BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//ddaysoftware.com//NONSGML DDay.iCal 1.0//EN BEGIN:VEVENT DTEND:20250910T200000Z DTSTAMP:20260429T223725Z DTSTART:20250910T123000Z LOCATION:5171 Eisenhower Pkwy Macon\, GA 31206 US SEQUENCE:0 SUMMARY:2025 SSTAGE Fall Conference - Sponsors & Exhibitors UID:b2ffd02b-7d2c-46d2-999b-b31bf6ae4af8 X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:

2025 SSTAGE Fall Conference EXPO Registration

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September 10\, 2025 \;| \ ;Anderson Conference Center\, Macon\, GA \;| \;8:00am &ndash\; 4:00pm
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MTSS&ndash\;Academics\, Behavior\, &\; Wellbei ng:

Improving WHOLE CHILD Outcomes Through PBIS\, THE SCIENCE OF INSTRUCTION\, &\; t he Science of Reading

Featuring:

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Dr. Tracy White
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(Founder&mdash\;Presid ent&mdash\;UPSTREAM Education For All\, Inc.)
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Dr. Gene Kerns
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(Author of Literacy Reframed/Thought Leader/VP &\; Chief Academic Of ficer-Renaissance Learning)
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Justin Hill
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(Deputy Superinten dent&mdash\;Office of Whole Child Supports&mdash\;Georgia Department of Ed ucation)
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Amy Denty
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(Director of Literacy&mdash\;Office of Teaching and Learning&mdash\;Georgia Department of Education)
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Dr. Rondalyn Pinckney
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(GaMTSS Program Specialist&mdash\;Office of Whol e Child Supports&mdash\;Georgia Department of Education)
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John O&rsquo\;Connor

(CEO&mdash\;GREAT Instruction\, LLC--Author)

Lamar Thomas

(2025 STAR Award Winner&mdash\;Principal&mdash\;Delta Innovative School&mdash\;Brooks County

About the Conference: \;The con ference will feature presentations that explore the transformative power o f education\, highlighting how every student can be empowered to lead a pu rposeful life through literacy supported by MTSS and Whole Child approache s that address academics\, behavior\, and overall wellbeing. MTSS\, when d one with fidelity\, ensures every student gets the support they need at th e right time to live a successful life that will position them to contribu te positively to our communities. As educators\, we must strive to empower our students in mind\, body\, and spirit to reach their full potential an d to pursue their true purpose in life. Whole child supports address the b arriers of trauma that may exist while building student confidence to pers ist with resilience. Effective instruction\, informed by data\, allows edu cators to provide different levels of support based on students&rsquo\; un ique needs and address barriers to learning and improve student performanc e. Featured speakers will empower educators to collaborate\, make data-bas ed decisions\, and align their efforts to improve student outcomes. \;

Registration Will I nclude: \;Access to presenter provided resources\, \;Continental Breakfast\, Cate red Lunch and Morning and Afternoon Snacks \, &\; \;SSTAGE Membership for Non-M embers ($100-Annual Membership)\, \;and a copy of The Right Tools: A Gu ide to Selecting\, Evaluating\, and Implementing Classroom Resources and P ractices by Dr. Towanda Harris (Upcoming SSTAGE Mini-Event presenter&mdash \;October 21\, 2025)

Registration Fees: \;

Exhibit Booth Only - $500 \;includes: an exhibit table with two chairs . Please note that there will be no designated exhibition time built into the one-day conference. There are 15-25 min. breaks between sessions/works hops and the exhibit tables will be located in the main lobby/registration area. \;
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Bronze Sponsor - $750 \;include s all of the above plus: your company name listed in the program.
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Silver Sponsor - $1\,000 \;includes all of the above plus: your company logo featured in the program. \;
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Gold S ponsor - $1500 \;includes all of the above plus: \; S STAGE's appreciation expressed during lunch.
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Platinum Level - $2\,500 \;includes all of the above plus: a full page ad in the program.
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Diamond Sponsor - $5\,000 \;i ncludes all of the above plus: a year-long link to your company from the S STAGE homepage.

