EDUP Xcelerated Excellence

Our guest, Mohammed Elmeski, PhD, is a university professor, senior education advisor, researcher, and international development professional with nearly three decades of experience spanning education policy, higher education, school improvement, and system reform. His career has bridged academia, government, research, and international development, with leadership and advisory roles in Morocco, the United States, Africa, the Middle East, and other international contexts.

He has served as a university faculty member, senior researcher,program director, Chief of Party of a USAID-funded higher education partnership, and senior advisor to the Head of Government of Morocco. His research and professional interests include educational leadership, teacher development, social and emotional learning, lifelong learning, belonging, andthe implementation of large-scale education reform. Having worked across diverse educational and development contexts, his work is particularly concerned with how research, policy, and practice can come together to expand educational opportunity, strengthen belonging and equity, and help education systems respond to social change.

Connections:

University of Minnesota

Mohammed V University

Resources:

• African Voices Dialogue
• Educational Policy, Reforms, and Change in the Middle East and North Africa (Book)
• Tibu Africa
• International Congress of School Effectiveness and Improvement (ICSEI)

Greeting:  Dr. Larry J. Walker

#EDUPXE #EDUCATIONALEXCELLENCE #EDUCATIONALEQUITY#XEListeningTour

Our guest, Eric Scheninger, is founder and CEO of Aspire Change EDU. He works with schools worldwide, helping educators meet and exceed their potential to improve learner outcomes. Aspire Change EDU, a collaborative consultancy, provides personalized support to educational systems. Prior, Eric was a teacher and the award-winning Principal at New Milford High School. Under his leadership, his school became a globally recognized model for innovative practices. Eric oversaw the successful implementation of several sustainable change initiatives that radically transformed the learning culture at his school while increasing achievement.

His work focuses on innovative and practical ways educators can transform teaching, learning, and leadership.  Through his work with thousands of schools, Eric has emerged as an innovative leader, best-selling author, and sought-after speaker.  His focus is on using research, evidence-based practices, and artificial intelligence (AI) to empower learners and educators.

Sponsor NAESP.  National School Leaders Conference–Powered by NAESP is designed for Pre-K–12 principals and assistant principals, featuring high-impact learning tracks, networking, and the newly added "Camp Lead-A-Lot" retreat. Held July 13-15, 2026, Orlando, FL, learn more and register at naespconferenence.org.

Connections:

East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania

Resources:

Ericsheninger.com

Greeting:  Dr. Larry J. Walker

#EDUPXE #EDUCATIONALEXCELLENCE #EDUCATIONALEQUITY #XEListeningTour

Our guest, Dr. Scott McLeod, J.D., is a Professor of Educational Leadership. He is widely recognized as one of the nation’s leading experts on P-12 school leadership, deeper learning, technology, and innovation. He is on a mission to make students’ day-to-day learning less boring and more meaningful and relevant. Scott is the Founding Director of the UCEA Center for the Advanced Study of Technology Leadership in Education (CASTLE), the only university center in the U.S. dedicated to the technology needs of school administrators, and is the co-creator of both the wildly popular video series, Did You Know? (Shift Happens), and the 4 Shifts Protocol for lesson and unitredesign.

Scott has worked with hundreds of schools, districts, universities, and other organizations and has received numerous awards, including the 2016 global Award for Outstanding Leadership from the International Society forTechnology in Education (ISTE). Scott blogs about leadership and innovation at Dangerously Irrelevant and is a frequent keynote speaker and workshop facilitator at state, national, and international conferences. Scott also hosts three occasional podcasts, LeaderTalk, Redesigning for Deeper Learning, andCASTLE Conversations.

Scott currently serves as a Distinguished Educator Fellow for PDK International, a Fellow for the NAESP Center for Innovative Leadership, and an ISTE+ASCD Community Leader. He also recently served as a Senior Fellow for Getting Smart. Scott has written or edited 4 books and 170 articles and other publications, and is one of the most visible education professors in the United States. In 2025, he received the 2025 Excellence in Teaching Award for the entire University of Colorado Denver campus.

Your Host: ⁠⁠Jacob Easley II, PhD, PMP⁠⁠

Sponsor NAESP.  National School Leaders Conference–Powered by NAESP is designed for Pre-K–12 principals and assistant principals, featuring high-impact learning tracks, networking, and the newly added "Camp Lead-A-Lot" retreat. Held July 13-15, 2026, Orlando, FL, learn more and register at naespconferenence.org.

