Speakers

Dr. Bill Daggett

Bill Daggett, Ed.D., Founder and Chairman of ICLE, is recognized worldwide for his proven ability to move PreK–12 education systems toward more rigorous and relevant skills and knowledge for all students. Dr. Daggett’s System for Effective Instruction and Rigor/Relevance Framework are the cornerstones of many school improvement efforts throughout the United States, and his powerful keynote messages help his audience challenge assumptions about the purposes, benefits, and effectiveness of current practices. Before founding and now serving as Chairman of ICLE, Dr. Daggett was a teacher, local administrator, and a director with the New York State Education Department.

MaryEllen Elia

MaryEllen brings nearly five decades of experience as an educator to her role at ICLE. Prior to this appointment, she served as the first female New York State Commissioner of Education and as President of the University of the State of New York (USNY). In this capacity, she oversaw the work of more than 700 school districts with 3.2 million students; 7,000 libraries; 900 museums; and more than 50 professions encompassing nearly 900,000 licensees.
Previously, she served for ten years as superintendent of schools in Hillsborough County, Florida, where she successfully implemented higher learning standards, partnered with teachers to develop a comprehensive evaluation system, and earned national recognition for gains in student achievement. In 2015, she was named Florida’s Superintendent of the Year, received the AASA Women in School Leadership Award from the School Superintendents Association, and was one of four finalists for the National Superintendent of the Year award.

Venola Mason

Venola is driven by her belief that all students deserve a high quality education that affords them many options as they enter adulthood. She is passionate about working with school and district level leaders to create practical solutions using data and support implementation efforts. Venola is fascinated with technology and enjoys working with teachers to design instructional tasks that allow students to use technology to demonstrate learning. She has earned a master’s degree in Educational Leadership & Technology and maintains her teacher and administrator credentials in the state of Georgia. She began her career in education as a Teach For America. Venola is also the co-founder of Pieces that Fit, Inc., a non-profit organization purposed to support children and families in the areas of emotional wellness, academics, cultural awareness, and life skills.

Anthony Colannino

For more than 20 years, Anthony has dedicated himself to creating atmospheres where adults and children feel happy, healthy, and successful. A former teacher and administrator, Anthony helps school districts across the country understand and operationalize research around culture, growth mindset, and rigor and relevance for ALL through leadership development and improved teacher practice.

Kyra Donovan

Kyra Donovan is currently director of professional learning for the International Center for Leadership in Education (ICLE), a division of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. With thirty years of experience in public education as teacher, principal, and central office administrator, Kyra brings a practitioner’s point of view to teaching and learning, with an unshakeable belief that ALL students will achieve success.
Kyra supports schools and districts across the country to develop and sustain a standards-based curriculum, assessment, and instruction framework. She was awarded the Oregon Central Office Administrators’ “Achievement of Excellence” award in June 2016 for her commitment to excellence in education and her leadership in McMinnville School District.

Dr. Robert Peters

Felicia Bell

Glen Ledet

Michelle Moore