SATURDAY MORNING | MARCH 30, 2019
SAFETY & SECURITY KEYNOTE
9:00 – 11:00 AM
Michael Dorn
We all know that safety is any school’s first and most important responsibility. Michael Dorn serves as the Executive Director of Safe Havens International Inc., a global non-profit school safety center whose analysts have worked in more than two dozen countries. During his 36-year career, Michael served as a campus police officer, corporal, sergeant, lieutenant and school district police chief. He was then appointed as the School Safety Specialist for the State of Georgia and later as the Lead Program Manager of the Terrorism Division of the Georgia Office of Homeland Security. Michael was selected as the top school safety expert by Jane’s, the British intelligence, defense and security publisher after an international search. Michael has also provided post-incident assistance to law firms, school systems, state agencies and insurance carriers for thirteen active shooter and targeted school shooting incidents in K12 schools in the United States and Canada.
Michael is a graduate of the FBI National Academy and has received extensive antiterrorism training in the United States and in Israel. Michael’s work has taken him to Canada, Mexico, Honduras, Trinidad-Tobago, the United Kingdom, South Africa, Mozambique, Kenya, India, Vietnam and Israel. Michael has authored, co-authored and served as a contributing author for 27 books on school safety and public safety. His latest book
Staying Alive – How to Act Fast and Survive Deadly Encounters was released by Barron’s in May 2014. Michael is currently co-authoring a 600-page higher education textbook with the working title
Extreme Violence – Protecting People From and Understanding Active Assailant, Hate Crimes and Acts of Terrorism due for publication by Cognella in 2019. Michael also served on the team that co-authored the
IS360 – Preparing for Mass Casualty Incidents: A Guide for Schools, Higher Education and Houses of Worship web course for the United States Department of Homeland Security as part of the 2013 White House School Safety Initiative.
Michael also authored and co-authored hundreds of web courses, journal articles, magazine articles, blogs and columns for Campus Safety Magazine, Police Chief, Law and Order, Police, the Journal of Emergency Management, School Planning and Management, College Planning and Management and other national level publications. He has appeared in numerous campus safety training videos as well as audio and video training podcasts. Michael is regularly interviewed by national and international media organizations including
NPR,
20/20,
CNN,
CNN Headline News,
Good Morning America,
ABC,
NBC,
MSNBC,
FOX News,
CBS,
The Wall Street Journal,
Time Magazine,
The New York Times, the
London Times,
Univision, the
BBC,
Canadian Television News, and
Tokyo Broadcasting. Michael has appeared in live interviews following major school safety events for programs as diverse as
Anderson Cooper 360,
Al Jazeera America and
Hannity.
A graduate of the 181st session of the FBI National Academy, Michael received advanced anti-terrorism training in Israel as a delegate with the Georgia International Law Enforcement Exchange Program and have provided training to two groups of ranking personnel from the Israel National Police. Michael regularly keynotes major conferences such as the International Bullying Prevention Conference, The International Conference on Safe School Design, The First National School Violence Prevention Conference in Trinidad-Tobago, School Safety conferences at Vietnam National University in Saigon, Vietnam and at the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators Annual Conference in Quebec City, Canada. Michael has captivated audiences of up to 3,500 people from Virginia to Vietnam with his powerful and unforgettable presentations. You will never forget Michael’s gripping, information packed and informative training sessions.
“I was truly impressed by Michael Dorn’s presentations on school violence, bullying, school emergency preparedness and schools and terrorism given at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University. The content was very relevant and useful as these topics are new here in Vietnam. Thank you ever so much for sharing with us such an excellent presentation.”
Phuong Nguyen, Ph.D.
