Spring New England Conference for K-4th Grade Educators

Dr. Maggie is known across the country for her innovative strategies designed to improve classroom literacy. She is an early childhood specialist with over 25 years of teaching experience. Dr. Maggie has developed classroom instructional programs for school districts and private foundations. She is the author of a series of books and phonics readers, as well as a resource guide, Dr. Maggie's Phonics Readers: A New View.

Ellen, known for her motivating, interactive, and fun sessions, has served as a reading teacher and a special educator. She has set up and operated resource rooms, co-teaching programs, diagnostic centers, and after-school intervention programs. Her most recent book, MI Strategy Banks: 800+ Strategies for the Elementary Classroom, is an authoritative source for pre-referral strategies. Ellen currently serves as the coordinator of the Learning Strategies Academy at Daemen College, a research-based program serving students with special needs in after-school programs.

Judy is a National Board Certified teacher with over 25 years of successful classroom experience teaching second, third, and fourth grade students. Judy has presented at a variety of workshops and conferences in all areas of the curriculum and has been a mentor to teachers at every level. She is well known for her extensive knowledge, high energy, and wit.

Judy is nationally recognized and respected for her educational, participatory, and inspiring keynotes and workshops for teachers. She specializes in teaching teachers who work with early childhood and elementary aged children. Judy is a regular speaker at regional and state conferences throughout the U.S. She has produced quality educational books and recordings for families since 1981, including A Flower is an Educated Weed, and has won prestigious national awards and honors, including an iParenting Media Award and a Seal of Approval from the National Parenting Center.

Dan has ten years experience as a classroom teacher, seven years as a Technology Director, and five years working for the New Hampshire Department of Education. He is a member of the Association of Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD) faculty and has been recognized as an expert in improving instruction through the use of technology. Most recently, Dan was the director of the New Hampshire School Administrators Leading with Technology (NHSALT) program funded through a grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. He has been recognized as a Distinguished Speaker at the Christa McAuliffe Technology Conference and has presented at numerous national education conferences.

Maryann has authored and/or illustrated more than 45 children's books, many of which were inspired by her own childhood or by her two daughters. Her popular Mr. Tanen's Ties won both the Florida Reading Award and the Indiana Hoosier Book Award. And, her book, Bravery Soup, recently made it's debut as a play. Maryann frequently presents at schools and conferences. She bases her presentation on her most recent title Mr. Tanen's Ties, taking her audience on a tour of the book's development from concept to finished work, and sharing her storyboards, sketches and paintings.

Ginny is an educator, consultant, and author with over 18 years of teaching experience. She is the creator of The Phonics Dance, an innovative phonics program using chants and rhymes. And, as author of The Phonics Dance—Six Steps to Literacy in the Primary Grades, Ginny has created a phonics guide to apply across the curriculum. She is also a recipient of the Martha Holden Jennings Master Teacher award.

In her role as a teacher, administrator, literacy specialist, and education consultant, Lynne has dedicated her career to improving literacy. She has consulted with over 200 schools throughout her state and across the nation. Lynne has served as an adjunct faculty member of the Teachers' College at Purdue University. And, she is the author of Method Mania: Activities to Teach Comprehension Skills and Strategies and Method Mania: Activities to Teach Phonological Awareness Skills and Strategies.

Melissa is an author, a writing consultant, and a nationally known educational and motivational speaker for teachers, administrators, and students. She presents 100+ writing workshops for teachers each year. Her seminars, which are characterized by cutting-edge information and humorous stories, consistently receive the highest evaluations. A certified teacher with many years of classroom experience, Melissa has taught a variety of grades in elementary and middle school. She has written curriculum, magazine articles, plays, children's books, and educational books on teaching writing.

Jim has emerged as the nation's Spokesperson for School Success with a dedicated mission to stop school failure. An internationally-renowned educator and popular speaker, he offers practical instructional strategies to help all students learn. Jim is the author of many popular professional books, including the best selling, Differentiated Instruction: Different Strategies for Different Learners and Differentiating Textbooks and his latest release, Death of Common Sense in Our Schools And What YOU Can Do About It!

