Speaker Bios

Cheryl Chase, Ph.D. is a licensed clinical psychologist in private practice in Independence, a suburb of Cleveland, Ohio. She specializes in the diagnostic and neuropsychological assessment of various conditions impacting children, adolescents, and young adults including ADHD, Pervasive Developmental Disorders, Learning Disorders, and emotional concerns. In addition to her clinical practice, Dr. Chase is also an accomplished speaker at the local and national levels, leading workshops on such timely topics as executive functioning, differentiated instruction, and creative ways to support those who struggle in school.

Her down-to-earth and often humorous approach to learning makes her a favorite with educators, parents and children alike. Dr. Chase is an active member of the American Psychological Association, the International Dyslexia Association, and the Learning Disabilities Association. She has devoted her career to helping children reach their fullest potential.

Ross Cooper

A.J. Juliani serves as Faculty for the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education (PLN) and former Director of Learning and Innovation for Centennial School District. As an English teacher, football coach, and K-12 Technology Staff Developer, A.J. has worked towards innovative learning experiences for schools in various roles. A.J. is also an award-winning blogger, speaker, and author of multiple books, including the best-sellers Empower and Launch.

A.J. Juliani brings a high-energy, fun, and engaging style of presentation through keynotes, full-day workshops, and online professional development offerings. His mix of personal stories from the classroom, real-world examples, and research-based insights lead to a learning opportunity for everyone in attendance. A.J. has worked at all levels of the K-12 spectrum and has the lens of a parent (of four crazy kids) as well. He will encourage educators to not only be intentional about innovation but also focus on how our practice needs to always be centered on the student experience.

Dr. Kelly Keane, Ed.D, Associate Professor and Director of the Educational Technology Program in the School of Education, has taught at Loyola University Maryland since 2014. Her research and professional interests encompass active online learning, Universal Design for Learning, and technology tools that support transformative teaching and learning. In addition to her teaching responsibilities, she leads Loyola's Digital Pedagogy Workshop each summer for faculty who are interested in transitioning their courses to the hybrid and online environments. Dr. Keane began her career as a classroom teacher and has taught in award-winning elementary schools in Pennsylvania and Maryland. She is passionate about learning, constantly seeking ways to improve, and believes a growth mindset can be your most powerful tool. In her classroom, she incorporates the latest educational technologies and the Jesuit mission and she tries to remain technology-free in her spare time. 

 Lauren Porosoff (she/her) has been an educator since 2000, most recently teaching middle school English at the Ethical   Culture Fieldston School in New York. Her interest in how students can make their work meaningful led her to learn about   evidence-based methods of values-guided behavior change. Informed by contextual behavioral research and practice,   Lauren developed applications for K-12 teaching and learning, such as the strategies described in her books EMPOWER   Your Students: Tools to Inspire a Meaningful School Experience (Solution Tree, 2018), Two-for-One Teaching: Connecting   Instruction to Student Values (Solution Tree, 2020), Teach Meaningful: Tools to Design the Curriculum at Your Core (Rowman & Littlefield, 2020), and the upcoming The PD Gallery: Curating Peer-to-Peer Learning that Transforms Teacher Practice (ASCD, expected 2021). Lauren has written for AMLE Magazine, Independent School, Kappan, Rethinking Schools, and Teaching Tolerance about how students and teachers can clarify and commit to their values at school. Learn more about Lauren's work by visiting her website: empowerforwards.com.

There is an air of excitement that surrounds Sarah Sprinkel and everything she does. Perhaps it is because of her belief that educating children should be exciting. Perhaps it is because of the tangible results her extensive knowledge of early childhood education has produced for many thousands of students. In her previous position as Elementary Principal for Florida Virtual Schools (FLVS), Sarah generated a new enthusiasm for the potential of online learning. Her assignment includes launching FLVS’ elementary education program. To perform that job, she brought insights gained as both a classroom teacher and a program manager. Prior to joining FLVS, Sarah provided oversight of early childhood programs for Orange County Public Schools for 23 years. She is equally proud of the 10 years she spent teaching at the kindergarten level. Additional previous assignments include, creating childhood development centers for Walt Disney World®, creating family outreach programs for the Orlando Museum of Art, serving as a vice president for the YMCA, and providing private consultation services for social service agencies. She also lobbied with the Florida State Legislature on behalf of the needs of students.

Sarah Sprinkel is constantly motivated by a desire to educate young people. Her commitment to her students and her profession finds the perfect setting in a virtual school dedicated to excellence. She earned her Master of Arts degree in Early Childhood Education from Rollins College in Winter Park. Her Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education was awarded by Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tenn. Always a dedicated volunteer in her community, Sarah is serving her third term as a city commissioner andl has served on numerous boards, professional associations and committees over the years. She and her husband, George, have three children: Clark, Caroline and George, who have blessed them with four grandchildren: Sophie, Anna, Gabriel and George VI. Her free time is spent enjoying the golf course and tending to her gardens. Learn more by visiting her website.

