ATPE is excited to announce our keynote speakers for the 2025 ATPE Summit!
Opening Keynote: Dave Davlin, 2 p.m. Monday, July 7
Over 25 years ago, Dave began bringing smiles to faces with a form of entertainment he developed as a young boy. From NBA and major college arenas across America to the Summer Olympic Games in Seoul, South Korea—and even to the world-famous Branson Strip—“Travelin’ Davlin” has entertained people of every age and background. His amazing ability with basketballs even landed his name and picture in the 1990 Guinness Book of World Records.
Dave began to hone his speaking skills in the early 90s as a national speaker in the public schools across America. Combining his entertainment ability with a powerful message, he was instrumental in the fight for education and against drugs. At the advice of friends working in corporate America, Dave began to develop presentations for the corporate and association market, and the rest is history. He now speaks at numerous corporate and association conferences each year. From public school students to CEOs, Dave’s message has made a difference in the lives of thousands, and his impact continues to grow each year as he shares his philosophy and wisdom through speaking and writing.
About Dave’s Presentation:
Success can be defined in its simplest form as making life better for someone else. The key to success in any organization lies not only in the development of great programs and services, but also in the development of great people. In this interactive, humorous, and powerful presentation, Dave shares three essential ingredients for developing a purpose-driven mentality to achieve a fulfilling career and balanced life. You will be challenged to make the most of every moment in order to develop yourself personally and professionally while creating value and making a difference in the lives of others.
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Dave Davlin’s appearance arranged through Gotham Artists.
Closing Keynote: Jonathan Alsheimer, 11 a.m. Wednesday, July 9
Jonathan Alsheimer is the unorthodox, energetic, and entertaining middle school teacher who refuses to live a life of limitations and works with UFC Fighters, celebrities, and clothing brands. In addition to being a passionate educator, Jonathan is an international keynote speaker and the author of NEXT LEVEL TEACHING, a March 2020 No. 1 Amazon new release. In August 2024, Jonathan released his latest book, School of Engagement, also a top new release.
Jonathan taught at the world-renowned Fred Lynn Middle School, which was featured in two documentaries: Relentless and Relentless: Chasing Accreditation. Jonathan is the teacher who forged a partnership with UFC Fighter and light-weight contender Paul Felder to bring his students a message of never giving up, empowering them to fight for their education and believe in themselves—all principles that Jonathan promotes in his classroom.
Jonathan also partnered with the MMA clothing brand Fear the Fighter to establish a stop-bullying campaign with Relentless principal Hamish Brewer. But Jonathan didn’t stop there, establishing a relationship with MTV reality star Chris “Drama” Pfaff, the CEO of Young and Reckless, to promote and build student leaders in his school.
Jonathan formally taught at THE Chancellor Middle School in northern Virginia and has been featured on USA Channel 9 and NBC News for establishing a national give-back movement called “A Rae of Hope.” Jonathan started “A Rae of Hope” in his classroom to help pediatric patients in hospitals, and the movement has now grown to schools and classrooms in over 15 states.
As Jonathan always says: “Game-changing is not a cliché motto; it is a way of life … some talk about it while others live by it!”
Jonathan Alsheimer’s appearance arranged through Gotham Artists.
Breakout Sessions
8:30–10:45 a.m. Wednesday, July 9
These two-hour sessions will have a 15-minute break at 9:30.
Empowering Educators: Harnessing AI for Smarter Educational Planning
Speaker: Vanessa Brown
Artificial intelligence is transforming the way educators approach lesson planning, instruction and communication. In this interactive workshop, educators will discover how to harness the power of AI to streamline tasks, enhance efficiency, and free up valuable time. We will begin with the fundamentals of AI, explore its capabilities, and discuss ethical considerations, and then end with a deep dive into the development of prompts and other AI tools.
Transforming "What If?" Into Action
Speaker: Janet Sutton
This interactive workshop invites educators to reimagine challenges as opportunities through the power of asking “What if?” Inspired by the themes of hope, passion, and transformation, participants will reflect on their own experiences, collaborate on innovative ideas, and create actionable plans to inspire change in their classrooms and schools. Through interactive activities such as reflective journaling, table discussions, and vision mapping, educators will explore practical strategies to foster creativity, connection, and resilience. Join us to ignite a mindset of possibility and discover how small shifts can create a ripple effect of meaningful transformation.