Resources:

• University Council for Educational Administration
• LeaderTalk (Podcast) https://leadertalk.org/
•  Redesigning for Deeper Learning (Podcast) https://redesigningfordeeperlearning.org/
• CASTLE Conversations (Podcast) https://castleconversations.transistor.fm/
• Dr. Marvin Lynn—Leading Educator Preparation andJustice through Collaboration and Engagement (EDUP Xcelerated Excellence Episode) https://www.edupxe.com/dr-marvin-lynn-leading-educator-preparation-and-justice-through-collaboration-engagement/

Greeting:  Michelle Maslowski

#EDUPXE #EDUCATIONALEXCELLENCE #EDUCATIONALEQUITY #DeepLearning #XEListeningTour

Our guest, Dr. Jean-Philippe Marelli, is a scientist and beekeeper. Along with Psychologist Carlos André Santana, he founded Arimubee, with a mission to demonstrate thatexceptional food can be produced while regenerating forests, protecting native bees, and creating positive impact on society.

Arimubee is a Brazilian regenerative food company producing premium stingless bee honey and bee-derived products from the Atlantic Forest of Bahia. Working within a protected environmental area, Arimubee combines traditional ecologicalknowledge, scientific research, and agroforestry practices to protect biodiversity and restore native ecosystems.

Focused on the endangered Uruçu-Amarela bee (Melipona mondury), the company manages over 100 colonies through sustainable meliponiculture, creating unique products whilesupporting pollinator conservation.

Your Host: ⁠⁠Jacob Easley II, PhD, PMP⁠⁠

Resources:

https://www.arimubee.com

#EDUPXE #EDUCATIONALEXCELLENCE #EDUCATIONALEQUITY #STEM#XEListeningTour #Stinglessbee

Our guest, Reyan Warren, is a doctoral student in the Social Justice in Education program at the University of San Diego and the current President of the AACTE Holmes Scholars Program. A proud graduate of Victor Valley College, she brings a unique perspective shaped by her journey from community college to doctoral study. Her research centers on resilience theory, with a specific focus on how Black girls and women navigate and resist deficit labels in educational spaces. She is pioneering the adaptation of Critical Race Theory to explore resilience and academic excellence among deficit-labeled Black students. As a high school educator and coach, Reyan blends scholarship with practice to foster equity and community empowerment. Her work uplifts the voices of marginalized students, drawing from her lived experiences of multiple communities and a deep commitment to justice. She is passionate about transforming education systems through culturally sustaining, inclusive, and anti-racist approaches.

Yiwei Guo is a Ph.D. student in Leadership Studies at the University of San Diego. Her research focuses on multilingual education, cultural identity, literacy, and leadership, with a particular emphasis on supporting immigrant and multilingual children between the ages of four and eight. Drawing from both professional and personal experiences, she is passionate about helping children maintain their home languages and cultural identities while thriving in mainstream educational settings.

Yiwei serves as the 2026–2027 Historian on the AACTE Holmes Scholars Program National Council, where she documents and amplifies the stories and achievements of Holmes Scholars across the United States. Her work also explores how multilingual storytelling, culturally sustaining practices, and educational leadership can foster belonging, strengthen communities, and advance educational equity.

Lorena Valer is a doctoral candidate in Educational Leadership at William Paterson University, second-grade teacher, and Holmes Scholar Council member committed to advancing educational equity and culturally responsive leadership. With experience in elementary education and teacher leadership, she is passionate about creating inclusive learning environments where both students and educators can thrive.

Her research focuses on the retention of Black and Latiné teachers in New Jersey public schools, examining how culturally responsive school leadership influences teacher experiences and long-term commitment to the profession. Through her scholarship, Lorena seeks to amplify the voices of educators and contribute practical insights that support a more diverse and sustainable teacher workforce.

As a Holmes Scholar, Lorena is dedicated to bridging research and practice through collaboration, advocacy, and professional service. She is committed to preparing future educational leaders who foster belonging, equity, and excellence in schools and communities.

