Dr. Steph Sroka: Boy is retarded,” reads the top of Dr. Stephen Sroka’s third-grade report card. In ES, he was mocked for having a crossed eye and a speech impediment. He was crippled in a HS fight. Doctors said, “ Listen to your teachers.” The more he listened, the smarter the teachers became. His HS counselor told him that he didn’t have the IQ to go to college, but he didn’t know that Steve had the I WILL. He learned to live with the gifts of ADHD and dyslexia. His struggles to become a teacher made him a better educator. He went from the “projects” to being inducted into the National Teachers Hall of Fame.
He was awarded The Walt Disney American Outstanding Teacher of Health and Physical Education, and has been on Oprah and covered in USA TODAY. He is an Adjunct Assistant Professor, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, and president of his company, Health Education Consultants.
He received the Outstanding School Health Educator Award and Fellow status from the American School Health Association. Recently, he was named the Person of the Year for The International Association for Truancy and Dropout Prevention and received the first-ever School Health Leader Award from the American Public Health Association. But his most meaningful “award” was his then six-year-old daughter telling him that he was smarter than the cartoon character, Inspector Gadget. Obviously, his wife does not agree.
He travels the world striving to reach, elevate and inspire with The Power of One message. After a cardiac arrest, he realized that The Power of One was not enough. He needed The Power of Many. We all do. He always did, he just didn’t know it. He does now. He believes that one person can make a lasting difference with the power of many, and that is his WHY.
Dr. Robert L. Green, who holds a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology from Michigan State University (MSU) and B.A. and M.A. from San Francisco State College, is a former President of the University of the District of Columbia and a former Dean of the College of Urban Development at Michigan State University. With the support of Ambassador Young, Dr. Green worked for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. as the education director of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference from 1965-1967. Dr. Green has successfully related his writing and research to solve society's most pressing social, political, economic, and racial issues. His research and practice have focused on the impact of poverty and discrimination on urban minority populations. He is a national and international expert on expectations and how it affects student achievement. He wrote the book, Expect the most--provide the best: How high expectations, outstanding instruction, & curricular innovations help all students succeed.
At Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s request, Dr. Green and the late Hosea Williams provided leadership for the 1966 March against Fear in the state of Mississippi. The shooting of James Meredith initiated this march. After the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Dr. Green and his wife, Lettie as well as his three sons Vince, Kurt, and Kevin, spent a significant amount of time with Dr. King's widow, Coretta Scott King, and their children, Bernice, Dexter, Martin, III, and the late Yolanda King. The Greens made every effort to help Mrs. Coretta Scott King and her children adjust to the loss of their Dad.
Dr. Green's latest book, The Crossroad of Fear and Freedom: The Fight for Educational and Social Justice, focuses on his academic work nationally and Internationally and his involvement with the Civil Rights Movement with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Dr. Green has dedicated his life to helping others deal with fear, a lesson he learned personally from Martin Luther King Jr. Recently, Dr. Green received the King Center's 2018 "Christine King Farris Legacy of Service" Award. He was honored with this award to recognize his dedication, faithful service, and support of The King Legacy and The King Center.
Currently, Dr. Green is Dean and Professor Emeritus and Distinguished Alumni of Michigan State University. He and his wife, Lettie, currently reside in Virginia, in the DMV area.
Dr. Andre Denson
Dr. Denson is a committed professional who provides support and assistance to individuals in need. He currently serves as CEO and president of Omega Educational Consulting, LLC, in which he provides guidance in the areas of educational attainment, student/parent advocacy, career selection and support. Dr. Denson also serves as the Middle School Principal of Nevada Virtual Academy, the state’s premier on-line public charter school.
As an educational professional for over 35 years, Dr. Denson was one of the youngest doctorate degree recipients from UNLV’s College of Education (age 29) in obtaining his doctorate in Educational Leadership. He also earned his Master’s Degree in Educational Administration and Bachelor’s Degree in Mathematical Education from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
He has served in many professional capacities, ranging from a HS mathematics teacher, adjunct faculty member in the School of Mathematics at the College of Southern Nevada and in the Master’s Programs at UNLV’s College of Education and Sierra Nevada College. As an educational leader for over 30 years, Dr. Denson has led, as a principal of two different high schools, three middle schools and an elementary school, in educational reform and excellence. As a high-level administrator (Region Superintendent/Associate Superintendent/Chief), he was responsible for the oversight/supervision of over 60 schools/principals at one time and various district divisions and departments (Equity and Diversity; Athletics, Activities and Educational Services). He effectively provided the necessary leadership and supervision to bring about viable change/improvement.
