert D. Barr
Senior Analyst
Boise State University Center for School Improvement
Boise, ID

Robert D. Barr has gained national and international recognition for his research on alternative schools, teacher education, and at-risk children and youth. He is a nationally recognized speaker, consultant, and scholar in the areas of at-risk youth, school improvement, and alternative education. He has appeared twice on PBS's nationally televised "Firing Line," featuring William F. Buckley, has been interviewed on ABC Evening News with Peter Jennings and on Fox TV's "The O'Reilly Factor" and has been quoted in the New York Times. Dr. Barr has served as an expert witness at many state and federal trials, and has presented testimony to sub-committees of the U.S. Congress.

Previously, Dr. Barr was Professor and Director of Teacher Education at Indiana University (1970-1981), Dean of the Oregon State University College of Education (1981-1990), and Dean of the Boise State University College of Education (1991-1998). He currently is a Senior Analyst with the Boise State University Center for School Improvement. There he directs a quarter-million-dollar project funded by the J.A. & Kathryn Albertson Foundation on the National Board of Professional Teaching Standards. Barr has had extensive international experience in Indonesia, China, Japan, Chile, and Austria.

Dr. Barr’s work in teacher education has attracted national attention. He has received three national awards for excellence in teacher education: the AACTE Distinguished Achievement Award; the AASA Showcase of Excellence Award; and the Theodore Mitou Award.

Nelson Beaudoin
Educational Consultant, Speaker, Author
Poland, ME

Nelson Beaudoin has recently retired as principal of Kennebunk High School in Maine. A thirty-seven year educator, he has led two high schools through successful Comprehensive School Reform Demonstration grants. Student participation, citizenship and leadership were used as a leverage points in both schools to advance reform initiatives linked to Maine’s high school restructuring movement called Promising Futures. Leavitt Area High School and Kennebunk High School have received national recognition in areas that relate to student relevancy. In part because of his work in the area of personalizing schools, Beaudoin was selected as Maine's 2000 NASSP Principal of the Year. He is the author of three books on educational leadership published by Eye on Education; Stepping Outside Your Comfort Zone: Lessons for School Leaders (2004), Elevating Student Voice: How to Enhance Participation Leadership and Citizenship (2005) and A School for Each Student: Personalization in a Climate of High Expectations (2008). He has been presenting at conferences and workshops throughout the country for the past decade on educational topics such as personalization, student voice, school reform, inspirational leadership, and school change.

William Bender, PhD
Educational Consultant, Speaker, Author
Athens, GA

William Bender is an international leader in instructional tactics with an emphasis on differentiated instruction, response to intervention, brain compatible instruction, and classroom discipline. He is an accomplished author and presenter who consistently receives accolades for his workshops from educators at every level. Dr. Bender began his education career teaching in a junior high school resource classroom, working with adolescents with behavioral disorders and learning disabilities. He has taught at Rutgers University in New Jersey and Bluefield State College in West Virginia and served as a professor of education at the University of Georgia. He consults full-time, writes professional development books, and presents workshops for educators throughout North America.
Dr. Bender has written more than 60 research articles. His numerous best-selling titles include Response to Intervention: A Practical Guide for Every Teacher; Differentiating Instruction for Students With Learning Disabilities (Second Edition); Introduction to Learning Disabilities (Sixth Edition); Relational Discipline: Strategies for In-Your-Face Kids (Second Edition); Reading Tactics for Elementary Students With Learning Difficulties (Second Edition); and Beyond the RTI Pyramid: Solutions for the First Years of Implementation.
He earned his doctorate in special education from the University of North Carolina.
Using a combination of practical strategies and humor, Dr. Bender has the innate ability to engage participants and keep them eager to hear more. He believes his job is to inform audiences across the nation of innovative, up-to-date information based on current research, and he conveys this in a humorous, motivating fashion.