Your Host: ⁠⁠Jacob Easley II, PhD, PMP⁠⁠

Resources:

American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (AACTE)

AACTE Holmes Scholars

National Association of Holmes Scholars Alumni (NAHSA)

Greeting:  Jacqueline Rodriguez

#EDUPXE #EDUCATIONALEXCELLENCE #EDUCATIONALEQUITY #STEM#XEListeningTour

Our guest, Todd Nesloney, is the Director of Culture and Strategic Leadership for the Texas Elementary Principals and Supervisors Association (TEPSA). He has also served as an award-winning principal of a PreK-5th Grade campus of over 775 students in a rural town inTexas. He has been recognized by the White House, John C Maxwell, the Center for Digital Education, National School Board Association, the BAMMYS, and more for his work in education and with children. Todd has written six books, including the runaway smash Kids Deserve It and his newest book Building Authenticity: A Blueprint for the Leader Inside You. He is passionate about doing whatever it takes for our students and teachers and helping others tell their story.

Your Host: ⁠⁠Jacob Easley II, PhD, PMP⁠⁠

Sponsor NAESP.  National School Leaders Conference–Powered by NAESP is designed for Pre-K–12 principals and assistant principals, featuring high-impact learning tracks, networking, and the newly added "Camp Lead-A-Lot" retreat. Held July 13-15, 2026, Orlando, FL, learn more and register at naespconferenence.org.

Resources:

Kids Deserve It

Building Authenticity: A Blueprint for the Leader Inside You

Greeting:  Michelle Maslowski

#EDUPXE #EDUCATIONALEXCELLENCE #EDUCATIONALEQUITY#XEListeningTour

Our guest, Dr. T.J. Vari, is the Senior Director of Product Strategy at MaiaLearning with a focus on postsecondary planning for students worldwide. Dr. Vari is a former deputy superintendent, middle school assistant principal and principal, and high school English teacher. Dr. Vari is an award-winning educator, recognized speaker, and the co-founder of TheSchoolHouse302, a leadership development company with an international footprint. He is the co-author of 7 books oneducational leadership, which are the basis for his speaking engagements, coaching, and leadership development institutes.

Kim Gameroz, M.Ed., is a change agent and founder of Teaching Inside Out, revolutionizing classrooms through a systematic approach to teaching social and emotional skills. With over 15 years of experience coaching, training, and mentoring educators, students, and families globally, Kim has spoken at numerous conferences, consults for school districts, serves on SEL panels, and contributes to various publications and podcasts. Through Teaching Inside Out, as well as her second company, SELebrate Good Times, she has created a supportive community for heart-centered educators nationwide where she is committed to making teachers feel seen, valued, and SELebrated at her events and teacher retreats. Kim's award-winning book, "Becoming The Bison," is reshaping the future of social-emotional learning.

Your Host: Jacob Easley II, PhD, PMP⁠⁠

Sponsor NAESP.  National School Leaders Conference–Powered by NAESP is designed for Pre-K–12 principals andassistant principals, featuring high-impact learning tracks, networking, and the newly added "Camp Lead-A-Lot" retreat. Held July 13-15, 2026, Orlando, FL, learn more and register at naespconferenence.org.

Resources:

KimGameroz.com

Teaching Inside Out https://www.teachinginsideout.com/

SELebrate Good Times https://www.selebrategoodtimes.com/about-selebrate-good-times

Vibe EDU https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/vibe-edu-podcast/id1825476379

Greeting:  Michelle Maslowski

#EDUPXE #EDUCATIONALEXCELLENCE #EDUCATIONALEQUITY #NAESP #XEListeningTour

Our guest, Dr. André O. Hudson, is Dean of the College of Science at the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), a role he has held since 2023. He previously served as Head of the Thomas H. Gosnell School of Life Sciences from 2017 to 2022. Originally from Jamaica, he emigrated to the United States at age 14 and earned his B.S. in Biology from Virginia Union University in 2000. He received his Ph.D. in Plant Biology and Pathology from Rutgers University in 2006, where his research focused on amino acid metabolism and biochemistry. Followinga postdoctoral fellowship at Rutgers, he joined the RIT faculty in 2008.

Dr. Hudson’s research program lies at the intersection of biochemistry and microbiology, with a focus on amino acidmetabolism, enzyme structure and function, plant-associated bacteria, and antibiotic resistance. His work advances understanding microbial physiology and has important implications for public health.

Over the course of his career, Dr. Hudson has secured more than $6 million in external funding from federal agencies, industry, and foundations. He has authored over 100 peer-reviewed publications and six book chapters and has mentored more than 100 undergraduate and graduate students, in addition to 30 high school students. His contributions to science and mentorship have been widely recognized, including his election as a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) in 2023.

