Dr. Bernadine Futrell
Former Assistant Secretary of Education
United States of America
#NDPC35
Former Assistant Secretary of Education
United States of America
About Dr. Futrell
Dr. Bernadine P. Futrell brings extensive federal leadership experience to education policy and practice. She served in the Biden-Harris Administration as Director of the Office of Head Start at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, where she led the nationwide reopening of Head Start programs during the pandemic and drove policy changes to expand program eligibility. She later served as Deputy Assistant Secretary at the U.S. Department of Education, overseeing discretionary grants and advancing efforts to create more inclusive learning environments.
Before her federal service, Dr. Futrell developed leadership programs at the National Head Start Association and AASA, The School Superintendents Association. She co-authored ConnectED Leaders: Network and Amplify Your Superintendency and serves on Howard University’s School of Education Board of Visitors. With her husband, former Delegate Michael Futrell, she co-founded Make the Future, an initiative that mobilizes community resources to improve academic outcomes. Dr. Futrell holds a Ph.D. in education policy from George Mason University and a B.S. in psychology from Virginia Commonwealth University.
SVP & Chief Academic Officer
National Dropout Prevention Center
About Dr. Peters
Dr. Robert Peters is the Vice President and Chief Academic Officer at Successful Practices Network and the Nation Dropout Prevention Center. He currently works with school systems to strategically plan comprehensive solutions that empower academic success. Robert strongly believes in the power of relationships and has effectively worked with educators across the United States in rural, suburban and some of the largest urban districts including Miami-Dade County and Atlanta Public Schools.
Robert’s passion for helping ALL students reach their full potential is personal. As a parent of a child with special needs, he fully understands the need to ensure that each and every student receives the highest degree of academic opportunity from kindergarten through senior year.
Along with Robert’s passion and commitment to education, he also brings a history of innovation and transformation in all aspects of leadership. Before joining Successful Practices Network and the National Dropout Prevention Center, he served as an Assistant Superintendent, and principal at all school levels. He holds an Ed.D. from the University of Texas at Austin. Robert is dedicated to working with district leaders, campus- based administrators and teachers to create systemwide solutions that empower academic success.
Senior Learning Consultant
Successful Practices Network
About Dr. Jordan
Dr. Linda Jordan has been a keynote presenter at conferences around the globe for topics based in neuroscience, effective instruction, curriculum, CTE and leadership. She holds Ed.D., MA, and BA degrees in education. Linda’s doctorate focused on neuroscience and how people learn. She has served as a teacher of preschool, college, and as an administrator, and has extended her participation beyond the classroom as a member of school and district groups that include leadership councils, school improvement teams, child study teams, district vision planning teams, and as a school board member. Linda served as curriculum coordinator for the proposed National Plus School project in Jakarta, Indonesia. Linda received the National Points of Light Foundation Award for Service Learning. She is a contributor to Service-Learning Flagship newsletter, AASA articles, Brain-Compatible Instruction for Young Learners in a Remote World, contributing author to “Finding Our Way: Reforming Teacher Education in the Liberal Arts Setting,” and author of “Exceeding Expectations II.”
Learning About The Brain Changes Everything
We stand at a pivotal moment in education, empowered by unprecedented insights into the science of learning. This session delves into the fascinating intersection of neuroscience and education, exploring how cutting-edge brain research can be directly translated into impactful instructional practices that elevate student achievement – and even enhance faculty effectiveness.
As educators, our role extends beyond content delivery; it demands a deep understanding of how learning truly happens. This session will equip you with the knowledge and skills to ask the right questions about learning, effectively monitor student progress through a neuro-informed lens, and foster open dialogue with both teachers and students to optimize the learning environment.
Participants will gain practical insights into applying the latest findings in neuroscience to deliver truly effective instruction, grounded in the core frameworks of the Successful Practices Network. We will unpack the characteristics of great instruction through a brain-compatible lens, providing you with concrete strategies and readily applicable tools to implement in your schools.
Discover how to cultivate a classroom environment that is not only engaging but also deeply aligned with the brain’s natural learning processes. Understand how effective instruction, informed by neuroscience, directly fuels student learning, deepens understanding, and ultimately leads to significant gains in achievement.
Key Takeaways:
• Understand the fundamental principles of how the brain learns and their direct implications for instruction.
• Learn practical strategies for applying the latest neuroscience findings to create a brain-compatible classroom.
• Identify the key characteristics of effective instruction through a neurobiological lens.
• Gain access to tools and techniques for monitoring student progress and fostering meaningful dialogue about learning.
• Discover how to leverage the Successful Practices Network core frameworks to support brain-based learning and enhance student achievement.
• Leave with actionable strategies to immediately implement in your school or classroom to support both student and faculty growth.
Target Audience:
Teachers, Administrators, Curriculum Leaders, Professional Development Providers, and anyone interested in leveraging the power of neuroscience to enhance learning and teaching.