Barbara R. Blackburn, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Middle and Secondary School Education
University of North Carolina-Charlotte
Charlotte, NC

Barbara R. Blackburn has taught early childhood, elementary, middle, and high school students and has served as an educational consultant for three publishing companies.She is now an Assistant Professor of middle and secondary school education at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Blackburn has authored seven books, including books in the A to Z series. Her newest book, Rigor is NOT a Four Letter Word shows teachers how they can raise the level of rigor in their classrooms and provide challenging learning experiences for their students. She is currently working with Dr. Ron Williamson on Rigorous Schools and Classrooms: Leading the Way, which will be released in February, 2010.

Jane Bluestein, Ph.D.
Instructional Support Services, Inc
Albuquerque, NM

Jane Bluestein is a dynamic and entertaining speaker. Dr. Bluestein has worked with thousands of educators, counselors, healthcare professionals, parents, childcare workers and other community members world-wide. She has appeared internationally as a speaker and talk-show guest, including several appearances as a guest expert on CNN, National Public Radio and The Oprah Winfrey Show.

Dr. Bluestein specializes in programs and resources geared to provide practical and meaningful information, training and hope in areas related to relationship building, effective instruction and guidance, and personal development. Much of her work focuses on interactions between adults and children, especially children at risk. Her down-to-earth speaking style, practicality, sense of humor, and numerous stories and examples make her ideas clear and accessible to her audiences.

Keith L. Brown
"Motivator of the Millennium"
20/20 Enterprises
Fayetteville GA

Keith L. Brown is known universally as the “Motivator of the Millennium,.” He has lived with labels far less appealing. Two such labels from his childhood, “Special Ed” and “At Risk” have propelled him to be a staunch advocate for empowering “At Risk Youth” and those who enrich the lives of “At Risk Youth.” Recognized as a “World Class” speaker by Insight Publishing, this high octane change agent, trainer, consultant, emcee, and award winning author also serves as a legislative liaison and professional speech writer. Each year he empowers over 300,000 people in schools, family advocacy agencies, at conferences and in communities with profound messages of purpose and hope, which center around his original quote: Not impossible/ I’M POSSIBLE. His latest book, “Not impossible/I’M POSSIBLE: a guide on leadership and life skills for talented teens and yearning young adults is winning rave reviews nationally and internationally After leaving the “Keith L. Brown Experience” which can be summed up as the MET theory [Motivation, Education, and Transformation], attendees will know the following: As we build “PROSPECTS” not suspects, it is not our mission to see through each other; it is our mission to see each other through!!!

Kathleen Budge
Coordinator
Educational Leadership Development Program
Boise State University
Boise, ID

Kathleen Budge is the coordinator of the Boise State University Educational Leadership Development Program, an innovative nontraditional principal preparation program designed to prepare leaders to lead schools where all students succeed. Kathleen also served as the assistant superintendent for Teaching and Learning at Educational Service District 113 in Olympia Washington.

Jimmie Cave
Science Teacher
DeRenne Middle School
Savannah-Chatham County School System
Savannah, GA

Jimmie Cave, M.Ed. is a middle school teacher in the Savannah-Chatham County Public School System. Mr. Cave received his Bachelors of Science degree from the University of South Carolina-Columbia and a Masters of Education from Armstrong Atlantic State University. Currently, he is a doctoral student at Georgia Southern University where his research interests include: instructional improvement; academic achievement among African American males; cultural curriculum studies; and critical theory. Mr. Cave has received several teaching and civic awards which include Teacher of the Year at DeRenne Middle School 2008, Skidaway Island Rotary Club Outstanding Teacher of the Year 2009 and the Dr. Curtis V. Cooper, Sr. Community Service Award. Mr. Cave is also the founder of A.S.P.I.R.E., a mentoring program for middle school males which advocates academic achievement, positive decision making, social responsibility, and community involvement.

Robert E. Criner
"Mr. Enthusiasm"
President/CEO, Sharing A Vision
Medicine Park, OK

Robert E. Criner known as “Mr. Enthusiasm,” is a motivational speaker, trainer, and consultant who inspires educators to reach for the best in their lives and their students’ lives. At an early age, Robert successfully operated his own advertising firm, selling the company to pursue a full-time career in Motivational Speaking and Personal Development Training.  Robert’s clients consist of the United States Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Division, the United States Postal Service, Rutgers State University, and a host of corporations, retail companies, community service organizations, and educational services. He is author of How to Keep Yourself Motivated and Win at the Game of Life.

