2010 Keynote Speakers

16th Annual Character Education Conference Keynote Speakers

SAVE THE DATE

St. Louis, MO • June 23-24, 2010

Kim Johnson, Children's Author

Children¹s writer and educator, Kimberly P. Johnson graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where she majored in Communications Studies, and she earned a degree in Early Childhood Education. Kimberly is currently enrolled at Clemson University in the Master¹s Degree Program for Youth Development and Leadership.

Kim has appeared on the Today Show in New York City and has written eleven children¹s books. She received the award of Honorable Kentucky Colonel presented by the Governor of Kentucky for being an ambassador of good will and fellowship around the world. In 2009 she received Mayor¹s Award for Cleveland County NC for her volunteer work in literacy efforts.

Brad Cohen

If you've ever wondered what impact you as an educator have on the students you teach, Brad Cohen, a teacher with Tourette Syndrome, will help you to the Front of the Class. You will hear how this ³First Class Teacher of the Year² award winner came from the depths of abuse and how he was determined to rise above it all to become an inspiration to others. A native of St. Louis, Brad attended Parkway schools; graduated cum laude with honors and received the Outstanding Young Alumnus Award from Bradley University, and earned master¹s and specialists¹s degrees from Georgia State University. He has appeared such TV programs as Oprah, CNN, and Inside Edition. His book Front of the Class: How Tourette Syndrome Made Me the Teacher I Never Had was named the Education Book of the Year, and in 2008 Hallmark Hall of Fame aired a movie about his life.

Sue Head –– Point Lookout, MO Executive Director, The Keeter Center for Character Education, College of the Ozarks

Sue has taken a leadership role in developing a two-county character education initiative that is having a dramatic impact with over 500 community partners and 35 schools in the Ozark area. The First PLACE! Initiative is being used by CHARACTERplus as a successful model in schools across the state.

Peter Yarrow –– New York, NY Singer, song writer, performer and educator

Entertainer extraordinaire of Peter, Paul and Mary fame, Peter is the founder of Operation Respect (OR), an educational non-profit dedicated to creating safe, respectful, compassionate climates of learning for children. OR has distributed over 150,000 copies of its “Don’t Laugh at Me” Program to educators throughout the world, free of charge, courtesy of The McGraw-Hill Companies.

Peter Yarrow's performance is a bridging event between CHARACTERplus and Springboard's Connections Institute