Dr. James Lane is the chief executive officer of PDK International and Educators Rising. He most recently served as Acting Assistant Secretary and the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education at the U.S. Department of Education after serving as Senior Advisor to U.S. Secretary of Education, Miguel Cardona.

Susan M. Bearden, CETL is a strategic, growth-oriented education technology leader who approaches IT from an educator mindset. A former teacher and K12 IT leader, she is currently the CEO of Bearden Education Technology Consulting and is passionate about facilitating best practices in education technology in support of innovative teaching and learning.

Dr. Barber is currently the Deputy Superintendent of Fayette County Public Schools. Barber has more than 20 years of experience as an educator, having previously served as superintendent of Frankfort Independent Schools and more. In that position, Dr. Barber established highly qualified, cross-functional teams in order to streamline district operations and foster greater communication and connection between stakeholders.

Dr. Pedro Roman joined the Hyde Park Central School District as the Superintendent of Schools in July 2023. In his role as Superintendent, Dr. Roman is responsible for working with the Hyde Park Board of Trustees and school community to promote the district’s vision and mission, manage finances, personnel, and resources, and ensure students and staff have optimal teaching and learning conditions to empower them to strive for excellence and embrace the opportunities of our globally connected world.

Dr. Lisa Schleer brings over three decades of PK-12 administrative and special education expertise to her role as founder and CEO of LMS Educational Consulting. Her approach integrates data-driven decision-making with deep expertise in educational equity, as evidenced by her doctoral research on postsecondary access for Black and Hispanic low-income students.

Danelle Almaraz is an esteemed educational leader with an impressive track record over three decades. Throughout her distinguished career, Danelle’s unwavering commitment to student success and equity has consistently guided her efforts, making her a formidable advocate for the welfare of students, always prioritizing their best interests.

Dr. Vallerie Cave is the Superintendent of Allendale Country Schools. She is an experienced K-12 Turnaround Instructional Leader. Dr. Cave is highly skilled in transformation and school turnaround. She has a demonstrated history of working in the education management industry. Vallerie is skilled in Educational Consulting, Classroom Management, Educational Technology, Instructional Design, and Curriculum Development. Dr. Cave is a strong business development professional with a Doctor of Philosophy focused in Leadership and Curriculum from Walden University.

Paula Reed is the president and CEO of BizEducation Consulting, Inc. In the industry she is known as a “super connector” and innovative strategist for businesses, organizations and K12 administrators across the country. At BizEducation Consulting, she partners with companies to enhance sales and marketing initiatives and strategies, thought leadership development, designing and facilitating focus groups, advisory boards, events, and community ambassador programs.

Dr. Andraé Townsel is the Superintendent Calvert County Public Schools who demonstrates commitment to educational excellence. Dr. Townsel has led impressive academic gains, including contributing to Maryland’s meteoric rise in proficiency levels on the latest the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) from 40th to 20th in fourth grade reading nationally, driven by a district-wide commitment to the Science of Reading. 

Kai Frazier is an educator turned EdTech entrepreneur passionate about using technology to provide inclusive and accessible opportunities for underestimated communities. As the founder and CEO of Kai XR, she leads an innovative learning platform that empowers schools to transform education through immersive technologies and high-quality instructional materials (HQIM). Through virtual field trips, collaborative 3D makerspaces, and interactive assessments, Kai XR boosts classroom engagement, fosters deeper learning, and makes education relevant to the modern world.