Keynote Speaker
Rita F. Pierson, Ed.D., Consultant and Licensed Professional School Counselor, Houston, Texas
Dr. Pierson has been a professional educator since 1972. As an educator, she has served in numerous roles, including elementary regular and special education teacher, junior high school teacher, counselor, assistant principal, director, testing coordinator, and consultant. In addition, she is a Licensed Professional Counselor.
Dr. Pierson has an established record of successful educational leadership and management experience, particularly in curriculum and instructional development, community relations and personnel supervision. She was responsible for the development and implementation of a school community involvement program for a large urban elementary school, as well as the initiation, organization and training of an in-school crisis team for students in need of immediate intervention. Known for maximizing and building on a person’s strengths, Dr. Pierson coordinated seminars for parents, staff, teachers, and school administrators as well.
An the number one requested ahaProcess, Inc.! consultant, Dr. Pierson has presented hundreds of workshops for aha! Process, Inc. since 1997. The keynote, “A Framework for Understanding Poverty,” is based on the book by Ruby K. Payne, Ph.D., “A Framework for Understanding Poverty. This keynote provides an in-depth study of information and issues that will increase the audiences’ knowledge and understanding of the poverty culture. Topics include: how economic class affects behaviors and mindsets, why students from generational poverty often fear being educated, the "hidden rules" within economic classes, discipline interventions that improve behavior, and the eight resources that make a difference in success. A new topic in her keynote is titled “Until It’s Gone: Ending Poverty in Our Nation, in Our Lifetime” is based on Scott Miller’s book, Until It’s Gone. This book includes the first action plan that joins the resources of individuals, organizations, communities, and government to eradicate poverty. It offers a practical hope that we can end—not just reduce—poverty through a change in the way we think and respond. Learn about the Circles™ Campaign and how you can help eliminate barriers confronted by those in poverty. Become an ally to those in need and a transformational leader in your community.
Brunch Speaker
Michele Borba, Ed.D., Renowned Consultant and Educator
Michele Borba, Ed.D., is an internationally renowned educator and award-winning author who is recognized for her practical, solution-based parenting strategies to strengthen child’s behavior, self-esteem, moral development, and build strong families. A sought-after motivational speaker, she has presented workshops to over 750,000 participants throughout North American, Europe, Asia and the South Pacific and has served as an educational consultant to hundreds of schools. Her proposal to end school violence and bullying (SB1667) was signed into California law in 2002.
As a recognized expert on parenting and violence prevention, Dr. Borba appears regularly as a guest expert on TV and NPR talk shows including Today, The View, Fox & Friends, MSNBC, The Early Show, WGN, Canada AM, Vicki Gabereau, KTLA-5 Morning Show, Ronn Owen KGO, and Focus on Family. She has been interviewed by numerous publications including Newsweek, U.S. News & World Report, Reader’s Digest, Chicago Tribune, LA Times, Better Homes & Garden, Parenting, and Child. Her article publications have appeared in Redbook, Parents, and Family Circle. She currently serves on Parents magazine’sadvisory board.
Dr. Borba is the author of 19 books including No More Misbehavin’: 38 Difficult Behaviors and How to Stop Them; Building Moral Intelligence, cited by Publishers’ Weekly as “among the most noteworthy of 2001”; Parents Do Make A Difference, selected by Child Magazine as “Outstanding Parenting Book of 1999,”; and Esteem Builders, used by 1.5 million students worldwide. Her latest book is Don’t Give Me that Attitude!: 24 Rude, Selfish InsensitiveThings Kids Do and How to Stop Them.
Her numerous awards include the National Educator Award, presented by the National Council of Self-Esteem; Santa Clara University’s Outstanding Alumna Award; and the award for Outstanding Contribution to the Educational Profession, presented by the Bureau of Education and Research. She was named the Honorary Chairperson for the Implementation of Self-Esteem in Hong Kong and currently serves as a member of the Center Resource Group for Character Education and Civic Engagement for the U.S. Department of Education.
Dr. Borba is a former classroom and college teacher and has had a wide range of teaching experience, including work in regular education as well as work with children with learning, physical, behavioral, and emotional disabilities. She and her husband were partners in a private practice for troubled youth. Dr. Borba received a Doctorate in Educational Psychology and Counseling from the University of San Francisco; M.A. in Learning Disabilities and B.A. from the University of Santa Clara, and earned a Life Teaching Credential from San Jose State University. For more information please visit http://www.apbspeakers.com.