Steve Spangler (Keynote Speaker)
He’s been described as the guy who shoots potatoes, makes toilet paper fly and mixes up a perfect batch of slime. But he may be best known for teaching millions of people how to turn an ordinary bottle of soda into an erupting geyser of fun. His now famous Mentos Geyser Experiment became an Internet sensation in September of 2005 and spawned more than a thousand related exploding soda experiments on videos sites like YouTube.com. Spangler started his career as a science teacher in the Cherry Creek School District in Colorado and today travels extensively, training teachers in ways to make learning more engaging and fun. His hands-on science “boot camps” and summer institutes for teachers inspire and teach teachers how to prepare a new generation for an ever-changing work force. Over the last 15 years, he has also made more than 500 television appearances as an authority on hands-on science and inquiry-based learning.

Dr. Monte Selby (Keynote Speaker)
Dr. Monte Selby’s distinctive work is internationally applauded – a popular keynote speaker, co-author of seven books, columnist, and songwriter/recording artist with five critically acclaimed albums. His comical and insightful music (featured on network television, radio, podcasts, stage productions, and videos) is cultivated from an award-winning career as a teacher, principal, and professor.

Dr. Debbie Silver (Keynote Speaker)
Debbie Silver is an award-winning educator and humorist with 30 years experience as a classroom teacher, staff development instructor, and university professor. Her numerous recognitions include being named the Louisiana State Teacher of the Year. Along the way she has taught almost every grade level and almost every kind of student. Dr. Silver has been an invited author for several educational journals and has given keynotes at state, national, and international conferences in 49 states, Canada, Europe, Asia and the United Emirates. Debbie’s book, Drumming to the Beat of Different Marchers: Finding the Rhythm for Differentiated Learning, is a best seller; and songs she co-wrote with Monte Selby are featured on his CDs.

Theresa Hinkle
Theresa Hinkle is a presenter who believes in middle level education. She is active in the North Carolina and National Middle School Associations.  She was the first classroom teacher President of NCMSA and also served as President of the National Middle School Association. She has been a trainer for the US Department of Education’s Teacher to Teacher Initiative which provided professional development for schools and teachers across the country for six years. For the past two years she has served as a consultant to the National Dairy Council as they prepared the release of a new health, nutrition, and fitness initiative geared toward middle level schools. She is currently an Instructional Leadership Partner with B&D Consulting working in the area of school improvement.  Through these affiliations Theresa has presented workshop sessions and school/district professional development in over 30 states, Canada, and Mexico. Her sessions are best known for being research-based and classroom-tested.

Kathy Hunt-Ullock
Well known for her humor and practical “hands-on” approach, Kathy has presented at schools and conferences in 48 states and 16 foreign countries. She is president and founder of Creative Solutions which specializes in innovative programs and practices at the middle level. Kathy has been a junior high and middle school teacher, administrator, and full time consultant/ speaker. She is the featured presenter on teaming in two CD’s published by NMSA. Kathy has also coauthored two books, Because You Teach and Middle School Matters with Debbie Silver, Rick Wormeli, and Monte Selby.

Jack Berckemeyer
A nationally-recognized presenter, author, and humorist, Jack Berckemeyer began his career as a middle school teacher in Denver, Colorado.  After two years of teaching he was named as an outstanding educator at his school and shortly thereafter was identified as one of the outstanding educators in the district. Jack is passionate about middle level, serving as Assistant Executive Director for 9 of his 13 years at the National Middle Level Association. He brings his energy, humor, and expertise of the middle level adolescent to all staff development as he helps teachers and administrators remember why this job makes a difference.

Dr. Neila A. Connors
Neila A. Connors is one-of-a-kind in the field of education. The enthusiasm and energy for her life’s work is evidenced in her everyday life and can be attested to by all who have worked with her or heard her speak. Neila focuses on teaching people how to “build their own bridge for a successful life.” Neila has written numerous articles and presented to educators from the primary through university level in all 50 states, Canada, and Europe and is presently the founder and president of N.A.C. (Networking And Client), CONNECTIONS, INC. Her book If You Don’t Feed the Teachers, They Eat the Students continues to receive rave reviews.

Rick Wormeli
Rick Wormeli brings innovation, energy, and high standards to his presentations based on 25 years of teaching math, science, English, physical education, health, and history. He is a columnist for NMSA’s Middle Ground and the author of Meet Me in the Middle, Day One and Beyond, Fair Isn’t Always Equal: Assessment and Grading in the Differentiated Classroom, Summarization in any Subject and his latest book Differentiation: From Planning to Practice. He also co-authored the books, Because You Teach and Middle School Matters. Rick has presented in all 50 states, Canada, Europe, Asia, Australia, the Middle East, and the White House. A seasoned veteran of many international Web casts, Rick is an award-winning educator.

Kim Campbell
Kim Campbell has been a middle level geography teacher for 16 years. Currently, she is a part-time secondary mentor teacher who assists new teachers in her district and a part-time seventh grade geography teacher. She is also a team leader and a member of the Literacy Team. In 2004, Kim was a semi-finalist for Minnesota Teacher of the Year, and in 2007, received the Channel 9 Fox News Teacher of the Year Award. She has been published in the New England Journal for Middle Schools on literacy strategies across the content area and has presented on numerous occasions across the country. Kim’s sessions are known to be practical and motivational in their approach as well as humorous.

Dedra Stafford
Dedra Stafford is a nationally recognized consultant and author. She creates entertaining, hands-on, interactive, workshops that get educators energized and excited about teaching. As a former classroom teacher, she understands the need for practical ideas that can be implemented immediately. In addition to presenting at conferences across the nation, Dedra has also certified over 300 teachers through technology classes in Oklahoma. She is a dedicated board member of the Oklahoma Middle Level Education Association and is a NMSA on-site cadre member. Dedra is passionate about middle level education and will energize participants with new and innovative ways to reach and teach the students of today.