Georges Couros, Learner, Author, Speaker.
George Couros is a worldwide leader in the area of innovation and has a focus on innovation as a human endeavor. His belief that meaningful change happens when you first connect to people’s hearts, is modeled in his writing and speaking. He has worked with all levels of school, from K-12 as a teacher, technology facilitator, and school and district administrator, and is the author of the book, The Innovator’s Mindset; Empower Learning, Unleash Talent, and Lead a Culture of Creativity and his latest book, Innovate Inside the Box.
Weston Kieschnick, International Center for Leadership in Education Associate Partner, Author, Educator.
For the past 14 years I have been able to travel around the world – to 50 states and 30 countries! – doing something I absolutely love: teaching. I have worked with students, educators, and U.S. and European consulting firms to implement professional development initiatives, design curricula, and train educational leaders. I’ve served the educational community as a blended learning teacher, instructional coach, speaker, assistant principal, instructional development coordinator, and dean of education. I continue to learn and challenge myself every day. I’ve challenged myself to publish two books, Bold School, and Breaking Bold and a podcast, Teaching Keating, which I am proud to share with you.
I believe that advancement in education is contingent upon our willingness to accept a blended model of teaching – one in which we are open-minded to the power of technology to stimulate student growth. I’ve been lucky enough to work with innovative edtech companies (Google, Apple and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt) to redefine teaching and learning in the digital age and am equally excited to share my insights as an associate partner at ICLE to help guide districts and teachers past technological growing pains.
Noelle Ellerson Ng, AASA Associate Executive Director, Advocacy and Governance.
Noelle Ellerson Ng joined AASA in 2007 as a policy analyst. As Associate Executive Director, she directs the legislative and advocacy efforts of AASA in Congress and the U.S. Department of Education. Her team is responsible for representing the voice and priorities of the nation’s public school superintendents in all aspects of federal education policy and uses member networks, outreach, policy analysis, and surveys and research to advance their work. She speaks regularly on federal education policy to school leaders across the country.
Before coming to AASA, Ellerson Ng was a high school special education teacher in Central New York. She worked in state-level advocacy for the College Board while earning her master’s degree.
A native of New York, Ellerson Ng graduated from Nazareth College of Rochester with a degree in political science and certification in elementary and special education. She completed her master’s degree in public policy and education administration and policy at the Rockefeller College at the University of Albany (SUNY). She is an alum of the Institute for Educational Leadership Education Policy Fellowship Program (Class of 2010) and the Emerging Leaders Program, through PDK., (Class of 2013-14).