Sunday: Pedro Noguera

Pedro Noguera is one of America’s most important voices for healthy public education, focusing on the ways in which schools are influenced by social and economic conditions in urban settings. He’s an expert on school reform, diversity, and the achievement gap—and he translates social theory into concise, direct language with emotional impact and intellectual rigor.
Pedro Noguera is the Distinguished Professor of Education at the Graduate School of Education and Information Studies at UCLA. His research focuses on the ways in which schools are influenced by social and economic conditions, as well as by demographic trends in local, regional and global contexts. Prior to joining the faculty at UCLA he served as a tenured professor and holder of endowed chairs at New York University, Harvard University, and the University of California, Berkeley. He also served as a Trustee for the State University of New York (SUNY) as an appointee of the Governor.

He is the author of 10 books and over 150 articles and monographs. His books include: City Schools and the American Dream, Unfinished Business: Closing the Achievement Gap in Our Nation’s Schools, The Trouble With Black Boys … and Other Reflections on Race, Equity and the Future of Public Education, and Creating the Opportunity to Learn: Moving from Research to Practice to Close the Achievement Gap with A. Wade Boykin. His most recent book is Excellence Through Equity with Alan Blankstein.  Noguera appears as a regular commentator on educational issues on CNN, MSNBC, National Public Radio, and other national news outlets, and serves on the boards of numerous national and local organizations, including the Economic Policy Institute, the Young Women’s Leadership Institute, The After School Corporation, and The Nation Magazine. He is a member of the Kappa Delta Pi Honor Society, was elected to the National Academy of Education, and is the recipient of many honors, including awards from the Center for the Advanced Study of the Behavioral Sciences, from the National Association of Secondary Principals, and from the McSilver Institute at NYU for his research and advocacy efforts aimed at fighting poverty.

Monday: Joe Sanfelippo

Dr. Joe Sanfelippo is the Superintendent of the Fall Creek School District in Fall Creek, WI. The Fall Creek School District was named an Innovative District in 2016 and 2017 by the International Center for Leadership in Education. Joe holds a BA in Elementary and Early Childhood Education from St. Norbert College, a MS in Educational Psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, a MS in Educational Leadership, and a PhD in Leadership, Learning, and Service from Cardinal Stritch University. Joe is also an adjunct professor in the Educational Leadership Department at Viterbo University. Joe has taught Kindergarten, 2nd Grade, and 5th Grade. He was also a school counselor and high school coach prior to taking on an elementary principal position in 2005. He has served as a principal in suburban and rural Wisconsin.

Joe co-hosts the Successful Schools Podcast, and co-authoredThe Power of Branding-Telling Your School’s Story, Principal Professional Development: Leading Learning in a Digital Age andHacking Leadership: 10 Ways Great Leaders Inspire Learning That Teachers, Students and Parents Love. He was selected as 1 of 117 Future Ready Superintendents in 2014 and 1 of 50 Superintendents as a Personalized Learning Leader in 2016 by the US Department of Education. He attended summits at the White House for both distinctions. Joe has been a featured speaker in multiple states in the areas of Telling Your School Story, Advancing the Use of Social Media for School Leaders, Creating a Culture of Yes, and Personalized Professional Growth for Staff. Go Crickets!!

Tuesday: EdCamp facilitated by Joe Sanfelippo