8:30–9:30 a.m. Wednesday, July 9
I Am a Teacher: The Power We Hold Through Self-Control, Connection, and Expectations
Speaker: Dr. Laurie Jones Curtis
This session will explore the transformative power of self-control in building a positive classroom culture, particularly for students with dyslexia and learning disabilities. Effective classroom management thrives on prevention, and proactive strategies help reduce behavior problems by clarifying expectations and maintaining a structured environment. Despite best efforts, challenges can arise. When misbehavior occurs, teachers need tools to respond professionally and minimize disruptions. We will discuss how clear behavioral expectations empower students, especially those with learning differences, helping them feel understood and motivated to succeed. Participants will leave with actionable tools to promote self-control and behavior that supports academic and personal growth.
Leading with Impact: Supporting Paraprofessionals for Classroom Success
Speaker: Tanya BeGell, Ed.D
This session explores strategies for building and maintaining strong partnerships between teachers and parents. Participants will learn effective communication techniques, discover practical strategies for involving parents in their child’s education, and explore the importance of creating a welcoming and inclusive environment for all families.
Y’all Means All: Microsoft's Learning Accelerators and Accessibility Tools
Speaker: Kiree Bons
Embark on a transformative journey into education with this comprehensive professional development session. Delve into the myriad possibilities of Microsoft’s Learning Accelerators and Accessibility Tools, where we’ll spotlight essential features such as Reading Progress, Immersive Reader, Reflect, Speaker Coach, Insights, Translator, Lens, and more. Discover how these powerful tools can revolutionize teaching and learning and personalized educational experiences. Through practical demonstrations, collaborative activities, and insightful discussions, we will equip you with the knowledge and skills to leverage these resources effectively in your educational practice. Whether you’re an educator, administrator, or instructional designer, this session offers invaluable insights and practical strategies to enhance accessibility and accelerate learning outcomes. Join us and unlock the full potential of Microsoft’s innovative tools in education.
It’s Elementary! Music, Children’s Literature, & Technology
Speaker: Sarah Mayne
The combination of elementary music, children’s literature, and technology opens opportunities for the elementary classroom to be inclusive of all learners. We’ll explore strategies for reaching across the curriculum to reading, math, science, social studies, and the other fine arts, opening opportunities for all learners to learn music and technology across the curriculum.
A Cross-Curricular Collaboration: Stimulating Communication between Newcomer Emergent Bilingual and Bilingual Students
Speaker(s): Katherine Parrish Whitbeck, Ed.D; Roya Dinbali; and Veronica York
The power of cross-curricular collaboration to enhance student engagement and learning is exemplified through a lesson on fingerprinting and self-identity! Hear how high school freshmen and sophomore Newcomer Emergent Bilingual students enrolled in English as a Second or Other Language (ESOL) I and II classes and junior/senior bilingual students enrolled in CTE Forensic Science classes were provided an opportunity to highlight the power of being bilingual.
9:45–10:45 a.m. Wednesday, July 9
Meet the Parents: Cultivating Strong Partnerships for Greater Student Success
Speaker: Jill Honeycutt
This session explores strategies for building and maintaining strong partnerships between teachers and parents. Participants will learn effective communication techniques, discover practical strategies for involving parents in their child’s education, and explore the importance of creating a welcoming and inclusive environment for all families.
Making Prized Poets and Lovers of Language in the 21st Century
Speaker: Alice Faye Duncan
Award-winning author Alice Faye Duncan will offer teachers a survey of American poets and poems that will inspire students to fall in love with reading and writing poetry for personal pleasure. The survey of poets will be a selection of luminaries from women and minority groups underrepresented in publishing. Join Duncan as she spotlights these works and poems from her award-winning book Memphis, Martin and the Mountaintop, recipient of the 2019 Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor.
Teaching to New Heights: Leveraging T-TESS for Professional Growth
Speaker: Deborah Davis
This session is designed for educators seeking to enhance their teaching through effective planning and documentation of T-TESS domains. It addresses the gap between administrative expectations and practical teacher guidance. Domain by domain, the presentation introduces innovative methods, including AI tools, to streamline goal setting, align lessons with standards, and effectively document progress toward the domains as presented in the T-TESS rubric. With practical tips, this session empowers teachers to create impactful lessons, achieve high T-TESS rankings, and transform their teaching into a fulfilling and successful experience.
Special session from our partners at TAGT
Speaker: TBD
More information coming soon!
Special session from our partners at TCEA
Speaker: Bruce Ellis
More information coming soon!