Student Engagement

Jessica R. May, M.Ed., is a passionate educator and 2024 Colorado Teacher of the Year with over 25 years of experience. She specializes in building strong student relationships, classroom management, and making reading relevant across all content areas.

James Simons is an educator, writer, and coach passionate about meaningful learning and leadership. He partners with schools to support instructional growth, curriculum design, and educator development. His work appears in Inside Higher Ed and Edutopia.

Mary K. Gove, PhD, is professor emeritus at Cleveland State University and specializes in promoting a balanced approach to literacy education. Dr. Gove formerly taught grades K–6 and worked in an urban district as a full-time professional developer.

Jen Cullerton Johnson is an award-winning children’s author, educator, and environmental advocate. With nearly two decades of teaching experience, she’s worked with incarcerated youth and urban classrooms; taught abroad in Japan, Ecuador, and Argentina; and led nature-writing workshops in outdoor settings.

Kate Bellanca has 20 years of experience working directly and digitally with districts, schools, families, and other helping professionals to improve learning outcomes through professional development.

Shanna K. Helmke has been a dedicated educator since 2011. Alongside her work as an instructional coach, she also serves as an adjunct professor at Mount Mercy University in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, furthering her commitment to fostering excellence in education.

In this webinar, Jay Jackson will teach educators how to use simple tools to foster deep and meaningful discussions about student self-awareness, integrity, purpose, passion, positivity, courage, commitment, and grit. This process will help students understand how they can be successful and happy by meeting challenges head-on.

Margaret Lane Dunne, EdD, has over 20 years of teaching experience and is a faculty member at Great Neck South High School. She is also an author and a presenter who enthusiastically shares her insights about better ways to engage students.

Brady Barr, PhD, is National Geographic’s reptile expert. Dr. Barr started his teaching career at North Central High School in Indiana, teaching subjects like zoology, biology, and earth and life sciences.

Michael McDowell, EdD, has been a public school educator for the past 18 years serving in the roles of classroom teacher, academic and athletic coach, school principal, assistant superintendent of personnel and instruction, and superintendent.