Presented by Dana T. Bedden, Ed.D., CAA, Superintendent of Schools, Centennial School District (PA); Anthony Gabriele, Assistant to the Superintendent for Teaching and Learning, Centennial School District (PA); Joseph Rutz, Director of Teaching and Learning, Centennial School District (PA); and Jennifer Taylor Boykins, CEO, Nothing But Education

Sponsored by Lerner Publishing Group

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Dr. Dana T. Bedden, Superintendent of Schools, and his team brought the Centennial School District community together to inspire joyful reading and engage families in literacy over summer break. A selection committee made up of teachers, parents, and students reviewed and ranked a selection of books to be distributed to students in take-home literacy kits. With all the meaningful feedback from these stakeholders, board members were excited to welcome the chosen titles and help students build and expand their home libraries. In this edWebinar, Dr. Bedden, Anthony Gabriele, and Joseph Rutz discuss the importance of this process in bringing families and communities together.

This recorded edWebinar is of interest to K-8 teachers and school and district leaders.

About the Presenters

With 30 years of experience in administrative and educational leadership, Dr. Dana T. Bedden has developed a results-oriented reputation for improving academic performance, working with diverse groups, increasing community/business engagement, implementing systems thinking, and creating a positive school and work environment. Throughout his career, he has focused on improving efforts to serve the whole student by empowering staff, improving academic program offerings, equity of access, and supporting students’ career and technical education preparation to help them become college, career, and life ready. For over 20 years of his career, he has had the privilege to serve as a regional (area) superintendent or district superintendent of schools in Pennsylvania, Georgia, Texas, and Virginia. He holds a doctorate in educational leadership and policy studies from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech), a master’s degree in educational administration from Pennsylvania State University (Penn State), and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida.

Anthony Gabriele is the assistant to the superintendent for teaching and learning for the Centennial School District. Prior to Centennial, he was the K-12 supervisor for learning, development, and professional growth for the Garnet Valley School District, as well as an English language arts/classrooms for the future teacher and instructional staff developer for the Wissahickon School District. Along with district work, he is senior adjunct faculty for the University of Pennsylvania’s Penn Literacy Network, works with the U.S. Department of Education on the #GoOpen initiative, and has worked with PDE and Apple to build PA Core-aligned Instructional Frameworks and Assessments for PA teachers. Anthony believes that providing systems and supports for collaboration, continuous learning, reflection, and defined autonomy are the keys to being a learner-centered, forward-thinking, innovative instructional leader.

Joseph Rutz is the Director of Teaching & Learning for the Centennial School District. In his seventh year at Centennial, Joe has also served as Secondary Curriculum Supervisor and Assistant Director for Teaching & Innovation. Prior to joining Centennial, Joe taught secondary English in the Philadelphia, Bristol Township, and Central Bucks School Districts serving in various leadership positions at the grade, building, and district level. Having earned his Bachelor of Education degree from West Chester University (Go Rams!), he also holds a Master of Arts in English degree from Trenton State College and a Master of Educational Administration degree from St. Joseph’s University. Joe believes that the purpose of education is ‘every child, every day’.

Jennifer Taylor Boykins is the founder and chief executive officer of Nothing But Education (NBE), a consultancy and services firm that helps build and strengthen DEI impact and the bridges between businesses, schools/colleges, and communities to stimulate thinking, foster collaboration, and drive better retention/recruitment outcomes. It is through NBE that Jennifer has had the opportunity to leverage her strategic planning expertise, and her ability to help leadership teams revise, plan, and effectively enhance their internal and external partnerships by developing more effective processes to drive better outcomes. This work lives in NBE and is shared with educational partners as well as business clients who desire innovative growth strategies.

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Lerner Publishing Group is one of the nation’s largest independently owned children’s publishers with more than 5,000 books in print. With accolades including a Caldecott Honor, National Book Award Finalists, Coretta Scott King Author and Illustrator Awards and Honors, Batchelder Award Honors, Sibert Medals and more, Lerner’s books are consistently recognized by reviewers and award committees as being among the best children’s books published. Based in Minneapolis since its founding in 1959, Lerner creates nonfiction and fiction books that educate, empower, and entertain readers.