Dr. Denson is an active member of his fraternity, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. (Kappa Xi Chapter July 6, 1985… Life Member #3336) and a founding Board of Director for the Uplift Foundation of Nevada. The North Las Vegas native has served in various leadership roles including, but not limited to, Area Representative (NV-AZ-UT) 12th District of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Chair of the CCSD Disproportionality Study, Finance Committee Chair for his church, and multiple offices (president, secretary, treasurer, committee chair and chaplain) for the Kappa Xi Chapter of his fraternity.
Dr. Denson has been honored in many capacities. He has received the KX Omega Man of the Year Award (2017 and 4 other times), Who’s Who Among Black Las Vegans Award (2008 and 2010), CCSD Hall of Fame (2010) UNLV/UCEA’s Excellence in Educational Leadership Award (2007), Frederick Douglass Education Foundation Community Award (2007), LV Chamber of Commerce Education Award (2005), Distinguished Men of Southern Nevada (2000/1998), Class Publications Principal of the Year (2004), 12th District Omegas Man of the Year (1999), MLK Parade Grand Marshal (1998), Boss of the Year (1993), Teacher of the Year (1990), New Teacher of the Year (1989), and Who’s Who Among America’s High School Teachers (1988), and a participating auther of three manuscripts/books.
Dr. Denson is a minister ordained by the Universal Life Church Ministries, a proud father and grandfather, and a believer of a strong family/community unit.
Dr. Leary B. Adams
Dr. Adams has served as a military officer, classroom teacher, assistant principal, Highly Qualified Principal, entrepreneur, and author. He has presented on various educational topics and best practices at the national level including The Council of Great City Schools, Association of Black School Educators, and the National Association of Elementary School Teachers. His community service activities include President of the James B. Knighten Chapter of the Tuskegee Airmen, life member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and serves on numerous ministries within his church. He is author of the book, An Educator’s Journey to a Successful School: Moving a Failing School to Success. Dr. Adams has been married for over 40 years to Regina Jones Adams and they have four sons, Leary III, Christopher, Cory and Royce.
Dr. Darryl Brown
Dr. Darryl Brown has over twenty-five years of experience as a teacher, principal and county administrator in the Los Angeles area. His experience as an educational leader has included programs that support the social-emotional capacities of both students and adults. His book entitled Thinking About Your Thinking provides a primer on the terms, concepts and processes that support us in using our emotional intelligence to maintain our mental health.
Jerry Holliday
Jerry is a native of St. Louis, Missouri who was active in sports in high school and continues to be a big sports fan. Jerry earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration from the University of Southern California and following working two years in Southern California for a major Defense Contractor was accepted as a Consortium for Business Management Fellow attending Indiana University where he earned his MBA in Marketing.
Jerry began his career in Mortgage Lending in 2002 after relocating to Florida. There he received several customer service awards while originating mortgage loans throughout the United States. Later he was relocated by his employer to Las Vegas Nevada where he worked in several real estate offices as their in-house lender and continues working with his many customers throughout the US today.
Jerry is passionate about community service and particularly working with youth. He has many years of volunteering with many organizations including the YMCA, Junior Achievement, UNCF, National Black MBA Association – St. Louis Chapter and Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. He has also served on the Board of Directors of the Uplift Foundation during his tenure on the Board the Foundation awarded $250,000.00 in Scholarships, supported an ongoing Mentoring Program for male students from 6th to 12 grade and for a decade Chaired a STEM conference for 6th to 12thgrade students currently held at the University Nevada-Las Vegas.
In 2021 recognizing the need to support members of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc who are published writers. Jerry started the Omega Black Writers Series as a virtual webinar featuring published writers discussing their individual titles, the process of writing and having their book published. The webinars are available on YouTube by searching Omega Black Writers. Several of the Omega Black Writers who are experienced Educators and Administrators will be featured in the Learning and Justice for All Conference.
Charles L. Moore
Charles is the Owner of C.L. Moore & Associates, a certified public accounting firm in Downtown Lansing, Michigan. C.L. Moore & Associates, founded in 1991, is one of the few Minority-owned accounting firms in Michigan outside of the Detroit area.
