BILL McBRIDE - A proud UNC graduate, Bill McBride has worked in a variety of public school and university settings as both a teacher and a consultant. In middle and secondary schools, he has served as a Reading Specialist, an English and Drama teacher, a gifted and a talented instructor, and a curriculum coordinator. On the university level, Dr. McBride has assisted in the training and evaluation of middle and secondary English teachers. For fifteen years, Bill worked as an editor and National Consultant with McDougal Littell/Houghton Mifflin Publishing Co. His books include Entertaining an Elephant, Building Literacy in the Social Studies, and his latest, If They Can Argue Well, They Can Write Well. He also podcasts and presents on a wide variety of topics including “What to do with gifted kids” and “Teaching to Gender Differences.” An exciting and inspirational speaker, Bill shares his professional beliefs and teaching strategies at conferences and workshops all over the United States and abroad. His workshops are filled with practical, hands-on activities that teachers can begin using immediately in their classrooms.

RICK WORMELI - One of the first National Board Certified teachers in America, Rick Wormeli brings innovation, energy, validity, and high standards to both his presentations and his instructional practice, which includes 23 years in the classroom teaching math, science, English, physical education, health, and history. Rick's work has been reported in Good Housekeeping, What Matters Most: Teaching for the 21st Century, and the Washington Post. He is a columnist for the National Middle School Association's Middle Ground magazine, and he is the author of the award-winning book Meet Me in the Middle: Becoming an Accomplished Middle Level Teacher as well as the books Day One and Beyond: Practical Matters for New Middle Level Teachers, Fair Isn't Always Equal: Assessment and Grading in the Differentiated Classroom, and Differentiation from Scratch, His classroom practice is the showcase for the first tape of ASCD's best-selling video series, "At Work in the Differentiated Classroom." With his substantive presentations, sense of humor, and unconventional approaches, he's presented in 49 states, Canada, China, Europe, Japan, Korea, Australia, the Middle East, and at the White House.

STEVE HOELSCHER - Steve Hoelscher is coordinator of the Michigan Middle Start Comprehensive School Reform effort, a state-based partnership that provides technical assistance and professional development to middle grade schools, he provides project leadership and facilitation of the project. Steve previously served as an urban principal, counselor and teacher for thirty years in Michigan, and is an active member of the National Forum to Accelerate Middle-Grades Reform. As a principal, he led the school community in changing from a traditional junior high to a middle grades school based on creating a community of learners. The school was recognized for its academic excellence, social equity, and developmental responsiveness and for demonstrating gains in student learning.

MELBA JOHNSON - Melba Johnson, a national educational consultant, conducts staff development for middle school and high school teachers throughout North Carolina and across the country. The focus of her trainings includes curriculum alignment and the use of visual and tactile strategies in reading, writing, and grammar. As a consultant for Thinking Maps, Inc. and co-author of Write…for the Future, she does extensive trainings in writing workshops and Thinking Maps. Currently, she is developing another publication to assist students in preparing for college entrance exams such as the PSAT, SAT, and other standardized assessments.

KEN MCEWIN - Ken McEwin is Professor of Curriculum and Instruction and Coordinator of Middle Grades Teacher Education at Appalachian State University. He is a former sixth grade teacher and school principal, and has extensive experience as a consultant to schools, districts, state departments of education, higher education institutions, and policy-making bodies. Dr. McEwin is author of over 100 professional publications that focus on middle level education. He has served in many leadership positions, including president of the National Middle School Association. He is also recipient of a number of awards for his work in middle grades education including the John Lounsbury Distinguished Service Award and was the founding recipient of the Ken McEwin Distinguished Service Award.

JILL NORRIS - Popular author and presenter Jill Norris began teaching in a first grade classroom at the University of Colorado Laboratory School. Her varied teaching career has spanned grades PreK through eighth grade. She has directed a preschool program, been a remedial reading specialist, and acted as a technology coordinator. Following twenty years of classroom experience in Colorado, Texas, North Carolina, and California, she has transitioned to a role as presenter, author, and publisher.