Dr. John Hodge
Dr. John W. Hodge stands out as one of America’s most sought-after speakers in K-12 education. He is renowned for his ability to transform research into practical strategies for academic success.
His journey in education began after serving with distinction in the 7th Infantry Division of the United States Army, laying the foundation for a career dedicated to empowering students and educators alike.
Dr. Hodge’s academic journey is impressive, culminating in a Doctor of Education degree from Virginia Tech, where he conducted extensive research on factors influencing the academic outcomes of impoverished children. This academic foundation, combined with his hands-on experience in various educational roles, has shaped his unique approach to education reform.
Throughout his career, Dr. Hodge has worn many hats – from reading and English teacher to school administrator and education consultant. His tenure as Director of An Achievable Dream Academy, a high-performing school in a high-poverty area, provided him with invaluable insights into effective educational interventions, particularly for schools serving impoverished children. This experience led him to co-found the Urban Learning and Leadership Center (ULLC), an organization dedicated to raising student achievement and reducing the achievement gap.
Today, Dr. Hodge serves as the Chief Inspirational Officer of AADULLC, following a strategic merger between ULLC and An Achievable Dream, Inc. This union has amplified their collective ability to assist school districts across the United States in various school improvement initiatives.
What sets Dr. Hodge apart is his remarkable ability to bridge the gap between theory and practice. He has a proven track record of helping educators in diverse settings – rural, urban, and suburban – implement necessary changes to meet and exceed rigorous academic standards.
Dr. Bill Daggett
Bill Daggett is the founder of both the Successful Practices Network and the International Center for Leadership in Education. Dr. Daggett is recognized worldwide for his proven ability to move education systems towards more rigorous and relevant skills and knowledge for all students. For 30 years, he has crisscrossed our nation, as well as the industrialized world, to lead school reform efforts to effectively prepare students for their future.
While an avid supporter of public education, he also challenges all of us to be more focused on our children’s future than on maintaining the schools of our youth. His insights and leadership have caused nearly every major education association in the country, hundreds of school districts, numerous political and business leaders, publishers, and others to seek out his advice and guidance.
Dr. Daggett began his career as a teacher, local administrator, and then director with the New York State Education Department. He spends much of his time providing leadership and guidance to the National Dropout Prevention Center and the Career and Technical Education Technical Assistance Center, which are part of the Successful Practices Network.
He is the creator of the Rigor/Relevance Framework and the Future-Focused Success Framework which has recently become the cornerstone of much of the nation’s school reform efforts.
Dr. Daggett has a special commitment to individuals with disabilities. He and his wife, Bonnie, volunteer their time and lend their support to Wildwood Programs in upstate New York. Wildwood serves the needs of people of all ages who, like their daughter Audrey, have neurological impairments/learning disabilities or autism, by enabling them to become the best that they can be.
Heather Smith
Heather Smith, a Haywood County Schools math teacher, is the 2024 Burroughs Wellcome Fund North Carolina Teacher of the Year.
Smith has spent her entire career teaching in Haywood County Schools. She’s taught sixth and eighth grade math at Waynesville Middle School since 2019. Prior to that, she taught at Canton Middle School and Clyde Elementary School. Smith is a graduate of Western Carolina University and is a National Board Certified Teacher.
In her application materials, Smith shared that she believes it is essential to build positive relationships in the classroom. In her experience, students who feel loved and valued, and who are held to high expectations, are much more likely to feel safe enough to try new things and engage more deeply in the classroom. The importance of positive relationships extends to fellow educators, parents and the community, as well.
Smith says that the question, “When am I ever going to use this in my life?” motivates her to approach math differently. She is passionate about helping her students understand why the skills they learn in the classroom are important, and she utilizes project-based learning to help them see how they will use these concepts in real life.
She’s also a faculty sponsor for Haywood Middle School’s Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA). Smith uses FCA as an opportunity to connect her students to service opportunities in the community and within their school.
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