Our featured speakers are award-winning school leaders, educators, and expert consultants who have shaped policies, led schools, and transformed classrooms. From superintendents to principals and directors, these thought leaders bring real-world experience and proven strategies to the education landscape. Join us at The First Six Weeks of School Conference to hear these dynamic presenters share valuable insights, practical tools, and fresh inspiration to drive meaningful change in your school community.
Dr. Rainey L. Briggs is an experienced school and district leader and a passionate advocate for educational equity. Recognized as one of Wisconsin's 48 Most Influential Black Leaders in 2021, Dr. Briggs has served in various educational roles prior to becoming a superintendent, including teacher, principal, and Director of Elementary Education. His journey—from growing up in challenging circumstances to earning a doctorate from Edgewood College, where his research focused on factors promoting or impeding the success of students—shaped his passion for educational equity and student advocacy. He has built his career on the foundation of "Every kid, every day, whatever it takes."
Dr. Sheldon Berman is currently AASA’s Lead Superintendent for SEL after serving across 28 school years as a superintendent in four districts. In each district, he implemented systemic SEL programs. Dr. Berman has authored numerous articles and books on SEL topics, including Implementing Social-Emotional Learning: Insights from Districts’ Successes and Setbacks. He was the primary author of the National Commission on Social, Emotional and Academic Development’s SEL practice report.
Stephanie Byrd is the principal of Payne Elementary School in Washington, D.C., a 2024 National Blue Ribbon School. She believes the growth in student achievement she has seen since she started there in 2016 can be attributed to her introduction of the Responsive Classroom approach. A Howard University graduate, she holds a master’s degree in special education curriculum and design from George Washington University and an executive master’s in leadership from Georgetown University. In 2021, she founded The Sylvia Ruth Foundation to build classroom libraries in first-grade classrooms, seed college savings plans, and offer scholarships to college students.
Dr. Nyah Hamlett has served as superintendent of Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools since January 2021, a district serving approximately 12,000 students in 11 elementary schools, four middle schools, three high schools, an alternative school, and a school for young people at UNC Hospital. Previously, she was chief of staff for Loudoun County Public Schools, supporting strategic initiatives and equity efforts for 84,000 students. She has also been the assistant superintendent for instructional support for Henrico County Public Schools. A champion for culturally responsive pedagogy, school-based mental health, and disrupting the school-to-prison pipeline, she believes in fostering high-quality, equitable, and affirming learning experiences for all students.
Dr. Tynia Marie Hopkins is a school counselor, administrator, and founder of Dr. Sunshyne’s Coaching and Consultation Services. With over twenty-one years of international experience, she specializes in collaborating with educators and students of all ages to create environments that nurture emotional well-being and academic success. As an educator and consultant, she has consistently championed social-emotional learning (SEL), particularly for students with special needs. Dr. Hopkins holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology, a master’s in counseling psychology, and a doctorate in organizational leadership, with a focus on emotional intelligence and staff morale.
Justin Kie-Burdick is an educator at Williams Elementary in Pittsfield, Massachusetts—a National Blue Ribbon School—where he is also co-facilitator of the Positive Behavioral Intervention and Supports (PBIS) team and a member of the instructional leadership team. He is a member of his district’s diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) task force, where he works to create an equitable learning environment for all students, and a Co-Facilitator of Pittsfield's new educator orientation and induction program. As a fifth-grade teacher, Mr. Kie-Burdick has created and facilitated an after-school antiracist book club and developed an antiracist social studies curriculum.
Ms. Nicole F. Melendez is the principal of Barkley Elementary in Fort Campbell, Kentucky. In her decades in education, she has held diverse roles, including assistant principal, instructional support coach, pre-K and kindergarten teacher, and elementary school teacher. She was named Teacher of the Year in 2007 and joined the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) in 2011. She holds a master’s degree in educational leadership and an education specialist degree, and she is pursuing a doctorate at Liberty University. She is also the founder and CEO of TeachAndTutorToo LLC, which provides academic support services to learners of all ages and their families.
Dr. Angela Stephens has thirty-five years of experience working in Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) schools. In 2022, she was selected as DoDEA Principal of the Year and recognized by the The National Association of Elementary School Principals as a member of the 2022 class of National Distinguished Principals. Additionally, Dr. Stephens was named Teacher of the Year in 2009 and Principal of the Year for the South Carolina Fort Stewart District in 2019. She currently serves as the principal of Bolden Elementary Middle School in Beaufort, South Carolina, where she has also taught various subjects and grade levels.
Missy Testerman is the 2024 National Teacher of the Year. She currently works as an ESL teacher and program director at Rogersville City School in Tennessee, where she also coordinates the system’s summer programs and serves on the district leadership team as a teacher mentor. Mrs. Testerman is using her National Teacher of the Year platform to empower educators to advocate for students and fellow educators by using their voices and sharing their experiences with those outside of the classroom. She has a degree from East Tennessee State University and an ESL licensure from Freed-Hardeman University so she can advocate for immigrant students in rural Tennessee.
Dr. Nico Victorino is the principal of PS 150 in New York City, where his leadership has played a pivotal role in the school’s academic growth. A passionate advocate for creating nurturing and inclusive learning environments, Dr. Victorino has integrated a comprehensive social-emotional learning (SEL) program into the school's culture that includes mindfulness practices, conflict resolution workshops, and character-building exercises. During his fifteen year career in education Dr. Victorino has been awarded the Terrel H. Bell Award for Outstanding School Leadership and, most recently, led PS 150 to National Blue Ribbon School status.
Nicole Virgilio has spent twelve years teaching in Pittsfield Public Schools, including ten years at Williams Elementary, a National Blue Ribbon School. At Williams, she is a co-facilitator of the Positive Behavioral Intervention and Supports (PBIS) team and an active member of the instructional leadership team. She has also served on her district’s literacy team, where she has contributed her expertise to developing literacy initiatives that meet the needs of diverse learners. She holds a bachelor’s in elementary education from Westfield State University, a master’s in education from Lesley University, and certifications in literacy and special education.
Don’t miss your chance to participate in transformative education sessions, hear from inspiring teachers and school leaders, and network with colleagues nationwide.