Country Director, Vietnam Education Foundation
Hanoi, Vietnam
WEDNESDAY | MARCH 27, 2019
GUEST SPEAKER
10:00 – 11:00 AM
Dr. Daniel Gray Wilson, Director of Project Zero at the Harvard Graduate School of Education
Daniel Wilson is the Director of Project Zero at the Harvard Graduate School of Education (HGSE), where he is also a Principal Investigator, a Lecturer at the HGSE, Faculty on the Doctorate for Educational Leadership at HGSE, and the Educational Chair at Harvard’s “Learning Environments for Tomorrow” Institute – a collaboration with HGSE and Harvard Graduate School of Design. His teaching and writing explores the inherent socio-psychological tensions – dilemmas of knowing, trusting, leading, and belonging – in adult collaborative learning across a variety of contexts. Specifically he focuses on how groups navigate these tensions through language, routines, roles, and artifacts.
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GUEST SPEAKER
1:00 – 2:00 PM
Dr. RJ Webber, Assistant Superintendent of Novi Community School District
Dr. RJ Webber has been a passionate ally and advocate for students and teachers for his entire career. He has a focus upon instructional design, curricular design, and social justice that creates space for all stakeholders to reach their potential. In 1991 RJ earned the Alma College Jerry Smith African Teaching Fellowship, committing to a year of teaching at the Mayflower Junior School in Ikenne, Nigeria. It was in Nigeria that RJ began to understand the importance of the educational environment and instructional design. While in Nigeria, RJ traveled extensively throughout West Africa. He experienced firsthand the power of education as a counter to oppression and a passport to hope.
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THURSDAY | MARCH 28, 2019
GENERAL SESSION PANELISTS
8:00 – 9:15 AM
Dr. R.J. Webber, Assistant Superintendent, Novi Community School District, Novi, MI
Dr. Drew Echelson, Superintendent, Waltham Public Schools
Dr. Donna J. DeSiato, Superintendent of Schools, East Syracuse Minoa Central School District, East Syracuse, NY
Ryan Lynch, Principal, Gates Middle School, Scituate Public Schools, Scituate, MA
Ty Thurlow, M.Ed., Principal, Sumner Memorial High School, Sullivan, ME
Ty Thurlow serves as the principal of Sumner Memorial High School (SMHS), a 9-12 facility with 240 students in the coastal town of Sullivan, ME. Ty began his teaching career as a high school English teacher, soccer coach, basketball coach, and track & field coach. In his transition to the role of administrator Ty first served as a director of residential life and summer program director at a private academy. Ty then served as the assistant principal/athletic director of a K-12 school and the principal of a K-6 school. During his career Ty has been a leader in the state of Maine in Proficiency Based Education. Ty has been a keynote presenter at numerous regional conferences and Maine Principals’ Association conferences on the topic of PBE, and he successfully led SMHS to be a leader in the first cohort of high schools (1 of 6) in the state to graduate a student cohort (Class of 2018) with a full proficiency-based diploma. Throughout his career Ty has focused his efforts upon creating individualized learning options and programming for students by supporting students to engage in learning experiences that address their personal interests while supporting their academic needs. For the past two and a half years Ty has been a leader within his district in the planning of a much-needed capital improvement project. This project, a new 6-12 facility to replace the current SMHS facility, is being designed and built in conjunction with the Maine Department of Education and PDT Architects of Portland, Maine. In addition to career responsibilities Ty is working to finalize his dissertation (Enlisting Parental Involvement & Engagement: Exploring Communication Approaches in Rural School Systems) and complete his Ph.D. later this spring.
Denise Rush, Interim Dean of Interior Architecture, Boston Architectural College
Dr. James Morse, Superintendent, Oyster River Cooperative School District, Durham, NH
THURSDAY | MARCH 28, 2019
SESSIONS
9:30 – 10:30 AM
Philip Conte, AIA, NCARB, StudioJAED Architects & Engineers
Philip is StudioJAED's lead design architect with over 15 years of experience. He has spearheaded the use of Building Information Modeling (BIM) as an integral component of StudioJAED’s design capabilities. He shares his knowledge of BIM as an adjunct professor at the University of Delaware. He is the President of AIA Delaware, an active member of the Association for Learning Environments (A4LE), and has made presentations at both their Regional and International Conferences.
