50 Best PD Speakers for Schools in the USA (2026)

Last updated: June 2026

Finding the right professional development speaker for your school is one of the highest-leverage decisions you will make all year. The wrong choice leaves teachers scrolling their phones during a forgettable in-service day. The right choice shifts how your entire staff thinks about instruction, leadership, and student engagement for months afterwards.

As of June 2026, professional development for American schools spans thousands of speakers, bureaus, and organisations competing for a limited budget. Some deliver research-backed strategies that transform classroom practice. Others deliver motivational content that evaporates by Monday morning. This directory profiles 50 professional development speakers who consistently deliver results for K-12 schools and districts across America. Every speaker included has a demonstrated track record of working directly with schools and educators.

Who this is for: Principals, PD coordinators, superintendents, and school business managers in the United States sourcing keynote speakers, facilitators, and PD providers for staff development days, school conferences, and leadership team offsites.

How Do You Choose a PD Speaker for Your School?

The right speaker depends on what your school genuinely needs right now. A teacher motivation speaker delivers a very different outcome from a facilitator who builds assessment literacy or restructures your leadership team's communication. Start by identifying whether you need inspiration, skill building, culture change, or strategic alignment. Then match the speaker to that goal.

Look for speakers with genuine school experience. The best PD speakers have either taught in classrooms themselves or spent years working inside school systems. Ask for references from schools similar to yours in size, demographics, and context. A speaker who transformed a suburban elementary school may not connect with an urban high school staff.

Consider whether you need a one-off keynote or sustained professional learning. A single keynote can shift mindset and build energy. Lasting behaviour change typically requires follow-up workshops, coaching sessions, or a year-long implementation model. The speakers profiled below offer a range of engagement types, from ninety-minute keynotes to multi-day facilitation and ongoing coaching partnerships. For a companion guide to running the day itself, see the post on 21 practical tips for a school PD day.

For a companion guide to running the day itself, see 21 practical tips for a school PD day.

Check alignment between the speaker's framework and your existing school improvement priorities. Introducing a new framework every year creates initiative fatigue. The strongest professional development connects to work already underway, whether that involves PLCs, trauma-informed practice, or leadership pipeline development.

Matching Speaker Type to School Need

Your School's Current Need	Speaker Type to Book	Expected Outcome
Low staff morale after a difficult year	Motivational speaker with educator background	Renewed energy and shared purpose
Inconsistent instructional practices	Research-based instructional specialist	Common language and strategies
Leadership team dysfunction	Team dynamics facilitator	Improved collaboration systems
Achievement gaps not closing	Equity literacy specialist	Structural practice changes
High teacher turnover	Wellbeing and retention expert	Sustainable culture shifts

How Much Do PD Speakers Cost for Schools?

Professional development speakers for schools range significantly in cost based on profile, experience, and engagement type. According to 2026 market data from the National Speakers Bureau, keynote speaker fees typically fall into clear tiers: entry-level speakers charge $1,500 to $5,000, established professionals charge $5,000 to $15,000, and high-demand experts charge $15,000 to $30,000 or more per engagement. Most established education speakers working with K-12 schools fall in the $5,000 to $15,000 range per day, with bureau-represented speakers at the higher end.

The total cost of professional development includes more than the speaker fee. Factor in staff time, any substitute coverage, travel and accommodation, and the opportunity cost of pulling your leadership team out of school. For a staff of 100 and a $10,000 speaker, the true investment including staff time can easily exceed $35,000. That context makes thorough vetting and clear success criteria essential before signing a contract.

International speakers booked directly rather than through a bureau often provide more affordable options for American schools. Bureau commissions typically add 25 to 30 per cent to a speaker's base rate. A direct-booked international facilitator for a three-day engagement can cost significantly less than a domestically bureau-represented speaker at the same expertise level, particularly for multi-day work where travel costs are spread across more sessions.

Budget Allocation Models for Different School Sizes

School Size	Annual PD Budget (Approximate)	Recommended Speaker Investment
Small (under 300 students)	$15,000 to $25,000	One major speaker, plus internal PD
Medium (300 to 800 students)	$30,000 to $50,000	Two speakers, plus workshop series
Large (800 to 1,500 students)	$60,000 to $100,000	Three speakers, plus year-long model
District-wide initiative	$150,000 to $300,000	Multi-site implementation with coaching

The Five Questions to Ask Before You Book

Savvy PD coordinators and principals use a short vetting script to separate speakers who deliver genuine transformation from those who deliver forgettable motivation.

1. "What will my teachers be able to do on Monday that they cannot do today?" A speaker who answers with vague inspiration rather than specific practices, templates, or protocols is worth reconsidering.

2. "What is the most common implementation mistake you see after your sessions?" A speaker with no detailed answer to this has likely not tracked what happens after they leave.

