Making Schools Work Conference Keynote and Featured Speakers
Keynote and Featured Speakers
SREB announces keynote and featured speakers for our 2023 Making Schools Work Conference.
Kevin J Fleming
Keynote Speaker – Opening General Session
Tuesday, July 18, 2023 | 2:30 p.m. Eastern
Kevin J Fleming is an educator, keynote speaker, CEO and author. As chief innovation and engagement officer for the Los Angeles Regional Consortium, Fleming supports CTE and workforce development with 19 community colleges in the 17th largest economy in the world. He is also the founder and CEO of Catapult, providing leadership and professional development master classes to K-16 institutions.
Adam Welcome
Keynote Speaker – Closing General Session
Thursday, July 20, 2023 | 3:30 p.m. Eastern
Adam Welcome is the co-founder of Kids Deserve It, a best-selling author and podcaster who is passionate about connecting with fellow educators across the country.
Marck Abraham
Marck Abraham is the founder and
CEO of MEA Consultants, LLC, a fast-growing consultancy he
designed to help poorly performing schools and organizations
increase achievement for all students, especially young men of
color.
Craig J. Boykin
Educational consultant and author Craig Boykin is known as one of the top minds on systemic poverty and trauma in America. A seven-time author and former decorated Army veteran, Boykin’s self-made success comes from his hustle, his grit and his relentless desire to never give up.
Rodney Flowers
Rodney Flowers, founder and president of Inspirational Endeavors, LLC, inspires, motivates and encourages individuals to reach for their hopes and dreams with earnest expectations regardless of their limitations or challenges.
Thomas Glanton
Thomas Glanton, Jr., is president
and lead consultant for The Education Company, a national
educational consulting company specializing in school improvement
and the art of school leadership. Under his leadership, the
company has served over 200,000 teachers and administrators in
public, private, and charter schools across the U.S.
Joe and Dardi Hendershott
Joe Hendershott, co-founder of Hope 4 The Wounded, LLC, has an extensive background working with at-risk and wounded youth as a teacher, coach and administrator in traditional, alternative and correctional education settings.
Robert Jackson
Robert Jackson began his teaching career almost 25 years ago in Indianapolis Public Schools after being cut from the NFL’s Minnesota Vikings with a “no more excuses” teaching approach that set high expectations for his students and challenged them to not let their personal circumstances define their futures.
Steph Jensen
Steph Jensen is the director of
community contracts for Boys Town National Community Support
Services.
Jensen joined Boys Town in 2003. She has been in the educational field since 1995, holding positions from middle school teacher, district reading specialist and school consultant, speaker and author.
Baruti Kafele
A highly-regarded urban educator in
New Jersey for over twenty years, Principal Baruti Kafele
distinguished himself as a master teacher and a transformational
school leader. As an elementary school teacher in East Orange,
NJ, he was selected as the East Orange School District and Essex
County Public Schools Teacher of the Year, he was a New Jersey
State Teacher of the Year finalist, and a recipient of the New
Jersey Education Association Award of Excellence.
Tommie Mabry
Tommie Mabry is a renowned
international speaker, nationally acclaimed educator, and
published author of books including “A Dark Journey to a Light
Future: A Memoir.”
His inspirational story of trials, success and service has been shared in USA Today, on PBS Network, BET Soul and more.
Dave Shepard
Dave Shepard manages his own educational consulting firm, The Middle Matters and More, in Lexington, Kentucky. As a former teacher, coach, curriculum and program designer, and administrator, Shepard has worked with middle grades and high school students for more than 40 years.
Kelsey Tainsh
Kelsey Tainsh overcame
several devastating physical challenges in her youth and is
now a professional speaker and para snowboarder.
Tainsh battled a brain tumor at five years old and grew to be a happy, healthy kid and a champion athlete. Ten years later, the tumor returned followed by a crippling stroke.
Nai Wang
Nai Wang is the eLearning, AI, Gamification & Esports Guru at KP Education Systems.
Nai, who has more than two decades of experience in digital education, leads multiple projects to utilize technology to narrow the digital divide and integrate gamification, artificial intelligence, and content proficiency into education. He has been involved in the development of AI-related projects since 2011. Amid the pandemic, his AI-powered educational platform, KP Compass, helped keep students engaged and learning while studying from home.
