Making Schools Work Conference Keynote and Featured Speakers

Craig Boykin

ashley.shaw@sreb.org — Tue, 18 Mar 2025 12:18:00 +0000

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Craig J. Boykin has made a name for himself speaking nationally with his unapologetically REAL approach to systemic poverty and trauma. Craig doesn’t mind speaking the hard truth. He is a seven-time author and decorated army veteran.

Shannon Buerk

ashley.shaw@sreb.org — Tue, 18 Mar 2025 12:14:00 +0000

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Shannon Buerk is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of engage2learn, the leading provider of strategic implementation systems, talent development and technology-enabled solutions for public schools since 2011 and a valued partner to 300+ districts across North America.

Chaney Mosley

ashley.shaw@sreb.org — Mon, 25 Nov 2024 17:22:00 +0000

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As President of the Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE), Mosley represented over 27,000 members, advocating for innovative CTE practices nationwide. He has published extensively on CTE research and evaluation, delivered numerous workshops, and contributed to state and national assessments. Mosley’s expertise spans teaching, outreach, policy and research, bridging theory with practical applications to advance education. His work has been featured on National Public Radio’s All Things Considered and in USA Today.

Yanick Hicks

ashley.shaw@sreb.org — Fri, 01 Nov 2024 14:20:00 +0000

Featured Speaker

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An executive director and keynote speaker with the Maxwell leadership team, Yanick is certified to speak in the areas of leadership, teamwork and communication. Yanick inspires and entertains audiences to reach their ultimate potential. Yanick teaches from his professional life, sharing stories about his time spent as a pharmacist with Walgreens. Yanick energizes organizations with values-based, people-centric servant leadership principles that will empower and energize everyone in attendance.

He has over seven years of professional speaking experience. Yanick averages over 80 speaking events per year, and is consistently the highest rated speaker based on participant evaluations. He has enthralled crowds as large as 2,400. A proven speaker for your event!

Daniel Jean

ashley.shaw@sreb.org — Fri, 01 Nov 2024 14:18:00 +0000

Featured Speaker

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Dr. Daniel Jean is the CEO of Wordstravel LLC a consulting, edutainment and empowerment agency. He also serves as an Associate Provost at Montclair State University.

Shree Walker

ashley.shaw@sreb.org — Fri, 01 Nov 2024 14:17:00 +0000

Featured Speaker

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Society often believes people are products of their environment. As a young woman growing up in a poverty-stricken single-parent home, Dr. Shree Walker refused to be a victim of circumstance.

Baruti Kafele

ashley.shaw@sreb.org — Fri, 02 Feb 2024 17:45:00 +0000

Featured Speaker

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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 and New Jersey State Teacher of the Year finalist.

Steph Jensen

ashley.shaw@sreb.org — Fri, 02 Feb 2024 17:38:00 +0000

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Steph Jensen joined Boys Town in 2003 after holding positions such as middle school teacher, district reading specialist and school consultant. In her 21 years with Boys Town, she has been overseeing the implementation of external training contracts nationally and internationally.

Bob Kucher and Alayna Cate

ashley.shaw@sreb.org — Fri, 08 Dec 2023 19:20:00 +0000

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Bob Kucher, Chief Officer of Partnerships and Programs, and Alayna Cate, Director of Partnerships, represent PENCIL (Public Education Needs Community Involvement & Leadership), a Nashville non-profit linking community resources to Metro Nashville Public Schools. For the 2022-23 academic year, PENCIL leveraged the power of 700+ business partnerships which provided $7.3M in community investment to MNPS.

Tommie Mabry

ashley.shaw@sreb.org — Fri, 08 Dec 2023 17:38:00 +0000

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Dr. Tommie Mabry is a renowned international speaker, nationally acclaimed educator and published author, authoring books like “A Dark Journey to a Light Future: A Memoir.”

His story of the trials, success and service has inspired millions around the world. News of Dr. Mabry’s achievements instantly went viral, breaking national headlines. Dr Mabry has appeared on USA Today, PBS Network, BET Soul and many more.

Katie Greer

ashley.shaw@sreb.org — Fri, 08 Dec 2023 17:06:00 +0000

Keynote Speaker

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In February of 2005, Katie L. Greer began developing an internet safety program to deliver to Massachusetts students. The Corruption, Fraud and Computer Crime Division of the Attorney General’s Office was inundated with requests for Internet safety presentations, and Katie rose to the challenge of expanding the existing program she pioneered.

After leaving the Attorney General’s Office, Katie worked full-time as an Intelligence Analyst for the Massachusetts State Police, where she was assigned to the Missing Children Clearinghouse and subsequently became the Outreach Coordinator for the Vermont Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.

Antonio Neves

ashley.shaw@sreb.org — Fri, 08 Dec 2023 16:48:00 +0000

Keynote Speaker

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Antonio Neves is a leadership and development expert, best-selling author,
award-winning journalist and world-renowned speaker known for helping people get unstuck and make their next move with confidence.

The author of four books including Stop Living On Autopilot: Take Responsibility for Your Life and Rediscover a Bolder, Happier You (Penguin Random House), Antonio is also the host of The Antonio Neves Show podcast where he reminds people that no matter where they stand today, their story is far from over.

Marck Abraham

Kirsten Sundell — Mon, 16 Mar 2020 12:04:00 +0000

[image:10280, image right w45]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.

Robert Jackson

Kirsten Sundell — Fri, 17 Jan 2020 22:56:00 +0000

Featured Speaker

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For every problem, there is a solution is Mr. Jackson’s motto. He began his teaching career 27 years ago in Indianapolis Public Schools with a No More Excuses teaching approach with all of his students after being cut from the NFL Minnesota Vikings. He set high expectations for his students and expected them to do well by teaching and coaching them how to use their circumstances as stepping stones into their futures. Those same students went from low performing to successful pastors, lawyers, school administrators, teachers, pharmaceutical sales reps, business owners, pro athletes, entertainers and more.