3. "Can you customise your session based on our current school improvement plan?" Willingness to read your SIP before arrival separates genuine practitioners from those delivering the same keynote everywhere.

4. "What follow-up support do you offer after the initial session?" Handouts and slides are not follow-up support. Coaching calls, implementation resources, or a scheduled return visit are.

5. "Can I speak with a principal from a school similar to ours who booked you twelve months ago?" Twelve months gives enough time to know whether practice actually changed. A speaker with only recent or dissimilar references warrants caution.

When checking references, ask specifically: "What percentage of your staff actually implemented something from the session within the first month?" and "Would you book this speaker again, or would you choose someone different?" Specific examples of changed practice are far more reliable evidence than general enthusiasm.

Leadership Development and Team Dynamics

1. Jonno White, Consult Clarity

Specialty: Working Genius facilitation, leadership development, team alignment, DISC | Best For: Schools seeking lasting culture change through team-based frameworks

Jonno White is a Certified Working Genius Facilitator who helps schools understand why some types of work energise staff while others drain them completely. The Working Genius framework, developed by Patrick Lencioni and The Table Group, gives leadership teams shared language that shifts judgment to understanding and reduces conflict by revealing the natural contribution each person brings to collaborative work.

Jonno has delivered keynotes and workshops across the United States, Australia, the United Kingdom, Singapore, Canada, India, and South Africa. He works with school leadership teams, teacher groups, and entire staff on Working Genius facilitation, DISC personality workshops, executive coaching, and strategic planning facilitation. His book Step Up or Step Out has sold over 10,000 copies globally and addresses the difficult conversations school leaders face daily. He hosts The Leadership Conversations Podcast with over 230 episodes reaching listeners in more than 150 countries and founded The 7 Questions Movement with over 6,000 participating leaders. At the ASBA 2025 National Conference, Jonno achieved a 93.75% satisfaction rating for his Working Genius masterclass.

Having Jonno travel to the United States for face-to-face work is often far more affordable than engaging high-profile domestic speakers through bureaus.

For virtual or in-person sessions, email jonno@consultclarity.org to discuss your school's specific needs.

Working Genius Application Across School Roles

School Role	Most Valuable Geniuses	Common Energy Drains
Classroom Teacher	Discernment, Galvanising	Excessive administrative tasks
Curriculum Coordinator	Invention, Enablement	Implementation without support
Principal	Wonder, Galvanising	Compliance documentation
Instructional Coach	Discernment, Enablement	Creating new programmes without follow-through
Department Head	Invention, Tenacity	Constant communication meetings

2. Ron Clark

Specialty: School culture, student engagement, leadership | Best For: Schools wanting to energise staff culture and student outcomes

Ron Clark rose to national prominence through his work teaching students from underserved communities in New York City and North Carolina. Named the Disney American Teacher of the Year, his story inspired a feature film. Today he leads the Ron Clark Academy in Atlanta, where thousands of educators visit annually to observe innovative techniques and a joyful school culture in action. Ron's high-energy keynotes blend inspiring stories with practical strategies for teamwork, leadership, and student engagement.

3. Kim Bearden

Specialty: Communication, school climate and culture, relationship building | Best For: Schools focused on culture transformation and teacher engagement

Kim Bearden is the co-founder, executive director, and language arts teacher at the Ron Clark Academy in Atlanta. With approximately 40 years of experience spanning roles as teacher, curriculum director, school board member, and principal, Kim brings a depth of practice few speakers can match. Her keynotes and workshops help educators build the relationships and communication frameworks that sustain culture change. Her books include Fight Song, Talk to Me, and Crash Course.

4. Sean Covey, FranklinCovey Education

Specialty: Leader in Me, student leadership, The 7 Habits | Best For: Schools implementing Leader in Me or seeking comprehensive leadership culture

Sean Covey leads FranklinCovey's Education Practice, overseeing The Leader in Me process in schools across more than 140 countries. The Leader in Me applies The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People to K-12 settings, helping students develop leadership skills while equipping educators with a shared framework for culture and instruction. FranklinCovey's speakers include experienced coaches and consultants who deliver keynotes, training sessions, and ongoing implementation support.

5. Michael Bonner

Specialty: Classroom engagement, servant leadership, school culture | Best For: Schools wanting to build culture through joy and relationship

Michael Bonner is a teacher at the Ron Clark Academy who gained national attention after featuring on The Ellen Show and NBC Nightly News. His presentations help educators create environments where students thrive through connection and belonging. Michael's energetic style and focus on servant leadership make his sessions well-suited for teams seeking to improve culture and develop caring leadership.

