Thom Stecher is a nationally recognized motivational speaker and educational consultant. He specializes in self-esteem, wellness, and student assistance programs. Raised in a family of educators, Thom believes that education is a life-long process and that we all teach best what we most need to learn. it is therefore imperative that we teach each other.

Thom is one of the original developers of the nationally recognized and acclaimed Masonic Model Student Assistance Program and has expanded the model to developmentally appropriate programs at the elementary, middle, and high school levels. Thom's work in student assistance finds him in training and development of school based prevention and intervention services for at-risk youth in over 30 states, and in Canada.

e-mail: thom@thomstecher.com
Phone: 610-640-9983

Tracey A. Holland is an educational consultant with Thom Stecher & Associates with a Bachelors Degree in English / Journalism and Elementary Education from Moravian College and a Masters Degree in Special Education from Lehigh University. With an extensive public school teaching background in both regular and special education, Tracey comes to us with a passion and enthusiasm for social / emotional learning and the development of life-long learners in the area of emotional intelligence and healthy communication skills. Tracey brings a wealth of classroom experience of how to put research into practice when engaging the whole-child in the ever-changing, fast paced, 21st century learning environment. Her 15 years of teaching include educating children with Autism, Aspergers, emotional disturbance, learning disabilities, mental retardation, and English as a second language, and special talents all within a regular education setting.

Among the initiatives that stand out in Tracey’s professional portfolio is the partnered development and sustainment of an Advocacy program within a middle school setting. Tracey has conducted staff development workshops and presented nationally on how to take an Advocacy program from merely surviving to thriving. Other staff development workshops included topics such as diversity, differentiation, authentic leadership opportunities for students, functional behavioral analysis and support plans, understanding behavior, and other various social and emotional learning topics.

e-mail: okee17@yahoo.com

Born and raised in Boyertown, PA, Scott A. Heydt graduated from Moravian College in 2002 with degrees in Psychology and Elementary Education. Upon graduation, he traveled for two years as a leadership consultant for Delta Tau Delta Fraternity, working with undergraduate men on organizational and personal effectiveness. Eventually he settled down in Bucks County, PA with his wife Monika and his two cats Hilo & Kona.
 
Scott spent six years working for Central Bucks School District as a second and fifth grade teacher respectively. During that time, he coordinated Groveland Elementary’s Green Team environmental club, served on District curriculum development committees, and developed a nationally award-winning “6 Pillars of Leadership” program for his fifth grade students. In 2009, he graduated from Duquesne University with a degree in Leadership and Liberal Studies. He currently teaches graduate and undergraduate methods courses in the Education department of Holy Family University.
 
“Live, learn, teach” is Scott’s personal motto. Whether through his works as a published author for young adults or through his continued involvement as International Director of Academic Affairs for Delta Tau Delta, Scott strives to deeply connect with life experiences and lead others to do the same.

Karen Davies is an educator employed at Phoenixville Area School District and has a M.S. in Chemistry. Karen has been teaching in the classroom for 14 years, while fulfilling such roles as PSSA coordinator and held such positions as club advisor to the academic team and Green Club. For the last few years, she has been co-teaching chemistry and is a strong advocate of the co-teaching environment. Her current passion is establishing and setting the framework of the mentorship program at her high school. She prides herself on setting a respectful tone in her classroom and in the school community, integrating 21st century skills into her daily lessons, and helping all students achieve their highest potential through a structured, challenging, and caring environment. Karen’s engaging and interactive teaching style provides relevant, meaningful instruction in a dynamic setting to students.
 
Karen is an active learner, and enjoys taking courses as much as she leads them. Her specialization is in the multiple intelligences of each child and helping teachers use 21st century skills in their classroom. Some other topics of interest to her are differentiated instruction, teaching students of an ESL background, and inquiry instruction. Her years of teaching include educating children with varying levels of autism, emotional disturbances, learning disabilities, physical limitations and English as a second language. Karen enjoys discussions of diversity issues and what is necessary to close achievement gaps. She actively celebrates the unique and special differences within each of us with the community at large.