Tim Leet

Sarah Ward, M.S., CCC/SLP has over 25 years of experience in the treatment of executive dysfunction.  Sarah is an internationally recognized expert on executive function and presents seminars on the programs and strategies she has developed with her Co-Director Kristen Jacobsen. Their 360 Thinking Executive Function Program received the Innovative Promising Practices Award from the National Organization CHADD. She has presented to over 1400 public and private schools in the United States, Canada and Europe.

Nicole Weyer spent the first 21 years of her career in schools and this chapter confirmed for her the importance of meeting people where they are. Mentoring, supporting, and guiding students and colleagues along the path of figuring out who they are, learning from the successes and the struggles, and charting a path towards becoming their best self was an incredible honor. Nicole’s 17 years of school leadership experience created a first-hand perspective on the power of organizational cultures in fostering wellness or encouraging self-sacrifice, how burnout creeps into our lives, and how we get stuck in a pattern of neglecting ourselves to serve others.  She is committed to transforming schools by facilitating a conversation about the connection between employee morale, turnover, and school culture by including burnout in this equation. Our most powerful blindspot is ourselves and, oftentimes, we are last on any priority list if we show up on it at all. 
 
Nicole is grateful to use those lesson-filled years in her work as a burnout prevention coach to partner with educators and school leaders flirting with burnout learn ways to nourish themselves so they lead within and beyond the classroom and across campus. 
Nicole’s clients are committed to playing big with an open heart, living their purpose, and striving to live full, vibrant lives. Let's flip the script on this so that what we offer to families, colleagues, and the communities we serve is the best version of ourselves rather than the exhausted and depleted one.

Nicole is the founder of Root to Rise Coaching, an avid reader, yogi, cat-lover, wanderer, and adventurous home cook who lives in Norfolk, Virginia. 

Connie White is a visionary leader who serves as the Director of Learning Design & Innovation at Woodward Academy in College Park, Georgia.  She is a former Upper School Physics, Chemistry & Math teacher who specializes in start-up innovation initiatives, strategic planning, curriculum design, assessment, professional development, brain-based strategies, and pedagogy. She has conducted hundreds of workshops & seminars throughout the country, and internationally. She is the President of AATE, which is an ISTE affiliate, writes the Education column for Southern Distinction magazine, and is a Paul Harris Fellow. Connie leads Woodward Academy’s efforts in the areas of professional development, curriculum, and innovation. Connie was also the recipient of the 2016 ISTE ISEN Outstanding Educator Award and is a 2020 ATLIS Pillar Award Winner. She is currently working towards her Certificate in Advanced Education Leadership from the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

One of the first Nationally Board Certified teachers in America, Rick Wormeli brings innovation, energy, validity and high standards to both his presentations and his instructional practice, which include 41 years teaching math, science, English, physical education, health, and history, as well as coaching teachers and principals. Rick's work has been reported in numerous media, including ABC's Good Morning America, Hardball with Chris Matthews, National Geographic and Good Housekeeping magazines, What Matters Most: Teaching for the 21st Century, and the Washington Post. He is a columnist for AMLE Magazine and a frequent contributor to ASCD's Education Leadership magazine. He is the author of the award-winning book Meet Me in the Middle as well as the best-selling books Day One and Beyond, Fair Isn't Always Equal: Assessment and Grading in the Differentiated Classroom (Second Edition), Differentiation: From Planning to Practice and Metaphors & Analogies: Power Tools for Teaching any Subject, all five from Stenhouse Publishers, as well as Summarization in any Subject: 60 Innovative and Tech-Infused Strategies for Deeper Student Learning (releasing in fall 2018) published by ASCD.  His book, The Collected Writings (So Far) of Rick Wormeli: Crazy Good Stuff I Learned about Teaching Along the Way, is a collection of his published articles, guest blogs, and more through 2013. His classroom practice is a showcase for ASCD's best-selling series, At Work in the Differentiated Classroom.

With his substantive presentations, sense of humor, and unconventional approaches, he has been asked to present to teachers and administrators in all 50 states, Canada, China, Europe, Thailand, Japan, Vietnam, Korea, Australia the Middle East, and at the White House. He is a seasoned veteran of many international webcasts, and he is Disney's American Teacher Awards 1996 Outstanding English Teacher of the Nation. He won the 2008 James P. Garvin award from the New England League of Middle Schools for Teaching Excellence, Service, and Leadership, and he has been a consultant for National Public Radio, USA Today, Court TV and the Smithsonian Institution's Natural Partners Program and their search for the giant squid. Rick lives in Herndon, Virginia, with his wife, Kelly, and both are proud of recently launching the last of their children into adulthood. With the kids' college years now behind them, Rick and Kelly are now eagerly spending their children's inheritance while Rick works on his first young adult fiction novel and a new book on changing the culture of a school for ethical grading practices.

Dr. Jennifer Zwillenberg