Instructional Practice and Research

6. Dr Robert J. Marzano, Marzano Resources

Specialty: Evidence-based instruction, assessment, high-yield strategies | Best For: Districts seeking research-grounded instructional improvement

Dr Robert Marzano is co-founder and chief academic officer of Marzano Resources. With more than 50 years in education, over 50 published books, and more than 200 articles, he is one of the most cited researchers in American education. His work on high-yield instructional strategies, standards-based grading, and classroom assessment has shaped professional development programs in thousands of schools. Marzano Resources provides on-site PD, virtual training, and comprehensive implementation support through Solution Tree.

7. Dr Douglas Reeves

Specialty: Leadership effectiveness, assessment reform, school improvement | Best For: School leaders focused on data-driven decision making

Dr Douglas Reeves is the author of more than 30 books and 100 articles on leadership and organisational effectiveness. Twice named to the Harvard University Distinguished Authors Series, he has received both the Distinguished Service Award from NASSP and the Contribution to the Field Award from the National Staff Development Council. His professional development work helps school leaders translate research into sustainable practice.

8. Dr John Almarode

Specialty: Science of learning, Visible Learning, student engagement | Best For: Schools implementing evidence-based teaching strategies

Dr John Almarode is a professor of education at James Madison University, bestselling author, and expert on the science of learning. He works with the Visible Learning research team and helps educators translate cognitive science into classroom practice. His sessions are well regarded for combining research accessibility with practical classroom application, and he is a frequent keynote at ASCD, Learning Forward, and state-level education conferences.

9. George Couros

Specialty: Innovation in education, blended learning, student agency | Best For: Schools implementing technology-enhanced learning or rethinking instructional culture

George Couros is the author of The Innovator's Mindset and an adjunct instructor at the Graduate School of Education at the University of Pennsylvania. With more than 20 years in education spanning roles as teacher, technology facilitator, and school and district administrator, his work challenges schools to move beyond engagement toward genuine empowerment. His keynotes combine storytelling with practical strategies that help educators rethink instruction and leadership.

10. Dr Catlin Tucker

Specialty: Blended learning, student-led instruction, UDL | Best For: Schools shifting from teacher-led to student-centred models

Dr Catlin Tucker is a bestselling author, international keynote speaker, and professor in the Master of Arts in Teaching programme at Pepperdine University. Named Sonoma County Teacher of the Year in 2010, she has published over 10 books on blended learning and student-led strategies. Her keynotes and workshops give teachers practical frameworks for station rotation, whole-group rotation, and flipped classroom design, with a focus on making instruction more sustainable and equitable.

Professional Learning Communities and Assessment

11. Solution Tree

Specialty: PLCs at Work, assessment literacy, collaborative teams | Best For: Districts building or deepening Professional Learning Communities

Solution Tree is one of the largest educational professional development organisations in the United States. Their PLC at Work framework, built on the foundational work of Richard DuFour, provides districts with a comprehensive system for collaborative team learning, common assessment, and data-driven intervention. Solution Tree's roster includes internationally recognised speakers across instructional practice, culture, equity, and leadership, with particular depth in PLCs.

12. Dr Anthony Muhammad

Specialty: School culture transformation, PLCs, leadership for change | Best For: Schools and districts working to overcome staff resistance to improvement

Dr Anthony Muhammad is a former teacher, assistant principal, and principal with nearly two decades of school practice. He is internationally recognised for his work on school culture and Professional Learning Communities. His book Transforming School Culture identifies four types of educators, Believers, Fundamentalists, Tweeners, and Survivors, and provides a practical framework for leaders to work with each group. Dr Muhammad is represented through Solution Tree for PD engagements.

13. Cassandra Erkens, Solution Tree

Specialty: Common assessments, collaborative teams, grading reform | Best For: Schools building assessment literacy and collaborative grading practices

Cassandra Erkens is a senior consultant with Solution Tree who specialises in the assessment and collaborative team dimensions of PLCs. Her practical workshops give teachers templates and protocols for building common assessments, analysing student data, and making collective decisions about intervention.

14. Learning Forward

Specialty: Standards for professional learning, learning communities, coaching | Best For: Districts building a comprehensive, sustained professional learning system

Learning Forward is the professional association for those who work in and advocate for effective professional learning. Their Standards for Professional Learning are referenced by school systems across the United States as the benchmark for high-quality PD design. Learning Forward offers an annual conference, learning institutes, consulting services, and publications that help districts move from compliance-driven professional development to learning that actually changes classroom practice.

Social Emotional Learning and Wellbeing

15. CASEL (Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning)

Specialty: SEL frameworks, schoolwide implementation, district systems | Best For: Schools and districts building comprehensive SEL programmes

CASEL is the leading organisation in the field of social and emotional learning in the United States. Their CASEL Framework and district implementation guides provide the most rigorous evidence base for SEL practice in schools. CASEL's professional development services include on-site consulting, virtual learning, and a library of implementation resources.