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About the P resenters:
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● Dr. Tracy White \;is a national keynote speaker\, and an educational change agent dedicated to creating equitable learning o pportunities for over 40 years. With decades of experience in curriculum d evelopment\, professional development\, and strategic planning and leaders hip\, she has spearheaded local and statewide initiatives that drive deep systemic change. Dr. White&rsquo\;s work bridges research to practice\, em powering educators\, families\, and strategic partners to support lifelong learning for ALL. \;Currently\, White serves as the founder of Upstre am Education for All\, a nonprofit dedicated to transforming life outcomes for the marginalized in society by advancing the work of resolute nonprof it leaders who are defying the odds. The mission is rooted in the belief t hat education is the great equalizer\, and faith that it is possible to br eak generational cycles of disparity and create opportunity through strate gic and united nonprofit leaders with differentiated technical assistance and support that remove barriers and ignite organizational impact.
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● Dr. Gene Ker ns \;is a third-generation educator with teaching experience fr om elementary through the university level and K-12 administrative experie nce. He currently serves as Vice President and Chief Academic Officer of R enaissance Learning. With more than 20 years of experience in leading staf f development and speaking at national and international conferences inclu ding South by Southwest (SxSW) EDU\, London&rsquo\;s Westminster Education Forum\, the ASU/Global Silicon Valley (SGV) Summit\, the 42nd Annual Mexi co TESOL Conference\, and the Global Education Technology Forum of China. His former clients include administrators&rsquo\; associations across the country and the Ministry of Education of Singapore. Gene received his bach elor&rsquo\;s degree and master&rsquo\;s degree from Longwood College in V irginia and also holds a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) from the University o f Delaware with an emphasis in Education Leadership. His most recent work has been focused on assessment and literacy. His first book\, inFormative Assessment: When It&rsquo\;s Not About a Grade is published by Corwin Pres s in both English and Arabic. His second book\, Unlocking Student Talent\, was released by Teachers College Press in December of 2017. His newest bo ok\, Literacy Reframed\, was released in 2021 through Solution Tree.
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● Justin Hil l \;is the Deputy Superintendent for the Office of Whole Child Supports for the Georgia Department of Education. The Office of Whole Chil d Supports assists districts/schools and communities in identifying and ad dressing student barriers to success while expanding learning opportunitie s. There are three Interconnected units that focus on the whole child with in the Office: Georgia Multi-Tiered \;System of Supports (GaMTSS)\, St udent Health and Wellbeing\, and School Safety. The Office of Whole Child Supports is grounded in the belief that academics\, behavior\, and wellbei ng make up the &ldquo\;whole child&rdquo\; and Georgia Multi-Tiered System of Supports (GaMTSS) is the system designed to help all children succeed by providing different levels of support based on student needs to ensure that every student gets the support they need at the right time.
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● Amy Denty \;has served as Director of Literacy for the Georgia Department of Education since May 2023 and leads GaDOE&rsquo\;s coordinated literacy eff orts\, including the training and implementation process for the new K-12 English Language Arts standards\; the agency&rsquo\;s work to support stud ents with dyslexia\; the Literacy for Learning\, Living\, and Leading in G eorgia (L4GA) initiative\; and GaDOE&rsquo\;s responsibilities under the G eorgia Early Literacy Act. Denty is a proven K-12 educator with extensive experience supporting quality instruction\, professional learning\, suppor t for teachers\, and the development of robust literacy initiatives that e nsure success for Georgia students.
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● Dr. Rondalyn Pinckney \;is the P rogram Specialist for Georgia Multi-Tiered System of Supports in the Offic e of Whole Child Supports. Dr. Pinckney leads the implementation of Georgi a&rsquo\;s Online MTSS/SST (GO MTSS/SST) Application. GO MTSS/SST is the w eb-based application provided by the Georgia Department of Education that helps participating schools to document and monitor how students are respo nding to interventions within a Multi-Tiered System of Supports.
