2020 National Conference Presentations

The Art of Asking Questions- How to Use Question Thinking to Solve School Challenges Part 1

Cindy Varner- Vice President of Workforce Development, Goodwill Industries of Arkansas, Inc.
Markous Jewett- National Director, Goodwill Education Initiatives

The Art of Asking Questions- How to Use Question Thinking to Solve School Challenges Part 2

Best Practices for Implementing Social and Emotional Learning into the Curriculum

Andrea Haltom- Instructor, The Excel Center-Decatur

Breaking Down Barriers to Writing

Jason Fatz- Teacher, The Excel Center, Memphis

Bridging the Gap: Teacher/Coach Collaboration

Thomas Pengelly- Lead Teacher, Goodwill Excel Center- Washington, D.C.
Latia Taliaferro- Lead Coach, Goodwill Excel Center- Washington, D.C.

Building Connections through Engagement

Nicole Clarkson- Campus Director, Adult Evening Program, Goodwill Excel Center for Adults- Central Texas Goodwill

Building Evidence for Student Success

Heather Reynolds- Managing Director, University of Notre Dame, Wilson Sheehan Lab for Economic Opportunities
Patrick Turner- Assistant Research Professor, University of Notre Dame, Wilson Sheehan Lab for Economic Opportunities

Building Relationships and Engagement in the Virtual Classroom

Rhea Hendricks- Lead Teacher, The Excel Center- Kokomo
Beth Milam- Instructor, The Excel Center- Kokomo

Building Workforce Certification Programs Through Distance Learning and National Connections

Kris Deckard- Director, TalentSource, Goodwill Education Initiatives
Jessamon Jones, Work-based Learning Manager, Goodwill Education Initiatives

Collaboration and Simplification: Using Technology to Enhance Dual Credit Classes

Rachel Brown- Instructor, The Excel Center- Decatur
Mich Bignell- College and Career Readiness Specialist, The Excel Center- Decatur

COVID Re-entry Planning- Choosing Your Instructional Model

Jenna Bartkiewicz- Director of Instructional Support, Instruction Partners

Creating a Tik Tok Video

Tanisha Adams- Registrar Manager, Goodwill Education Initiatives
Tonisha Bracy- Office Manager, The Excel Center, Memphis

Critical Thinking: My Students Can Do This

Kimberly Kelley- Instructor, Goodwill Excel Center- Washington, D.C.

Director Panel and Best Practice Share

Justin Zobrosky- School Director, The Excel Center, South Bend
Jadee Lauer- School Director, The Excel Center, St. Louis
Joe Cole- School Director, The Excel Center, Springfield
Charles Moody- School Director, Goodwill Excel Center for Adults- Austin, Texas
Trenae Thomas- School Director, The Excel Center- Michigan St.

Empathy’s Role in the Classroom

Andrea Short- Instructor, The Excel Center- Bloomington

Encouraging the Development of Critical Thinking and Employability Skills: Preparing Students for Success

Khalilah Palmer- Director, The Excel Center, Shelbyville
Susan Sheets- Lead Coach, CCR Specialist, Teacher, The Excel Center- Shelbyville

Engaging Students in a Virtual World

Tantalia Soden- Instructor, Goodwill Excel Center- Washington, D.C.

Food Prep Session

Lindsay Dirlam- Dietician, Eskinazi Health

General Session: Closing Remarks

Betsy Delgado- Vice President, Mission and Education Initiatives, Goodwill of Central and Southern Indiana
Dakota Pawlicki- Strategy Officer, The Lumina Foundation

General Session: Lunch Panel

Tyler Stewart- Director, The Excel Center- Richmond

General Session: Opening and Keynote

(Entirely Unproven) Government Relations Strategies & Techniques

Katrina Thurman- Executive Director, Goodwill of Central and Northern Arizona
Lane Schonour- Vice President of Learning and Development, Goodwill of Central and Northern Arizona

I’m a Poet and I Know It: Using the Korean Poetry Form “Sijo” to Teach Poetry Writing

Duane Johansen- Instructor, The Excel Center- Kokomo

Implicit Bias with a Focus on Racial Equity

Michelle White- Director of Goodwill Ignite, Goodwill Eduction Initiatives- Indianapolis
Robin Coleman- Nurse Home Visitor, Nurse-Family Partnership, Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana

Improvement Science: Plan, Do, Study, Act

Garrett Wilson- Lead Teacher, The Excel Center- Lafayette, IN
Danielle White- Director, The Excel Center- Lafayette, IN

