2025 SSTAGE Fall Conference
September 10, 2025 | Anderson Conference Center, Macon, GA | 8:00am – 4:00pm
MTSS–Academics, Behavior, & Wellbeing:
Improving WHOLE CHILD Outcomes Through PBIS, THE SCIENCE OF INSTRUCTION, & the Science of Reading
Featuring:
Dr. Tracy White
(Founder—President—UPSTREAM Education For All, Inc.)
Dr. Gene Kerns
(Author of Literacy Reframed/Thought Leader/VP & Chief Academic Officer-Renaissance Learning)
Justin Hill
(Deputy Superintendent—Office of Whole Child Supports—Georgia Department of Education)
Amy Denty
(Director of Literacy—Office of Teaching and Learning—Georgia Department of Education)
Dr. Rondalyn Pinckney
(GaMTSS Program Specialist—Office of Whole Child Supports—Georgia Department of Education)
John O’Connor
(CEO—GREAT Instruction, LLC--Author)
Lamar Thomas
(2025 STAR Award Winner—Principal—Delta Innovative School—Brooks County
About the Conference: The conference will feature presentations that explore the transformative power of education, highlighting how every student can be empowered to lead a purposeful life through literacy supported by MTSS and Whole Child approaches that address academics, behavior, and overall wellbeing. MTSS, when done with fidelity, ensures every student gets the support they need at the right time to live a successful life that will position them to contribute positively to our communities. As educators, we must strive to empower our students in mind, body, and spirit to reach their full potential and to pursue their true purpose in life. Whole child supports address the barriers of trauma that may exist while building student confidence to persist with resilience. Effective instruction, informed by data, allows educators to provide different levels of support based on students’ unique needs and address barriers to learning and improve student performance. Featured speakers will empower educators to collaborate, make data-based decisions, and align their efforts to improve student outcomes.
Registration Will Include: Access to presenter provided resources, Continental Breakfast, Catered Lunch and Morning and Afternoon Snacks , & SSTAGE Membership for Non-Members ($100-Annual Membership), and a copy of The Right Tools: A Guide to Selecting, Evaluating, and Implementing Classroom Resources and Practices by Dr. Towanda Harris (Upcoming SSTAGE Mini-Event presenter—October 21, 2025)
Registration Fees: $275 for 2025-2026 SSTAGE Members and $375 for non-members. If you have more the 10 people attending from your district you qualify for the group registration discount ($225/member & $325/non-member). You must send Joan Whitehead-Freeman you spreadsheet with names and email addresses by August 22, 2025 if you are interested in the this option.
About the Presenters:
● Dr. Tracy White is a national keynote speaker, and an educational change agent dedicated to creating equitable learning opportunities for over 40 years. With decades of experience in curriculum development, professional development, and strategic planning and leadership, she has spearheaded local and statewide initiatives that drive deep systemic change. Dr. White’s work bridges research to practice, empowering educators, families, and strategic partners to support lifelong learning for ALL. Currently, White serves as the founder of Upstream Education for All, a nonprofit dedicated to transforming life outcomes for the marginalized in society by advancing the work of resolute nonprofit leaders who are defying the odds. The mission is rooted in the belief that education is the great equalizer, and faith that it is possible to break generational cycles of disparity and create opportunity through strategic and united nonprofit leaders with differentiated technical assistance and support that remove barriers and ignite organizational impact.
● Dr. Gene Kerns is a third-generation educator with teaching experience from elementary through the university level and K-12 administrative experience. He currently serves as Vice President and Chief Academic Officer of Renaissance Learning. With more than 20 years of experience in leading staff development and speaking at national and international conferences including South by Southwest (SxSW) EDU, London’s Westminster Education Forum, the ASU/Global Silicon Valley (SGV) Summit, the 42nd Annual Mexico TESOL Conference, and the Global Education Technology Forum of China. His former clients include administrators’ associations across the country and the Ministry of Education of Singapore. Gene received his bachelor’s degree and master’s degree from Longwood College in Virginia and also holds a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) from the University of Delaware with an emphasis in Education Leadership. His most recent work has been focused on assessment and literacy. His first book, inFormative Assessment: When It’s Not About a Grade is published by Corwin Press in both English and Arabic. His second book, Unlocking Student Talent, was released by Teachers College Press in December of 2017. His newest book, Literacy Reframed, was released in 2021 through Solution Tree.
● Justin Hill is the Deputy Superintendent for the Office of Whole Child Supports for the Georgia Department of Education. The Office of Whole Child Supports assists districts/schools and communities in identifying and addressing student barriers to success while expanding learning opportunities. There are three Interconnected units that focus on the whole child within the Office: Georgia Multi-Tiered System of Supports (GaMTSS), Student Health and Wellbeing, and School Safety. The Office of Whole Child Supports is grounded in the belief that academics, behavior, and wellbeing make up the “whole child” and Georgia Multi-Tiered System of Supports (GaMTSS) is the system designed to help all children succeed by providing different levels of support based on student needs to ensure that every student gets the support they need at the right time.