Having a background in politics, finance, and education, Charles L. Moore has dedicated his career to Urban Economic Improvement and Development. His company’s lifetime work has been in pursuit of these ideals. He has worked as a CFO or Internal Auditor in Public and Charter Schools primarily in Urban settings. He has developed models that improved the financial stability of those urban schools that suffer from the high cost of educating poor children. He has poured his experience in these schools coupled with his own urban up bring to author this book.
As a Chairman of the Michigan Minority Supplier Development Council’s Minority Business Enterprise Input Committee that helps the firms that provide professional service, leased employees’ , and insurance other than health. He is also Board member of the Michigan State Board of Accountancy. Charles L. Moore, a native of Fort Wayne, Indiana, found his passion and dedication for economic development through his experiences in his hometown and seeing his community members struggle to provide for themselves and their families.
He has been married for 11 years and has 3 children who give him hope for the future of the state of Michigan, as well as the United States.
Ramona Esparza, President, The Leadership Institute of Nevada (She/Her/Hers)
Ramona Esparza currently is the President of The Leadership Institute of Nevada (LION), a non-profit organization that cultivates innovative, equity-focused leadership development serving public, private, and charter schools. Ramona Esparza is an experienced Leadership Advocate, Coach, and Consultant with demonstrated results and a history of working in educational advocacy and leadership transformation processes. She served as a site-based and central administrator in public education for twenty-eight years. Her skill sets are in Collaboration Solutions, Systems and Design Thinking, Coaching and Mentoring Leaders, Universal Learning Designs, Educational Technology, Data Analysis; and Outcomes-Based Implementation. Her philosophy of life-long learning is infectious, and she has been an advocate that believes “educating others with empowerment and self-efficacy is an equalizer.” She co-founded the Nevada Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents’ (NVALAS), est. 2018, and serves as the Co-Vice President on the Executive Board. She is a passionate believer that #Because Leadership Matters- Courageous Leaders are Everywhere, Changing the World!
Dr. LeAnne Salazar Montoya, Assistant Professor UNLV (She/Her/Hers)
Dr. LeAnne Salazar-Montoya is a lifelong educator and public servant from Northern New Mexico where she has dedicated twenty years of leadership, research, and service to the causes of education, social equity, and the leveling of the playing field for the next generation of students, teachers, and leaders. As a first-generation college graduate from her family, she holds an associate’s, a bachelor’s, a master’s, and a doctoral degree in the field of education. Like so many women out there, Dr. Montoya also holds an honorary degree in Motherhood as a proud mother of three. Her research in educational leadership, inclusivity, and Latina superintendency has been presented at both state and national conferences and has been published in academic forums such as the Journal for Research in Education. Alongside her research interests she remains actively involved with professional organizations such as the Gamma Beta Phi National Honor Society and ALAS (Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents) where she recently graduated from a year-long Leadership Academy.
Dr. Montoya believes in the potential of every human being, she proudly embraces diversity in our communities and our schools, and as an educator and researcher she has made it her vision and her personal mission to develop equitable solutions that enable students and teachers to thrive in supportive and engaging environments. At the organizational level Dr. Montoya believes teamwork and empowerment are critical to success, and she commits herself to personal accountability and proactively looking ahead to anticipate needs and manage change. Her expertise and rise to leadership positions are the result of a trailblazing woman who has worn many hats over the years as a mother, a teacher, an administrator, an HR director, a small business owner, a school superintendent, a principal of Raton High School, and most recently as an assistant professor at the University of Las Vegas where she is channeling her educational philosophy and decades-long career into tomorrow’s leaders. In this rewarding role Dr. Montoya invests her time in preparing her students for leadership positions in their communities.
Dr. Linda E. Young
Dr. Young is a Nationally Certified School Psychologist (NCSP) and is currently the President of the Village Foundation, LJP. From 2009-2020, she served 12 years on the Clark County School District Board of Trustees representing District C in Las Vegas, Nevada. She received her Bachelor of Science in Spanish, Speech, English, and Master of Science in School Psychology from the University of Dayton, Dayton, Ohio. She has educational certificates in special education and school administration and received her doctorate in Educational Leadership from Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona. She recently received the Certified Public Officials Certificate of Professional Development from University of Nevada, Reno and the Nevada Association of School Boards. Dr. Young was an employee of the Clark County School District for 32 ½ years. She served as a high school teacher, school psychologist, coordinator for special education programs, elementary special education teacher, high school dean and assistant principal, sixth grade center principal, and director of district-wide special education and diversity education programs. She is a passionate voice and fervent advocate for equity, diversity, inclusion, special needs, and access in education for ALL students. Dr. Young supports local and national STEM, STEAM, and other at-promise programs for underserved and underrepresented students of color, parents, families, and communities.