Gwen Desselle
2009 Georgia Teacher of the Year
Social Studies Teacher
Colquitt County High School
Moultrie, GA

Gwen Desselle teaches social studies at Colquitt County High. She received her Bachelors and Masters degrees in History from Valdosta State University. Mrs. Desselle went on to receive her Specialist degree Secondary Education Curriculum, also from VSU. She has also earned an additional Advanced Placement European History endorsement. She is now in her 32nd year of teaching. Mrs. Desselle gave her thoughts on teaching, “We genuinely like each other and that motivates my students and me to do our best every day… no tribute could exceed the joy of knowing I kindled a love of learning in a young person who will share it with the next generation.”

Steven W. Edwards, Ph.D.
Edwards Educational Services, Inc.,
Alexandria, VA

Dr. Steven W. Edwards is a nationally recognized keynote speaker, facilitator, and educational trainer.  He is regularly featured on television and radio as a content-expert on school safety, school climate, school reform, and strategic planning. As a planner, he has assisted educators in identifying and achieving individual and organizational goals.  He has successfully implemented numerous programs to improve student performance during his sixteen-year tenure as a school administrator. Currently, Dr. Edwards is a Professor in the Graduate School of Educational Leadership at The George Washington University teaching courses in planning and organizational change. He co-authored the book, Masters of Success, which focuses on essential leadership qualities.

Phil Falcetti
Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence
Orange County, CA

Phil Falcetti has 20 years experience in the health education field, with numerous professional and community leadership positions in alcohol, tobacco and drug prevention. He is currently the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence , Orange County. In 1998, he founded the Community Alliance Network (CAN), a county-wide prevention program for the Council. Falcetti has been a guest lecturer and presenter at more than 150 local, state and national conferences and is a part-time lecturer at California State University, Long Beach (CSULB). He serves on the CSULB Alumni Association board of directors and the Health Science graduate advisory council.

Julia Gabor
Manager
Tiger's Action Plan Program
Tiger Woods Foundation
Irvine, CA

Julia Gabor is the Manager of the Tiger’s Action Plan program for the Tiger Woods Foundation (TWF.) Tigers Action Plan is a free character education curriculum that focuses on positive youth development, goal setting, service learning and career exploration. She currently trains educators and develops implementation strategies across the nation using Tiger’s Action Plan as a tool for student success. Prior to joining TWF, Julia was a Coordinator for the After School All Stars in Los Angeles, where she taught a range of middle school enrichment classes - from personal leadership to sports, to performance and visual art classes. Julia has been teaching/leading groups since she was a teenager working alongside her mother, who is an acting teacher, and coach in the USA and Europe. Julia has served as a trainer/facilitator in disguised learning and cultural diversity throughout California. Julia has taught character education in South Central Los Angeles. In 2005, Julia was recognized as a Success Story in After School at the RTAC Conference - After School Education and Safety Programs, for her work in after-school learning. In 2009, Julia received the Honored Educator Award from Cal State Fullerton for dedication to education in the Orange County community. Miss Gabor is a graduate of the State University of New York, Fredonia receiving her bachelor's degree in the Fine Arts. She is currently studying for her masters in educational leadership and change at Antioch University.
Sponsored by the Tiger Woods Foundation.

Ron Glodoski
Turn Around Publishing
Milwaukee, WI

Ron Glodoski is a motivational speaker and national expert on bullying, substance abuse and resiliency.  A featured expert on The Sally Jesse Raphael Show, he offers a fresh new perspective on how to effectively connect with kids.  His personal triumph over abuse issues, learning disabilities, and a life of crime provides practical solutions to the challenges confronting our youth today.  His book, How To Be A Successful Criminal: The Real Deal on Crime, Drugs, and Easy Money has received national acclaim by parents, educators, administrators, judges, police officers, counselors, and social workers. 