● Amy Denty has served as Director of Literacy for the Georgia Department of Education since May 2023 and leads GaDOE’s coordinated literacy efforts, including the training and implementation process for the new K-12 English Language Arts standards; the agency’s work to support students with dyslexia; the Literacy for Learning, Living, and Leading in Georgia (L4GA) initiative; and GaDOE’s responsibilities under the Georgia Early Literacy Act. Denty is a proven K-12 educator with extensive experience supporting quality instruction, professional learning, support for teachers, and the development of robust literacy initiatives that ensure success for Georgia students.
● Dr. Rondalyn Pinckney is the Program Specialist for Georgia Multi-Tiered System of Supports in the Office of Whole Child Supports. Dr. Pinckney leads the implementation of Georgia’s Online MTSS/SST (GO MTSS/SST) Application. GO MTSS/SST is the web-based application provided by the Georgia Department of Education that helps participating schools to document and monitor how students are responding to interventions within a Multi-Tiered System of Supports.
● John O’Connor, a former SSTAGE President, is the CEO of GREAT Instruction, LLC, and has led school improvement initiatives at the state and local level during his 30 plus years in public education. He began his career as a special education teacher serving students with orthopedic impairments in elementary and middle schools. O’Connor led statewide initiatives to improve the achievement and learning of students with disabilities during the nine years he served at the Georgia Department of Education. In local districts he has served as Assistant Director for Special Education, Executive Director for Special Services, Assistant Superintendent for Student Services, and Director for Interventions. O’Connor has written five books, including his most recent, the 2nd Edition of Great Instruction Great Achievement for Students with Disabilities: A Road Map for Special Education Administrators. He has also written a textbook chapter (co-wrote), a desk guide, and numerous articles. Since retiring, O’Connor has provided training, school visits, and coaching to hundreds of groups from Hawaii to South Carolina.
● Lamar Thomas, Principal of Delta Innovative School (2025 SSTAGE STAR Award winner) in Brooks County, has been recognized for his commitment to both educational leadership and student success. Thomas has recently earned certification as a speaker and membership in the esteemed John Maxwell Leadership Team, underscoring his commitment to fostering leadership and his dedication to positively influencing students, staff, and the broader community. Thomas is currently serving as President of the Georgia Association of Alternative Education (GAAE), placing him at the forefront of alternative education where he advocates for best practices and champions the unique needs of students across Georgia, ensuring that ALL students receive the support they need.
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Tentative Agenda
7:30-8:20 Registration, Breakfast and Exhibit Area OPEN
8:20-8:30 Welcome by SSTAGE Executive Director & President
8:30-8:45 Greetings/Office of Whole Child Supports Updates Justin Hill
8:50-9:05 Greetings/GO MTSS/SST Updates Dr. Rondalyn Pinckney
9:10-9:25 Greetings/On the FrontLine Lamar Thomas
9:30-10:15 SESSION I – Amy Denty — K-12 Literacy Updates
10:15-10:30 BREAK – Exhibit Area OPEN
10:30-11:30 SESSION II – Dr. Tracy White – Literacy as a Human Right – Our Collective Moonshot
11:30-12:30 LUNCH (Served on Site) – Visit Sponsors/Vendors/Networking
12:30-1:30 SESSION III – John O’Connor — 15 Big Ideas for Effective MTSS
1:35-2:35 SESSION IV – Dr. Gene Kerns – The Science of Reading & Knowledge
2:35-2:50 BREAK – Exhibit Area OPEN
2:50-3:50 SESSION V – Dr. Tracy White – Bootstrapping is Not Reality – Prepping Systems for Sustainability to Support Reading Success for ALL
Questions? Email Joan Whitehead-Freeman at jwhitehead@gael.org.
Cancellation Policy for the 2025 SSTAGE Fall Conference is as follows and acknowledgement is required during registration:
To cancel participation for an event, SSTAGE must receive written notice (email jwhitehead@gael.org) seven calendar days prior to the scheduled workshop/conference. An administrative fee of $25.00 will be charged for cancellations. Requests for a refund must be received in writing at least seven calendar days prior to the start of the conference and must be addressed to jwhitehead@gael.org. SSTAGE encourages participants to find a substitute. Replacements will be welcome, and there will be no charge to transfer a registration to a colleague for the event. Advance notice of replacements is preferred. If an individual registers and does not attend the event, he/she will be marked as a "no show" and the full conference fees shall apply. Registrants are responsible for payment. Refunds will not be made for “no shows”. Refunds and reimbursements will not be transferable to other workshops or conferences. In the event of inclement weather which may impede or prevent conference attendance, or which may give cause to fully cancel the conference, a credit will be provided to the registrant or school/system. Refunds will not be made for conference cancellations due to COVID-19, severe weather or weather events which may cause the conference to cancel. SSTAGE is not responsible for United States Postal Service mail or electronic mail failures.