A First Step on the Path Toward Inclusivity

Julie Causton is a bestselling author, inspiring speaker, and inclusive education advocate. The founder and CEO of Inclusive Schooling, she is a former tenured professor in the Department of Teaching and Leadership at Syracuse University, where she headed the Inclusive Elementary Education Program.

A former elementary, middle, and high school special education teacher, she has conducted presentations focusing on engaging ways to educate all students within the context of general education that have inspired and uplifted educators and families throughout the United States and helped them learn the most cutting-edge inclusive practices. Julie is the author of a dozen books about inclusive education and has published articles in over 30 educational research and practitioner journals.

Dr. Kate MacLeod is an innovative inclusive educator, researcher, and author. She began her career as a high school special education teacher in New York City and now works as faculty in the college of education at the University of Maine Farmington and as an education consultant with Inclusive Schooling. She has spent 15 years studying inclusive practices and supporting school leaders and educators to feel prepared and inspired to include all learners.

Kristie Pretti-Frontczak is a highly sought-after speaker and accomplished author. With nearly three decades of educational experience, including 16 years as faculty at Kent State University, Kristie cultivates real change within educational systems, creating inclusive educational practices and empowering teachers and leaders to spread wellness within and beyond the classroom walls.

At Inclusive Schooling, Kristie designs and delivers professional development to help leaders create school cultures that ensure all children experience a sense of belonging. She has published extensively in peer-reviewed journals and is an author of over 10 books and monographs. She has accumulated over 50,000 hours of helping educators and leaders in locations from Cincinnati to Singapore.

Jenna Mancini Rufo is an inclusive education consultant and the founder and CEO of EmpowerED School Solutions. She has worked with state departments of education, disability rights organizations, and school systems across the United States and in Australia to create more equitable and inclusive special education programs.

She spent nearly 20 years in public education as an assistant superintendent, special education director, and teacher, where she advocated for students with disabilities to receive services in inclusive settings.

Dr. Paul Gordon has spent much of his education career working for the Adams 12 Five Star School District outside Denver, Colorado, where he served as a classroom teacher, a middle school principal, the director of professional development, and the chief academic officer. During the last 10 years, Paul has served as the superintendent of three school districts.

Early in his career, he worked with students with significant reading challenges, which forged his path toward creating inclusive environments for each student and understanding the impact this has on the overall system. As a practitioner, Paul continues to learn from students, teachers, parents, and others working in inclusive classrooms about the challenges and the incredible opportunities that inclusion offers each student.