ACEI Speakers' Bureau
The ACEI Speakers' Bureau connects professional, engaging speakers with schools, organizations, associations, and other community groups who are interested in the well-being and education of children. These speakers are highly qualified educators from various geographical regions with a diverse range of specialties.
Topics and areas of expertise include, but are not limited to, the following subjects: advocacy, cultural diversity, curriculum development, early childhood literacy, family life/parent education, inclusion, middle school, self-esteem, special education, stress, teacher education/professional development, and teaching strategies.
Speakers are approved by the ACEI Executive Board and are Professional Members of the organization for a minimum of three years.
Guidelines
All requests for speaking engagements should be directed to the Public
Relations Department at 800-423-3563 or 301-570-2111. To ensure availability
and to avoid scheduling conflicts, requests should be made at least one
month prior to the scheduled presentation.
Although all speakers have listed their areas of expertise, several of the speakers can also address other areas of interest. If a tailored presentation is desired, this should be discussed with the individual presenter.
Fees
ACEI expects individual schools, organizations, associations, and community
groups to cover the cost of travel for the speaker. ACEI does not charge
a fee. Honoraria are negotiable. Should an honorarium be offered, speakers
have agreed to donate 10% to ACEI to help promote the Speakers' Bureau
and other ACEI programs.
Speakers
To search by state, click on the following links. ACEI is always searching
for highly qualified applicants to join the Speakers' Bureau. If you have
been an ACEI Professional Member, three years minimum, and have public
speaking experience, call 301-570-2111 for an application or complete
the Speakers' Bureau Application form
online.
| Arizona | Arkansas | Florida | Illinois | Louisiana | Maryland |
| Mississippi | Pennsylvania | South Carolina | Tennessee | Virginia | Wisconsin |
ACEI Speakers
- ARIZONA
Sandra Stone's
expertise in early childhood literacy education has led her to write
several books, including Creating the Multiage Classroom and Playing:
A Kid's Curriculum. As a professor at Northern Arizona University
and the Director of the National Multiage Institute, Stone performs
teacher-training, does consultant work, and conducts ongoing research.
Her areas of expertise include multiage classrooms, play, literacy
development (guided reading, modeled writing, shared books), and portfolio
assessment. Flagstaff, AZ
- ARKANSAS
Merribeth
D. Bruning employs her expertise on various subjects, including
curriculum integration, religious education, multicultural issues,
teacher effectiveness and education, motivation, and research and
trends in early childhood, elementary and music education. She has
presented to audiences ranging from at-risk preschool students and
their families, to international audiences of adults and professional
peers. Chair, Department of Early Childhood, Elementary Education,
and Middle Level Education, Eastern Illinois University, Bruning has
delivered presentations in the United States and Canada. Charleston,
IL
- FLORIDA
Melanie Bazarte
has been dubbed "The Erma Bombeck of Discipline" because she tackles
that serious topic with wit and energetic perception, and uses a variety
of props and techniques to make her presentations memorable nationwide.
Bazarte specializes in teacher training and parenting workshops and
has authored Parenting 101: Because Kids Don't Come with Instructions,
The Care or Repair of Children's Self-Esteem, Dr. Melanie's 115 Fingerplays
and Action Songs. An educator for more than 35 years, Bazarte presently
teaches parenting classes, infant/toddler stimulation, and pre-birth
parenting classes. Previously, she taught preschool, Head Start, and
primary grades. Delray Beach, FL
William
Janiak is a nationally known speaker, author, consultant, composer,
and children's artist. Janiak's sessions provide an atmosphere of
education blending in with hands-on group-participation and fun in
a "We Learn by Doing" format. He offers more than thirty-seven topics,
including Music-Time and Movement, Team Building Games for Children,
Rainy Day Games, Leisure-Time Activities, Fun and Fitness Action Games,
Language and Listening Skills, Supervision Training such as Ethical
Thinking, Communication Skills, Leadership, Cultural Diversity, Time
and Stress Management, Coaching, Delegating; Generic areas such as
Handling Negative Emotions, Inclusion, Stop! Let's Interact, Nurturing
Literacy for the Young Child, Sexual Harassment Awareness, and Domestic
Family Violence. Miami, FL
Catheryn Weitman's presentation style is down-to-earth, realistic, and practical; it provides immediately employable ideas, and it's fun! Her expertise in education is culled from a circular perspective: parent, classroom teacher, principal, college faculty and administrator. Weitman's presentations cover conduct disorders, portfolio development, P-16+, assessment, program development, mentorship, college teaching, action research, grade inflation, collegial coaching, curriculum, standards, and assessment alignment. She has presented before local, regional, national, and international audiences, and to a variety of participants, including preservice/inservice teachers, and vice presidents and presidents of SCDEs. Miami Shores, FL
Janice
Wood's expertise is in the importance of an early literacy curriculum
in Pre-K, kindergarten, and primary classrooms. A frequent keynote
speaker, her workshop sessions, including "Designing a Primary Classroom
that Enhances Early Literacy Development," "Successful Strategies
for Working with At-risk, Urban Primary Children," and "Developing
Positive Family, School, and Community Partnerships," have been attended
by teachers and curriculum people across the country. Jacksonville,
FL
- ILLINOIS
MaryLouise
Burger can speak to the high-profile subjects of children's self-esteem,
toy safety, and dealing with stress. A specialist in early childhood,
Burger's other sessions discuss children's literature and creativity.
