In striving to provide educators with a national quality inservice, the NWEA is committed to inviting nationally acclaimed presenters to speak at the annual conference. These presenters are known for their unwavering commitment to education and their dedicated support of educators. In the past, the NWEA has selected the following individuals to present:

• Dick Benett
• Michael Gurian
• Louann Johnson
• Herman Boone
• Dave Pelzer
• Ann Bancroft
• Ed Asner
• Danny Glover

Dick Benett
     2007 Keynote Speaker

Dick Bennett became the 15th head coach to direct the Washington State men's basketball team when he was hired March 29, 2003. He came to the Palouse with a proven track record of rebuilding programs. He continued the tradition last season during his first campaign with the Cougars.

Prior to WSU, Bennett spent 35 plus years teaching the game of basketball to young men in the state of Wisconsin with high school coaching stops in towns like West Bend and Eau Claire and college jobs in Stevens Point, Green Bay and Madison.

The owner of a 467-273 (.631) overall mark in 25 plus years at the collegiate level, Bennett was 94-68 (.580) at Wisconsin from 1995-2000. He guided the Badgers to three NCAA Tournament appearances, including the 2000 Final Four, and one NIT bid. Prior to his arrival, Wisconsin had played in three NCAA Tournaments in 97 seasons.

Known throughout the basketball world as one of the game's pre-eminent defensive coaches, Bennett's Badgers led the Big Ten in scoring defense four straight seasons and finished among the top five nationally in that category three times.

Statistics, however, do not tell the entire story about Bennett. He is highly respected by his peers. During the 1998-99 season, Sports Illustrated polled 115 college basketball coaches and asked the question, "If you could only go to one coaching clinic, whose would it be?" Top four vote-getters were Duke's Mike Krzyzewski, Rick Majerus, Dick Bennett and Bob Knight (then with Indiana).

When others speak of Bennett, the same words and phrases are repeated...humble, passionate, intense, tough, competitive, fundamentally sound, a great teacher.

Bennett has passed along his knowledge of the game to others in his family. Daughter Kathi is the head women's basketball coach at Indiana and son Tony is WSU's associate head coach after a stint with Wisconsin. Dick's younger brother Jack is a successful head coach at Wisconsin-Stevens Point, including a 2004 NCAA Division III national championship.

The success of Bennett's teams over the years is the result of taking care of the basketball, working for good shots and playing hard-nosed, team defense. The best of Bennett's players are not necessarily spectacular, but rather dependable, fundamentally sound, intense and mentally tough.

Michael Gurian
     2006 Keynote Speaker

Michael Gurian is a social philosopher, family therapist, corporate consultant, and the New York Times bestselling author of twenty books published in fifteen languages. The Gurian Institute, which he co-founded, conducts research internationally, launches pilot programs and trains professionals. Michael has been called "the people's philosopher" for his ability to bring together people's ordinary lives and scientific ideas.

As a social philosopher, he has pioneered efforts to bring neuro-biology and brain research into homes, workplaces, schools and public policy. A number of his ground-breaking books in child development, including THE WONDER OF BOYS, BOYS AND GIRLS LEARN DIFFERENTLY! THE WONDER OF GIRLS and WHAT COULD HE BE THINKING? have sparked national debate. His newest work, THE MINDS OF BOYS (September 2005) provides a revolutionary new framework, based in neuro-biology, by which to understand and care for the educational needs of our sons.

Michael has served as a consultant to families, corporations, therapists, physicians, school districts, community agencies, churches, criminal justice personnel and other professionals, traveling to approximately 20 cities a year to keynote at conferences. His training videos (also available as DVDs) for parents and volunteers are used by Big Brother and Big Sister agencies in the U.S. and Canada.

As an educator, Michael previously taught at Gonzaga University, Eastern Washington University, and Ankara University. His speaking engagements include Harvard University, Johns Hopkins University, Stanford University, Macalester College, University of Colorado, University of Missouri-Kansas City, and UCLA. His philosophy reflects the diverse cultures (European, Asian, Middle Eastern and American) in which he has lived, worked and studied.

