Speakers
Carmen Agra Deedy
Keynote Speaker
Carmen Agra Deedy is the author of twelve books for children, including The Library Dragon, The Cheshire Cheese Cat, Martina the Beautiful Cockroach, and 14 Cows for America, a New York Times Bestseller. The Rooster Who Would Not Be Quiet! (Scholastic Press) was released in 2017 and Rita and Ralph’s Rotten Day was published in March 2020. Her personal stories first appeared on NPR’s All Things Considered. Funny, insightful, and frequently irreverent, Deedy’s narratives are culled from her childhood as a Cuban refugee in Decatur, Georgia. She is host of the four-time Emmy-winning children’s program, Love That Book!
An award-winning author and storyteller, Deedy is also an accomplished lecturer, having been a guest speaker for both the TED and TEDx Conferences, the Library of Congress, Columbia University, the National Book Festival, and the Kennedy Center, among other distinguished venues. A life-long supporter of the institution, she opened the 2016 Art of the Book Lecture Series for the Smithsonian Libraries.
Sheila Brookes
Training and Technical Assistance Specialist
Dr. Brookes has been a Training and Technical Assistance Specialist for numerous federal early childhood grants, including Head Start and Early Head Start and Regional Comprehensive Centers, and has over 25 years of experience in the field of early childhood. She has an extensive background in early childhood as a former preschool teacher, program director, Executive Director, Professor of Child and Family Studies, and Senior Research and Policy Analyst with rigorous training in policy analysis and research and evaluation methods. Her experience includes qualitative and quantitative research and evaluation in early childhood and related fields. Dr. Brookes’ specialties include: early literacy and early math, early childhood teacher preparation, study design; data collection via interview, survey, and focus groups; qualitative data analysis; using data for improvement; program evaluation and improvement recommendations; report writing; and providing technical assistance and interactive presentations. Her research interests include: adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), child care quality, families with young children experiencing poverty, child maltreatment, and the military child care system.
Sommer Jabbar
PreK Breakout Session Leader
Kent ISD
Robin Pizzo
6-8 Breakout Session Leader
WKAR
Robin Pizzo leads the education outreach efforts of WKAR Public Media at Michigan State University, the PBS and NPR affiliate serving Michigan’s capital region. Robin convenes partnerships and coordinates station initiatives such as WKAR Family and Ready to Learn workshops, along with other education resources for educators, families, and children throughout mid-Michigan to increase kids’ resilience as lifelong learners.
Prior to joining WKAR, Robin was Student-Parent Director at Lansing Community College; and taught at both the K12 and post-secondary levels for over fifteen years. She has loved books and writing her entire life and is an agented author with middle grade and young adult titles coming soon to local libraries and bookstores.
Jen Saylor
K-5 Breakout Session Leader
Muskegon Heights Public School Academy System
Jen Saylor’s (she, her, hers) initial love of visual arts and the joy of creative expression led her to Ohio University, where she earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. While volunteering as an Art Teacher after college, Jen discovered a new love for student-centered teaching that inspired her to serve as a Visual Arts and Reading teacher, instructional coach, and school and district administrator for over 20 years. Starting in Chicago Public Schools, and continuing as a National Board Certified Teacher with a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership, Jen eventually moved to West Michigan, where she is currently a doctoral student in Eastern Michigan University’s Educational Leadership program. With a passion for advocating for student voice and identity, Jen has been grateful and proud to serve the children and families of Muskegon Heights Public School Academy System as the Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction for the past four years.
Heidi Strasser
k-5 Breakout Session Leader
Muskegon Heights Public School Academy System
Heidi Strasser (she, her, hers) is the Director of Special Education for Muskegon Heights Public School Academy System. She is in her 29th year in special education. She graduated with a Bachelors of Science in Special Education, Learning Disabilities from the Ohio State University in 1993. She earned her Masters of Arts in Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment from Walden University in 2007, and completed her Administrator Certificate, Director Approval in 2018. Her passion for student advocacy, identity, voice and inclusion led her to Muskegon Heights PSAS in 2020, where she has found a home amongst the staff, students, and community dedicated to the same.
Dr. Arnetta Thompson
9-12 Breakout Session Leader
Muskegon Heights Public School Academy System
Dr. Thompson has been an educator for 30 years. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Secondary Education from Tennessee Tech University, and taught for 6 years in Memphis City Schools. She went on to earn 3 additional degrees in educational leadership, the last one being her doctoral degree from Eastern Michigan University. She has served as a teacher for 12 years and for the last 16 years has served in multiple administrative roles from assistant principal to assistant superintendent of Talent Management and Instruction. Dr. Thompson feels that each of these roles have provided her with an opportunity to make better systemic decisions based on the intricate knowledge of the past individual parts. Dr. Thompson currently serves as the Superintendent of Schools for Muskegon Heights Public School Academy System. She continues to be passionate about assisting students with accomplishing their goals and reaching new heights.
JEN BOUWMAN
STRATEGIC PLAN/PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT COORDINATOR
Muskegon Heights Public School Academy System
Jen Bouwman (she, her, hers) is currently the Strategic Plan/Partnership Agreement Coordinator for the Muskegon Heights Public School Academy System. Over her 20 years in education, she has been an elementary teacher, a middle school math teacher, an instructional coach, and a secondary principal. Jen has a love for learning and enjoys passing it on to the students.
ROSE BUCKLEY
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE SPECIALIST
REGION 8 COMPREHENSIVE CENTER
Rose Buckley, Ph.D., is a Technical Assistance Specialist with the Region 8 Comprehensive Center. Her professional experiences include roles as an education consultant, assistant director of technical assistance, research associate, adjunct professor, school psychologist, and classroom teacher.
KERRY HOFFMAN, PH.D.
INDIANA CO-COORDINATOR
REGION 8 COMPREHENSIVE CENTER
Dr. Hoffman’s diverse professional background in the field of education includes roles as a classroom teacher, assistant professor, school and district administrator, state assessment consultant, and university center director prior to joining ICF as a senior consultant and Region 8 Comprehensive Center.