Rolling Meadows, IL
- LOUISIANA
James D. Kirylo employs his expertise on various themes related to teacher leadership, characteristics of the effective educator, curriculum development, and issues related to diversity. His presentations are well planned, motivating, and mindful of making the connection from theory to practice. Coupled with his positive, reflective disposition and his many years of experience in education, he has the ability to naturally connect with his audience. Kirylo has conducted presentations and workshops before local, regional, national, and international audiences and to a variety of participants. He has published works in such journals as the Journal of Curriculum Theorizing, Journal of Curriculum and Pedagogy, Journal of Research on Christian Education, Childhood Education and is the author of Teaching, Learning, and Reflecting: Essays on Education (2004, Facultad de Lenguas Vivas-Universidad Evángelica del Paraguay). Hammond, LA
- MARYLAND
William
Fitzhugh uses hands-on, child-centered activities to make geography
education fun and interesting. A recipient of the 1997 NCSS Elementary
Social Studies Teacher of the Year Award, Fitzhugh was an elementary
teacher for more than 28 years. Presently, he teaches graduate geography
courses for teachers and has traveled extensively in Japan, Australia,
Uruguay, Israel, Korea, Italy, and Jordan. Reisterstown, MD
Judith A.
Hatton's workshops and lectures — "Helping Children Manage
Stress," "Working With Primary Special Needs Children," "Effective Classroom
Management," "Working With Difficult Children," and "Working With Difficult
Parents"—cover timely topics in education. For her contributions
to multicultural education and diverse populations she was rewarded
with the 1999 Outstanding Educators Award from the Minority Affairs
Committee of the Prince George's County (MD) Educators Association.
A practical, down-to-earth speaker with a good sense of humor, Hatton
shares her passion for living and learning with a common-sense approach
to her subject matter. Though trained as an Adlerian counselor, Hatton
has become a special educator of primary aged children. Washington,
DC, metropolitan area
- MISSISSIPPI
Mary Jo Ayres,
is an award-winning author and songwriter who conducts presentations,
keynotes, and make-it take-it sessions that are fun, educational, motivational,
and musical. Her songs for children have focused on fire safety, the
Statue of Liberty, good behavior, and helping children to learn letters
and letter sounds. She also emphasizes phonemic awareness for young
children with a crossover of phonics for elementary children. A presenter
at early childhood conferences, international reading conferences, universities,
schools, Head Start agencies, libraries, day care environments, and
other educational organizations in the U.S. and abroad, Ayres is listed
in the Region IV Head Start database for presentations and keynotes.
Her company, Natural Learning, highlights natural, hands-on active ways
for children to learn with songs, fingerplays, puppets, games, and art.
Leland, MS
- PENNSYLVANIA
Mary Anne
Hannibal speaks to current issues and trends in early childhood,
with an emphasis on advocacy strategies; research on intergenerational
programs in early childhood classrooms; research on the young child's
developing understanding of geometric concepts; and a disability awareness
unit for the early childhood classroom. A former elementary school teacher,
Hannibal also owned and operated a preschool. Erie, PA
Ellen
R. Price-Maloy uses humor to inspire creativity and enthusiasm in
her developmentally appropriate practice workshops. Price-Maloy covers
a variety of academic topics, including math, science, music, physical
education, discipline, special needs, cooking, and sign language. Her
sessions include group participation and hands-on practices. Lansdale,
PA
- SOUTH CAROLINA
Patricia
H. Kostell's lively and motivating presentations, "Planning With
a Focus on Your State Standards," "Lifelong Problem Solving Techniques
for Your Students," "Your Classroom Management," "Strategies for Teachers
Working with Children Exposed to Drugs" and "Teaching Reading Strategies,"
bring practical ideas to administrators and teachers. Kostell introduces
new teaching techniques and planning strategies to help teachers improve
instruction. A frequent speaker at state and national conferences, she
has provided a national perspective on various topics in early childhood
education in China, Russia, the Netherlands, South Africa, Scotland
and Ireland. Rock Hill, SC
- TENNESSEE
Krystal L.
Bishop specializes in Special Education, Multiage Classrooms, Language
Arts-Whole Language, Teacher Affirmation, and Motivation. Collegedale,
TN
- VIRGINIA
M. Lee Manning
uses firsthand experiences with young adolescents and middle school
educators to bring a sense of realism and practicality to his professional
presentations and workshops. In "Multicultural Education in Middle Schools,"
"Improving and Refining Middle School Concepts," and "Working with Learners
At-Risk," Manning translates research and theory into practical application.
His professional presentations and inservice workshops have received
considerable praise from educators. Norfolk, VA
- WISCONSIN
Michael Ford
speaks effectively about best practices in elementary reading programs
linking theory and practice. Ford actively involves audiences in exploring
classroom-tested practical ideas and examining the best available research
and theory supporting those ideas. He is the co-author of Reaching
Readers: Flexible and Innovative Strategies for Guided Reading and
Where Have All the Bluebirds Gone? Transforming Ability Based Classrooms.
Ford took personal leave from his position as a teacher-educator in
the field of reading to return to his roots to teach in a first-grade
classroom. He now serves as Associate Dean for the College of Education
and Human Services for the University of Wisconsin at Oshkosh. He stays
active in the field, working with teachers and their students at every
opportunity. Oshkosh, WI
Association for Childhood Education International
17904 Georgia Avenue, Suite 215 Olney, MD 20832-2277
Tel: 301.570.2111 — 800.423.3563
E-mail: jpauldin@acei.org
This page is copyright 
2001 by the Association for Childhood Education International. Please
send any comments to Marilyn Gardner at headquarters@acei.org.