Ann Y. Hart
Eastern Division Director
AVID Center
Atlanta, GA

Ann Y. Hart works with AVID began in 1995.  As the assistant superintendent, she facilitated the introduction and implementation of AVID in the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools, at Chapel Hill High School.  This was the first AVID program in North Carolina.  During her tenure with the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools AVID expanded to all middle and high school and remains a significant factor in closing the achievement gap in that district.  As a superintendent, Ann lead the way for AVID’s successful implementation in high schools in two additional districts in North Carolina, Catawba County Schools and Chatham County Schools.  Dr. Hart views AVID as a cornerstone to improving student achievement, expanding minority student participation in honors and AP courses, and helping teachers enhance their instructional strategies. Because of her belief that AVID strategies are powerful tools for all students, Ann encourages superintendents and district leaders to implement AVID district wide and provide staff development to teachers across the district.  Dr. Hart is a founding and active member of the AVID/College Board Leadership Collaborative.

Carol Jenkins
Teacher, Heard Elementary School
Savannah-Chatham County
Savannah, GA

Carol Jenkins teaches at Heard Elementary School in the Savannah-Chatham County School District.  She has been teaching in the public school sector for the past eight year and training teachers for the American Federation of Teacher for the past five. Most recently her training experiences have been in the New Orleans Parrish Schools and the Recovery School District.

Carla H. Kabwatha, M. ED, ED. S
6th Grade Literacy Teacher
DeKalb Elementary School of the Arts
Decatur, GA

Carla H. Kabwatha is a sixth grade literacy teacher at DeKalb Elementary School of the Arts, Atlanta Georgia. She has been a classroom educator for eleven years and is passionate about teaching from the “third” perspective and designing curriculum that incorporates the arts and engineering. Mrs. Kabwatha received a BA from Spelman College, M.A. in Middle School Education from Mercer University (Atlanta), and a Specialist Degree in Leadership from Lincoln Memorial University. She is currently working on her dissertation at Georgia Southern University.

Elizabeth Koller, MBA, VT
Executive Director
Perspectives on Growth and Development, Inc.
Hickory, NC

Elizabeth Koller is dedicated to educating diverse leaders of youth of some root causes, versus problematic symptoms, of at-risk behaviors that transcend the sole impact of peer pressure, social, and home environments. She presents current advances in Neurochemistry – the science of brain chemistry – and Behavioral Neuroscience – the link between brain and behavior – which represent the most profound paradigm shift, in the last century, in understanding the child and adolescent brain, and what drives behaviors, moods, addictions, and performance. These complex sciences are presented in layman’s terms richly woven with memorable examples.

She is the Contributing Editor of the Behavioral Sciences Department with the Journal of School Safety providing an education of youth behaviors and the impact of external factors such as: diet, nutrition, exercise – or lack of exercise, and activities on the child’s developing brain. Her articles are used at the FBI Academy. Ms. Koller was Editorial Consultant of Scholastic Science Book – 10 Most Essential Chemical Messengers of the Brain and Body, and is completing her book - Understanding the Child and Adolescent Brain.

Frank Kros, M.S.W., J.D.
President, The Upside Down Organization
Baltimore, MD

Frank Kros, M.S.W., J.D. is a recognized speaker on stress and the brain, brain-based learning, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, and neuroscience of the teenage brain. He is a career child advocate, who has served as a childcare worker, child abuse investigator, children’s home administrator, consultant, college professor, attorney, writer and speaker.  Mr. Kros is president of The Upside Down Organization and executive vice president of The Children’s Guild, the largest private provider of special education services in Maryland. He co-authored the books Creating the Upside Down Organization: Transforming Staff to Save Troubled Children and Creating the Upside Down Organization: Reinventing Group Care.

David A. Levine
Teacher, trainer, facilitator, author, and musician
Founder and Director, In Care of Students
Accord, NY

David A. Levine, founder and director of In Care of Students, is now a teacher, author, facilitator, and musician. His work in professional development and student training focuses on creating emotional safety in the classroom and school, strengthening and sharing cultural experience, making healthy systems changes, building leadership skills, creating initiatives that build community, and designing and implementing an empathy-focused curriculum. He is internationally renowned for using music as a catalyst for meaningful dialogue.  Levine is the author/co-author of three books: Teaching Empathy, Building Classroom Communities, and The Peer Partners Handbook.

