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Helen Ryley, Director of Educational Services: Author, educator, and national consultant, Helen Ryley has worked to improve organizational and teacher performance for over 25 years. She has worked with teams of national consultants to study and refine best practices in areas of professional development, organizational and leadership development. Helen has written a number of publications including: Building Championship Schools: A Blueprint for Organizational Change (1991) and the Policymakers Seminar Kit for Education Commission of the States (1998). Helen designed and directed the “Leadership Institute for Educators” (1997-98) providing professional development for over 200 Colorado K-12 administrators. She led the development of the Guidelines for the Professional Development of Educators in Colorado in 1997-98. Helen was president of the Colorado Staff Development Council in 2001. From 2000-2005, Helen worked with the Archdiocese of New Orleans, Office of Catholic Schools designing and delivering their professional development and implementation of a wide variety of training opportunities focused on improving teaching and learning for over 1500 teachers and administrators each year throughout their 105 PreK-12 schools.

Helen spent 10 years (1981-1991) as Director of Product Development, Sales, and Marketing for professional development products targeted for the education market. She has served on the Colorado State Advisory Board for Adult and Community Education and on the NCSIE National Advisory Board for the Development of Standards and Certification of Professional Developers. She is included in Who's Who in the West, Who's Who in Education and Emerging Leaders in America. Helen has completed over 60 hours of post-graduate work focused on the business and educational trends, issues and research-based strategies to achieve improved organizational, teaching and learning results.

Sherri Stephens-Carter, Executive Director of Assessment and Curriculum, St. Vrain Valley Schools: educator and administrator, brings 30 year’s experience to her current position in which she leads her District of 22,000 students in their analysis and use of student data to design appropriate instruction. Sherri created and supervises her District’s long-range plan for assessment of standards. She trains teachers and administrators to develop performance assessments and to analyze and interpret test results to impact instruction and accountability across the nation.

Sherri is sought after for her expertise and style to present at state and national conferences particularly in the areas of assessment, mathematics and “Connecting Data to Classroom Instruction.” For the past 15 years, she has been an adjunct professor at a variety of Colorado Colleges and Universities teaching courses such as, “Leadership in Mathematics Education,” “Tools for Determining If Students Have Met Proficiencies,” and “Math for Bigger Kids.” In 1984, Sherri was nominated High School “Teacher of the Year” in Colorado. She has been recognized at state and national levels as an outstanding teacher, trainer and leader of standards-based education implementation and assessment.