16. Responsive Classroom

Specialty: SEL integration, classroom management, morning meeting | Best For: Elementary and middle schools building positive classroom communities

Responsive Classroom is an evidence-based approach that integrates academic and social emotional learning throughout the school day. Their professional development workshops help teachers implement morning meeting, interactive modelling, and logical consequences strategies. The Centre for Responsive Schools offers multi-day institutes, on-site training, and coaching support, with particular strength in elementary and middle school settings.

17. Elena Aguilar

Specialty: Coaching for equity, resilience, teacher wellbeing | Best For: Schools investing in instructional coaching and educator wellbeing

Elena Aguilar is the founder of Bright Morning and author of The Art of Coaching, Onward, and The PD Book. Her workshops on resilience, emotional intelligence, and transformational coaching have reached educators across the United States and internationally. Her approach is distinctive for combining practical coaching techniques with a deep understanding of the emotional labour of teaching.

Warning Signs Your Staff Needs Wellbeing PD Immediately

Observable Pattern	Burnout Stage	Recommended PD Focus
Increased sick day usage	Early	Self-care strategies and sustainable boundaries
Cynical comments in meetings	Middle	Purpose reconnection
Minimal effort on lesson planning	Advanced	Immediate intervention and support
Isolation from colleagues	Middle	Team building and connection
Resignation announcements clustering	Critical	Retention specialist and culture audit

Equity and Culturally Responsive Practice

18. Glenn Singleton, Pacific Educational Group

Specialty: Courageous Conversation, systemic racial equity | Best For: Districts building equity frameworks at the cabinet and school levels

Glenn Singleton founded Pacific Educational Group and developed the Courageous Conversation framework, which has been adopted by hundreds of school districts as the foundation for equity work. PEG works with schools and districts to move beyond individual awareness toward institutional and structural change. Their multi-year engagement model reflects the reality that equity transformation requires sustained commitment, not a single PD day.

19. Dr Sharroky Hollie

Specialty: Culturally and linguistically responsive teaching | Best For: Schools with diverse student populations seeking culturally affirmative classroom practice

Dr Sharroky Hollie is the executive director of the Centre for Culturally Responsive Teaching and Learning and a bestselling author and teacher educator. His workshops help teachers validate, affirm, build, and bridge the cultural and linguistic assets students bring to school. His practical focus on classroom routines makes his sessions immediately applicable.

20. Pedro Noguera

Specialty: Urban education, equity, school transformation | Best For: Districts serving diverse urban communities and seeking equity-focused leadership development

Pedro Noguera is a professor at the UCLA Graduate School of Education and one of the most prominent scholars in urban education in the United States. His keynotes on equity, school transformation, and the achievement gap combine rigorous research with the practical perspective of a leader who has worked inside school systems. His work is particularly well suited to district leadership teams grappling with systemic equity challenges.

Instructional Coaching and Teacher Development

21. Jim Knight

Specialty: Instructional coaching, high-impact instruction, partnership principles | Best For: Schools building or refining instructional coaching programmes

Jim Knight is the founder of the Instructional Coaching Group and one of the most widely recognised researchers and practitioners in instructional coaching. His partnership principles and coaching cycle provide coaches and teachers with a clear, respectful process for improving practice. His books, including Instructional Coaching and Better Conversations, are used in coaching programmes across thousands of schools.

22. Diane Sweeney, Sweeney and Associates

Specialty: Student-centred coaching, coaching cycles | Best For: Schools where coaches need to shift from compliance-based to student-outcome-focused work

Diane Sweeney is the developer of Student-Centred Coaching and the author of several widely used coaching books. Her approach grounds coaching conversations in student learning evidence rather than teacher performance, making coaching more collaborative and less evaluative. Her model is particularly effective for schools where trust between coaches and teachers needs to be built carefully.

Technology and Innovation in Education

23. Dr Monica Burns

Specialty: EdTech integration, AI in classrooms, practical technology strategies | Best For: Teacher-focused PD events and conferences wanting practical, approachable technology strategies

Dr Monica Burns is the founder of ClassTechTips, an Apple Distinguished Educator, and a bestselling author. Her practical approach helps teachers integrate technology tools, including AI, without adding to their workload. She hosts the Easy EdTech Podcast and is a frequent keynote at ASCD, ISTE, and state-level conferences.

24. Matt Miller, Ditch That Textbook

Specialty: AI for educators, creative teaching strategies | Best For: Schools wanting practical teacher-facing guidance on AI tools

Matt Miller is the founder of Ditch That Textbook and author of AI for Educators. His workshops and keynotes give teachers immediately applicable strategies for integrating AI tools responsibly into instruction. His approach is accessible and practical, making complex technology concepts usable for classroom teachers rather than just technology specialists.