Corporal Daryl Macaluso
Gang Resistance Education And Training
Durham Police, City of Durham
City of Durham, NC

Corporal Daryl Macaluso was featured in the North Carolina Justice Academy 2006 training video on gangs. He has spent four years as a School Resource Officer in middle and high schools and teaches Gang Resistance Education and Training as well as  supervises Durham's G.R.E.A.T. unit.  He is the South Eastern Representative for the International Latino Gang Investigators Association and a member of the following associations: National Gang Investigators Association, East Coast Gang Investigators Association, North Carolina School Resource Officer Association, and North Carolina Gang Investigators Association.

Theresa Martin, Ed.D.
Public Information Director and Response to Intervention Coordinator
Ware County Schools
Waycross, GA

Theresa Martin has specialized in educational communications for 25 years. Currently she serves as Public Information Director and Response to Intervention Coordinator in a Georgia school system. She is the founder of BELIEVE in the power of a teacher, a campaign designed to increase teachers’ awareness of the power they have to increase their students long term resiliency and to strengthen the commitment to our nation’s teachers. Her efforts in helping administrators and teachers understand and implement the Response to Intervention process have allowed them to realize the hidden potential in some students who might have been labeled “special education.” She is now working with Johns Hopkins University to implement a climate/behavior intervention program in the local school system. She believes strongly in the power of one good teacher to transform lives and promote life long resilience in youth. She has received a National School Public Relations Award and has presented at local, state and national conferences on Response to Intervention, Character Education, and School-Community Relations.

David C. Miller, M.Ed.
Chief Visionary Officer & Co-Founder
Urban Leadership Institute
Baltimore, MD

David C. Miller is co-founder and Chief Visionary Officer for the Urban Leadership Institute, LLC, He is a nationally recognized speaker and program developer working with minority youth.  He has worked with thousands in detention centers, aftercare programs, disadvantaged schools, and communities throughout the United States and abroad.  David is considered among the leading professionals addressing the issue of adolescent violence.  He has completed several publications including, Dare to be King: What If the Prince Lives, A Survival Workbook for African American Males, and Lessons I Learned From My Father: A Collection of Quotes From Men of African Descent.

Christian Moore, M. S. W.
Founder, WhyTry Organization
Orem, UT

Christian Moore is an internationally renowned author, speaker, and advocate for at-risk youth.  At an early age, Christian was diagnosed with Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder, conduct disorder, and severe learning disabilities.  Despite overwhelming obstacles, Christian rose from special education to receive a master’s degree in social work.  His WhyTry Program—using visual analogies and music—has proven to be one of the most effective ways to teach the critical social and emotional skills that determine the success and happiness of individuals and youth facing life’s challenges.

MK Mueller, CEO, CCO
International Trainer, Coach and Author
Insight, Inc.
Omaha, NE

MK Mueller, spent a month in a domestic violence shelter while working as a high school teacher. From her position in the depths of despair, she experienced life-changing insights as she discovered that we are not truly victims because the power to effect change is always within us.  From this bold foundation, she began a support group with five neighbors that quickly grew to hundreds coming to hear her message each week. Over the years, she has trained thousands of groups around the world in the inspirational strategies in her books, Taking Care of Me: The Habits of Happiness and 8 to Great.

Dr. Chang'aa Mweti, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, University of Minnesota Duluth
Duluth, MN

Dr. Chang'aa Mweti is an inspired storyteller and assistant professor of Education and Curriculum at the University of Minnesota, specializing in cross-cultural communications and the power of narratives. His entertaining stories motivate both the learning of academic content and the building of positive character. Through the power of stories, students learn universal values such as honesty, kindness, fairness, and giving. Originally from Kenya, he started as a primary school teacher and worked his way up the educational ladder. Dr. Mweti’s dedication to achieving higher academic qualifications led him to defer his wedding plans for 18 years!

