Speakers - BTC Conference 2007

List of Speakers for 2007

Jonathan Kozol, is a non-fiction writer, educator, and activist, best known for his books on public education in the United States. He has been devoted to issues of education and social justice in America for four decades and has been called by The Chicago Sun-Times "today's most eloquent spokesman for America's disenfranchised". Most of his books, while exposing the inequalities seen in poor, urban districts, are written with deep respect and empathy for our embattled teachers.  He has authored a number of award-winning books including, Death at an Early Age, Amazing Grace: The Lives of Children and the Conscience of a Nation, and The Shame of the Nation. For more information on Jonathan Kozol, visit his website. Sunday, March 25 @ 5:00 pm - "A Beautiful Profession: The Passion and the Challenge of Educating Children in Our Still Separate and Unequal Schools"

Daniel Goleman,  For many years, Dr. Goleman reported on the brain and behavioral sciences for The New York Times and has been a visiting faculty member at Harvard.  Dr. Goleman co-founded the Collaborative for Social and Emotional Learning at the University of Illinois at Chicago, with a mission to help schools introduce emotional literacy courses.  One mark of the Collaborative- and his books- impact is that thousands of schools around the world have begun to implement such programs. Books include: Primal Leadership: Realizing the Power of Emotional Intelligence and Working With Emotional Intelligence. Dr. Goleman currently co-chairs the Consortium for Research on Emotional Intelligence at Rutgers University, which identifies best practices for developing workplace and leadership abilities.   "A Big Picture Frame of Education, Today and in the Future" ~ Monday, March 26 @ 8:00 am - Speaker Update - Daniel Goleman was recently featured in the 12.19.06 TimesSelect Section of NYTIMES.com. TimesSelect Subscribers can read "The Roots of Compassion" by Daniel Goleman at www.nytimes.com. Also, check his blog for more of his thoughts and writing.

Dr. Theresa Perry, Professor in the Departments of Africana Studies and Education at Simmons College and Director of the Simmons College/Beacon Press, Education and Democracy Lecture and Book Series. Her current writings and work have focused on the development of a theory of practice for African American achievement and a meta-analysis of educational environments that normalize high achievement for Black students. Dr. Perry is co-author, with Asa Hilliard III and Claude Steele of Young Gifted and Black: Promoting High Achievement Among African American Students, co-editor with Lisa Delpit of The Real Ebonics Debate: Power Language and the Education of African American Students, editor of Teaching Malcolm X, and co-editor of Freedom’s Plow:  Teaching in the Multicultural Classroom. She is completing a book entitled, Educating African American Students:  What Teachers, Teacher Educators and Community Activists Should Know.  Tuesday, March 27 @ 8:00 am ~ Reflecting on African American School Achievement: What We Know, What We Can Do

Dr. Anne L. Bryant, Executive Director of the National School Boards Association. Dr. Bryant is dedicated to advancing education through citizen governance of public schools. She has written widely on K-12 education, volunteer-staff leadership issues, and the role of the federal government in education.  Dr. Bryant has also served on the Simmons College Board of Trustees since 1972 including being Chair.  Monday, March 26 ~ Lunch Guest Speaker ~Leadership Counts: The School Boards Role in Creating a Strong Climate for Teaching & Learning.

Dr. Tom Carroll, Dr. Tom Carroll, President of the National Commission on Teaching and America's Future. In this role, Dr. Carroll leads the organization's efforts to raise standards for teaching and learning, improve professional development, and restructure school environments to meet the needs of 21st century learners.  Monday, March 26 ~ Lunch Guest Speaker:  The Importance of a Collaborative Culture

There is Open Seating for our Guest Lunch Speakers.  To ensure a table with your preferred speaker,  purchase a Reserved Table for Ten for $200. For more information or to reserve, please contact cjzehnder@organizational-services.com

Jon Saphier, Founder/Chairman of Teachers21 and President of Research for Better Teaching. A former classroom teacher, and a nationally respected staff developer and consultant, Dr. Saphier has authored six books, including the highly influential The Skillful Teacher and Beyond Mentoring, and numerous articles on staff development, supervision and evaluation, and school culture. Sunday, March 25 ~ Pre-Conference

Lyndy Johnson, Assistant Dean of Education and Director of the Masters of Arts in Teaching program at Simmons College in Boston; Co-Chair of the Beginning Teacher Center. A former teacher and administrator in the Boston Schools, she has consulted nationally and internationally.  Currently, as part of her work with the Beginning Teacher Center, she is editing a second edition of a book for mentors and developing global school partnerships with Spain and the Republic of Georgia. March 25 ~ Pre-Conference

John D’Auria, Ed.D, Co-author with Jon Saphier of How to Bring vision to School Improvement and the recently published article, Three Strands Form Strong School Leadership.  John has been an educator for 35 years and is currently a middle school principal, with 21 years of experience in that position.  As a Teachers21 consultant and coach, John has worked with urban and suburban educators on a range of topics that relate to educational progress including developing a vibrant school culture, improving communication and managing difficult conversations, and honing the academic focus of school teams.  Additionally, John works with aspiring school administrators a well as seasoned professionals in the art of skillful leadership.  Sunday, March 25 ~ Pre-Conference

Lori McEwen, is a Teachers21 consultant and doctoral candidate.  She has been a public school teacher in Massachusetts and Missouri, a school administrator in New Hampshire and a university supervisor of student teachers.  Her doctoral research focuses on what she terms “change-minded” teachers, investigating how the biographies, teacher preparation, and work contexts of such early-career teachers have intersected to plant the seeds of that trait.  She consults with school districts at various stages of learning community development and school restructuring.  Sunday March 25 ~ Pre-Conference

Beginning Teachers Conference