School Culture and Climate

25. Doug Lemov, Teach Like a Champion

Specialty: High-leverage teaching techniques, instructional culture | Best For: Schools focused on instructional practice and classroom culture

Doug Lemov is the author of Teach Like a Champion and Practice Perfect. His taxonomy of high-leverage teaching techniques, developed through systematic study of highly effective teachers in high-poverty schools, has influenced teacher training programmes across the United States. Lemov's team delivers workshops that give teachers concrete techniques they can use immediately.

Culture Transformation Timeline With PD Support

Timeline	PD Speaker Focus	Expected Staff Response
Month 1 to 3	Initial culture keynote	Awareness and some healthy scepticism
Month 4 to 6	Workshop on specific practices	Early adopters implementing
Month 7 to 9	Follow-up coaching sessions	Majority trying new approaches
Month 10 to 12	Sustainability and refinement	New practices becoming habits
Year 2 and beyond	Deepening and staff-led PD	Culture shift embedded in identity

Leadership Development (Additional)

26. Michael Fullan

Specialty: System change, educational leadership, the principal as change leader | Best For: District leadership teams focused on deep, sustained system transformation

Michael Fullan is a professor emeritus at the University of Toronto and one of the most influential educational change theorists in the world. His work on system-level change, coherence, and principal leadership is essential reading for district leaders. His keynotes translate complex change theory into practical strategy that district and school leaders can act on.

27. Patrick Lencioni, The Table Group

Specialty: Organisational health, The Five Dysfunctions of a Team, Working Genius | Best For: Leadership teams wanting to fundamentally improve cohesion and trust

Patrick Lencioni is the author of more than a dozen books, including The Five Dysfunctions of a Team and The 6 Types of Working Genius. The founder of The Table Group, his frameworks are widely used in both corporate and school leadership settings. His keynotes on organisational health are particularly relevant for leadership teams carrying unresolved trust and accountability issues.

28. Dr Timothy Kanold

Specialty: School culture, mathematics leadership, PLCs | Best For: Maths departments and schools focused on assessment and equity in mathematics

Dr Timothy Kanold is a former superintendent and mathematics teacher, an award-winning educator, and author of numerous books on mathematics leadership and school culture. His work bridges instructional practice and leadership development, making him relevant for both teacher PD and administrator conferences.

Special Education and Inclusive Practice

29. Katie Novak

Specialty: Universal Design for Learning, inclusive instruction | Best For: Schools moving toward more equitable and inclusive instructional design

Katie Novak is an internationally recognised education consultant and the author of multiple books on Universal Design for Learning. Her workshops give teachers practical strategies for designing instruction that works for all learners from the outset, reducing the need for individual accommodations through proactive design. She frequently co-presents and co-authors with Dr Catlin Tucker.

30. Tom Hierck

Specialty: Behaviour, RTI, positive school culture | Best For: Schools using tiered intervention models and seeking a positive behaviour framework

Tom Hierck is a speaker and author with extensive experience as a teacher, principal, and district leader. His work on behaviour, response to intervention, and positive school culture draws from his own experience leading schools in challenging contexts. He is a frequent keynote at state and national PD conferences.

Early Childhood and Elementary

31. Dr Jack Shonkoff, Harvard Center on the Developing Child

Specialty: Early childhood development, brain science, policy | Best For: Early childhood programmes and districts building trauma-informed early learning systems

Dr Jack Shonkoff is the founding director of the Harvard Center on the Developing Child and one of the world's leading experts on early childhood development. His keynotes connect neuroscience to policy and practice in ways that help school and district leaders understand the biological basis of early learning. His work on the science of adversity has shaped trauma-informed practice frameworks across the United States.

Secondary and High School

32. Todd Whitaker

Specialty: What great teachers do differently, school leadership, staff morale | Best For: Schools wanting accessible, direct guidance on instructional and leadership practice

Todd Whitaker is a professor of educational leadership at the University of Missouri and the author of more than 50 books, including the national bestseller What Great Teachers Do Differently. His practical, no-nonsense approach to improving schools is delivered with warmth and humour that resonates with educators at every level. He is one of the most widely booked education speakers in the United States.

33. Eric Sheninger

Specialty: Digital leadership, innovation, school culture | Best For: Schools and districts navigating digital transformation and leadership

Eric Sheninger is a senior fellow at the International Centre for Leadership in Education and a bestselling author. A former high school principal who transformed a struggling New Jersey school through innovative leadership and digital culture, he speaks with genuine credibility about the challenges and opportunities of technology-integrated school leadership.

Trauma-Informed Practice

34. Jim Sporleder

Specialty: Trauma-informed school leadership, restorative practices | Best For: Schools serving communities with high adverse childhood experiences

Jim Sporleder was the principal of Lincoln High School in Walla Walla, Washington, whose transformation to a trauma-informed model was documented in the film Paper Tigers. His keynotes share practical strategies for building the adult capacity required to respond to students with trauma histories. He speaks with first-hand authority that few speakers in this field can match.

