Education Reform Speakers

A widely published education author and co-director of the Change Leadership Group at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, Wagner has worked for more than 30 years in the field of school improvement. In his latest book, The Global Achievement Gap, he presents what he believes are the necessary steps for reinventing education.

Featured on 60 Minutes and in the documentary Waiting for Superman, Canada is President and CEO of the Harlem Children’s Zone, an agency that aims to improve the futures of inner-city youth. President Obama has launched an initiative to create “Promise Neighborhoods” around the country to combat poverty, modeling them on Canada’s groundbreaking work.

Tony Wagner

Geoffrey Canada

Darling-Hammond is Professor of Teaching and Teacher Education at Stanford University, where her research, teaching, and policy work focus on issues of school restructuring, teacher education, and educational equity. She is also Executive Director of the National Commission on Teaching and America’s Future.

Edelman is the co-founder and Executive Director of Stand for Children. In his inspirational presentations, he teaches advocacy skills to those who work with atrisk populations. By pioneering innovative strategies, he galvanizes the next generation to stand for children.

Linda Darling-Hammond

Jonah Edelman

Levin and Feinberg are the co-founders of KIPP (the Knowledge Is Power Program)—which has been named one of the 25 most effective schools in the nation in low-income communities—and superintendents of KIPP New York City and Houston, respectively. Addressing issues related to leadership, teaching and coaching, education transformation, character development, motivation, and parenting, they focus on changing mindsets in American education. Together, they co-authored the best-selling book Work Hard. Be Nice.

Dave Levin & Mike Feinberg apbspeakers.com | 617.614.1600

EDUCATION REFORM A former inner-city teacher, Kozol has been an advocate for equity in public education for over 40 years. In Letters to a Young Teacher, he reignites such controversial issues as the mania of high-stakes testing, the invasion of public schools by private corporations, and the inequalities of urban schools.

Jonathan Kozol Dr. Daggett is President of the International Center for Leadership in Education, and is recognized worldwide for assisting hundreds of school districts with school improvement initiatives— many in response to No Child Left Behind.

Willard Daggett Zhao is a professor at Michigan State University, where he also serves as the founding director of the Center for Teaching and Technology and the director of the US-China Center for Research on Educational Excellence. He speaks on innovation, technology, and globalization and education.

Yong Zhao One of the world’s foremost intellectuals, Gardner has spent the last 30 years researching and writing about the development of the mind. He is the mastermind behind the revolutionary theory of “multiple intelligences,” which has had a profound impact on educational thinking and practice.

Howard Gardner An activist and hip-hop intellectual, Hill is known for covering such topics as pop culture, politics, sexuality, education, and religion. His book, Beats, Rhymes, and Classroom Life, explores the appeal of hip-hop culture and how it can extraordinarily affect youth identity and the education process.

Marc Lamont Hill apbspeakers.com | 617.614.1600

Reeves is Chairman and Founder of the Leadership and Learning Center, which works with governmental organizations and school systems to improve standards, assessments, and systems for ensuring accountability. Reeves has authored many books, including the bestseller Making Standards Work.

Douglas Reeves A teacher, administrator, and consultant, Jukes is the Director of the InfoSavvy Group, which provides leadership and program development in the areas of assessment, curriculum design, online training, and more. He has written 12 books, nine educational series, and over 100 articles.

Ian Jukes An education historian and research professor at NYU, Ravitch is a voice in civic education. A former Assistant Secretary of Education under George H.W. Bush, her most recent book is The Death and Life of the Great American School System: How Testing and Choice Are Undermining Education.

Diane Ravitch Chen has been a leading figure in educational media for more than 20 years, currently serving as the Executive Director of the George Lucas Educational Foundation, a nonprofit that works to gather and disseminate the most innovative models of K-12 teaching and learning in the digital age.

Milton Chen Widely considered one of the leading champions of progressive education, Kohn offers practical alternatives to back-to-basics instruction and traditional discipline. He inspires parents, teachers, and administrators to help students become critical thinkers and caring members of society.

Alfie Kohn