Gabe Cheung, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP, StudioJAED Architects & Engineers
Gabe has more than 12 years of experience in architectural design and project management for a broad range of projects both in new construction and renovations. His expertise includes the entire spectrum of architectural services from initial concepts through owner occupancy. Gabe is also the StudioJAED VR specialist and has developed several client VR simulations.
Ann Neeriemer, Perkins Eastman
Ann has a passion for place-making and community based design which she has utilized on a variety of project types including master and campus planning, mixed-use developments, and primary and secondary education facilities. With 15 years of experience in all phases of design and construction, Ann's expertise in visioning, master-planning, and programming for educational spaces guides schools to create sustainable facilities for the future. Ann works closely with clients to ensure the learning environment is designed to support the whole child, and to create places that spark curiosity and inspire the next generation of children.
Robert Bell, AIA, ALEP, CPTED, LEED AP BD+C, Perkins Eastman
Robert is a Principal, Educational Planner and Architect at Perkins Eastman, an award winning international design firm with offices locally in Boston. Robert’s 30 years of experience has focused on school design ranging from early childhood through post-secondary, with involvement starting in pre-programming phases through post-occupancy studies and, project types including renovation of existing buildings to design of new schools and complete campus settings. Robert’s passion is in creating truly effective environments focused on teaching and learning, recognizing that today’s schools must be flexible, adaptable and meet the varied needs of individual learners and changing educational dynamic. As part of Bob’s responsibilities, he continues to research, study and develop creative and responsive solutions to school design challenges. Robert is a member of the American Institute of Architects, Boston Society of Architects and Association for Learning Environments (A4LE, formerly CEFPI). Bob also serves as the Co-Chair of the BSA K12 Facilities Committee, is a CPTED certified professional and an Accredited Learning Environment Planner (ALEP).
Pallavi Puranik, RA, WELL AP, LEED GA, Perkins Eastman DC
Pallavi is a licensed Architect in the District of Columbia with over nine years of experience in architecture and planning with focus on education projects, mainly K-12. Additional experience includes Commercial Interiors and Senior Living. He is passionate about creating sustainable buildings that have positive effect on health and wellbeing of occupants. She is interested in practice-based research and applying lessons learned to create better environments for occupants of the buildings she designs. Pallavi also leads an internal meetup called K-12 book club, which engages internal and external presenters to create a culture of knowledge sharing and innovation. Pallavi has volunteered at various events such as Rebuilding Together, Green Engineering summer camp at George Mason University, Design DC conference. She has been part of school design projects in the DC metro area such as James F. Cooper Middle School, Oakton High School, Ron Brown High School, Roosevelt High School & Dunbar High School, to name a few.
Jason Boone, Dore & Whittier Architects
Jason is a former high school math teacher who currently serves as an educational facility planner for Dore & Whittier Architects. Jason holds a B.S. in Secondary Mathematics Education and a Masters of Architecture. For nearly twenty years, Jason has been planning and programming K-12 public school building projects. He also serves as the current President of the Northeast Region of the Association for Learning Environments and as the Past-President of the New England Chapter. In 2017, Jason served as a member of the faculty for the Learning Environments for Tomorrow Course at Harvard's Graduate School of Education.
Ryan Lynch, Gates Middle School
Joseph da Silva, PhD, AIA, REFP, RIDE School Building Authority
Joseph is currently working as the state architect and coordinator for the Rhode Island Department of Education School Building Authority. He is also a faculty member in the Graduate Education Department at Providence College, preparing future and present school leaders. Further, he is a long-standing faculty member teaching architecture and engineering coursework at Bristol Community College. Joseph is an author, his latest book was published in November 2018 titled "
School(house) Design and Curriculum in the Nineteenth Century America: Historical and Theoretical Frameworks".
