Conference Speaker Bios
Speakers
Spencer Kagan
Spencer Kagan is an internationally acclaimed researcher, presenter and author of over 100 books, chapters, and scientific journal articles. He is a former clinical psychologist and full professor of psychology and education at the University of California. He is the principal author of the single most comprehensive book for educators in each of four fields: cooperative learning, multiple intelligences, classroom discipline, and classroom energizers. His instructional strategies are used in teacher training institutes in many countries. Dr. Kagan provides workshops and keynotes in over thirty countries and his books are translated into many languages. He developed the concept of structures: his popular brain-based cooperative learning and multiple intelligences structures like Numbered Heads Together and Timed Pair Share are used in classrooms worldwide. He has been featured in the leading educational magazines including Educational Leadership, Instructor, Learning Magazine, and Video Journal. He is in high demand as a keynote speaker at national and international conferences.
(Pre-Conference, 101, 201)
Jim Craigen and Chris Ward
Jim Craigen and Chris Ward have been working with cooperative learning for 22 years and for many years they worked for the Durham District School Board training teachers in cooperative learning practices. They now work internationally as independent consultants in the field of instructional strategies. They have offered sessions in England, Scotland, Norway, Mexico, Germany, Holland, Belgium, Australia, Russia, Vietnam, the U.S., throughout Ontario and across Canada. They are co-authors of the teambuilding book What’s This Got To Do With Anything?
(102)
Jill Eason
Jill Eason is an elementary Teacher Librarian for the Toronto Catholic District School Board. Recently, Jill was a Literacy Resource teacher for TCDSB as well as a Course Director at York University working with pre-service teachers. Jill teaches the Additional Qualifications Course Reading Part 1 for OISE. She actively integrates cooperative learning into her lessons when teaching. Jill believes that all students should be engaged and interested in learning.
(103)
Lori-Ann Leigh and Melanie Riddell
Lori-Ann Leigh has experience as both an elementary and, currently, secondary teacher with over 23 years of experience. She served as a Staff Development Facilitator for the Durham District School Board for three years, developing and delivering workshops on instructional strategies to both elementary and secondary teachers. Recently she was a Staff Developer/Teacher for an international school in South Korea. As a certified TRIBES trainer for over 10 years, she has trained the Basic and Middle School program throughout Ontario and Canada. Lori-Ann has presented previously at GLACIE and at the DDSB Creativity Conference.
Melanie Riddell is an elementary school teacher with the Durham District School Board. She has been a TRIBES TLC trainer for 7 years and truly is a TRIBES teacher. In her 13 years of teaching experience, both as a classroom teacher and as a literacy and numeracy coach, Melanie has supported colleagues in their own classroom practice. She has developed and facilitated a variety of workshops and is pleased to be returning to GLACIE to present again.
(104)
Lauren Wilson and Catherine Brunet
Lauren Wilson is a secondary school principal in Barry’s Bay, Ontario. She has been a math and computer science teacher, administrator, and curriculum coordinator over her more than three decades in education. Lauren is an active member of the Eastern Ontario Staff Development Network, winning their Staff Development award in 2009. She has presented at conferences in Ontario, Alberta, the U.S., and the Netherlands. She has published articles in the Ontario ASCD journal and the OISE journal Orbit. In addition to cooperative learning, she is passionate about assessment and evaluation, math education, leadership, collaboration, students and teachers.
Catherine Brunet is a secondary school French Second Language teacher in Barry’s Bay, Ontario. Over the last four years, she has taught a variety of subjects in schools in Ontario and the Northwest Territories. Her interests include cooperative learning, second language instruction, character education, equity in education, Aboriginal education, and history. In the second language classroom, she strives towards creating a supportive learning community and opportunities for authentic communication.
(105)
Cindy Kline and Paul Vermette
Cindy Kline spent twenty years working in business and brought her insights into education about six years ago, when she became a Spanish and SEL (Social and Emotional Learning) middle school teacher in Niagara Falls, NY. Cindy has conducted consultancies across New York, presenting at conferences in the U.S. and Canada, and serving with boards and organizations.
Paul Vermette has been in education since 1971 and currently is a professor at Niagara University. He has authored or co-authored a number of books on cooperative learning, constructivist teaching, and student engagement. Among his co-presenters are some of his former students. GLACIE is but one of the conferences that have enjoyed this accomplished, informative yet highly entertaining workshop leader.
(202)
Marie Geelen
Marie Geelen has been an educator for many years. She has taught in both elementary and secondary schools, has been an administrator, and worked as an international staff development trainer. She has worked in schools across Canada, the U.S., Scandinavia, England and Europe training both students and educators. Presently she is working with schools and districts on “Building Respectful Cultures in the School Community” to promote cooperative learning as the strategy of choice for reducing bullying and other violent behaviours.