Michael O'Neal
Executive Director
Parent University, Savannah-Chatham County Public School System
Savannah, GA

Michael O'Neal started Parent University 10 years ago and now serves as the Executive Director of Community United Services.  Located in Savannah, GA, the program was started to help dispel racial tension in Savannah’s public schools.  This faith-based program has attracted over 4,000 participants in the area, and has won numerous awards.  The majority of these participants come from underserved communities.  Parent University bridges the gap between the community and the public schools by providing practical training for parents and encouraging parental involvement in their children’s education.

Dawn Odum
National Board Certified Teacher
Auburndale, Fl

Dawn Odum is a National Board Certified Teacher and has been in education for twelve years. Most recently she taught, facilitated, and coached at a Kagan model school in Auburndale, Florida. While in Auburndale she was honored as Teacher of the Year and for her contributions to the local community. She graduated from Florida Atlantic University. After being trained in Kagan Structures, Dawn saw her students’ test scores soar, children actively participating, and a class full of children excited about learning. She is eager to share her real life experiences and the power Kagan of structures with you.

Anthony E. Outler, MS.Ed., CAMS, COO
Epic Empowerment Consulting
Atlanta, GA

Anthony E Outler is a co-founder of Epic Empowerment Consulting, an educational enterprise devoted to the development of human potential in schools and communities. As a practicing middle school teacher at an urban middle school in Atlanta, Anthony has developed and implemented strategies to foster high self-esteem, motivation, and academic achievement in students whom others have deemed hopeless. In addition, he helped spearhead initiatives that led to increased staff morale and improvement in overall school safety and climate. He has facilitated workshops for professional staff development and youth empowerment throughout the southern states.

William Parrett
Professor of Education and Director
Center for School Improvement & Policy Studies
Boise State University
Boise, ID

William Parrett is the Director of the Center for School Improvement & Policy Studies and Professor of Education at Boise State University. He has received international recognition for his work in school improvement, small schools, alternative education, and for his efforts to help school districts better serve youth at risk.

Carla Brice Ross, Ed.D., LPC, NCC
National Certified School Counselor
Cook Elementary School
Atlanta, GA

Carla Brice Ross is a Licensed Professional Counselor, National Certified Counselor, National Certified School Counselor, and a 36 year Georgia educator. She has served Georgia’s children as a teacher, assistant principal and currently as a counselor in the Atlanta Public Schools. She holds a B.A. in French from Clark College, an M.Ed. in Elementary Education, an M.Ed. in School Counseling, and an Ed. S. in Counseling from Georgia State University and an Ed. D. in Curriculum Studies from Georgia Southern University. She is a Certified Forensic Counselor/Child Custody Evaluation Specialist, a Certified Mediator and an Officer of the Fulton County Juvenile Court’s Foster Care division. She counsels grieving adults and children and offers emotional and spiritual support as part of the after care program at Carl M. Williams Funeral Home in Atlanta. Since 2003 she has been presenting at Parent University conferences, Georgia Funeral Service Practitioners Association conferences, American Educational Research Association conferences in Canada and the United Stares, Georgia Educational Research Association conferences, Georgia School Counselor Association conferences and National Youth-At-Risk Conferences. She is passionate about erasing barriers to children’s academic development and enhancing their personal and social development. She believes that counselors are in the people building business; consequently her guidance program is designed to expand children’s school experiences such that the child is stimulated to develop and internalize intellectual capabilities, and personal and social competencies. The goal of the educational process is to help children become effective self managers and contributors to the community where they live and learn.

Wayne Sakamoto
Director of School Safety
Murrieta Valley Unified School District
Murrieta, CA

Wayne Sakamoto is an expert in gang prevention and intervention, youth violence prevention, school safety, and crisis/emergency response planning. He has over nineteen years of experience in the field of school and community safety and is currently the Director of School Safety for the Murrieta Valley Unified School District. Wayne has developed and implemented a number of successful gang and youth violence prevention and intervention approaches. He developed and implemented the F.O.R.C.E. (Focus On Resolving Conflict Everyday) Youth Leadership Project for the Safe Schools Unit. 

