The two and a half-day conference was designed to bring educators and leaders from across the P20 continuum together to learn about current topics impacting our schools, educators, and students and the education landscape, as well as share resources to support you and your teams.
The conference was held February 25-27, 2025, at The Conference Center at OCLC in Dublin, Ohio. Keynote speakers included Dr. Leslie T. Fenwick, Dr. Laron A. Scott and Missy McClain.
Leslie T. Fenwick, PhD
Dr. Fenwick is a nationally recognized scholar in leadership, ethics, public policy, and inclusivity in the workforce, with extensive expertise in federal and state policy. She is a U.S. Presidential appointee to the Board of Visitors at West Point, a McDonald Conference Senior Fellow, and author of the best-selling Jim Crow’s Pink Slip (Harvard Education Press, 2022). Dean Emerita at Howard University and a tenured professor of education policy, Dr. Fenwick has been featured in major outlets like The New York Times and CNN and previously served as AACTE’s Dean in Residence.
LaRon A. Scott, EdD
Dr. Scott is Associate Dean and Associate Professor at the University of Virginia School of Education and Human Development. His work focuses on recruiting and retaining historically marginalized special educators, improving outcomes for Black youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), and addressing implicit bias in education. A former special education teacher and transition coordinator, he has received multiple awards for his contributions to education and co-edits Inclusion, a journal on IDD strategies.
Missy McClain, BA
Dr. McClain is the Community Education Program Coordinator at Akron Children’s Hospital School Health Services. She leads a wellness learning curriculum for K-12 students and provides trauma education for educators and school professionals. With over 15 years of experience, Missy has trained more than 70,000 students, school staff, and community members across Ohio, advocating for trauma-informed school environments and restorative practices. Drawing on personal experiences, she is passionate about helping educators understand the impact of trauma on children’s learning and behavior and the power of supportive adult relationships in building resilience.
