Having the opportunity to hear four dynamic keynote speakers at the conference made it a very worthwhile and memorable event. Of course, it was wonderful to see and hear Don Deshler at the conference. His words are always energizing, and it was great to hear about his current work and his reflections on the work that continues at the center. I was also excited to get the chance to hear and meet Dr. John Hattie….and have him sign my book! His work on the influences that impact learning and achievement have helped to inform so many teachers (including me) about best practices that should be at the heart of our instruction. Hearing him in person was great! Dr. Yong Zhao was very entertaining while presenting a new perspective about the importance of nurturing student individuality. I especially enjoyed his stories about his perspective as they related to his son’s experiences in school. And, to balance it all out Jim Knight turned our focus to the role of coaching and the strong impact it has at the classroom level. What great experiences!!