35. Dr Bruce Perry, Child Trauma Academy

Specialty: Neuroscience of trauma, child development | Best For: Schools wanting a deep scientific foundation for trauma-informed practice

Dr Bruce Perry is a psychiatrist, researcher, and co-author of What Happened to You? with Oprah Winfrey. His work on the neuroscience of childhood trauma has directly shaped trauma-informed school practice frameworks across the United States. His keynotes are particularly valuable for professional development days designed to create a common understanding of how trauma affects learning and behaviour.

Teacher Retention and Wellbeing

36. Angela Watson

Specialty: Teacher mindset, productivity, work-life balance | Best For: Schools investing in sustainable professional practice and reducing burnout

Angela Watson is an educator, author, and creator of the 40-Hour Teacher Workweek programme. Her practical focus on time management, mindset, and sustainable practice is directly relevant to the teacher retention challenge facing American schools in 2026. Her keynotes and workshops help teachers stay in the profession by making their workload genuinely manageable.

Equity and Culturally Responsive Practice (Additional)

37. Zaretta Hammond

Specialty: Culturally responsive teaching, neuroscience of learning | Best For: Schools seeking to combine equity practice with research on how the brain learns

Zaretta Hammond is the author of Culturally Responsive Teaching and the Brain, which connects cultural responsiveness to cognitive neuroscience. Her workshops give teachers a rigorous framework for understanding how culture shapes learning and specific strategies for developing intellectual independence in underserved students. Her work is among the most influential in equity-focused instructional practice.

Principal Leadership

38. Joanne McEachen

Specialty: Deep learning, new measures, whole-child outcomes | Best For: Schools using New Pedagogies for Deep Learning or moving beyond standardised metrics

Joanne McEachen is co-author of Dive Into Deep Learning and executive director of The Learner First. Her work on deep learning and new measures of student progress has influenced schools and systems globally, including many US districts engaged in redesigning what learning looks like beyond test scores.

39. Jimmy Casas

Specialty: School culture, leadership character, principal development | Best For: Principals and aspiring principals focused on culture and personal leadership development

Jimmy Casas is a former school principal, author of Culturize and other books on educational leadership, and a popular keynote speaker at principal associations and district PD events. His direct, character-focused approach to leadership development resonates particularly with school leaders at mid-career stages.

40. Jon Gordon

Specialty: Leadership energy, positive culture, team cohesion | Best For: Schools wanting to rebuild staff positivity and collective purpose

Jon Gordon is the author of The Energy Bus and numerous other books on culture, leadership, and positive team dynamics. His simple, story-driven keynotes are well received by mixed staff groups, including educators who may be sceptical of more framework-heavy PD. His sessions are frequently used to open large-scale district professional development days.

Organisation-Wide PD Providers

41. Instructional Empowerment

Specialty: Building expertise, instructional practice, school transformation | Best For: Schools focused on sustained instructional improvement

Instructional Empowerment delivers professional development through their Building Expertise conference and school partnership programmes. Their approach focuses on creating conditions where teachers become experts through deliberate practice, coaching, and collaborative learning. Schools report that their events feel more like celebrations of the teaching profession than compliance exercises.

42. ISTE (International Society for Technology in Education)

Specialty: EdTech standards, digital learning, AI in education | Best For: Schools building a technology integration framework and digital citizenship programme

ISTE develops the standards for technology integration that are used by districts across the United States. Their annual conference is the largest gathering of education technology practitioners in the world, and their speakers and consultants bring research-based practice to schools implementing technology-enhanced learning. Their ISTE Certification for Educators provides a recognised credential for technology integration coaching.

43. NSDC (Learning Forward)

(See full Learning Forward entry in the Professional Learning Communities section.)

44. Illuminate Education

Specialty: Data-driven instruction, assessment analytics, PLC data culture | Best For: Schools and districts building a data-driven instructional culture

Illuminate Education provides professional development alongside its data analytics platform, helping schools translate assessment data into instructional decisions. Their PD workshops help teachers develop the skills to interpret and act on student performance data as part of a collaborative team structure.

45. AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination)

Specialty: College readiness, academic support, schoolwide culture | Best For: Schools focused on closing preparation gaps for underserved student groups

AVID is a widely implemented schoolwide improvement programme focused on preparing underserved students for college and career success. Their professional development trains teachers in AVID strategies including Socratic seminars, Cornell notes, and collaborative study groups, and provides coaches and consultants for implementation support.

46. Mindfulness Schools

Specialty: Mindfulness for educators, stress reduction, wellbeing | Best For: Schools where teacher wellbeing and emotional regulation are priorities

Mindfulness Schools provides training programmes for educators in mindfulness-based practices that reduce stress, improve attention, and build emotional regulation capacity. Their courses are available online and in person, with a specific programme for educators who want to introduce mindfulness practices into their classrooms and schools.