Michael's work has been featured in various media, including the New York Times, the Washington Post, USA Today, Newsweek, Time, People, Reader's Digest, the Wall Street Journal, Parenting, Good Housekeeping, Redbook, and on the Today Show, Good Morning America, CNN, PBS and National Public Radio.

Louann Johnson
     2005 Keynote Speaker

LouAnne Johnson is a former US Navy journalist, Marine Corps officer, high school teacher, and author of six non fiction books. Michelle Pfeiffer portrayed Johnson in the 1995 box office hit Dangerous Minds based on The New York Times best seller My Posse Don't Do Homework.

In 1989, Johnson taught English as an intern at a high school in San Mateo County, CA. The following year, she taught English and reading to non-English speaking students, and was selected as one of four teachers in the Computer Academy, a school within a school for at-risk teens, one of ten pilot programs funded by a Federal grant. Two years later, she was appointed department chair for the Academy. During the government evaluation of the ten pilot programs, Johnson's group rated first in higher grade point averages, increased self-esteem, academic achievement, and student retention.

In 1993, Johnson moved to Las Cruces, NM, and taught freshman composition at New Mexico State University while taking creative writing courses. In 1994-1995, she taught Developmental English, Literature and Composition at Onate High School in Las Cruces. From 1999-2000, she taught developmental Reading/Writing, Introduction to Fiction, and literature courses for secondary teacher students at Western New Mexico University in Truth or Consequences. In 2001-2002, she taught freshman English at Alamogordo High School and Technical Communications at NMSU - Alamogordo. At present, she is working as a free-lance writer and educational consultant.

Johnson is also the author of Making Waves: A Woman in this Man's Navy, The Girls in the Back of the Class, School is Not a Four-Letter Word and Two Parts Textbook, One Part Love. Her most recent book is The Queen of Education. and she is currently writing a classroom teacher's handbook entitled Teaching Outside the Box. My Posse and The Girls were both condensed in Reader's Digest magazine, and Dangerous Minds has been published in eight languages, including Italian, German, Japanese and French.

One of a family of five children raised in rural northwestern Pennsylvania, Johnson enlisted in the US Navy in 1971 and served eight years on active duty, achieving the rank of Petty Officer First Class. She earned scholastic honors at Defense Information School in Ft. Harrison, IN, and later was awarded the Navy Commendation Medal and Air Force Achievement Award for her work as a journalist and radio-TV broadcaster. She earned a BS in psychology while on active duty, then completed Marine Corps Officer Candidate School where she earned the title of Honor Woman, 116th Women Officer Candidate Company, and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant. Following her honorable discharge from military service, she returned to college and earned a secondary teaching credential and a master's degree in teaching English.

Herman Boone
    2004 Keynote Speaker

In 1971, Herman Boone faced the challenge of a lifetime, and his inspirational story was captured in the Disney film Remember the Titans starring Academy Award-winner Denzel Washington. In 1971, racial tensions ran high in Alexandria, VA, as three schools were newly integrated to form the T.C. Williams High School. It was from this union that the Titan football team was created. The former rivalries between the schools coupled with the strain between the black and white players resulted in a team that was far from united.

Tensions only escalated when Boone, assistant coach of the former T.C. Williams High School, was named head coach of the Titans, passing over Bill Yoast, the local favorite and successful head coach of the former white Hammond High. Yoast's supporters were angered by Boone's appointment, which was seen as a gesture of goodwill to the black community.

Remarkably, the two coaches were able to put aside their prejudices, and in doing so they unified their players to form a team whose common vision was to respect each other and win football games. At the same time, through the game of football, Boone and Yoast were able to help their small Virginian community put aside their intolerance and join together to support their children. The Titans became one of the best teams in Virginia, compiling a 13-0 record and went on to win the state championship.