THURSDAY | MARCH 28, 2019
SESSIONS
10:45 – 11:45 AM
Catherine Wolfe, Ashley McGraw Architects
Catherine is a Senior Interior Designer at Ashley McGraw Architects. Knowing that successful educational models vary from individual to individual, Catherine’s primary goal when designing K-12 environments is to strive to create space that empowers students take control of their own educational path. Her continued commitment in researching, analyzing, and designing educational spaces has resulted in wonderful collaborations with Districts across New York State to create vibrant student centered learning environments.
Casey Barduhn, Westhill Central School District
Casey has served as Superintendent of the Westhill Central School District in Syracuse, New York for the past 7 years. An alumnus of the District, Casey’s 33 years in education – 19 as a Superintendent – spans working in rural schools to suburban districts. Casey has been involved in the planning and visioning of 5 significant capital construction projects. Recently, Casey has been leading the District’s student centered learning through the transformation of educational instruction, spaces, and vision.
Merilee Meacock, AIA, LEED AP, KSS Architects
Merilee is a design leader in the education community. She has designed more than 100 schools for clients from higher education clients like Princeton and Cornell University, to K-12 schools such as Math, Civics, and Sciences Charter School and Gottesman Academy, to nationally recognized developments like Teachers Village. She is trusted advisor to myriad educational institutions, including charter school networks like KIPP and Uncommon Schools. Her role in defining the design response to special needs has helped to transform the built environment for organizations like Bancroft, Eden Autism Services, and Rutgers University Center for Adult Autism Services.
John Tindall-Gibson, PhD, ALEP, Drummey Rosane Andersen, Inc
John has spent more than 30 years in the field of education as a high school teacher, K-8 and middle school administrator, and superintendent in Arizona, Rhode Island, and Connecticut. He has also taught courses at the community college and graduate school levels and presented at national education conferences. He completed education at The University of Arizona that included a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, teacher certification, a Master of Education in Foundations of Education, and a PhD in Educational Administration. John is a member of numerous professional associations and has served as president of the Connecticut Association of Public School Superintendents and the New England Association of School Superintendents. He follows the research on the relationships between building design and leaning. He likes to work at the intersection of educational and architectural problems and believes that teaching problem solving skills to young people is the foundation of good education.
Greg Smolley, AIA, APA, ALEP, LEED AP, Drummey Rosane Anderson, Inc
Greg is a leader in the design and master planning of educational facilities throughout New England. His 28 years of experience includes a wide variety of educational projects for both public and private clients ranging from early childhood centers to high schools and collegiate projects. He has led numerous school projects spanning from small scale renovations and school facility studies to large, complex, multimillion dollar additions and new construction. In addition, Greg has led project teams in the research, renovation, and reuse of many historical buildings, including several listed on the National Register. Greg’s knowledge of architectural planning and the legislative process provide a keen perspective and disciplined approach to successfully planning and delivering projects. He regularly presents at events both regionally and nationally on the topics of design, planning, team building and project delivery Greg is an active member of the Boston Society of Architects, the American Institute of Architects (AIA), the Association for Learning Environments (A4LE), and the American Planning Association (APA). He is a Recognized Educational Facility Planner (REFP), and is a LEED Accredited Professional (LEED AP) through the U.S. Green Building Council. He was a member of the MSBA School Security Working Group and the Connecticut School Security System Symposium, and is currently engaged with the BSA K-12 Subcommittee.