In addition to his academic and research leadership, Dr. Hudson is actively engaged in community and professional service. He currently serves on the Board of Trustees of the Rochester Museum & Science Center (RMSC) and participates in several other scientific, educational, and community-focused organizations.

Associations

Keisha Hudson; Dr. Anthony Madu; Alpha Phi Alpha

Your Host: ⁠⁠Jacob Easley II, PhD, PMP⁠⁠

Sponsor NAESP.  National School Leaders Conference–Powered by NAESP is designed for Pre-K–12 principals and assistant principals, featuring high-impact learning tracks, networking, and the newly added "Camp Lead-A-Lot" retreat. Held July 13-15, 2026, Orlando, FL, learn more and register at naespconferenence.org.

Resources:

EDUP The Experience

DEIA and meritocracy: Partners in scientific process

NIH Marc

Greeting:  Michelle Maslowski

#EDUPXE #EDUCATIONALEXCELLENCE #EDUCATIONALEQUITY #STEM #XEListeningTour

Our guest, Dr. Andy Jacks, is an award-winning principal, speaker, author, and leadership coach dedicated tohelping educators build thriving school communities full of energy, growth, and fun. A former Virginia Principal of the Year and National Distinguished Principal, he shares practical, research-based strategies on leadership, school improvement, student engagement, and creating lasting positive change. He is the author of Discipline Win and speaks nationally to inspire leaders to make the everyday difference. Locally, he is a disability-advocate, serving as the President of the Autism Society of Northern Virginia.

Associations

Virginia Tech, Gracie Branch, Prince Williams County Public Schools, Ellis Elementary School, VirginiaDepartment of Education

Your Host: ⁠⁠Jacob Easley II, PhD,PMP⁠⁠

Sponsor NAESP.  National School Leaders Conference–Powered by NAESP is designed for Pre-K–12 principals and assistant principals, featuring high-impact learning tracks, networking, and the newly added "Camp Lead-A-Lot" retreat. Held July 13-15, 2026, Orlando, FL, learn more and register at naespconferenence.org.

Resources:

EDUP The Experience

Discipline Win  Author, Dr. Andrew Jacks

Greeting:  Dr. Jacqueline Rodriguez, NCLD

#EDUPXE #EDUCATIONALEXCELLENCE #EDUCATIONALEQUITY #Principals #POTY #XEListeningTour

Our guests, Dr. E. M. Nuñez and Malik Harouna, are Assistant Director for Scholar Support & Educational Access at San FrancisBay University (SFBU) (SFBU Scholars Program) and Chief Technical Officer (CTO) for Aline, respectively.

Dr. Nuñez (they/them) is a higher education and nonprofit leader with over 15 years of experience advancing equity-driven programs for first-generation, low-income, and historicallyunderrepresented students. With a doctorate in Educational Leadership from California State University Long Beach, their work centers on decolonizing educational practices and building culturally relevant pathways to college access and student success. Their mission is to motivate others through collaboration and authenticity to build communities grounded in humility and reciprocity, where people, regardless of background or zip code, feel empowered to live fully and overcome systemic barriers. Dr. Nuñez has led cross-functional teams, managed large-scale programs and budgets, and directed initiatives in college access,undergraduate research, and student affairs at institutions and nonprofits across the country. They bring a holistic, student-centered, and justice-focused lens to every space they serve.

Malik Harouna is a Startup Scholar at San Francisco Bay University and Co-founder and CTO of ALINE a professional networking app that finds you the hidden connections in your direct proximity 24/7.

Your Host: ⁠⁠Jacob Easley II, PhD, PMP⁠⁠

Sponsor NAESP.  National School Leaders Conference–Powered by NAESP is designed for Pre-K–12 principals and assistant principals, featuring high-impact learning tracks, networking, andthe newly added "Camp Lead-A-Lot" retreat. Held July 13-15,2026, Orlando, FL, learn more and register at naespconferenence.org.

Resources:

• EDUP The Experience
• San Francisco Bay University Start Up Scholars
• Aline

Greeting:  Dr. Jacqueline Rodriguez

Research Assistant: Emma Worthington

#EDUPXE #EDUCATIONALEXCELLENCE #EDUCATIONALEQUITY #Startup #XEListeningTour