Some of Dr. Young’s recent honors and awards include: June 2022 Honoree Enshrined at the Historic Westside Legacy Park; February 2022 African American Trailblazer Educator Award, City of Las Vegas, Nevada, Las Vegas Community Department of Youth Development and Social Innovation; February 2021 My Brother’s Keeper Alliance Awards; February 2021 Outstanding Advocate Award, National Association of School Psychologists; June 2021 Juneteenth Education Legacy Award, National Juneteenth Observance Foundation Nevada, Samuel L. Smith Education Foundation, Westside Historical Society; 2009-2020 Board of Trustees, Clark County School District; July 2021 Nevada Interscholastic Activities Service Award, June 2021 Lawrence Weekly and Power 88’s Superwoman Saturday: Honoring Superwomen of Achievement.
Dana Michelle Fergins is Adjunct Professor for Southern University-Shreveport in the Division of Arts, Humanities, Social Sciences, and Education.
A career education advocate, Dana Michelle Fergins brings more than 20 years of experience in public education and higher education. Time and time again, she has made a difference during her distinguished career in state test scores, student success, discipline, professional development, and motivational/transformational speaking, and conference presentations. A two-time graduate of the Louisiana State University of Shreveport where she earned a bachelor's and master's degree. Ms. Fergins also holds a master’s degree in History from Louisiana Tech University. She has certifications in History, Principal, Supervisor of Student Teaching, and Leadership Training.
Ms. Fergins has received recognition for her extraordinary career in education, her steadfast dedication to furthering equitable education, her tireless advocacy for education and children, and her passionate support of women and youth. She currently serves on two placements for Leadership Training for Junior League of Collin County. And, she is also a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated.
Dr. Markay L. Winston
Dr. Winston is a visionary, mission driven, and results oriented central office executive with twenty-nine years of public-school service, seventeen years at the cabinet and central office level. During her expansive career, she has a track record of successfully leading and managing strategic organizational initiatives. She has consistently been recognized at the local, state and national levels for her commitment to equity, social justice and academic excellence while ensuring that the needs of ALL students are prioritized.
Dr. Winston has served as Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum & Instruction for the Monroe County Community School Corporation since 2017, prior to her recent promotion to Deputy Superintendent. She began her career as an instructional school psychologist, and then served as Director of Student Services, Chief Officer for Diverse Learner Supports, Chief Academic Officer, and Assistant Superintendent.
Dr. Winston’s wide-ranging oversight of key departments and offices has included working with federal and state grant programs; overseeing the supervision and support to elementary, middle and high school principals; administrative responsibilities for general education, special education, early childhood education, English learner supports, homeless education, and gifted and talented supports and services.
Dr. Winston has established herself as a keen collaborator and routinely facilitates cross functional teams in an effort to ensure alignment and cohesiveness. Dr. Winston’s unparalleled commitment to excellence, equity, and opportunity resulted in distinctive shifts in district culture, language, focus and outcomes in each position she has held.
Mrs. Kaweeda G. Adams
City School District of Albany School Superintendent
As educators, it is our responsibility to believe in the possibilities of all our students, all the time. –Marva Collins
Mrs. Kaweeda G. Adams is the proud superintendent of the City School District of Albany. The City School District of Albany is comprised of 16 schools and approximately 7800 diverse students. She is a native of Shreveport, Louisiana, and a third-generation educator committed to providing diverse, equitable educational opportunities to meet the needs of all students, mentoring, and coaching instructional leaders, and building quality instructional delivery systems combined with systemic progress monitoring, job embedded professional development, and effective, value-added supervision. In the City School District of Albany, Superintendent Adams has been a leader in developing the first Equity in Education policy (Jan 2019) which serves as the foundational lens for restructuring instructional and operational best practices. Under Mrs. Adams’ leadership, the district is steadfast in implementing research-based educational practices to eliminate racial predictability of student success, disproportionality in behavioral consequences, inequities impacting marginalized and underserved populations and systemic barriers to opportunities and access. The District strives to provide a supportive, nurturing learning environment which values student voice, recognizes that a focus on individual student needs is necessary for equitable outcomes, and utilizes the strengths of Albany’s diversity to ensure equitable outcomes for all students.