Krista Rundell is a graduate of Penn State University with a Bachelor's of Science degree in Secondary Education Social Studies and a Master's Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Kutztown University.  She worked in the Pottsgrove School District for ten years as a high school social studies teacher.  For the past few years, she has been “on assignment” supporting the middle and high school teachers in Rigorous Curriculum Design – writing units of study, creating common formative assessments, and supporting data teams in analyzing achievement data and in developing effective instructional strategies.  Krista’s years as an instructional technology coach have empowered her to share innovative educational practices designed to prepare students for success in a 21st Century world.

During her educational career, Krista has enjoyed presenting at local, state, regional and national conferences on the topics of social studies education, technology integration, freshmen transition programs and student leadership.

Through collaboration with Thom Stecher and Associates, Krista has co-created the leadership development program at Pottsgrove High School that addresses the social emotional needs of teenagers through a sound curriculum aligned with issues the students' feel are relevant in their lives. The leadership program provides drug- and alcohol- free activities for students and supports school-wide educational programming on topics such as depression, bullying and diversity. All leadership students are trained as Peer Mediators and Peer Mentors and serve the school as mentors to new students and mediators for their peers.

Paula R. Wagner is presently an Organization Development Consultant and Leadership Coach. She has served public education for 35 years as a psychologist, Student Services Coordinator, high school assistant principal, Director of Administrative and Pupil Services, and member of the Superintendent’s Cabinet. Serving in these various roles has provided her with extensive experience in the areas of crisis prevention/intervention/postvention, policy development, curriculum and program development, leadership, professional development and consultation.
 
From her doctoral studies in organization development and her school district leadership experience, Paula developed vast knowledge and skills in strategic planning, organizational change processes, training design and development, team building, conflict resolution and mediation, navigating resistance, facilitation skills, group dynamics, leadership development, internal capacity building, goal alignment and development, and school board/administrator retreat design and facilitation. Her wide range of abilities were used throughout the organizations in which she worked.
 
A certified Leadership and Life Coach, Paula is known for her unique ability to influence others in a non-threatening yet highly effective manner. Her colleagues frequently comment on her ability to collaborate and focus on solution-based decisions.
 
A dynamic professional with outstanding interpersonal skills, creative problem solving ability and strong coaching skills, Paula is committed to guiding, supporting, and inspiring others to reach their organizational, professional and personal life goals regardless of external pressures and financial constraints. Her passions include facilitating resiliency training and leadership retreats, restructuring during financially challenging times, and building leadership capacity.

D. Craig Erb has been in the field of public/private school education, behavior management, special education, and coaching for over 30 years. Craig is a national lead trainer for the Masonic Model Student Assistance Program, training teachers to observe, document and intervene with youth at risk. Since 1989, he has been an Experiential Adventure-Based Facilitator receiving training from Project Adventure in Massachusetts, The Outward Bound School of North Carolina and medical training from S.O.L.O. in New Hampshire. Since1997, he has been the President and owner of Experiential Dynamics, Inc., specializing in Experiential Adventure-Based Education with private / public schools, universities, camps, and corporations.

Craig teaches graduate level courses through Saint Joseph’s University and the Chester County Intermediate Unit, and under graduate level course at Ursinus College. Experiential Dynamics, Inc. provides adventure programming, training, and facilitators to many summer camps and in conjunction with Stecher & Assoc. establishes and runs “life skills” adventure camps in several states. Craig works with youth and adults experientially in initiative programs, low/high ropes challenge courses, and outdoor adventure experiences. Another aspect of Experiential Dynamics, Inc. is assisting schools to incorporate experiential and adventure-based activities into their curriculums and in-service programming. Craig provides construction of low / high ropes challenge courses, climbing / traverse walls, and training in safety, class management, facilitation, and use of all equipment.

