In striving to provide educators with a national quality inservice, the NWEA has committed to inviting some of the best presenters in the nation and midwest to speak at the 2009 conference. These presenters are known for their unwavering commitment to education and their dedicated support of educators.

• George Batsche
• Patrick Schwartz
• Corwin Kronenberg
• Professor Gizmo
• Doug Buehl

George Batsche

George Batsche will focus on the rationale for Response to Intervention (RtI), the essential components of an implementation plan and the outcomes that can be expected for students, families, and educators. The workshop will cover the definition of RtI; foundations in Research, Practice, and Statute; core principles and key components; an example of a tiered model; policy issues; professional development issues; using RtI data and processes to guide eligibility for student special services; and suggested resources. The presentation will focus on how to develop and maintain consensus to implement RtI, the components that are necessary to ensure that the infrastructure is in place, and the policies/procedures and decision rules (intervention effectiveness and eligibility) to ensure consistent implementation.

Dr. Batsche is one of the most highly regarded experts in the nation on Problem Solving and RtI. He is Co-director of the Institute for School Reform and the Florida Statewide Problem- Solving RtI Project at the University of South Florida in Tampa. He is co-author of Response to Intervention: Policy Consideration and Implementation for the National Association of State Directors of Special Education in 2005. Dr. Batsche is a contributing author to The Handbook of Response to Intervention: The Science and Practice of Assessment and Intervention (NASDSE, 2007) and Co-Author of Response to Intervention: Competing Views (Assessment for Effective Intervention, 2006). Dr. Batsche has provided support to Project ASPIRE in Illinois, and has been involved in the implementation of the Problem Solving Model at the state, district, and building levels for the past two decades.

Patrick Schwartz

Dr. Patrick Schwarz is a dynamic and engaging professor, author, motivational speaker and leader in Education (Inclusive Education, Special Education, General Education and Educational Leadership) and Human Services. Patrick’s company is Creative Culture Consulting LLC. Patrick currently is a Professor in Diversity in Learning and Teaching Department from National-Louis University, Chicago.

He has a Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in Special Education, Educational Leadership

His PROFESSIONAL MISSION is to promote education and human services that advance the status of people of all ages with diverse support needs. This will enable individuals to successfully be engaged, find meaning and be respected members of their learning, working and living communities.

Handouts

Corwin Kronenberg

Corwin Kronenberg is a parent, author, teacher and an outstanding presenter. His 34 years of experience in the school setting makes it possible for him to bring extensive down to earth knowledge of the realities of kids. Corwin is a highly sought after expert and speaker on the topics of self-concept and discipline. He presents his topic with enthusiasm, drama, humor and credibility. He has gained recognition as an international presenter as a result of his fast-paced, entertaining style and the usefulness of the information represented.

Professor Gizmo

Gary has taught Science in Appleton, Wisconsin since 1968. In 1985 Gary received the Wisconsin D.P.I. Award of Excellence for District Middle School Teacher of the Year and in 1987 received the Appleton Area School District, Mielke Award for Secondary Educator of The Year and in 1993 received the Wisconsin Society of Science Teachers Regional Award for Excellence in Education. In 1996 the Kings Daughters awarded Gary the Appleton North High School Educator of the year. The student body of North High School also selected Gary for the "Educator Of The Year" award in 1997. He has been on the Board of Directors and has served as president of the Wisconsin Society of Science Teachers. Gary has also been a staff member for the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction at Science World from 1990-1999.

Professor Gizmo was developed as a science outreach program to fulfill a requirement for the Science World experience in 1989. Gary, as Professor Gizmo, has presented his science program to hundreds of thousands in Wisconsin, Illinois, Minnesota, Michigan, California, New Jersey, Iowa, Missouri, Colorado, Wyoming, Indiana and Kentucky.

Gary loves performing as Professor Gizmo and especially enjoys the interaction with the audience. And now that he has retired from public school education he devotes most of his energies to creating excitement for Science in elementary and middle schools across the Midwest!! Professor Gizmo can visit your school anytime day or evening!!! Call soon to reserve the date you need.

Doug Buehl

Doug Buehl is a teacher, author, and national literacy consultant. His 33 years as a teacher in the Madison Metropolitan School District, Madison, Wisconsin, include experiences as a social studies teacher, reading teacher and reading specialist at Madison East High School, and as district Adolescent Literacy Support Teacher. He is the author of Classroom Strategies for Interactive Learning, 3rd Edition, published by the International Reading Association, 2009, and co-author of Reading and the High School Student: Strategies to Enhance Literacy, 2nd Edition, 2007; and Strategies to Enhance Literacy and Learning in Middle School Content Area Classrooms 3rd Edition, 2007, both published by Allyn & Bacon.

In addition, Doug was a regular columnist on literacy strategies for OnWEAC, published by the Wisconsin Education Association Council, for nearly two decades. He was a founding member of the IRA Commission on Adolescent Literacy, past President of the Wisconsin State Reading Association, and past President of the IRA Secondary Reading Interest Group, and was the 1996 recipient of the International Reading Association’s Nila Banton Smith Award, presented to an outstanding secondary reading educator. A frequent presenter at state and national conferences, he recently served as co-chair of the DPI Adolescent Literacy Task Force for Wisconsin. He currently teaches an adolescent literacy course at Edgewood College in Madison.