Keynote Speakers

Gerry Brooks

Gerry Brooks has been an educator for 25 years, beginning as a third-grade teacher in Palm Bay, FL. He earned his master’s in administration and has been an elementary principal for 12 years. Originally using humorous videos to encourage his staff, Gerry has become a national encourager for teachers through social media and speaking events. He is a voice for teachers, but his passion is leading others to be responsible for their own personal climate and culture in the workplace. His book, “Go See the Principal,” outlines strategies for taking on this responsibility. Gerry and his wife, Kelly, have 3 adult children and live in Lexington, KY.

Jim Gill

Jim Gill is a musician and author with singular credentials among children’s artists. Jim spent twenty years directing programs in music play for families with children with special needs in the Chicago area. His particular writing style—combining wordplay and movement opportunities into songs—was developed through this work. Jim completed his graduate studies in child development at the Erikson Institute of Chicago with a special emphasis on the study of play. His work experience and studies have led Jim to create each of his recordings and books as an opportunity for playful interactions between a child and a caring adult.

Sally Haughey

Sally Haughey is the CEO and Founder of Fairy Dust Teaching, now known as Wunderled. Sally started her teaching journey in 1996 and that experience now expands over two decades. She cultivated her learning at Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education. In 2010, Sally began Fairy Dust Teaching, passionate about the wonder and magic of early childhood. She believes young children have the right to play, to be collaborators in learning, and to dream. Since then, Wunderled, has become a global platform serving 120 countries worldwide. Sally’s teaching philosophy has let her travel the globe, sharing her knowledge and experience with teachers in Vietnam, Canada, Holland, the United States, the Philippines, and more. Sally is also the creator of Play-Activated LearningTM, a powerful framework that helps early childhood educators build and develop a play-based teaching practice that deeply serves children and changes lives.

Breakout Speaker