Franklin P. Schargel
The Schargel Consulting Group
Albuquerque, NM

Franklin P. Schargel is an educator, author, motivational speaker, trainer, and consultant.  His career includes classroom teaching, school counseling, school supervision and administration.  As president of The Schargel Consulting Group, Franklin has presented workshops for educational, community, and business groups.  His workshops are designed to show people how to transform their educational systems into World Class Educational Organizations.  Franklin’s success in dramatically enhancing the learning process in schools, expanding parental involvement, increasing post-secondary school attendance and significantly lowering the student dropout rate, has been documented in numerous books, newspaper and magazine articles, and internationally released videos.

LaMarr Darnell Shields
President & Co-Founder
Urban Leadership Institute
Baltimore, MD

LaMarr Darnell Shields is a co-founder and president of the Urban Leadership Institute and also founder of the Paul Robeson Academic International School of Excellence (PRAISE), an educational model for working with African American boys. Due to his poor academic performance and mischievous behavior in school, he was not expected to succeed. However, in spite of these personal obstacles, LaMarr successfully created the PRAISE model and developed innovative educational tools such as “Rhyme and Reason,” a hip-hop curriculum that educators and youth service-providers use to reach and teach youth.

Stephen R. Sroka, Ph.D
President, Health Education Consultants
Lakewood, OH

Stephen R. Sroka, Ph.D. is an internationally recognized inspirational speaker, trainer, author, teacher, and educational consultant on sex, drugs, and violence education. He has spoken in numerous schools (K-12), including five school systems featured in the national news for their high levels of school violence.  Other venues include hospitals, colleges, churches, Indian reservations, clinics, and various community settings. Dr. Sroka has received numerous awards for his teaching and service including the Walt Disney Health Teacher of the Year Award and the National Teacher Hall of Fame Award. He has authored a dozen books and over 30 articles.

Bobby Stanley
CCAE Instructor
Vidalia Comprehensive High School
Vidalia, GA

Bobby Stanley is the CCAE instructor at Vidalia Comprehensive High School. The CCAE program focuses on at-risk students and works to help these students understand the correlation between academics and career skills. This is Mr. Stanley’s fourth year teaching. Before that, he spent twelve years working in business and finance. Mr. Stanley received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Georgia, majoring in History and his master’s degree from Georgia Southern University, majoring in Special Education.

Fred Stokes
President, Fred Stokes Group, Ltd.
Tarrytown, GA

Fred Stokes, is a motivational speaker who inspires others to become winners in the game of life. At Georgia Southern University, he played football on a full scholarship and then played professionally in the NFL achieving a Super Bowl victory. Transferring the principles of winning in sports to everyday life, he founded the Fred Stokes Youth Ranch, a non-profit organization.  He also serves on the board of Directors at the Boys and Girls Club, participates in mentoring programs in youth homes, promotes his autobiography, The Bridge that Brought Me Over, and travels the country empowering change at schools, corporations, events, and churches.

Kelly Tharp
Instructor
Department of Curriculum, Foundations and Reading
College of Education
Georgia Southern University
Statesboro, GA

Kelly Tharp is an instructor at Georgia Southern University's College of Education in the Department of Curriculum, Foundations, and Reading. She worked previously at GSU in the areas of new teacher induction and professional learning for teachers of at-risk students. She was an elementary school Principal and middle school Assistant Principal and English / Language Arts teacher in school systems with diverse populations.

Donna Walker Tileston, EdD
Founder and President
Strategic Teaching and Learning
Dallas, TX

Donna Walker Tileston has served education as a leader in teaching, administration, research, writing, software development, and national consulting for the past thirty years. Her administrative responsibilities have included curriculum development, management, technology, finance, grants management, public relations, and drug abuse prevention programs. For the past fifteen years Dr. Tileston has been actively involved in brain research and the factors that inhibit learning or increase the brain’s ability to put information into long-term memory. Dr. Tileston’s research has been published through Corwin Press under the titles: Strategies for Teaching Differently (1998) and Ten Best Teaching Practices: How Brain Research, Learning Styles and Standards Define Teaching Competencies (2000, 2005) which has been on Corwin’s Best Seller List since its first year of print.

