Keynote Speakers
Monday Opening Session Speaker
Cheryl Fuller
With over 39 years in the field of education, Cheryl Fuller has been actively engaged in many aspects of researching and implementing learning for children and adults. With a Bachelor’s in Child Development, a Master’s in Counseling and a second Master’s in Educational Leadership she has been able to enjoy her work as a classroom teacher, counselor, assistant principal and 14 years as a principal. Additionally, she has served as an adjunct professor at Duke University in the Program in Education. She currently works part-time as a McKinney-Vento Liaison in Franklin County, NC. As a consultant for the past 13 years, she has worked extensively with training educators in best instructional practices. She has presented material to over 100,000 people in North Carolina and across the United States. She offers workshops and keynote/breakout sessions at major conferences. In the past few years, she has gained additional certifications on two primary topics: Trauma Informed Practices/Social Emotional Learning and Compassion Fatigue and Professional Resilience. She uses her experience and knowledge to provide trainings on these topics through a book study model using two books she has authored: Peace by Piece and Forward Facing for Educators: A Journey to Professional Resilience and Compassion Restoration. Her goal, in all of her work, is to help children and adults live their best personal and professional lives.
Event Master of Ceremonies and
Tuesday Afternoon Closing Session Speaker
Dee Hankins
With Dee was two months old when he was placed into foster care. He bounced through foster homes until he was 12. Most of his young life he strongly believed that no one cared about him. He felt that it was just him against the world and he was going at it alone with no light at the end of the tunnel. Statistically, almost 50% of African American males placed in the foster care system drop out of high school. They are almost 10 times more likely to end up in a prison than to ever step foot on a college campus. This would have been the case for Dee had he not had support of some key people in his educational life. It was with their help and believe in him that allowed him to graduate from California State University; Long Beach with a B.S. in Criminal Justice. Dee is now on a mission to show every student that they can have a chance at a successful future…no matter their background!
