Dr. Alena Zachery-Ross
Dr. Alena Zachery-Ross is a visionary leader who possesses extensive experience in leadership and group collaboration. With a comprehensive background in elementary and secondary instruction, curriculum development, multicultural education, school safety, budget and finance, and community relations. Dr. Zachery-Ross currently serves as the Superintendent of Ypsilanti Community Schools. Her most notable work has been at Muskegon Heights Public School Academy System, where she was responsible for transforming the entire district’s profile, including student discipline, student and staff attendance, dropout rates, and graduation rates.
Dr. Zachery-Ross’s education experience is vast. She has served as Superintendent at Okemos Public Schools, Assistant Superintendent, Elementary and Middle School Principal at Van Dyke, Elementary School Teacher, and School Psychologist at Detroit Public School District.
Dr. Zachery-Ross attended Grand Valley State University, where she received a Bachelor’s Degree with a major in Special Education and Psychology. She earned a Master's in Education Psychology from Wayne State University. Dr. Zachery-Ross completed her doctorate in Educational Leadership at Michigan State University.
Dr. Zachery-Ross is the former pastor of Lane Memorial CME Church in Jackson, MI, and serves as the current President of the Mid-Michigan Ministerial Alliance. She is also a member of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated.
Dr. Zachery-Ross continues to be a sought-after speaker, educational consultant, and professional developer. Because of her expertise in community relations, group facilitation, and leadership, she is a coach and mentor to many.
James Miles
Fondly known as Fresh Professor, James Miles worked as an artist and educator in New York City for 20 years before moving to Seattle in 2016. Before joining the faculty of Seattle University as an Assistant Professor, James served as the Chief Executive Officer of MENTOR Washington and the Executive Director of Arts Corps, prior.
Originally from Chicago, James has worked internationally as an artist and educator and has been featured by NPR, CBS, NBC, and the US Department of Education. He sits on the board of the Seattle Arts Commission, Artist Trust, and the SXSW EDU Advisory Board. A former NYU professor, James speaks worldwide about the intersection of arts, education, public health, and equity.
James gave a celebrated TED Talk on hiphop pedagogy in November 2019, and is writing a sequel to the nationally recognized book, Fresh Ed: A Guide to Culturally Responsive Pedagogy.
Mike Kleba
An international speaker, author, artist, and entrepreneur, Mike has been a public high school English teacher and theatre director for 25 years. He serves as co-host of the NYEdTech Meetup (the nation's largest) and sits on the SXSW EDU Advisory Board.
Mike is the co-author of Otherful: How To Change the World (and Your School) Through Others, an earnest and irreverent book about the power of great superintendents, principals, and other school leaders. Interested in courage and vulnerability, he’s run the NYC Marathon, gone hang-gliding in Brazil and bungee jumping in New Zealand, and climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro.
Planning for the Future
When K–12 leaders, mission-driven organizations, and innovative thought leaders convene to tackle public education’s most pressing issues, their community approach to problem-solving results in practical, sustainable solutions.
The last two years have been transformative. Still, the Institute for Education Innovation is looking ahead to a bright future with the rest of the IEI Family, including our valued Members and Partners.
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Workshops and Discussions
To make meaningful and sustainable change in the K–12 industry, we need novel ideas, investors to help bring the ideas to life, and school leaders to implement the ideas in classrooms. When an idea lacks the support of any one of these groups, it is destined to fail in the K–12 space.
Yet these three groups rarely have an opportunity to collaborate and fuel educational innovation together, exchanging keen insight from their respective domains that may boost the overall success of the idea.
Participate in productive conversations regarding issues facing K-12 schools specific to your area. Panel discussions will focus on topics such as equity, attendance, and testing.
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"IEI is all about the connections. The One-on-one time with colleagues and partners makes IEI unique.