Jim Barrett, AIA, LEED AP, ALEP, Drummey Rosane Andersen, Inc
Jim’s love of team sports led him to the field of architecture because of its multidisciplinary and collaborative nature. As a Principal, Jim is a leader and facilitator. His role brings him together with a variety of people, organizations, institutions, and communities. He approaches his work with tremendous energy and passion. For every project, Jim takes the time to understand the client’s perspective and expectations. He encourages equal and inclusive participation knowing that each person brings skills, expertise and valuable perspective to the table. Clients value his focus on collaboration and willingness to do “whatever it takes” to achieve project success. Jim’s ultimate goal is to foster design that is thoughtful, innovative and sustainable. Jim earned a Bachelor of Architecture from the Boston Architectural College and a Bachelor of Science from the University of Connecticut. He is a member of the American Institute of Architects, AIA Connecticut, Boston Society of Architects, Boston Architectural College Faculty, A4LE – Association for Learning Environments, United States Green Building Council, LEED Accredited Professional (Building Design and Construction, BD+C). He holds several Professional Registrations in Massachusetts, Connecticut, and several other states.
Philip Duffy, Town of Clinton, MA
Philip is the Community & Economic Development Director for the Town of Clinton, MA, population 13,606. In that capacity, he is responsible for a range of programs and projects, including small business support, infrastructure and public facilities improvement, downtown revitalization, brownfields remediation, social services, and housing rehabilitation.
When We Come to the Place Where the School and the Makerspace Collide
Angela Allmond, Ed.M., Teachers College, Columbia University
Angela is a doctoral candidate from Teachers College, Columbia University. She has spent 25 years as an education professional, with nearly twenty years in the field working directly with school administrators, facilities staff, and contractors in negotiating budgets, securing renovations and upgrades, and procuring necessary resources, furnishings, and materials, with a predominant focus on studio art classrooms. Her research interests lie in the intersect of studio art classroom design and notions of human flourishing.
FRIDAY | MARCH 29, 2019
SESSIONS
9:30 – 10:30 AM
Mark Lee, AIA, LEED AP, Harriman
Mark is a principal architect at Harriman, building on more than 20 years of practice in his role leading the firm’s busy K-12 Education Studio. A passionate designer and leader, Mark guides new build, renovation, consolidation, and long-range planning for education clients throughout New England. Mark holds a bachelor of science in both civil engineering and architectural engineering from Drexel University and a master’s of architecture from Boston Architectural College.
Lisa Sawin, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, Harriman
Lisa is a senior associate and senior architect in Harriman’s K-12 Education Studio. Passionate about developing learning environments that support educators and students alike, Lisa is a hands-on project leader, working with school leadership, administration, and facilities personnel to provide meaningful solutions to operational and functional challenges. She holds both a bachelor of science and a master’s of architecture from Norwich University and brings 15 years of experience to her role.
Lenore Williams, Lyseth Elementary, Portland Public Schools
Lenore is the principal of Harrison Lyseth Elementary School in Portland, Maine, a 500-student, K-5 school, a position she’s held for nearly 12 years. Focused on creating a nurturing environment, Lenore is known for her personal, hands-on approach to leadership with staff and students, and can often be found outside, greeting students by name each morning. She holds a master’s degree in educational leadership and administration from the University of Southern Maine.
Jeff Straub, AIA, REFP, LEED AP, CPD, Crabtree, Rohrbaugh & Associates Architects
Over the past 20 years, Jeff has assisted school districts in completing more than 650 million dollars of educational projects from initial visioning and community engagement through construction. Jeff's projects are recognized by AIA, USGBC, historical groups and is among the top ten architects internationally in completed U.S. Green Building Schools. Father of three elementary school students and husband, Jeff hopes to continue helping communities revitalize their centers of learning for our future leaders.
Mary Lee, ALEP, School District of Philadelphia
Mary E. M. Lee is an Educational Facilities Planner for the School District of Philadelphia, the largest school district in Pennsylvania and the 19th largest in the nation with 250 schools and approximately 138,000 students.
Ms. Lee began her professional career as a Reading Specialist, in a residential high school for special needs students. Shortly thereafter, she came to the School District of Philadelphia as a Reading Specialist for elementary aged students. In addition to being a Reading Specialist, Ms. Lee has served in several capacities including Grade Teacher, Community Coordinator, Post-Secondary Readiness Coordinator and Lead Academic Coach.