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● John O&rsquo\; Connor\, a former SSTAGE President\, is the CEO of GREAT Instructio n\, LLC\, and has led school improvement initiatives at the state and loca l level during his 30 plus years in public education. He began his career as a special education teacher serving students with orthopedic impairment s in elementary and middle schools. O&rsquo\;Connor led statewide initiati ves to improve the achievement and learning of students with disabilities during the nine years he served at the Georgia Department of Education. In local districts he has served as Assistant Director for Special Education \, Executive Director for Special Services\, Assistant Superintendent for Student Services\, and Director for Interventions. O&rsquo\;Connor has wri tten five books\, including his most recent\, the 2nd Edition of Great Ins truction Great Achievement for Students with Disabilities: A Road Map for Special Education Administrators. He has also written a textbook chapter ( co-wrote)\, a desk guide\, and numerous articles. Since retiring\, O&rsquo \;Connor has provided training\, school visits\, and coaching to hundreds of groups from Hawaii to South Carolina.
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● Lamar Thomas\, Principal of Delta Innovative School (20 25 SSTAGE STAR Award winner) in Brooks County\, has been recognized for hi s commitment to both educational leadership and student success. Thomas ha s recently earned certification as a speaker and membership in the esteeme d John Maxwell Leadership Team\, underscoring his commitment to fostering leadership and his dedication to positively influencing students\, staff\, and the broader community. Thomas is currently serving as President of th e Georgia Association of Alternative Education (GAAE)\, placing him at the forefront of alternative education where he advocates for best practices and champions the unique needs of students across Georgia\, ensuring that ALL students receive the support they need.
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\nTenta tive Agenda
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7:30-8:20 Registration\, Breakfast and Exhibit Area OPEN
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8:20-8:30 Welcome by SSTAGE Executi ve Director &\; President
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8:30-8:45 Greetings/Office of Whole Child Supports Updates Justin Hill
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8:50-9:05 Gree tings/GO MTSS/SST Updates Dr. Rondalyn Pinckney
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9:10-9:25 Greetings/On the FrontLine Lamar Tho mas
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9:30-10:15 SESSI ON I &ndash\; Amy Denty &mdash\; K-12 Literacy Updates
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10:15-10:30 BREAK &ndash\; Exhibit Area OPEN
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10:30-11:30 SE SSION II &ndash\; Dr. Tracy White &ndash\; Literacy as a Human Right &ndas h\; Our Collective Moonshot
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11:30-12:30 LUNCH (Served on Site) &ndash\; Visit Sponsors/Vendors /Networking
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12:30-1: 30 SESSION III &ndash\; John O&rsquo\;Connor &mdash\; 15 Big Ideas for Eff ective MTSS
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1:35-2:3 5 SESSION IV &ndash\; Dr. Gene Kerns &ndash\; The Science of Reading &\ ; Knowledge
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2:35-2:5 0 BREAK &ndash\; Exhibit Area OPEN
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2:50-3:50 SESSION V &ndash\; Dr. Tracy White &ndash\; Boots trapping is Not Reality &ndash\; Prepping Systems for Sustainability to Su pport Reading Success for ALL
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Questions? Em ail Joan Whitehead-Freeman at jwhitehead@gael.org. \;
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Cancellation Policy \ ;for the 2025 SSTAGE Fall Conference is as follows and acknowledgement is required during registration:
\nTo cancel participation for an event\, SS TAGE must receive written notice (email jwhitehead@gael.org) seven calenda r days prior to the scheduled workshop/conference. An administrative fee o f $25.00 will be charged for cancellations. Requests for a refund must be received in writing at least seven calendar days prior to the start of the conference and must be addressed to jwhitehead@gael.org. SSTAGE encourage s participants to find a substitute. Replacements will be welcome\, and th ere will be no charge to transfer a registration to a colleague for the ev ent. Advance notice of replacements is preferred. If an individual registe rs and does not attend the event\, he/she will be marked as a "no show" an d the full conference fees shall apply. Registrants are responsible for pa yment. Refunds will not be made for &ldquo\;no shows&rdquo\;. Refunds and reimbursements will not be transferable to other workshops or conferences. In the event of inclement weather which may impede or prevent conference attendance\, or which may give cause to fully cancel the conference\, a cr edit will be provided to the registrant or school/system. Refunds will not be made for conference cancellations due to COVID-19\, severe weather or weather events which may cause the conference to cancel. SSTAGE is not res ponsible for United States Postal Service mail or electronic mail failures .
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