Perk Musacchio has a M.Ed. in special education and a B.S. in elementary education. In her 30+ years in education, she has served in many roles. Perk has been a classroom teacher for 16 years, a special education teacher for 3 years and an instructional support teacher for 12 years. In her school, she is known as the "Queen of Strategies". If a student is having difficulty learning a skill, she will pull from her bag of tricks. If she doesn't have a trick, she will create one! All children can learn, and learning can be fun are at the heart of what she does each day with students, staff and parents. Her enthusiasm for learning and teaching is contagious.

Having acquired an enormous bank of knowledge and interventions over the years, Perk is a frequent presenter to teachers and parents on a variety of topics including: executive function, organization, behavior management, ADHD, autistic spectrum disorders, visualization and verbalization, reading fluency, teaching phonetic patterns through visualization, homework strategies, learning styles, study skills, Framing Your Thoughts, and action based learning. Her recent passion is helping parents and teachers understand the impact of our high-stress digital lives on children's brain development.

Adele H. Corbett is a Professional Organizational Development Consultant whose focus is enabling people to maximize their current work effectiveness and agilely adapt to future challenges, especially in times of high accountability and low budgets.

Adele has served students, educators and school communities at the classroom, building and district levels. As an alternative school Spanish teacher, an elementary and middle school counselor, a high school teacher, disciplinarian and principal, she spent years listening, observing and assisting educators in putting theory into practice. As a Director of Program Evaluation and Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction, Community Relations and Professional Development, she grappled continuously with global district issues ranging from school board challenges and community needs to implementation of state and federal mandates. With these varied experience sets and respective focus on people and processes, she honed her skills and interests in adult learning. Adele is known by school personnel and the non-profit sector for the workshops and seminars she has facilitated on a wide variety of topics including inter-generational, work and personal style differences, mediation and conflict resolution, collaboration skills, teambuilding, corrective performance plans, dealing with resistance to change, resiliency in the workplace, systemic needs assessment and strategic problem solving.

Sustainability of qualified personnel has long been a facet of Adele’s work. She developed an induction and mentoring program for new teachers and administrators that resulted in excellent retention rates. In addition, as an adjunct professor, she has trained hundreds of aspiring administrators in doctoral classes and served on a variety of dissertation committees.

Adele’s Master’s degree and PhD are both from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She has recently retired from the Assistant Superintendency of Great Valley School District in Malvern, PA.

Dr. Meg Givnish is nationally known as a clinician, teacher, trainer and motivational speaker. She has been an honored faculty member in the Graduate School of Health Education at St. Joseph’s University, Philadelphia since 1986. Currently, she is a member of the faculty in the Communications Program at Delaware County Community College.

Meg was among the first professionals in the US to be Certified as a Trainer, Educator, Practitioner by The American Board of Examiners in Group Psychotherapy and Psychodrama. She created “The Problem Solving Theatre” troupe in 1980. This synthesis of therapeutic drama, therapy, humor and spontaneity educated and entertained thousands of people in performances all over the United States.

Dr. Givnish was awarded an Emmy in 1987 for her writing, directing and narrating the one time special “What Will We Do About Momma?” She was also featured in an award winning documentary on Teen Suicide “When Hope Becomes Despair”. During the 1980’s The Problem Solving Theatre was a key component in the training program for the establishment of Student Assistance Programs Pennsylvania.

Meg has been a presenter at National Conferences on topics ranging from Stress Management, Societal Stress Syndrome, Addictions, Relationship Skills and Personal Empowerment.

She is known for her humorous and energizing seminars and training sessions.

Dr. David M. Hall, a classroom teacher and distinguished corporate diversity trainer, is the author of Allies at Work and the editor of Taking Sides: Family and Personal Relationships. Dr. Hall is the recipient of teaching and humanitarian awards at the national, state, and local level. He is the creator of BullyShiled, a bullying prevention mobile application for the iPhone and Droid. Dr. Hall’s long list of clients includes JP Morgan Chase, Merck, the U.S. Department of Energy, PSE&G, The Hershey Company, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and The University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Hall is a founding co-chair of Out & Equal Greater Philadelphia and has traveled to almost forty countries and territories around the world.