In 2003, Ms. Lee joined the District’s Office of Capital Projects, which was embarking on a $1.8B Capital Improvement Program. As an Educational Facilities Planner in the Grade and Space Planning Division, Ms. Lee brought her educational knowledge and experience to each project and continues to be an active participant at every stage, from design to occupancy. She has been involved in over 40 projects, which includes new construction, renovations and additions. In addition, using the District’s Facilities Master Plan and supplemental information as guidance, Ms. Lee interfaces with various offices and school members to consolidate, relocate, reorganize grade structure, close or plan new schools.
Ms. Lee holds Bachelors of Arts and Master of Education degrees from Arcadia University and a Principal’s Certification from Cheyney University of Pennsylvania. Seeing a smiling face, an engaged learner, involved staff and community members within a welcoming, safe, healthy, 21st century learning environment that she has touched, brings professional satisfaction to Ms. Lee.
Gamil Hall, School District of Philadelphia
Gamil is a registered architect and has been the Design Project Manager for the Solomon Solis-Cohen Elementary School over the past two years managing all aspects of design and construction of the replacement school.
Laura Wernick, FAIA, REFP, LEED AP, HMFH Architects, Inc.
Laura is a Senior Principal of HMFH Architects, Inc., and is extremely active in the national dialogue on architecture and education. Her contributions to school planning and design have been recognized by both regional and national organizations; in 2014, she was awarded the Boston Society of Architects Women in Design Award of Excellence. A Recognized Educational Facilities Planner, she pairs planning expertise with design skills to create innovative learning environments.
Carl Franceschi, AIA, LEED AP, Drummey Rosane Anderson, Inc.
With over 35 years of experience at DRA, Carl maintains DRA’s position as a leading designer of K-12 educational facilities in New England. As President, Carl oversees the firm and project teams with openness and a collaborative spirit that encourages each person to contribute their unique skills and expertise to the best of their ability. His work is grounded in the belief that architecture is creative problem solving in service to others.
Jason McCandless
Jason McCandless has worked in public education since 1993. His career spans public school service in Pennsylvania, Virginia and Massachusetts. A graduate of Grove City College with degrees in Literature and Communications, with a Master’s Degree from the University of Virginia, and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Boston College, Dr. McCandless is serving in his sixth year as the superintendent of the Pittsfield Public Schools.
Robert P. Sanborn III
Robert P. Sanborn III is the Superintendent/Director of Cape Cod Regional Technical High School and has been in this role for seven years. He joined the faculty of Cape Cod Tech in 1994 as a Business Management Instructor and enjoyed teaching for ten years. Subsequently, in 2004, he assumed the position of Business Manager and served in that capacity for five years prior to becoming the school’s fourth Superintendent/Director.
Lisa Danley
Lisa Danley took the helm as Director of Dover's Regional Career Technical Center in July of 2018. As Director, she leads and administers all aspects of Career Technical Education curricular offerings including program development, implementation, evaluation, establishing concurrent credit with college programs and ensuring solid career pathways. Her goal is to ensure that every student knows the options available in career and technical education and they have an opportunity to pursue their talents and interests.
Colleen Simpson, Scituate Public Schools
Colleen is the Media Center/Technology specialist for Gates Middle School. She taught English and Journalism for more than a decade prior to earning her Masters in Education. Colleen currently sits on several boards including the Massachusetts Scholastic Press Association and recently served as the Massachusetts Director of the Journalism Education Association for Massachusetts. In 2018, Colleen served as a judge for the Best of the Massachusetts High School Press Awards held by the Massachusetts Scholastic Press Association. She was not part of the planning process for the project and was hired during construction. As a result, she brings a unique perspective to the topic of decentralized media centers.
