LogoChris O'Neal - Keynote Speaker

Keynote is Monday, July 19 at 8:15 a.m.

Chris O’Neal is a former elementary and middle school teacher from the Calcasieu (pronounced Cal ca shoo) Parish School System in Louisiana, where he received numerous Teacher of the Year honors and chaired the Mayor’s Committee for Youth Leadership for the City of Lake Charles. Chris went on to work in the Curriculum and Instruction office for the school district helping teachers in high-risk schools to enhance classroom practice through the use of new teaching strategies and tools. He also developed content to support high-risk classrooms, and provided professional development to teachers and administrators.

He worked at the State Department of Education in Louisiana, focusing on grant management, policy and planning issues, district support, and eventually became the state director of technology. His work with the Governor’s Office and the Louisiana Legislature earned him status as an honorary State Senator. Featured as a “Shaper of Our Future” in Converge Magazine, Chris received the “Making it Happen” award for leaders in the field of education.

Chris now works at the University of Virginia to support the Virginia Department of Education by providing outreach and professional development for school administrators across the state. Chris serves as a faculty associate for the George Lucas Educational Foundation; provides leadership professional development, content development, consults for ISTE (International Society for Technology in Education); conducts educational leadership institutes, workshops, and evaluations for several districts around the country, and serves as a leadership facilitator for SETDA (State Educational Technology Directors Association). He is writing on a book to assist school district personnel to lead school improvement efforts through the effective use of data.