Keynote Speakers

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Lester Laminack

Lester L. Laminack is Professor Emeritus from department of Birth-Kindergarten, Elementary and Middle Grades Education, at Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, North Carolina where he received two awards for excellence in teaching [the Botner Superior Teaching Award and the Chancellor’s Distinguished Teaching Award].

Lester is now a full-time writer and consultant working with schools throughout the United States. He is an active member of the National Council of Teachers of English and served three years as co-editor of the NCTE journal Primary Voices and as editor of the Children’s Book Review Department of the NCTE journal Language Arts (2003-2006). He also served as a teaching editor for the magazine Teaching K-8 and wrote the Parent Connection column (2000-2002). He is a former member of the Governing Board and Secretary of the North Carolina Association for the Education of Young Children, a former member of the Board of Directors for the Center for the Expansion of Language and Thinking, and a former member of the Whole Language Umbrella Governing Board. He served as the Basic Reading Consultant to Literacy Volunteers of America from 1987 through 2001. He is a former member of the Board of Directors of Our Children’s Place [www.ourchildrensplace.com] and is currently serving on the Board of Directors of the Region A Partnership for Children in western North Carolina, and on the board for The Francine Delaney New School for Children in Asheville, NC.

Learn more about Lester

 

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Vera Ahiyya

Vera Ahiyya (née Corbett) was born in Germany and raised in El Paso, Texas by her wonderful mother and amazing grandparents. Originally a pre-med student, Vera realized her calling as an educator at Austin College in Sherman, TX, where she majored in History and earned her MA in Education. Vera has taught kindergarten and first grade for the last fourteen years in Texas, Boston, and Brooklyn. Vera’s online presence is dedicated to influencing other educators by spreading her vast knowledge and love of diverse children’s books. Vera’s unwavering commitment to social justice and diversity is also the focal point of her professional development presentations for other educators. Vera lives in Brooklyn with her husband, Lonnell, and her dog, Mozi.

Learn more about Vera

 

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Nikki Baldwin

 

Nikki Baldwin has spent the last 25 years working in early childhood education in Wyoming. She has had a wide range of experiences as a kindergarten teacher, early childhood special educator, Head Start curriculum coordinator, preschool center director, pedagogical leader, private consultant, and member of the University of Wyoming early childhood education faculty. Nikki’s current role in the UW College of Education includes coordinating the Early Childhood Special Education program and directing the Wyoming Early Childhood Outreach Network (WYECON). Nikki leads the Wyoming Early Childhood Professional Learning Collaborative (WYECPLC), a professional development organization focused on elevating the quality of early childhood programs, including childcare, in the state. Nikki teaches the Early Literacy Credential as well as other early childhood courses at the University of Wyoming and is an appointed member of the Wyoming Early Childhood State Advisory Council.

 

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