47. Dr Yvette Jackson

Specialty: Pedagogy of confidence, high-operational practices, gifted education equity | Best For: Schools serving underachieving populations and seeking a strengths-based approach

Dr Yvette Jackson is the author of The Pedagogy of Confidence and a leading voice in gifted education equity. Her work challenges deficit-based thinking about underachieving students and replaces it with a rigorous, strengths-focused instructional approach. Her keynotes are particularly powerful for schools serving communities where low expectations have calcified into practice.

48. Dr Brene Brown (Through Daring Way)

Specialty: Vulnerability, courage, shame resilience in leadership | Best For: Leadership teams working on psychological safety and authentic culture

Dr Brene Brown's research on vulnerability, courage, and shame has been applied widely in school leadership contexts. While Dr Brown herself is primarily a keynote speaker at large conferences, her Daring Way and Dare to Lead certified facilitators are available for school-based workshops. This framework is particularly valuable for leadership teams working on psychological safety and honest communication.

49. Dr Tyrone Howard

Specialty: Race, equity, Black student achievement | Best For: Schools and districts focused on closing racial achievement and opportunity gaps

Dr Tyrone Howard is a professor at UCLA and one of the leading scholars on race, equity, and Black student achievement in the United States. His keynotes and workshops provide research grounding and practical strategies for educators working to close racial opportunity and outcome gaps. He is a sought-after speaker at state education conferences and district leadership events.

50. Ron Clark Academy Professional Development Programme

Specialty: Immersive educator PD, school culture, instructional energy | Best For: Educator teams wanting an immersive, observational PD experience

The Ron Clark Academy in Atlanta operates one of the most distinctive professional development experiences available to American educators. Thousands of educators visit annually to observe teaching in real classrooms before participating in hands-on workshops. The RCA Experience is a full immersive programme distinct from a standard keynote booking, and combines inspiration with observable practice in a way that few standalone speaker engagements can replicate.

What Are the Most Requested PD Topics for Schools in 2026?

The most requested professional development topics for American schools in 2026 include AI integration in classrooms, social emotional learning, trauma-informed practice, teacher wellbeing and retention, culturally responsive teaching, assessment reform, and Professional Learning Communities. AI integration has risen sharply as a priority, with a 2025 RAND Corporation study finding that 54 per cent of students and 53 per cent of teachers were actively using AI tools for school, yet only around 40 per cent of state education technology officials reported their states had released formal AI guidance.

Leadership team dynamics and school culture transformation continue to rank high, particularly in schools navigating post-pandemic recovery challenges. The speakers in the leadership and culture sections of this directory are well positioned for schools in that situation.

Is Virtual PD as Effective as In-Person?

Virtual professional development can be equally effective when designed properly, and it serves different purposes from in-person sessions. Virtual works well for content delivery, skill-building workshops, and follow-up coaching where participants need specific strategies they can immediately access. In-person sessions create stronger emotional connection, are better for team building and culture shifts, and reduce the distractions that often affect virtual engagement.

Many schools now use a hybrid model where an initial in-person session builds relationships and energy, followed by virtual sessions for sustained implementation support at a lower total cost. International speakers are particularly well suited to this model, with an initial in-person visit followed by virtual coaching sessions across the year.

The Hidden Cost of Getting PD Wrong

The real cost of a forgettable professional development day is rarely calculated. For a typical school with 100 staff attending a three-hour PD session, the investment including staff time and any substitute coverage can easily exceed $30,000 to $40,000. If no practice changes by the following Monday, that investment produced nothing except a forgettable morning.

Lasting behaviour change in schools typically requires more than a single keynote. The most effective PD investments combine an initial keynote or workshop with follow-up sessions, coaching support, or an implementation model that keeps teams accountable to the practice change they committed to. Before booking any speaker, clarify what measurable change you expect to see in classrooms within 60 days and how you will know if it happened.

For more on designing PD days that build genuine collaboration, see the guide on signs of silos in your school leadership team.

Common Mistakes Schools Make When Booking PD Speakers

The most expensive mistake is hiring for reputation or celebrity rather than fit. A high-profile speaker delivering a generic motivational keynote with no connection to your school's actual challenges will entertain for an hour and change nothing.

A second common mistake is booking a one-off session without any follow-up plan. A single keynote is a starting point, not a professional development programme. The most effective schools treat the keynote as a launch event, not the full investment.

A third mistake is skipping the vetting process. Impressive speaker reels and positive social media presence are not the same as references from schools similar to yours. Twelve months after the session is the right moment to assess whether practice changed.

A fourth mistake is ignoring the implementation challenge. Most PD fails not because the content was poor but because no one in the school was accountable for translating the session into practice change. Before the speaker arrives, agree on who will follow up, when, and how.