(203)
Cynthia Chiupka-Jozin
Cynthia Chiupka-Jozin started teaching FSL in Moose Factory Ontario and migrated south to her hometown of Wawa where she has been teaching with the Algoma District School Board for the past 13 years. Her classrooms are dynamic environments where she is constantly exploring new differentiated instructional strategies. She will engage you in her presentations, using techniques that can be taken straight into the classroom Monday morning!
(204)
Don Plumb
Don Plumb has led teacher training workshops in Canada and overseas for over twenty years. He worked at TVOntario as an Education Officer for broadcast and online professional development and the Virtual Classroom. He taught secondary school Science and Mathematics for many years, is co-author of a number of standard Science textbooks used across Canada, and has a book on cooperative learning, Structures for Success in Chemistry, published in the U.S. by Kagan Publishing. His particular current interest is working as a teacher mentor to expand their repertoire of teaching strategies beyond PowerPoint and question-and-answer.
(205)
David and Roger Johnson
David W. Johnson is a Professor of Educational Psychology at the University of Minnesota. He has authored over 500 research articles and book chapters and more than 50 books. He is a past-editor of the American Educational Research Journal. He has received numerous awards including the American Psychological Association Award for Distinguished Contributions of Applications of Psychology to Education and Practice (2003), the Distinguished Contributions to Research in Education Award from the American Education Research Association (2008) and the Jeffrey Rubin Theory To Practice Award (2010), awarded by the International Association for Conflict Management at the Harvard Law School. For the past 40 years Dr. Johnson has served as an organizational consultant to schools and businesses throughout the world. He is a practicing psychotherapist.
Roger T. Johnson is a professor of Curriculum and Instruction at the University of Minnesota. Dr. Johnson’s public school teaching experience includes kindergarten through eighth grade instruction and, at the college level, teacher-preparation courses for undergraduate through PhD programs. He has consulted with schools throughout North America, Central and South America, Eastern and Western Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and the Pacific Region. Dr. Johnson has been honoured with several national awards from organizations and institutions including the American Psychological Association, the National Council for Social Studies, the Minnesota Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, and the University of Maine. Dr. Johnson is the author of numerous research articles, book chapters, and books. Nationally, he is a leading authority on inquiry teaching and science education.
The Johnson brothers are Co-Directors of the Cooperative Learning Center in Minnesota, and were awarded the Brock International Prize in Education in 2007.
(Keynote, 301)
Neil Davidson
Neil Davidson is a frequent presenter at international conferences and a consultant on cooperative learning for many school districts and universities. His books include Cooperative Learning in Mathematics: A Handbook for Teachers, and Enhancing Thinking Through Cooperative Learning. Neil was a founding member and president of both the International Association for the Study of Cooperation in Education (IASCE), and the Mid-Atlantic Association for Cooperation in Education (MAACIE). Neil's professional specialty areas include mathematics education, teacher education, and faculty and staff development. He is Professor Emeritus of Curriculum and Instruction, University of Maryland, and is currently active in their Academy for Excellence in Teaching and Learning, which he co-founded.
(302)
Mitch Zeltzer
Mitch Zeltzer has worked for years as a teambuilding specialist with groups of all kinds. Mitch believes strongly in a learning-by-doing philosophy, using challenging activities to create teachable moments and an opportunity for learning and reflection. In 2002, Mitch co-founded Dynamix, an energetic and innovative teambuilding organization that is devoted to teaching and inspiring groups in a fun, hands-on, and challenging way!
(303)
Krista Hunt and Michael Alex
Krista Hunt is an award-winning teacher, writer, and community activist. She currently teaches gender and global politics at the University of Toronto.
Michael Alex has taught in public high schools for more than a decade and is curriculum leader of an alternative high school.
They have collaborated professionally for several years, researching, writing and running workshops about alternatives to traditional banking-style education. They co-authored an action guide for the film The Yes Men Fix the World, and co-founded Teach. Learn. Change – a project to transform education by engaging in the politics of our lives within and beyond the classroom.
(304)
Mark Miller
Mark Miller has spent his career creating and developing a classroom atmosphere where at-risk and identified students can realize their potential through alternative teaching and assessment approaches. He is a board facilitator on “Differentiation through Graphic Organizers” for the Peel District School Board, and co-teaches a course on “Differentiated Instruction in the Classroom Context” for Tyndale University College. He has presented at conferences in Ontario, Alberta and Australia. Having taught English, Physical Education, Math, Special Education and the Construction Technology High Skills Major, he is currently a department head of English and Family Studies in Mississauga.
(305)
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