Saturday, March 10, 2012

2012 Speakers Auditorium

At left, speakers (left to right):Paula Sklodowski (WGCU, C’MON),Dr. Betsy Glass (Educator),Jack Gardner (Principal, Lorenzo Walker H.S and Institute), Dr. Monica Robles (David Lawrence Center) and Dr. Kamela Patton (Superintendent, CCPS). Photo: Kevin Cole
Welcome Remarks: Dr. Kamela Patton
Superintendent, Collier County Public Schools
Dr. Patton was appointed in mid-2011 as the Superintendent of Schools for Collier County. Previously she spent 24 years in the Miami-Dade County Public Schools, the fourth-largest school system in the US. In her short time here she has brought vitality and transparency by setting aggressive goals, redefining the mission, and reaching out to the community. She is a major advocate for science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) and this spring will host a STEM conference for teachers, parents and community members.

Keynote Speaker: John (Jack) Gardner
Principal, Lorenzo T. Walker High School and LTW Institute
Dr. Patton brought Jack to Lorenzo Walker in 2011 to "raise the bar and focus” on vocational technical education. As principal of the Lorenzo Walker Institute of Technology and Technical High School, his motto says much about the man: Think Creatively, Work Pragmatically, Deliver Faithfully. Jack's reputation as an innovative leader and change agent in several Indiana high schools is based on his skill and creative leadership. His influence as a relationship builder, motivator, and innovator has been recognized by the Indiana Department of Education. Jack’s creativity builds on his background in music: as a young adult Jack performed in the Disney World band. His creative thinking has brought energy and vitality to the Lorenzo campus. (NDN Guest Column by Jack Gardner (2/28/2012)

Mary Elizabeth "Betsy" Glass, Ph.D.
Educator and Psychotherapist
Dr. Glass is a scientist and educator with a B.S. degree in Zoology, a M.S. in Rehabilitation Counseling and a Ph.D. in Psychology. Her PhD research in Psycho-neurogastroenterology focused on the connection between the brain and the digestive system ("Brain-gut" science). Dr. Glass taught biology for 50 year, 30 of them at The Canterbury School in Fort Myers, where she taught AP level biology, psychology, environmental sciences and independent research. She is a passionate advocate of high school science fairs and has been honored for her work coaching and mentoring student competitions locally, nationally and internationally.

Monica P. Robles, M.D.

Senior Physician, Children's Services, David Lawrence Center
Dr. Robles joined the David Lawrence Center in 2011 as the Senior Physician for Children Services. She is board certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology in child, adolescent and adult psychiatry. She received her medical degree in Spain, where she was raised, and completed her residency and fellowship in child and adolescent psychiatry at the University of Memphis in Tennessee. Monica has had more than a decade of experience working with adults, adolescents and children in an inpatient and outpatient setting in Spain, California and Missouri.

Paula Sklodowski
WGCU Outreach Coordinator & Children's Museum of Naples (C'MON) Education Council
As the Outreach Coordinator for WGCU Public Media, Paula is responsible for managing the school-based family workshops that are part of the WGCU Curious Kids initiative and serves on the Education Council for the Golisano Children’s Museum of Naples. Paula has a B.S. in Communications from Ohio University and has worked in TV, radio and newspaper.

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