Remember the Titans screenwriter Gregory Allen Howard said in a Washington Post interview, "Herman is Shakespearean. The beauty of Herman and what he did was that it was sort of unconscious. If you'd ask Herman when he took over T.C. Williams, 'Were you trying to make a point with these kids?' he would have said, 'No, I just want to win football games.' He had to get the players to get along to win football games. And it worked for just that reason-because it wasn't self-conscious. He did something quite beyond what even he realized."

Boone is now retired but continues to motivate and inspire audiences with presentations on respect, teamwork, community involvement and importance of character, among others.

Dave Pelzer
    2003 Keynote Speaker

In a word, Dave Pelzer embodies Esprit: Spirit, Humor, & Wit. As a child, his resillence enabled him to overcome extreme life threatening obstacles. As an adult, his inspirational message and sense of humor and wit have empowered countless individual throughout the world to overcome their challenges-whether personal or professional-to meet and achieve their goals head-on.

Dave has experienced a truly extraordinary life. As a child, he endured the horrors of child abuse, which included physical torture, mental cruelty, and near starvation. At age 12, Dave was rescued and placed in foster care until he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force at age 18. As a young adult, he was determined to better himself-no matter what the odds.

Dave's first book, A Child Called "It", and his latest book, Help Yourself, have been nominated for the Pulitzer Prize. Dave is one of the only authors to have four books simultaneously on the New York Times Best Sellers List and the first author to have three books simultaneously on this list in trade paperback. Dave is the only author to have four #1 international Best Selling books.

As an author, educator, and consultant, Dave has dedicated his life helping others....to help themselves.

Ann Bancroft
    2002 Keynote Speaker

Ann Bancroft is one of the world’s preeminent polar explorers and an internationally recognized leader who is dedicated to inspiring women and girls around the world to unleash the power of their dreams. Through her various roles as an explorer, educator, sought-after speaker and philanthropist, Ann believes that by sharing stories related to her dreams of outdoor adventure, she can help inspire a global audience to pursuer their individual dreams.

Ann’s teamwork and leadership skills have undergone severe tests during her polar expeditions and provided her with opportunities to shatter female stereotypes. The tenacity and courage that define her character have earned Ann worldwide recognition as one of today’s most influential role models for women and girls. She has been named among Glamour magazine’s “Women of the Year” (2001); featured in the book Remarkable Women of the Twentieth Century (1998); inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame (1995); named Ms. Magazine’s “Woman of the Year” (1987); and honored with numerous other awards for her accomplishments.

Ed Asner
    2001 Keynote Speaker

Versatile, committed, eloquent and talented are all adjectives that describe actor/activist Edward Asner. Perhaps best known for his award-winning comedic and dramatic portrayal of the crusty but lovable journalist Lou Grant, Mr. Asner achieved a crossover with this character that most actors only dream about.

Originating the role of Lou Grant, grumpy boss with the heart of gold on the smash comedy The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Asner won Emmys in 1971, 1972 and 1975. He garnered the same award for the same character in 1978 and again in 1980 on the highly acclaimed dramatic series Lou Grant, and added two more Emmys with Rich Man, Poor Man, and Roots.

Danny Glover
    2000 Keynote Speaker

Acclaimed actor and internationally-renowned superstar, will key the Friday afternoon session at the NWEA Conference.

From Places in the Heart and the Lethal Weapon series to the award-winning To Sleep with Anger (which he also executive produced), Danny Glover is one of Hollywood's most renowned and respected leading men. His most recent project united him with Oprah Winfrey (first brought together for the filming of Alice Walker's The Color Purple) for the acclaimed film adaption of Toni Morrison's Beloved.

It is almost impossible to compile a complete listing of all Danny's community related efforts and supported causes. Out of his generous heart and desire to be of service, Danny lends a hand to so many worthy causes that to list them would be a monumental if nearly impossible task. He has spoken to young people at junior and senior high schools about the importance of education and self-determination; he has pitched in and helped several literacy programs. Danny has previously served as a spokesperson for the Coors Literacy Program and the VISA "Read Me a Story" campaign.