Maryann has over 30 years of experience as a PreK through college-level teacher. She combines her passion for music and her knowledge of brain research to create songs with an educational purpose. Maryann has recorded numerous CDs, several of which have won national awards. Currently, she teaches Music with Mar, performs in concert, and is a professor at the University of South Florida.

Jennifer is an experienced classroom teacher who has taught children from preschool through the eighth grade. She has also served as a curriculum coordinator, consultant, head of studies, and language arts specialist. Jennifer is a children's author who has published emergent reading books, picture books, and chapter books. Jennifer's book, Andy Shane and the Very Bossy Dolores Starbuckle was selected as a Chicago Public Library's Best Children's Book for 2006.

Lori is an experienced classroom teacher and K-12 language arts consultant. She has served on the Board of Directors of the International Reading Association and has written numerous teachers' guides. Lori is also the author of Early Literacy Instruction in Kindergarten, Guided Reading Basics, The Write Genre, and Marvelous Mini Lessons for Beginning Writers. A passionate presenter, she is well known for her research-based sessions full of teacher-tested and student-friendly strategies.

Jane and Heidi are a mother/daughter writing team. Jane, called "America's Hans Christian Andersen," has earned numerous awards for her writing. Best known for the critically acclaimed Owl Moon, winner of the 1988 Caldecott Medal, Jane has written more than 250 books for children, young adults, and adults. Jane's daughter, Heidi, has published 14 books since she began writing at age 28. Jane and Heidi have written a dozen books together, including poetry books, bedtime books, historical books, and even a cookbook. They are presently working together on a middle grade novel, several picture books, and a book about famous female felons called Bad Girls.

Stephanie is an enthusiastic educator who believes learning should be a joyful experience for all children. Her unique educational experiences and passion for music and movement allow her to share a wealth of practical, relevant, brain-based strategies designed to strengthen skills across the curriculum. Stephanie is sure to motivate you with her energetic style, engage you with interactive activities, and leave you with fresh new ideas you can use in your classroom right away.

Laureen is an experienced classroom teacher and best-selling author. She takes pride in offering teachers practical ideas, engaging activities, and simple management techniques designed to increase students' interest and independence as learners. Laureen is the author of Poems for Sight-Word Practice, Centers Made Simple, Sight Word Poetry, Poems for Word-Family Practice, and Poems for Math Practice.

Cheryl has been an educator for nearly 30 years as a classroom teacher, a Dept. of Ed. language arts consultant, and currently as a seminar presenter, trainer, and consultant in schools and districts around the US and Europe. She is co-author with Pat Cunningham and Dottie Hall of the bestselling Teacher's Guide to Four-Blocks and author of Modifying Four-Blocks for Upper Grades. She is also the author of numerous other professional books on literacy, including a writing mini-lesson series and her newest comprehension mini-lesson series, Just-Right Comprehension Lessons, for grades 1-6.

Judy is an internationally known speaker and trainer, as well as an experienced educator, author, and composer. She is founder and owner of Judy Stoehr Creative Insights. Judy is co-author of Integrating Curricula with Multiple Intelligences. She is the lead author of the elementary general music series Music Expressions™ and the project manager and editor of the Expressions Music Curriculum, published by Warner Bros. Publications. Judy currently serves on the Board of Trustees of Midland Lutheran College.

A highly-respected educator and mentor teacher, Peggy has been teaching for over 30 years. Her practical and balanced approach to strengthening literacy is grounded in real-world practices. Peggy's extensive experience working with diverse learning abilities is reflected in all her presentations. She is dedicated to helping teachers create an environment where all children can learn to read and write successfully.

Paula is an early childhood teacher with over 26 years of classroom experience. She also serves as an adjunct professor at Texas A&M University-Commerce. Paula specializes in child development, early childhood curriculum, and early childhood environment. A former teacher of the year, she has presented workshops for educators nationally as well as in the Dominican Republic.