Jason Boone, Dore & Whittier Architects
Jason is a former high school math teacher with nearly 20 years of experience in the planning and design of K-12 educational projects. He currently serves as an educational facility planner for Dore & Whittier Architects, as the current President of the Northeast Region of the Association for Learning Environments, and as the Past-President of the New England Chapter of the Association for Learning Environments. Jason holds a B.S. in Secondary Mathematics Education, a Masters of Architecture, and is an Accredited Learning Environment Professional. Has has also been on the faculty for the Learning Environments for Tomorrow (L.E.F.T.) course at the Harvard Graduate School of Education and served as an Ex-officio member of the Board of Trustees for the Boston Architectural College.
Mike Pirollo, Dore & Whittier Architects
Mike is a former middle school English teacher and Media Specialist with 17 years experience as an educator. Mike has a passion for the relationship between learning and space with a special interest in innovative design strategies for media centers. Mike recently joined the Dore & Whittier team as an educational facility planner and is currently pursuing his Accredited Learning Environment Professional credential through the Association for Learning Environment's Advanced Academy.
FRIDAY | MARCH 29, 2019
SESSIONS
10:45 – 11:45 AM
Jody Ellenby, Ed.M, Mundo Verde Bilingual Public Charter School
Jody is currently an Instructional Coach and excited to continue her fourth year at Mundo Verde after working as a curriculum developer and a fourth and fifth grade master lead teacher. Prior to joining the Mundo Verde team, Jody spent two years teaching 4th grade in Baltimore, Maryland and serving as a Teach for America corps member. In addition to teaching, she was an elementary Social Studies curriculum writer for Baltimore City Public Schools. Originally from South Florida, Jody grew up on her family’s sustainable organic tropical fruit and bamboo farm which makes her feel a special connection to Mundo Verde’s sustainability mission. Jody holds a Bachelor's degree in Musicology from Northwestern University, focused on Early Childhood Music Cultures and Theater for Young Audiences. Deepening her undergraduate work in the arts, Jody lived in Bolivia teaching performing arts workshops to children of all ages and discovered a passion for bilingual education. Jody pursued a Master’s degree in Education from Harvard, where she was first introduced to Expeditionary Learning through project and arts-based coursework. She also holds an advanced certification in Elementary Education from Johns Hopkins University, focused on Literacy Development.
Kristin Scotchmer, Mundo Verde Bilingual Public Charter School
Kristin is the lead founder and executive director of Mundo Verde, the first and only school in the District of Columbia focusing on Education for Sustainability with a LEED Gold/Platinum certified campus that serves as a framework for learning expeditions about sustainability and natural systems. Kristin led the development of the school’s buildings and landscapes to be dynamic partners in the growth of children as life-long learners and environmental stewards. In her 9th year leading Mundo Verde, Kristin is passionate about the school's vision of education for sustainability with substantive knowledge of Mundo Verde's philosophy, educational design and curriculum, as well as its operations and management. She brings more than twenty years of professional management, governance and volunteer experience with nonprofit organizations, including expertise in management, board development, strategic planning and fundraising. Kristin has considerable experience strengthening the capacity of small community-based organizations working to create change in the Washington, D.C., region, nationally and in Mexico
Todd Ray, FAIA, LEED-Ap, Page Southerland Page
Todd is a principal at Page in Washington DC, and he leads the design of institutional and academic projects. Throughout his twenty-five year career, Todd’s focus on the human experience of architecture has produced buildings and spaces that are beautiful, high performing, innovative and, most of all, have a long-term positive impact on people and communities. He has served as LEED project administrator for more numerous school projects, putting him in the top 55 firms in the world for LEED registered and certified school projects. This experience includes the 2018 AIA National Committee on the Environment Top Ten for Mundo Verde Bilingual Public Charter School who campus buildings achieved a USGBC LEED Goal and Platinum Certifications. In addition to architectural practice, Todd advances the profession of architecture through original research. He co-authored (A)mending L’Enfant: Southwest DC, a volume that provides a comprehensive history of urban development in the southwest quadrant of the District. Todd is a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects and the recipient of several prestigious awards, including the John "Wieb" Wiebenson Award for Architecture in the Public Interest and the AIA National Young Architects Award. Prior to joining Page, Todd was a partner at Studio Twenty Seven Architecture, a boutique architecture firm that he co-founded in 1999.