A fifth mistake is underestimating what international speakers can deliver. Bureau commissions add significantly to domestic speaker costs. A direct-booked international facilitator with genuine school experience can deliver better value and comparable or superior quality for multi-day engagements.

Frequently Asked Questions About PD Speakers for Schools

How far in advance should I book a professional development speaker?

Top-tier professional development speakers typically book their calendars six to twelve months in advance, particularly for popular dates like August PD weeks, conference keynotes, and district-wide events. Highly sought-after speakers from major organisations like Solution Tree or the Ron Clark Academy often book eighteen months or more ahead for in-person engagements. Plan your professional development calendar early to access your preferred speaker on your preferred date.

What should I include in a PD speaker contract to protect my school's investment?

A strong speaker contract should specify the date, time, location, presentation format, topic, and any customisation agreed upon, alongside the total fee and payment schedule. Include cancellation policies for both parties, travel and accommodation arrangements, technology requirements, and whether recording is permitted. Specify that the speaker will provide a pre-event consultation and detail what resources or materials participants will receive.

Can I book a PD speaker for just part of my staff rather than the full faculty?

Most professional development speakers offer breakout sessions or targeted workshops for specific groups such as leadership teams, department heads, new teachers, or grade-level teams. These smaller sessions often cost less than full-faculty keynotes and allow for deeper engagement and more specific content. Clarify the pricing structure during initial conversations, as some speakers price by participant count and others offer flat rates.

What is the difference between a keynote speaker and a PD facilitator?

A keynote speaker typically presents to a large group with limited interaction, delivering inspiration, frameworks, and motivation in a format that works for audiences of any size. A facilitator works with a smaller group in a more interactive, structured process designed to produce specific outputs such as team agreements, common understanding of an assessment tool, or a shared action plan. Many high-quality PD providers offer both, which is worth clarifying when you are considering options.

What is the Working Genius framework and why is it popular in schools?

Working Genius, developed by Patrick Lencioni and The Table Group, identifies six types of work that either energise or drain people: Wonder, Invention, Discernment, Galvanising, Enablement, and Tenacity. It gives school leadership teams a shared language for understanding why some team members thrive in certain phases of a project while others struggle. Schools use it to reduce interpersonal judgment, improve delegation, and build more effective meeting rhythms.

Jonno White is a Certified Working Genius Facilitator available for school workshops globally. Email jonno@consultclarity.org to discuss a session.

How do I get board approval for an international PD speaker?

Frame the case in terms of total engagement cost rather than headline fee. An international speaker booked directly for a three-day engagement including travel typically costs significantly less than a domestically bureau-represented speaker at the same expertise level, because you avoid bureau commissions of 25 to 30 per cent. Offer to pilot a virtual session first to demonstrate relevance and fit before committing to in-person travel costs.

What are the most important factors when comparing PD speakers?

The factors that most reliably predict impact are: genuine school experience (the speaker has taught or led inside schools, not just advised from outside); specificity of references (they can provide principals from schools similar to yours who can report on practice change twelve months later); customisation willingness (they will read your school improvement plan and adjust content accordingly); and follow-up availability (they offer coaching, resources, or return visits rather than a single transaction).

Five Things to Remember

The most effective PD speakers match their content to your school's specific stage of development and existing improvement priorities, rather than delivering generic motivational content that creates temporary excitement but no sustained practice change.

The total cost of professional development includes not just speaker fees but also staff time, substitute coverage, and opportunity costs that can make the real investment significantly higher than the fee alone, making thorough vetting essential.

Lasting behaviour change in schools requires follow-up support beyond a single keynote, through coaching sessions, implementation resources, or year-long partnership models that prevent backsliding into old habits.

International speakers often provide better value than domestic bureau-represented speakers because direct booking eliminates commission markups and travel costs are frequently lower than expected for multi-day engagements.

The most effective PD speakers have genuine school experience themselves, either as classroom teachers, administrators, or long-term consultants embedded in school systems, rather than corporate presenters repurposed for education audiences.

Jonno White is a Certified Working Genius Facilitator, author of Step Up or Step Out, and leadership consultant who works with corporates, nonprofits, and schools around the world. Through Consult Clarity he facilitates Working Genius workshops, executive team offsites, and leadership keynotes for schools across the United States, Australia, the United Kingdom, Singapore, Canada, India, and South Africa. His podcast The Leadership Conversations has over 230 episodes reaching listeners in more than 150 countries. To discuss a keynote, Working Genius facilitation session, or executive coaching engagement for your school, email jonno@consultclarity.org.

Sources

National Speakers Bureau. (2026). Keynote Speaker Costs 2026. nsb.com.

RAND Corporation. (2025). AI tools usage among teachers and students, referenced in education reporting.

Lencioni, P. M. (2022). The 6 Types of Working Genius. Matt Holt Books. ISBN 9781637743294.