Some of the state's and nation's most influential educational leaders will address the 2007 GSBA/GSSA Annual Conference.
| Jamie Vollmer, President, Vollmer, Inc. |
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Jamie Vollmer is President of Vollmer, Inc., a consulting firm working to increase student success by strengthening community support of America's schools. Over the last eighteen years he has worked with school districts, chambers of commerce and educational foundations to improve student success. His presentations have been praised as both practical and energizing. He uses statistics, logic and humor to deliver a positive message regarding the future of our schools, and outlines a community-based plan to develop human capital within schools that give all students the opportunity to unfold their full potential.
Jamie is the author of the forth-coming book, Stand Up for Public Schools. He has written and produced the videos, Why Our Schools Need to Change, Teachers are Heroes, and Building Support for America's Schools. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Pennsylvania State University and a Juris Doctor from Catholic University in Washington, DC.
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| Kathy Cox, Superintendent of Schools |
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As the State Superintendent of Schools and the Chief Executive Officer of the Georgia Board of Education, Kathy Cox has led the state’s 180 public school districts since her election in November of 2002. She has made countless contributions to public education through her 15 years as a classroom teacher and her service for two terms in the Georgia legislature as a state representative. Improving communication among the state’s leadership, school district superintendents and education stakeholders and cultivating strong partnerships with the Governor and the Georgia Board of Education, Superintendent Cox has successfully rallied Georgia’s education partners around a single unified vision of "leading the nation in improving student achievement."
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| Dean Alford, Chairman of the Governor’s Education Finance Task Force |
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In September 2003, Dean Alford was sworn in by Governor Sonny Perdue as a member of the State Board of Education for the State of Georgia. Most recently Governor Perdue asked Mr. Alford to Chair the Governor’s Education Finance Task Force. Mr. Alford is President and Chief Executive Officer of Allied Utility Network, a consulting firm to the electric and natural gas utility industry. Mr. Alford is known nationally for his entrepreneurship and strategic planning expertise. He has been personally responsible for the formation of five startup companies. In addition, he has published numerous articles and lectures throughout the United States and Canada on the subject of energy policy and utility issues. Mr. Alford has served as consultant to the U.S. Congressional Office of Technology Assessment on energy policy issues. From l983 until l993, he was a five-term member of the Georgia House of Representative.
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| Casey Cagle, Lt. Governor |
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Cagle was first elected to the state Senate in 1994, where he served 12 successful and productive years. On November 7, 2006, Casey Cagle became the first Republican ever elected to the state’s second highest office. As Georgia’s 11 th Lieutenant Governor, Casey is committed to creating an environment in which Georgia’s citizens and businesses can prosper. He is working to create a pro-jobs culture throughout state government and an education system that focuses on the needs of the individual child. Cagle will unite the Senate around the common goal of realizing that vision and making life better for all Georgians.
In recognition of his achievements and his commitment to Georgia, Georgia Trend Magazine listed Casey as one of the 100 most influential Georgians of 2006. James Magazine also named him one of its People of the Year for 2007. He serves as Vice Chair of the One Georgia Authority, Vice Chair of the Georgia State Finance and Investment Commission, and on the Executive Committee of the Republican Lt. Governor’s Association. |
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| Glenn Richardson, Speaker of the House |
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Speaker Richardson has served as a member of the Georgia House of Representatives from District 19 since 1996. He became the speaker of the house in 2005, the first republican in over 130 years.
Throughout his service to the state of Georgia, his colleagues, the media and many private organizations have recognized his commitment and dedication. The Republican Party of Georgia named him the 2003 Legislator of the Year. He was the recipient of the 2003 American Cancer Society Capitol Dome Award. The March of Dimes recognized him “for providing extraordinary leadership in passing legislation to reduce the number of premature births in Georgia.” Insider Advantage’s James Magazine named him the 2005 “Man of the Year.” He was also the recipient of the prestigious 2005 Wayne Shackelford Award from the Association of County Commissioners of Georgia and the James A. Coffman Award by the Medical Association of Georgia.
In 2006, Glenn became chairman of the Southern Legislative Conference (SLC) and the Republican Legislative Campaign Committee (RLCC). |
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| Stephen Peters, President/CEO of The Peters Group |
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A charismatic and inspiring trainer/speaker, Peters is President/CEO of The Peters Group and partner with CASENEX, LLC an on-line professional development company. He is an educational consultant with HOPE Foundation and Visionary Leaders Institute.
Stephen has been a classroom teacher, assistant principal, principal and director of secondary education. He has been involved in the education field for over twenty years and most of his experiences have been in schools that made significant growth in short periods of time thus, resulting in both National and State Blue-Ribbon distinction.
Peters has served on panels as an education expert with former U.S. Secretary of Education, Dr. Rod Paige in Washington, D.C. The focus of this nationally televised town meeting was education reform and effective intervention strategies for at-risk youth.
His revolutionary mentoring and self-empowering program, The Gentlemen's Club, has been featured on The Oprah Winfrey Show as well as “America, America,” which broadcasts to two million viewers in Portugal and Brazil.
In his book, Inspired to Learn: Why We Must Give Children Hope, Stephen not only outlines his vision for the children in our schools he goes on to share how he and his staff turned their vision into operational strategies. His second book “Do You Know Enough About Me to Teach Me” is being used throughout the U.S. as an effective tool for reaching disadvantaged and at-risk youth. He is also a contributing author for the newly released book “Engaging Every Learning” which is deemed the soul of educational leadership. Mr. Peters latest books “Teaching to Capture and Inspire all Learners” (Corwin Press) and “Letters to my Teachers, Vol. I” will be released December 2007.
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