Mrs. Adams earned her BA in English Education from the University of New Orleans, Louisiana at New Orleans, LA. In 1989, Mrs. Adams and her husband moved to Las Vegas, NV. She earned her Master of Education degree in Education Administration and Higher Education from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas at Las Vegas, NV.
In her previous role, Mrs. Adams served as an educator in the 5th largest school district (327,000 students), Clark County School District (Las Vegas, NV), for over 28 years. She has held the following positions as an English educator (7th -12th grade), Dean of Students (Fremont Middle School), Assistant Principal (Keller Middle School), Principal (Bob Miller Middle School), Human Resources Director, Director of the Instruction Unit and Facility Administrator, Assistant Chief Student Achievement Officer (Performance Zone 3 serving 21,725 students), and School Associate Superintendent (Performance Zone 1 serving 28,116 students). In addition, she served as an instructor at Regis University, Las Vegas, NV.
In the City School District of Albany, Superintendent Adams is committed to working alongside all stakeholders to create a caring learning environment, which engages every learner in a robust educational program designed to provide the knowledge and skills necessary for success. Mrs. Adams is committed to implementing the best research-based instructional practices, which incorporate high cognitive demand, student engagement and real-world connections to promote equitable access and opportunities for students and families.
Kim Klett
Ms. Klett has taughtt at Dobson High School in Mesa, AZ since 1991 in the English Department. She received her master's degree in English from Arizona State University. In addition to teaching, she is a Museum Teacher Fellow with the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, a teacher trainer for Echoes and Reflections, and a Carl Wilkens Fellow. She currently teaches Holocaust Literature and AP English Literature and Composition and sponsors Dobson's chapters of ADL's A World of Difference, No Place for Hate, Native American Club, and STAND (Students Taking Action Now Darfur).
Livia Chan
Livia Chan is a Head Teacher, author, blogger, and speaker deeply passionate about community, leading with heart and positivity, seeing things as gifts, and daily lifelong learning. She believes in the power of connections and thoroughly enjoys building relationships. Livia lives by the belief that it is through every ATOMIC interaction that we have the opportunity to intentionally uplift others through our love, kindness, and gratitude. We can brighten their day by making an impact on their lives and an imprint on their hearts. When every single interaction is gifted through our loving hearts, we help all feel seen, valued, heard, and appreciated.
For over 23 years, Livia continues to experience the pure joy of teaching K-5 in Vancouver, Canada, where she also earned her Master’s degree in Curriculum & Instruction at the University of British Columbia. Along with being a classroom teacher, she is honored to be a member of the Teach Better Team as the Digital Content Coordinator. Previously, Livia served on the Burnaby District Staff Development Team in Learning Technologies supporting K-12 educators and currently serves on her District’s Mentorship Committee and Building Your Leadership Capacity Committee. Her motto is “Working together to better ourselves, each other, and the world around us.”
She would love to connect with you on Twitter and other popular social media platforms @LiviaChanL or at livchan.com.
Dr. Danielle Stewart
Dr. Steward president of iChange Collaborative, has conducted hundreds of conversations with thousands of students, parents, and educators about the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion best practices in education. She consults with schools, coaches leaders, conducts professional development workshops, and facilitates iChange’s long- standing Educators of Color Affinity Group. She is the co-author of Facilitating Conversations about Race in the Classroom (Routledge, 2022).
She is a dynamic presenter who brings passion and purpose for community engagement and education advocacy into every conversation she leads. She founded The Community Empowerment Foundation, College Prep and Connect Clinic, and In School Spirit. Through collaborative partnerships, she designs programs that ignite the school spirit and positive academic experiences of students of color.
Monique Harris
Ms. Harris is Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), holds a Bachelor of Art’s degree in Social Work, focusing on the Non-Profit Sector and a Master’s Degree in Social Work. She also holds several certifications for Youth Agency Administration, Model Approaches to Partnership and Parenting, Parent Resources for Information Development and Education, Certified in Complex Trauma Treatment I&II, and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). She has worked in multiple facets providing services to underserved and disadvantaged populations for over 20 years.
This work includes founding and serving as the Founder and the Executive Director of Southern Nevada Children First (SNCF), a nonprofit organization where she helped homeless, pregnant, parenting youth, and young adults for over 10 years. She has also engaged in private practice providing mental health services and clinical supervision to fellow interns for over 5 years.
