Keynote Speaker
Rafe Esquith
What does Rafe Esquith talk about?
There Are No Shortcuts
Newsday recently called Rafe Esquith a "modern-day Thoreau, who teaches the value of hard work, honest self-reflection, and the courage to go one's own way." In his energetic and unforgettable talks, Rafe celebrates the joy of learning, the power of love and kindness, and the ability of children to adapt, survive and prosper in even the toughest circumstances. Always accompanied on stage by some of his students, Rafe touches on key issues in education, including classroom management, Shakepeare in the classroom, problem solving, history, and rebelling against a system that loves to crush creative people.
There are no shortcuts. In a world hell bent on quick fixes, this may be a hard lesson to impart to our youth. But Rafe Esquith, one of America's most beloved and celebrated school teachers, is living proof that patience, understanding, love and imagination can work miracles.
By any measure, Rafe Esquith's fifth grade students have been wildly successful. Attending school in a Los Angeles neighborhood plagued by guns, gangs, and drugs, these kids, many of whom are first generation immigrants living in poverty and learning English as a second language, voluntarily come to school at 6:30 in the morning and study with him until 5:00 in the afternoon.
In the exceptional classroom known as Room 56, these students learn Shakespeare, play Vivaldi, score in the top 1 percent on standardized tests, and go on to attend Ivy League universities. Rafe has taken them to perform in front of Congress and at the Royal Shakespeare Company and the Globe Theatre in London. Sir Peter Hall even hired them to perform an unforgettable Midsummer Night's Dream at the Ahmanson in Los Angeles.
For his tireless efforts, Rafe has gained many admirers: Sir Ian McKellan says, "Rafe Esquith is my only hero," and The New York Times calls him "a genius and a saint." He is the only teacher to be awarded the president's National Medal of the Arts, and he was named, by Queen Elizabeth, as a Member of the British Empire. He has also received the Walt Disney American Teacher Award for National Teacher of the Year, Oprah's Use Your Life Award, and the Dalai Lama' Compassion in Action Award.
Rafe and his students are also the subject of a highly-acclaimed PBS documentary, The Hobart Shakespeareans. In his new book, Teach Like Your Hair's On Fire: The Methods and Madness Inside Room 56, due in January 2007, Rafe, drawing from a lifetime of experience, has written nothing less than an inspiring and thought-provoking road map for parents, teachers, and anyone who cares about the future success of our nation's children.
Capnote Speaker
Dr. John Falk
Nationally-known author and Sea Grant Professor of Free-Choice Learning, Department of Science and Mathematics Education, Oregon State University. Author of “Lessons without Limits: How Free-Choice Learning is Transforming Education” and “Free-Choice Science Education: How We Learn Science Outside of School.” President Emeritus, Institute for Learning Innovation of Maryland.
Executive Leadership Optional Track
Kory Kogon
Inspiring Trust
Kory is passionate about helping organizations grow their people and their bottom line results. Her expertise in coaching, training, and consulting has proved beneficial at all levels throughout an organization from business owners, to managers, to staff.
Clients describe her as dynamic and straight forward. She consistently motivates people to take action. Clients appreciate her ability to offer real world skills that they can apply “now-not next year.”
Kory’s main clients include companies and agencies in the federal and city government, hotel and supply chain management industries.
Kory joined FranklinCovey with a range of unique skills and expertise. In addition to owning her own training and consulting firm, Kory spent over 11 years as an Executive Vice President of Worldwide Operations for Alpha Graphics, Inc., a printing franchise with over 300 business centers worldwide.
She was responsible for helping franchisees start up their business, develop staff, and reach profitability in a highly competitive, commodity-driven industry. She also provided training and development in all areas of performance including Quality ISO 9000, technology, e-commerce, human resources, learning-training systems, sales and marketing, financial systems, and operational performance.
In 2005 Kory was honored as one of the “Top 30 Women to Watch” by Utah Magazine. She is the President of the Tucson chapter of The 
American Society of Training and Development (ASTD). She is an active member of the Worldwide Association of Business Coaches as well as the National Association of Women Business Owners.
More Info link http://www.2010nae4ha.org/pdf/ExeLdrshpOption.pdf
State and National Staff Breakfast
Jeff Williamson
"Seeding Change: Stewardship, the Future
and 4-H in Improving Quality of Life"
Jeff is the president of the Arizona Zoological Society, a private 501(c)(3) corporation. Since 1962, it has operated the Phoenix Zoo (serving 1.5 million visitors per year and voted one of the top 5 zoos in the nation for kids) and supports over 30 conservation projects in southern Arizona and Mexico. The Society also operates an urban 4-H program at their Harmony Farm. Jeff is a founding board member of “Be Outdoors Arizona,” an initiative to encourage nature-centered outdoor experiences that enrich the lives of people, particularly children. This initiative operates under the banner of the Children and Nature Network on whose advisory board Jeff serves. Jeff has been involved in connecting children with nature for more than 40 years and considers himself an environmentalist, zoologist, educator and business manager. Jeff is also a former 4-H member from Yuma County (AZ).
Luncheon Speaker
“Fostering World Citizenship and Global Understanding
in an Interdependent World” Luncheon
Steve Buchele
Steve Buchele is the son of Rod and Mary Buchele (Rod is the Area Extension 4-H Specialist for SW Kansas). Steve participated last summer in the Kansas 4-H-Japanese Exchange Program which for him was a life-changing experience. Steve will share his perspective as a youth member about the value of international programs and the critical importance of fostering world citizenship.
“Innovations in Youth Development” Panel
Moderator: Jana Bommersbach
Jana is one of Arizona’s most acclaimed journalists writes for Phoenix magazine. The Arizona Press Club has recognized her lifetime of achievement with its highest honor - The Distinguished Service Award. and the Society of Professional Journalists have inducted her into the ORDER OF THE SILVER KEY as an "inspiration to the state's media community." She has been Arizona Journalist of the Year and twice was recognized as the nation's top city magazine columnist. Jana's debut book, "The Trunk Murderess: Winnie Ruth Judd," was nominated for the prestigious Edgar Allan Poe Award and won Arizona's only literary prize (and is a 4-H alumnus from North Dakota).
This session is held in conjunction with the full conference.
- Dr. Stephen Russell, Director, Frances McClelland Institute for Children and Families, University of Arizona
- Rosemary Ybarra-Hernandez - CEO/Founder of AGUILA Youth Leadership Institute, Phoenix, AZ
- Jeannie Benally, Assistant Agent, 4-H Youth Development, Navajo Nation, Shiprock, NM
Conference Co-Chairs: Bryan Chadd, (602) 827-8200 ext. 350; Jan Norquest, (928) 774-1868 ext. 14
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