
Lee Ann Jung, PhD
CEO, Lead Inclusion
All Belong. All Learn. All Succeed.
This keynote will engage the audience in thinking about the false dichotomy of developmental delay versus typical development. Through this lens, we will consider the most important keys to success, so all children belong, all learn, and all succeed.
Lee Ann Jung, PhD, is CEO of Lead Inclusion, Clinical Professor at San Diego State University, and a consultant to schools worldwide. She provides support to schools in the areas of universal design for learning, inclusion, intervention, and mastery-based assessment and grading. Before beginning a career in higher education she worked in special education in the roles of teacher and administrator. She is a former full professor and director of International Partnerships in the University of Kentucky’s College of Education. Lee Ann leads the International Inclusive Leadership Program, a professional learning and graduate program for educators in international schools in partnership with San Diego State University.

Deborah Owens
Parent and preschool teacher
Ain’t That Amazing-And Other Sayings I’ve Used To Run the Race from EI to Graduation and Beyond
This session shares the journey of a parent of a child who received services from birth to 22 years of age. With humor, it highlights accomplishments, obstacles, strategies, and reflections for what worked, what didn’t, what couldn’t and what was meant to be.
Deborah Martin Owens is a parent, teacher, trainer, and speaker. Currently she is the WeeCats Preschool teacher in Enterprise, Alabama. Ms. Owens has also served as a behavior consultant, developmental specialist, and teacher trainer for the Enterprise City School System. Deborah is a graduate of Auburn University with a Bachelor of Science degree in special education. Her greatest accomplishment is being Mama to two children, one of whom received services from birth to 22 years of age due to an intraventricular hemorrhage at birth. Ms. Owens has attended the Early Intervention and Preschool Conference as far back as 1998, as a parent, teacher, and speaker. This is the first time Ms. Owens’ will speak specifically about her journey as a parent of a child who received services from birth to 21 years of age. With humor, she highlights accomplishments, obstacles, strategies, and reflections for what worked, what didn’t, what couldn’t, and what was meant to be.

Arturo Menefee, Ph.D.
Director of Leadership Development, University of Alabama Center for Economic Development
The Power of Emotional Intelligence: What it is and How to Succeed With It
Do you want to understand yourself and others better? Do you know how your emotions not only affect you, but other people as well? Emotional Intelligence is not simply about feelings or just being in a good mood. It is about behaviors and choices. It is about your decisions. In this immersive and engaging presentation with Dr. Menefee, you will learn how to harness your emotions and monitor their impact on your environment and your performance. You will also learn how to regulate stress and the benefits of an optimistic mindset. Emotional intelligence will help you to achieve amazing results in your profession and in your life!
He is an award-winning author of two books, Engaged Leaders, Better Communities and The Effective Community Leader. Arturo received his Ph.D. in Public Policy and Administration from Auburn University and he is a Global Fellow at the Manufacturing Diversity Institute (MDI) in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Dr. Menefee is committed and passionate about empowering people and building communities.