KEYNOTE SPEAKERS
At FIRST Educational Resources, our keynote services are designed to ignite passion, spark meaningful conversations, and drive real change in today’s schools. Led by our team of internationally recognized experts, authors, and educational consultants, our keynotes are built to empower educators to create learning environments where every student thrives. Whether you’re looking to kick off the school year, a conference, energize your leadership team, or inspire a district-wide initiative, our keynotes provide a perfect balance of engagement, research-backed insights, and practical takeaways that can be implemented immediately.
KEYNOTE SPEAKERS
Garth Larson, Ed.D
Garth Larson is the Co-Founder and CEO of FIRST Educational Resources. He began his career as a high school English teacher and Associate Principal, later serving as an elementary principal and the Director of Learning for the Winneconne Community School District. In 2015, he co-founded FIRST Educational Resources, aiming to enhance student achievement across the United States. Since then, over 2000 school districts worldwide have partnered with his company. Garth is the author of 6 books, including his most recent Simplifying School Improvement.
Jimmy Casas
Jimmy Casas is the CEO and President of J Casas and Associates, an educational leadership company aimed at serving teachers, principals and superintendents in school districts across the United States by providing high quality, practical and meaningful coaching support. Jimmy served twenty-two years as a school leader. He is a best selling author, speaker, leadership coach, state and national award winning principal. Jimmy was named the 2012 Iowa Principal of the Year and was runner-up NASSP 2013 National Principal of the Year.
Kenneth Williams
Kenneth C. Williams shares his experience and expertise as a nationally recognized trainer, speaker, coach and consultant in leadership and school culture. A practitioner for nearly three decades, Ken led the improvement efforts at two schools by leveraging the Professional Learning Communities at Work process. Skilled in joining the why of the work to the how of the work, Ken is known for his powerful and engaging combinations of “heart, humor, and hammer.” He is an expert at helping schools build capacity in the collective commitments required of learning for all.
Joy Kelly
Joy Kelly is the co-author of Handle with Care: Managing Difficult Situations in Schools with Dignity and Respect. Joy has more than twenty-five years of educational experience in public and parochial schools as a teacher, coach, mentor, associate principal, and principal. In 2015, Joy was named the Iowa Associate Principal of the Year. She also provides coaching and training for new administrators in Iowa. Joy serves as a leadership coach for administrators across the country on behalf of J Casas & Associates.
Myron Dueck
Myron Dueck frequently visits schools, conferences, and districts around the world to share his 25 years of practitioner and leadership experience. He helps educators generate ideas and navigate issues surrounding grading, assessment, reporting and student voice. Myron’s published work includes numerous journal articles and his best-selling book, Grading Smarter, Not Harder– Assessment Strategies that Motivate Kids and Help Them Learn (ASCD, 2014). His second book, ‘Giving Students a Say! Smarter Assessment Practices to Empower and Engage’ was released in January of 2021.
Rick Wormeli
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 44 years teaching math, science, English, physical education, health, and history, as well as coaching teachers, principals, superintendents, and other leadership. 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 and several other best-selling books.
Jessica Cabeen
Jessica Cabeen is the Principal of Alternative Education Programs in Austin, Minnesota. Previously, she was the principal of Ellis Middle School in Austin, Minnesota, and the principal of the “Happiest Place in Southeastern Minnesota,” the Woodson Kindergarten Center. She has been an assistant middle school principal, a special education assistant director, and special education teacher. Jessica was named the 2021 ED Dive National Principal of the year, 2017 Minnesota National Distinguished Principal of the Year, and was awarded the NAESP/VINCI Digital Leader of Early Learning Award in 2016.
Baruti Kafele
Baruti Kafele is a highly-regarded urban educator in New Jersey for over twenty years. Principal 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. Principal Kafele emerged as a turnaround school leader which included the turnaround of "The Mighty" Newark Tech, that went from a low-performing school in need of improvement to national recognition, including U.S. News and World Report Magazine recognizing it three times as one of America's best high schools.
Sarah Johnson
Danica Lewis has 20 years of experience in schools, serving as an elementary teacher and later as a school and district administrator in curriculum & assessment leadership in urban and suburban schools. Danica led the implementation of standards-aligned instruction, assessment, and grading as both a district-level and building-level administrator and implemented a coaching program for a medium sized district. In 2017, the Wisconsin Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development recognized Danica as the “Instructional Leader of the Year” for the State of Wisconsin.
Joe Sanfelippo
Ken O’Connor is an independent consultant who specializes in issues related to the communication of student achievement, especially grading and reporting. Through books & articles, presentations and working with small groups, Ken helps individuals, schools and school districts to improve communication about student achievement. In 1995, Ken developed eight guidelines for grading, and he has continued to refine those guidelines. In 2007, the same ideas were organized fifteen fixes for broken grades. He has also designed eleven guidelines for standard based reporting.
LaVonna Roth
Jay McTighe brings a wealth of experience developed during a rich and varied career in education. He served as director of the Maryland Assessment Consortium, a state collaboration of school districts working together to develop and share formative performance assessments. Prior to this position, Jay was involved with school improvement projects at the Maryland State Department of Education where he helped lead Maryland’s standards-based reforms, including the development of performance-based statewide assessments.
Thomas Murray
Danica Lewis has 20 years of experience in schools, serving as an elementary teacher and later as a school and district administrator in curriculum & assessment leadership in urban and suburban schools. Danica led the implementation of standards-aligned instruction, assessment, and grading as both a district-level and building-level administrator and implemented a coaching program for a medium sized district. In 2017, the Wisconsin Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development recognized Danica as the “Instructional Leader of the Year” for the State of Wisconsin.