Mark is a nationally recognized diversity and communication specialist and the Principal/Owner of the Philadelphia based company Opn·Wyd®. Specializing in diversity training, communication strategies training and team building programs, Opn·Wyd® has been assisting businesses, educational institutions, and non-profits worldwide since 1999. Additionally, Mark is an adjunct professor in the Counseling & Educational Psychology Department at West Chester University. He has fifteen years experience working within the corporate sector and as a public school educator at the elementary, middle and high school levels. Mark is the creator, facilitator and co-facilitator of each of the innovative trainings and programs offered by Opn·Wyd® (pronounced “Open Wide”. All that Mark produces is specifically designed to support members of the educational, business, and non-profit sectors to attain a genuine comprehension of the immense personal value of diversity and healthy communication strategies for each of us within our professional and personal lives.

Matt Walsh has spent over 20 years in public education. He taught 4th and 5th grades for ten years in the North Penn School District then was as an elementary school principal for eight years in both the North Penn and Neshaminy School Districts. In his current role, Matt is the Wissahickon School District’s Director of Elementary Education and works closely with teachers and administrators managing professional development offerings, as well as coordinating and planning the development and evaluation of curriculum, instructional materials, and assessment.

Matt holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education from the University of Central Florida, and holds a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership from Arcadia University. In addition to his professional responsibilities, Matt has also taught graduate courses through the Montgomery County Intermediate Unit and Gwynedd-Mercy College.

Dr. M. Christopher Marchese is an experienced school leader. Chris served as high school assistant principal in the Wissahickon School District, middle school assistant principal and principal in the Rose Tree Media School District and middle school principal in the Garnet Valley School District. In his present role, Chris is the Assistant Superintendent of the Wissahickon School District. He oversees the Departments of Teaching and Learning, Student Services and Technology for the 4,400 student school district located Montgomery County, PA.

Chris holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology, Masters of Education Degree from Cabrini College, and a Doctor of Education Degree in Educational Leadership from Immaculata University. In addition to his professional responsibilities, Chris is also an adjunct professor in the Principal Certification Program for Cabrini College, Radnor, PA. He has also served as an adjunct for Chestnut Hill College and St. Joseph's University in their Educational Leadership programs.

Born in Limerick, Ireland and raised in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, Aidan Brett graduated from the University of Notre Dame where he earned his B.A. in English.  He spent four years working for the University Writing Center and supporting its mission to create more effective communicators and thus more productive citizens.  His subsequent experiences working with writers of all abilities ranging from high school students through those publishing doctoral dissertations cemented his desire to teach English.  After graduating, Aidan taught English and English as a Second Language courses at Montgomery County Community College and completed Villanova University’s Master’s in Education with Teacher Certification program.

Currently, Aidan is in his sixth year of teaching 12th grade English and AP Literature and Composition at Springfield High School in Delaware County.  He has benefitted from studying current literacy strategies through the University of Pennsylvania’s Literacy Network.  His extensive literacy strategy training, experiences in co-teaching diverse learners, and work writing curriculum have made him well-versed in the current realities shaping education. He partners with Thom Stecher to teach a course titled “Fostering Resilience and Building Assets in our At-Risk Students.”  It is Aidan’s belief that educators have the great privilege and responsibility of fostering resilience in their students.

Whether in writing or through discussion, Aidan teaches his students to become strong and effective communicators.  He works to create a discussion atmosphere that is both serious and emotionally safe.  It is his sincere hope that the energy he devotes to teaching students will result in positive progress in their ability to engage in thinking that is critical as well as empathetic.  He views fostering resilient, effective, and truthful communicators as synonymous with creating students who are productive citizens in their communities.  Hopefully, the evolving clarity in the thought, speech, and writing of his students will translate tangibly into decisiveness and empathy in their future actions. Aidan looks forward to exploring the teaching philosophies of current and future teachers as they navigate through the Master’s in Education with Emphasis on Social Emotional Learning program.