Emily Grandstaff-Rice, Arrowstreet
Emily is an architect with experience on a broad range of academic, hospitality, institutional, and commercial projects. Her leadership includes serving as 2014 president of the Boston Society of Architects and chairing a national commission on equity and diversity in architecture. Emily’s innovative design work reinforces that a building is more than its shell; it is an experience. As a frequent speaker and writer on the future of architectural practice, Emily is fascinated by how technology, the social economy, and environmental urgency are addressed in Arrowstreet’s practice. She is currently in Cohort 5 of the A4LE Advanced Academy.
Larry Spang, Arrowstreet
Larry has more than 30 years of professional experience as an architect, urban designer, and planner. He is LEED accredited and certified by the Massachusetts Certified Public Procurement Officials (MCPPO) for public bid work. Responsible for leading the design team from project inception through construction, Larry’s work includes complex renovation and new construction projects that require significant permitting approvals. As a member of the Salem Historical Commission and former board member of Historic Salem Inc, Larry is an active member in his local community of Salem, Massachusetts.
Scott Oran, Board Chair, Brooke Charter Schools
Brooke Trivas, MCPPO, LEED AP BD+C, Perkins+Will
Brooke’s enthusiasm for educational facilities is evident in her work and involvement within her community. As a Principal and the K-12 Northeast practice leader, Brooke brings more than 25 years of experience creating consensus within diverse communities with effective solutions to complex problems. She brings leadership capabilities to each phase of a project, offering direct involvement with all aspects of programming, design, management and execution. Brooke is the firmwide leader on Project Management which allows her to work globally to promote, instill, and develop best practices for the firm.
Keith Curtis, Perkins+Will
With a background in architecture and interior design, Keith has 20 years of experience in roles including managing principal, project designer and creative director. Whether spearheading marketing efforts for strategic branding design services, developing new business or managing project immersion and implementation, Keith uses his strong grasp of the design process to lead the vision for his clients and his teams. His skill at building and strengthening relationships makes him an effective liaison between clients, project managers and designers.
Thomas Murphy, Billerica Memorial High School
Pip Lewis, AIA, LEED AP, HMFH Architects, Inc.
With over 36 years of experience at HMFH, Pip has been involved in a wide range of project types, including new constructions and renovations as well as master planning and feasibility studies. As a Project Director and Project Manager he oversees the team, design, schedule, and budgets while closely communicating with clients to throughout the process. His experience includes complex, multi-building projects in urban and suburban settings, as well as adaptive reuse and preservation.
Cathy Offenberg, ASLA, CRJA-IBI Group
Catherine is a principal with CRJA-IBI Group, an award-winning landscape architectural design and environmental-planning practice based in Boston, MA. Her 30+ year career combines professional design and business management experience. Since joining CRJA-IBI Group in 1999, Cathy’s work has focused on site planning and design for public and private educational institutions, including pre-K – 12 and colleges and universities. She is devoted to finding opportunities for bringing learning experiences into the built and natural environment.
Jennifer Buller, Coolidge Corner School
Jennifer is the Principal of the Coolidge Corner School in Brookline. As Principal, she works with students, educators, and families to ensure that students’ varied educational needs are met.
David O’Hara, Coolidge Corner School
David is the Principal of the Coolidge Corner School in Brookline, where he works with different groups to ensure students and educators achieve their goals.
Erin Gallentine, Town of Brookline
Erin is responsible for the design, development, maintenance and management of over 120 public parks and open space properties and 50 full and part-time personnel. With over 20 years of experience in public land management, she oversees the community’s parks and playgrounds, school grounds, public grounds, cemeteries, commercial areas, and forested areas. She is an American Public Works Leadership Fellow and serves on the Advisory Committee for the National Association for Olmsted Parks.