John Vandenburgh
Vanden – Executive Officer
Murrieta, CA

John Vandenburgh began his career as a High School Teacher in Southern California, where in 2002 he was honored as one the California League of High Schools Educators of the Year. His career transitioned into a focus on Violence Prevention in schools when he became a Safe Schools administrator for Murrieta Valley USD, in Murrieta, California. He has served on the California Department of Education’s Gang Task Force where he helped develop the Getting Results Update on Gang Violence for schools in the state of California. In 2007 he received the Ananda Guruge (Ger – Gay) Lifetime Commitment Award for Violence Prevention, presented by Stop the Violence, Increase the Peace Foundation in Los Angeles, CA. He is presently the Vice President of the California School Resource Officers Association and an active member of the Southern California Regional Violence Prevention Coalition. John Vandenburgh is a nationally recognized speaker, program developer and trainer on violence prevention and youth development approaches in education. He is the author of the PLUS Program, Peer Leaders Uniting Students, and the creator of a software based application called CyberBully Alert. His latest work, has gathered international attention as an innovative strategy for addressing online safety and cyberbullying.

Joseph B. Washington
President and CEO
The Joseph Washington Group
Stone Mountain, GA

Joseph B. Washington has over 20 years of experience in various leadership roles with several major corporations that have prepared him for the success he enjoys today. He is the author of the brand new book “Breaking the Spirit of Average” he is also featured in Walking with the Wise, a collection of motivational essays along with other well-known writers such as Mark Victor Hansen, Zig Ziglar, and Jim Rohn. Mr. Washington is the President and CEO of The Joseph Washington Group, Inc., an organization designed to help individuals and groups reach their fullest potential.

Kenneth Williams
Chief Visionary Officer
Unfold the Soul, LLC
Tyrone, GA

Ken Williams shares his experience and expertise as a recognized trainer, speaker, coach, and consultant in education and leadership. He is the chief visionary officer of Unfold the Soul, LLC, a company dedicated to inspiring individuals and teams to perform at the highest level. Skilled in developing productive, student-focused learning environments, Ken is a distinguished teacher, mentor, public speaker, and school leader. Ken is the former principal of The Learning Academy at E.J. Swint in Jonesboro, Georgia, and Damascus Elementary School in Damascus, Maryland. His leadership was crucial to creating professional learning communities in both schools.

Ronald Williamson, Ed.D.
Professor
Leadership and Counseling
Eastern Michigan University
Ypsilanti, MI

Ronald Williamson is a former teacher and middle school and central office administrator. He is currently a professor at Eastern Michigan University preparing students who will serve as school leaders. Ron was Executive Director of the National Middle School Association and a member of the Middle Level Council for the National Association of Secondary School Principals. He works with individual schools and districts on school reform projects. He also works on several national projects including The Principals’ Partnership sponsored by Union Pacific and the Oregon Gear Up project. Ron is the author of numerous books including The Principalship from A to Z and the soon to be released Rigorous Schools and Classrooms: Leading the Way with Dr. Barbara Blackburn. Ron and Barbara are the co-authors of a monthly column, Everyday Leadership, in Principal Leadership magazine.

Victor M. Woods
National Speaker, Author, Motivator
U Can Make It (UCMI, LLC)
Bloomingdale, IL

Victor Woods is a nationally recognized speaker and the founder of the Victor Woods Corporation. However, Victor’s beginning is what makes his story so remarkably powerful. At the age of nineteen, a task force of sixty detectives arrested him for masterminding an armed robbery ring. After his release from state prison, Victor was arrested for orchestrating a 40 million dollar credit card fraud conspiracy. Today Victor has appeared on National Television, Newspapers, and radio stations including ABC News, Ebony Magazine, and Bill Orielly’s factor. His autobiography is published by Simon and Schuster and currently a movie deal is being negotiated about his life. Victor is dedicated to leaving a legacy for men and women that aspire to beat all odds and dare to be the star of their own destiny.