Keynotes
We are excited to announce the NASDSE 2025 Conference Keynote Addresses! Please read more about each below:
Keynote 1: Education in America: The House Shall Not Fall
Keynote 2: Self-care for Special Education Leaders
Keynote 3: Continuity of Purpose: Leadership Across the Aisle and Across Time
Education in America: The House Shall Not Fall
Monday, October 27, 2025
10:00 am – 11:30 am
In a time when it can feel as though schools are under attack from every direction, it is easy to forget the deeper truth: public education is still one of the most powerful forces for good in our nation. This keynote reminds us that while the winds of change may shake the walls, the house of education will not fall because it is built on the strength, passion, and hope of the people inside it.
Through inspiring stories, honest reflection, and powerful reminders of why we do this work, participants will be encouraged to see beyond the noise and focus on what truly matters: children, community, and the unshakable belief in a brighter future.
This uplifting session blends motivation with facts, beginning and ending with stories that stir the heart, and leaving audiences reminded that even with a “wolf at the door,” the house stands firm. Attendees will walk away re-energized, inspired, and proud to continue the work of education.
Speaker
Geneva Jones
Geneva Jones is a nationwide expert on education law and one of the country's most influential school law attorneys. Known as the ‘Champion for Public Education’, Geneva’s work in school law has a transformational impact on our nation’s educational system. Licensed in Texas, California, New York, and Washington DC, Geneva has worked with the Departments of Education in numerous states and educational institutions nationwide. Geneva is a frequent keynote speaker at the nation’s most prestigious conferences as well as state, regional, and local school law professional developments. Geneva is an invited TV news and media commentator for local and national outlets on all school matters and is quoted in numerous publications.
Geneva uses straight talk, humor, practical experience, and women's intuition to provide a potent dose of realism and inspiration. She has shared her insights with thousands of people throughout the United States. Described by audiences as "inspirational" and "practical," Geneva's passion comes through in every word of her high-energy speaking engagements and training. Her style is fun, fast-paced, and, most importantly, actionable. Geneva’s educational expertise is unique, and she creates a truly individualized learning experience by tailoring every engagement to the needs of her audience.
What makes Geneva special is her keen perspective as a parent of a child with a disability and the dynamic approach and skill set she brings to her law practice. Rare for an attorney, Geneva attended one of the only law schools in the country with a special education law program. Geneva received a full fellowship in the law school's Center for Children’s Rights. Her entire legal career has been spent representing education agencies in their magnanimous calling to provide students with an education.
Geneva's child-centered legal philosophy is twofold, and she is often quoted as saying, “Let’s get back to basics. What does the law say, and what is best for students?” Geneva explains the law in simple, common-sense language, illustrated with frequent examples from real-world experiences, and focuses on the legal framework's everyday implications. Her professional development and speeches keep her audience focused on what is best for students, entertained, inspired, and always engaged.
Self-care for Special Education Leaders
Tuesday, October 28, 2025
2:15 pm – 3:00 pm
Most of us have heard one too many times that we should "make time for self-care" and "learn to manage our stress." This session is different. Instead of platitudes about self-care, it will teach you strategies for stress management that you can build into the life you have. In this session, you will learn about stress and how it affects your life and work. Keynote speaker, Claire E. Parsons, knows this all too well. She's a special education lawyer, mom to two, mental health speaker, mindfulness teacher, and author. She knows that stress management based on avoiding conflict and problems is often unattainable. Years representing schools and educators through challenging disputes has taught Claire instead that real stress management is about harnessing meaning, connection, and joy to support a career that balances personal well-being with a values-based mission to serve others. In this session, Claire will teach state special education leaders how to care for themselves while they perform the sometimes stressful but always essential work for children and families in their states.
Learning objectives:
Explore what stress is and the health consequences it implies
Identify effective stress management practices
Develop a framework for managing stress and navigating high-conflict situations
Speaker
Claire Parsons
Claire E. Parsons is Of Counsel at Bricker Graydon LLP in the Cincinnati area, where she focuses her practice in the areas of school law, employment law, and litigation. Much of Claire’s school law practice over the last seventeen years has focused on the area of special education. She has handled special education matters, including numerous due process hearings, for school districts in Kentucky and Ohio, conducted civil rights investigations involving disabled students, and served as a hearing officer for matters asserts under Section 504. Claire also trains school staff and speaks frequently on special education issues for state and national organizations. In addition to her experience in special education, Claire is also a well-known speaker and teacher with respect to mindfulness, stress management, and mental health issues. She is a trained mindfulness and compassion teacher, the founder of the Brilliant Legal Mind blog, and author of two books on mindfulness. You can learn more about Claire’s practice and work by connecting with her on LinkedIn.
Continuity of Purpose: Leadership Across the Aisle and Across Time
Wednesday, October 29, 2025
11:00 am – 12:00 pm
This keynote, delivered via an informal discussion of the personal experiences of two national leaders who served under different presidential administrations, will explore how enduring leadership values, shared vision, and collaboration can transcend political shifts, sustain meaningful progress, and maintain the integrity of program services.
Speakers
Glenna Wright-Gallo
Glenna Wright-Gallo is a transformative leader in disability policy, inclusive education, and employment. As Vice President of Policy at Everway, a global neurotechnology software company, she leverages over 25 years of experience to drive systemic change and empower diverse learners worldwide. Wright-Gallo’s career reflects a progression of impactful leadership roles. She recently served as Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) at the U.S. Department of Education, where she championed policies improving outcomes for over 7 million individuals with disabilities. Prior to this, she held key positions such as State Director of Special Education in Utah and Assistant Superintendent of Special Education in Washington State, leading strategic reforms to elevate expectations and expand access to opportunities.
As an individual with a disability, Wright-Gallo brings a unique perspective to her work. This personal experience fuels her commitment to ensuring all individuals have access to opportunities without arbitrary limitations. Her strategic approach to policy development positions her to lead advancements in inclusive practices that empower individuals with disabilities.
At Everway, Wright-Gallo spearheads the Policy Center of Excellence, an initiative that amplifies voices of neurodivergent individuals and/or have a disability, shapes equitable policies, and integrates research and evidence-based practices with neurotechnology software to foster inclusive practices and support accessibility in education and workplaces.
A recognized thought leader in systems improvement, Wright-Gallo emphasizes raising expectations and leveraging data-driven strategies to continuously enhance outcomes for individuals with disabilities. Her work aligns with Everway's ambitious mission to empower over 1 billion people with reading and writing skills by 2030, ensuring all individuals can access opportunities and reach their full potential.
Mark Schultz
Mark Schultz is a special consultant to Interworks at San Diego State University, where he is on the faculty for the National Rehabilitation Leadership Institute, He formerly served as the commissioner of the Rehabilitation Services Administration at the U.S. Department of Education, during which time he was also delegated the duties of assistant secretary for special education and rehabilitative services (OSERS). Previously, Schultz served as a deputy commissioner at the Nebraska Department of Education, where his division included the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation and the Office of Special Education. Prior to his role at the Nebraska Department of Education, Schultz served as both the director and associate director with Nebraska Vocational Rehabilitation, director of the Nebraska Assistive Technology Partnership, and as a barrier-free design specialist for the League of Human Dignity, a Center for Independent Living. He has also served as a president of the Council of State Administrators of Vocational Rehabilitation and a member of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act Information Technology Steering Committee.