Keynote Speaker: Dr. Bill Daggett

Bill Daggett

Lessons Learned from Learning 2025: Creating Future Focused Schools
Thursday, October 26, 2023 at 9:00 -10:15 a.m.

MSMA is pleased to announce this year's Fall Conference Keynote Speaker: Dr. Bill Daggett.

Keynote Description:
Today’s students need to be prepared for their future. Living in a rapidly evolving global economy, students need to be able to think at higher levels, employ strong literacy and analytical skills, and solve problems in unpredictable situations. There is currently a gap between what students need and what our schools provide. To be prepared for success in today’s increasingly technology-focused and information-based society, ALL students need a rigorous and relevant learning experience.  

Equity, social justice, Social-Emotional Learning, mental health, and a rigorous and relevant instructional program for all students are recent but critical issues that schools today are required to address. Meanwhile, the demands of the past have not gone away. The brick-and-mortar school model of the last century with the bell schedule, boundaries, rules, regulations, certifications, tenures, contracts, and a hyper-focus on meeting proficiency on high-stakes tests continue to demand attention. While the demands continue to compound, a silver lining is emerging through the hardships brought on by COVID. It has created a tipping point for many educators, policy makers, business leaders, and parents around the immediate need to transform our education system. The pandemic has also taught us that change is possible in the ways we had not imagined even one year ago.

Dr. Bill Daggett will share emerging solutions and evidence-based practices to these challenges that have proven to be most effective and will provide suggestions on how school districts can implement these practices from classroom to boardroom.

A little more about Bill:
Bill Daggett, Ed.D., is the founder of both the Successful Practices Network and the International Center for Leadership in Education. He is recognized worldwide for his proven ability to move preK-12 education systems towards more rigorous and relevant skills and knowledge for all students. For 30 years, he has crisscrossed our nation, as well as the industrialized world, to lead school reform efforts to effectively prepare students for their future.

While an avid supporter of public education, he also challenges all of us to be more focused on our children's future than on maintaining the schools of our youth. His insights and leadership have caused nearly every major education association in the country, hundreds of school districts, numerous political and business leaders, publishers, and others to seek out his advice and guidance.

Dr. Daggett began his career as a teacher, local administrator, and then director with the New York State Education Department. He spends much of his time providing leadership and guidance to the National Dropout Prevention Center and the Career and Technical Education Technical Assistance Center, which are part of the Successful Practices Network.

He is the creator of the Rigor/Relevance Framework which has recently become the cornerstone of much of the nation's school reform efforts. He is also the author of numerous books about learning and education, textbooks, research reports, and journal articles.

Dr. Daggett has been recognized as a distinguished alumnus by both Temple University and the State University at Albany.

Dr. Daggett has a special commitment to individuals with disabilities. He and his wife, Bonnie, volunteer their time and lend their support to Wildwood Programs in upstate New York. Wildwood serves the needs of people of all ages who, like their daughter Audrey, have neurological impairments/learning disabilities or autism, by enabling them to become the best that they can be.