Authors & Presenters

Ken Proulx is the principal of Newport Middle School in North Carolina. He has 30 years of experience in public education and has spent 20 years as a building principal in elementary, middle, and high school.

Cory Radisch is the statewide continuous improvement specialist for the New Jersey Department of Education in the Office of Comprehensive Support, working with schools identified for support under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA).Throughout his career, Cory has implemented and developed professional learning communities, working diligently to transform school culture.

Joshua Ray, EdD, is principal at Greenwood High School in Arkansas. He has served as an administrator at the elementary, middle, and high school levels and is a passionate advocate for adult learning and educator well-being.

Yetunde Reeves, EdD, is principal of Paul Laurence Dunbar High School in Baltimore. She is committed to social justice education, and her passion is working with students of color and supporting first-generation college students.

Deborah Ricker is principal at Cedar Trails Exploration Center: Early Childhood in Kansas. She previously led Glenwood Ridge Elementary and has 19 years of experience as a school psychologist, serving early childhood through high school in both public and private school settings.

Dr. Kari Roan began teaching in 2002, serving as a 6th-grade English teacher and dance team director. She believes in ensuring high levels of learning for all students and enjoys creating conditions that help educators succeed.

Michael Roberts is an author and consultant with over two decades of experience in education. Michael has been a teacher and administrator at every level from elementary school to the district office and has worked with students from all demographics.

Bo Ryan is principal of the Ana Grace Academy of the Arts Elementary Magnet School in Bloomfield, Connecticut. He is passionate about building and sustaining professional learning communities (PLCs) and has led two different schools to Model PLC at Work® certification.

Dr. Spiller is executive director of Title IX Compliance and Investigations, a new division in Richardson ISD that he has been appointed to onboard. Previously he served for eight years as the Lake Highlands Learning Community executive director in Richardson ISD, a district with more than 10,500 preK–12 students. Darwin has served as classroom teacher, assistant principal, principal, and school support officer.

Kathy Vergara, EdD, is an experienced educator dedicated to serving and improving educational outcomes for multilingual learners and their families. She focuses on designing and implementing curriculum for bilingual, dual language, and ESL programs in grades preK–12.