Additionally, Monique’s experience encompasses working closely within the children and family services arena, where she has acted as a Foster Parent, Child and Family Advocate, and Community Liaison. She has also provided therapy for individuals, couples, groups, and families. Throughout her career, she has provided crisis assessments and interventions, transitional and permanent supportive housing, program development, grant writing & management, wraparound services, case management, community outreach, and mentoring.
In 2018, Monique started The Therapeutic Solution (TTS) Counseling & Training firm to help outpatient clinics open their doors to provide long-term quality mental health services to the community. Monique noticed a common thread throughout her career while working with the community in all populations, TRAUMA! She has recently developed and launched one of the only Behavior Health Intervention Trauma Centers in Nevada; The Family Trauma Treatment Center! There she and her staff are all trauma certified and provide trauma-informed care while administering programs and services, all relating to traumatic experiences. For more details, go to www.tts-nv.com.
Monique is motivated by her faith and belief that the work she does is what God intended for her to do with her life. With her education and God-given talents, she has been able to help a countless number of children and families, homeless individuals, pregnant, and parenting youth enhance their lives.
at various conferences, and at the United Nations.
William A. Smith
Dr. Smith is a full professor in the Department of Education, Culture & Society at the University of Utah. He also holds a joint appointment as a full professor in the Ethnic Studies Program (African American Studies division). He currently serves as the Chief Executive Administrator for Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) at the Huntsman Mental Health Institute and the Department of Psychiatry, in the School of Medicine. Dr. Smith has served as the Associate Dean for Diversity, Access, & Equity in the College of Education (2007-2014) and a Special Assistant to the President as the NCAA Faculty Athletics Representative (2007-2013) at the University of Utah.
Dr. Smith is the co-editor (with Philip Altbach & Kofi Lomotey) of the book, The Racial Crisis in American Higher Education: The Continuing Challenges for the 21st Century (2002). The 3rd revised edition of The Racial Crisis in American Higher Education is scheduled for publication in 2023 with all-new chapters. In 2018, he received the College of Education’s Faculty Service Award for Outstanding Research & Scholarship. In 2020, Dr. Smith was awarded the Spencer Foundation’s Mentor Award and the University of Utah’s Distinguished Graduate & Postdoctoral Scholar Mentor Award.
In 2021, Dr. Smith was again awarded one of the University of Utah’s highest honors with the Distinguished Professor Award for Scholarly Research and the Black Faculty & Staff’s highest award, the James McCune Smith Award of Veneration. In addition, in 2011, the 12th District of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. awarded him its Omega Man of the Year. In 2021, they awarded him again its Founders Lifetime Achievement Award. Most recently, Living Color Utah honored Dr. Smith with its award in Education for people who have made it their mission to impact the areas of diversity. Dr. Smith’s research focuses on his theoretical and scholarly contributions to Racial Battle Fatigue (a concept he coined in 2003): the cumulative emotional, psychological, physiological, and behavioral effects of racial micro-level and macro-level aggressions (microaggressions and macroaggressions) on racialized Targets of White Supremacy. He summarizes this definition by saying it is a systemic racism-related repetitive stress injury.
Dr. Smith’s work has appeared in such prestigious journals as The International Journal of Qualitative Studies in Education, Journal of Negro Education, Harvard Educational Review, Educational Administration Quarterly, American Educational Research Journal, Race Ethnicity and Education, Journal of Minority Achievement, Creativity, and Leadership, Spectrum: The Journal of Black Males, and American Behavioral Scientist, to name a few. In addition, Dr. Smith is an internationally known scholar who is often sought out for keynote presentations and interviews. In the past two years alone, he has provided almost 100 keynote lectures, presentations, and discussions from South Africa to Australia and Fortune 500 companies in the US. Among his most recent influential presentations have been to the Utah Supreme Court Justices, the Chicago Center for Psychoanalysis & Psychotherapy, Intel Corp., and some of the US’s leading Colleges of Medicine (e.g., Cornell Weil Medical, University of Utah Medical, and the University of California-Riverside Medical). Additionally, he is one of the University of Utah’s most highly cited scholars (top 10 percent according to Google Scholar).
Dr. Smith received his undergraduate and master’s degrees from Eastern Illinois University (BA in psychology and MS in counseling psychology). His Ph.D. is from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (educational policy studies, sociology/social psychology of higher education).