Institutional Racism in the Time of Covid-19

Lori Adams- Trainer, Crossroads Antiracism Organizing and Training
Michael P. Russell- Trainer, Crossroads Antiracism Organizing and Training

Leads Panel and Best Practice Share

Greg Pryor- School Director, The Excel Center- University Heights
Carloas Wilson- Lead Teacher, The Excel Center, Little Rock
Laura Fehr- Lead Coach, The Excel Center- Shadeland
Claire Coppage- Lead Teacher, The Excel Center- Clarksville
Cynthia Williams- Lead Coach, The Excel Center, Memphis

Navigating Virtual Enrollment: Planning, Engagement, iExcel and Follow-Up

Chelsea Kirk- School Director, Goodwill Excel Center, Washington, D.C.
Demetri Tyler- Data Performance Manager, Goodwill Excel Center, Washington, D.C.
Dawn Rhodes- Office Manager, Goodwill Excel Center, Washington, D.C.
Amina Abdul-Rahim- Registrar Manager, Goodwill Excel Center, Washington, D.C.
Deaven Mack- Administrative Coordinator, Goodwill Excel Center, Washington, D.C.

Owning It: Engaging Teams in the Process of Innovation and Improvement

Greg Wertenberger- School Director, The Excel Center, Goodwill Industries of Arkansas, Inc.
Cindy Varner- Vice President of Workforce Development, Goodwill Industries of Arkansas, Inc.

Painting with a Twist

Tonisha Bracy- Office Manager, The Excel Center, Memphis

Prioritizing and Balancing School Culture- Celebration, Joy and Appreciation

Chelsea Kirk- School Director, Goodwill Excel Center- Washington, D.C.
Vershaun Terry- Director of Special Education, Goodwill Excel Center- Washington, D.C.

Promoting Leadership in the
Young Learners Childcare (YLCC)

Lacinda Gould- Young Learners Child Care Manager, The Excel Center- Anderson Young Learners Childcare
Rachel Whitaker- Young Learners Child Care Manager, The Excel Center-Lafayette Young Learners Childcare
Danielle White- Director, The Excel Center-Lafayette

Rehumanizing Mathematics- Why It is Needed and What It Means in the Context of The Excel Center

Ana Luis- Lead Teacher, The Excel Center- Meadows

Scavenger Hunt

Shelley Ashley- Senior Director, Mission Advancement, Goodwill Education Initiatives
Michelle White- Director of Goodwill Ignite, Goodwill Education Initiatives

SPED Panel and Best Practice Share

Chelsea Kirk- School Director, Goodwill Excel Center – Washington, D.C.
Laura Cope- Director, Student Services and Support, Goodwill Education Initiatives
Kelly Ford- Special Education Instructor, The Excel Center- Kokomo
Vershaun Terry- Director of Special Education, Goodwill Excel Center – Washington, D.C.

Strategies to Support Mental Health and Well-Being While Teaching Online

Dr. Riina Hirsch- Coordinator of Professional Development, Curriculum and Instruction, MERS Missouri Goodwill

Student Recruitment: Maximizing Time and Budget

Sheila Dollaske- Director of School Development & Innovation, Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana
Jennifer Rendant- Director, Mission & Education Marketing Communications, Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana

Supporting Staff Through Secondary Trauma

Kelly Evans- Life Coach, The Excel Center-Meadows

Technology Driven Formative Assessment tools in a Distance Learning World

Ruth Turner- Lead Teacher, Goodwill Excel Center- Washington, D.C.

This is Not a Math Class, This is a READING Class

LaVon Owens- Instructor, Goodwill Excel Center- Washington, D.C.
Ian Smith- Instructor, Goodwill Excel Center- Washington, D.C.

Understanding and Motivating Students to Learn

Candis Dawson-Taylor- School Director, The Excel Center, Memphis

Using Gretchen Rubin’s 4 Tendencies to Understand Individual’s Behaviors and Guide Coaching Conversations

Kylie Barker- Lead Coach, The Excel Center- Anderson

The Value of Family Enagagement

Rose Loraff- Early Childhood Services Director, Goodwill Michiana- The Excel Center
Marva Davis- Lead Early Childhood Educator, Goodwill Michiana- The Excel Center

Virtual Coctail-Mocktail Lesson

Workforce Development Post Covid-19

Kent Kramer- President and CEO, Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana

Yoga and Meditation

Amanda Wasczcuk- Instructor, The Excel Center- Lafayette

Yup! She Just Said That: How to Identify and Address Racial Microaggressions in the Workplace

Brittney Jones- Instructor, Goodwill Excel Center- Washington, D.C.