Voices for Excellence

Eric Sheninger is the founder and CEO of Aspire Change EDU, a collaborative consultancy designed to provide personalized support to all educational systems. 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 main focus is using research and evidence-based practices to empower learners and educators.

Lori Gonzalez is the Superintendent of Lamont Elementary School District. Lori's leadership style prioritizes breaking barriers, valuing diversity, addressing inequities, fostering collaboration, and creating an inclusive educational environment. She is committed to ensuring all learners have access to a diverse range of educational opportunities and experiences, with a focus on equity, student achievement, district-wide improvement, and community engagement. Cultural proficiency and responsiveness are integral aspects of her leadership, promoting student success and employee satisfaction.

Raymond J. McNulty is the President of the Successful Practices Network (SPN). Ray is a presenter at the state, national, and international levels on the need for school systems to accept the challenges that lie ahead. He is committed to raising performance standards for teachers and students and building solid connections between schools and their communities. Ray believes strongly that education systems cannot wait for the children and challenges to arrive at school; instead, schools must reach out and help forge solutions.

Lj Henderson is the owner and founder of the Little STEM Academy. She is an education professional with over 25 years of experience in the ESL, early childhood education and speech therapy. She is an advocate for STEM education and the great benefits it has in forming the future leaders of the world through critical thinking, innovation and problem-solving. Lj is a firm believer that it is important to introduce children to new concepts and let them explore and experiment them as a way of learning.

Terrence Davis is the Superintendent of Banning Unified School District. Terrence defines the core of his work as creating exceptional educational opportunities for students to be successful in the global workforce as well as cultivating an environment to support administrators, teachers, and support staff. He is known as a leader who strives to build relationships through the lens of equity and compassion.

Venola Mason is the CEO and Founder of AchieveIt Educational Services and is an Associate Partner and Author at International Center for Leadership in Education. In her role as an ICLE associate partner, Venola works with education leaders across the country supporting them with making transformational change in their school districts by developing and implementing policies and practices that increase student achievement and wellness.

Nicholas Cassius Clay is the founder of Being One World LLC, a mindfulness company Nicholas started in October 2020 so that he could offer mindfulness teaching and coaching to those looking for a holistic path to clarity, inner peace, and increased business performance, among many other benefits. The mission of Being One World is to empower and support people to be their most powerful expression of themselves while maintaining a clear and balanced state of mind.

Dr. Kristy Somerville-Midgette is the Division Superintendent for Brunswick County Public Schools. In her tenure as Division Superintendent, she has increased student engagement across the curriculum, provided access and opportunities for all and built capacity for long-term sustainability and success.

Dr. Anthony Lewis began his career as a Special Education Teacher in Montgomery, Alabama. After which, he was appointed to Assistant Principal then became an awarding winning Principal of E. D. Nixon Elementary School. While at E. D. Nixon, the school became a two-time Alabama Torchbearer School during the 2007-2008 school year - one of only nine in the state and again during the 2010- 2011 school year – one of only eleven in the state.

Launching her career as a substitute teacher in New York City’s Department of Education, Dr. Chase has 30 years of experience as an educator. Dr. Chase is widely known as a fierce advocate for all children. She believes every child deserves a world class education and their social/emotional needs addressed, regardless of his or her family’s economic tier, zip code, ethnicity or immigration status.