Minerva Pardo, Family Engagement Coordinator, West Valley School District, Wa. Originally from Mexico City, Pardo has two undergraduate degrees – one in Bilingual Education and another in Psychology. She also has a Master’s Degree in Education. She has been a leader in the Yakima Valley to organize family engagement in partnership with the Flamboyán Foundation’s National Fellowship program. Ms. Pardo is also a national trainer for the Strengthening Families Five Protective Factors Framework and has worked with the Children’s Trust Fund Alliance to translate framework materials into Spanish. This framework has changed the way she works with families. She has presented at the local, state, and national levels to a variety of audiences including superintendents, school staff, health providers, families, and teenagers.
Dr. Beverly G. Mathis, who is Vice President of Early Learning, Literacy and Family Engagement, joined The Public Education Foundation in 2011.
In 1976, Beverly relocated to Las Vegas from Tennessee, where she was an elementary school teacher for two years. Upon her arrival to Nevada, she taught 17 years in the classroom, three years as assistant principal and, from 1995 to 2011, served as the principal at Kermit Roosevelt Booker Sr. Elementary School, a post she held for 16 years until her retirement.
Among many recognitions of her commitment to excellence, Beverly received The Public Education Foundation’s Lifetime Education Achievement Award in 2015, was selected in 2010 as School Administrator of the Year by the Nevada Association of School Boards, was a recipient of the 2000 Milken Family Foundation Education Award, and has been inducted into CCSD’s Excellence in Education Hall of Fame.
In 2015, Governor Brian Sandoval appointed Beverly to Nevada’s Spending and Government Efficiency Commission for K-12 public education.
Beverly obtained her bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and a master’s degree in Administration and Supervision from the University of Tennessee, Martin, and she obtained her doctorate in Educational Leadership from Nova Southeastern University.
Dr. Vincent Richardson
Dr. Vincent Richardson, is an educator who has spent much of his career teaching in and serving the underprivileged community in Clark County, Nevada. Prior to being an educator, Dr. Richardson taught in American Schools throughout Germany as a Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) Military Police Officer.
During Dr. Richardson’s tenure as a Clark County School District educator, he has taught Kindergarten through 6th grade English Language Arts (ELA) teacher, Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) teacher, and Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) teacher. He has sat on various school committees, such as school leadership team member, School Organization Team (SOT) chair, Student Intervention Team (SIT) member, and Wellness Committee chair. Currently, Dr. Richardson serves as an administrative coordinator in the Equity and Diversity Education Department in the Clark County School District and he is an adjunct Education Psychology Professor at the College of Southern Nevada and he is an adjunct professor at Southern Utah University’s Family and Engagement graduate course. Dr. Richardson also sits on several community boards that influence students’ welfare and impact community engagement. Dr. Vincent Richardson is committed to assisting students to meet the demands of the 21st century by ensuring that they are healthy, safe, engaged, supported, and challenged.
Jennifer Moss
Ms. Moss is a passionate educator with twenty years of experience as an educator in Clark County School District. She currently serves as the Nevada Manager of Statewide and Strategic Partnerships with Discovery Education. Jennifer takes great pride in delivering timely and relevant professional learning, supporting teachers with innovative instructional design, and providing educators with tools and resources that support students in reaching their personal and academic goals.
Dr. Janice E. Jackson
Janice Jackson is an independent education consultant with a focus on leadership and organizational change in public schools and districts, antiracist strategies, teaching and learning ,and teachers’ and principals’ professional identity. Prior to her current role she was a Senior Associate with the National Equity Project. She was the Executive Director of the Stanford Center for Opportunity Policy in Education. Dr. Jackson served as the Deputy Superintendent of the Boston Public Schools. She has worked in several academic institutions in a variety of capacities: including the Harvard Graduate School of Education as a lecturer, and a senior associate for the Executive Leadership Program which worked with district and state superintendents and their teams to help bring high quality teaching and learning to scale. Dr. Jackson was an Assistant Professor in the Lynch School of Education and an adjunct professor in the Leadership for Change Program in the Carroll School of Management at Boston College. During the first term of the Clinton Administration, she served as the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education for the U.S. Department of Education. Dr. Jackson has held several positions with the Milwaukee Public Schools in Wisconsin including Coordinator of School-based Management. Human Relations Coordinator and personnel analyst. She has also worked with the Archdiocese of Milwaukee as the Director of the Office for Black Catholics and an elementary school teacher.
Candace Wells
Presenter bios: Hometown: Las Vegas. College: UNLV “My Why JA”: I believe students are the future of our community, and JA provides them with the tools for success.
Dr. Zachary Scott Robbins is the Superintendent of the Marysville School District in Washington State and the author of Restorative Justice Tribunal and Ways to Derail Jim Crow Discipline in Schools. He has “turned around” schools in Boston and Las Vegas and is honored to be the 2022 Nevada High School Principal of the Year. Dr. Robbins was the 2021 City of Las Vegas African-American Trailblazer in Education Award Recipient, and in 2021 he was the President-Elect of the Secondary School Principals Association of Nevada. He publishes commentary and news articles for various media outlets and makes frequent radio and television appearances to discuss politics and education.
Dr. Robbins and his team established the first restorative justice program in Nevada. His school was a training hub in restorative practices for Nevada educators. He coached state leaders in restorative practices on behalf of the Nevada Department of Education and informed education policy development. Dr. Robbins continues training teachers and school leaders in restorative practices through online courses he has developed and through occasional consulting engagements.
Dr. Robbins was educated at Howard University in Washington, DC, and he earned his Ph.D. in Education Administration at the Boston College Lynch School of Education. You can find Dr. Robbins on Twitter at DrZacRobbins.
Articles by and about Robbins
- https://www.lasvegasnevada.gov/News/Blog/Detail/2021-african-american-trailblazer-service-awards-winners
- https://www.k12dive.com/news/learning-policy-institute-outlines-strategies-to-improve-equity-through-res/609205/
- https://districtadministration.com/3-school-district-ideas-ease-covid-staff-teacher-shortages/
- https://www.edutopia.org/article/leading-through-staffing-shortage
- https://www.edutopia.org/article/how-school-leaders-can-navigate-conflicting-demands-year
- https://www.edutopia.org/article/leadership-alleviates-stress
- https://www.edutopia.org/article/reaching-chronically-absent-students-during-distance-learning
- https://www.edutopia.org/article/how-make-teaching-online-feel-less-isolating
- https://www.worldedsummit.com/speakers/dr-zachary-scott-robbins/
Dr. Zachary Scott Robbins is the author of Restorative Justice Tribunal and Ways to Derail Jim Crow Discipline in Schools, published by Routledge Education Press. A high school principal in Las Vegas, Nevada, Dr. Robbins is passionate about mobilizing faculty, families, students, and community partners to create a school culture that supports and elevates student success. He has “turned around” three secondary schools in Boston and Las Vegas.
Dr. Robbins is the 2021 City of Las Vegas African-American Trailblazer in Education Award Recipient. He has served on the Governor’s School Safety Committee, currently serves on the state superintendent's Principals Advisory Committee, and he is the President-Elect of the Secondary School Principals Association of Nevada. He publishes commentary and news articles for various media outlets, and he makes frequent radio and television appearances to discuss politics and education.
Dr. Robbins and his team established the first restorative justice program in Nevada, successfully reducing suspension and expulsion rates. His school functions as a training hub in restorative practices for Nevada educators.
Dr. Robbins was educated at Howard University in Washington, DC, and he earned his Ph.D. in Education Administration at the Boston College Lynch School of Education. You can find Dr. Robbins on Twitter at DrZacRobbins and online promoting financial literacy and financial freedom in the Zrazey Social Network for Educators.
Dr. Milton J. Bennett founded and directs the Intercultural Development Research Institute located in Washington State, USA and Milan, Italy (http://www.idrinstitute.org). He was a tenured professor at Portland State University is now an adjunct professor at the University of Milano-Bicocca, where he teaches intercultural communication in the graduate program of Social Service Management and Political Policy. He has designed and conducted intercultural training for over 150 schools and universities, and he has served on the executive training faculty of eight major business schools and corporate universities. Milton is known for originating the Developmental Model of Intercultural Sensitivity that has been used to guide training and research in the field since 1986. His major textbook is the revised edition of Basic Concepts of Intercultural Communication: Paradigms, Principles, & Practices (Intercultural Press, 2013). He contributed four major entries to the Sage Encyclopedia Multicultural America (Carlos Cortés, Ed.), wrote the chapter “The Epistemology of Hate” in The Psychology of Hate Crimes as Domestic Terrorism (Ed Dunbar, Ed.), and contributed the chapter “The Value of Cultural Diversity: Rhetoric and Reality” to the Springer series Realizing the Full Potential of Cultural Diversity(David Sam, Ed.). Personally, Milton was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Micronesia and has lived in urban multicultural neighborhoods most of his life. He currently splits time between residences in the Seattle area and Milan, Italy with his Italian wife and bicultural son.
