john-lesterJohn Lester is a nationally known educational consultant, educator and author specializing in the fields of classroom differentiation and leadership. His background includes teaching at the elementary, middle school, and high school levels, curriculum, administration, and serving as a local and county gifted education coordinator.  He is the past-president of the Ohio Association for Gifted Children and is the founder and Executive Director of Ohio Leadership Institute, which provides leadership opportunities for students and teachers.

John is the founder and Director of the Ohio Model United Nations program, Ohio’s largest global education and leadership program.  He is also an Adjunct Instructor at Ashland University in Columbus, Ohio.

John served as the Key Club Advisor and directed students in grades 9-12 in community service activities, one of which was selected by President Bush as the Nation’s 52nd Point of Light.

For more information or to book John click here.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS:

TEACHING LEADERSHIP & 21ST CENTURY SKILLS 
How do 21st century learning skills enhance gifted education in the K-12 classroom? How does leadership relate to other areas of gifted education and help prepare students to succeed in our global society? How can these college and career readiness skills easily be implemented in lessons & activities in the classroom and in programs specially designed for gifted students? In this activity-oriented session participants preview and participate in numerous 21st century skills and leadership based activities. Leadership and 21st century skill based activities and lessons are provided to participants.

RAISING RIGOR TEACHING 21ST CENTURY SKILLS
Are your students prepared to meet the rigorous cognitively complex skills necessary to meet new college and career readiness standards? Teaching 21st century skills to gifted students prepares individual students to meet academic challenges with greater depth of learning and deeper understanding of academic complexity. Rigor in simple form exists from what students do, what they need and how they understand. This activity-oriented session examines raising rigor through lesson development, activity based learning, and 21st century skill building.  Lessons and activities to help raise rigor in the classroom are provided to participants.

DATA DRIVEN DIFFERENTIATION
Using data to implement differentiation in the classroom requires an in-depth exploration and understanding of how differentiation genuinely becomes embedded in all aspects of teaching and learning.  Using data driven strategies to differentiate allows for maximized student learning and achievement.  This workshop focuses on a variety of tools to implement data driven differentiation strategies for all learners in the classroom.  Strategies including Layered Lessons™ are highlighted.  Participants receive differentiation lesson strategies and lesson planning materials.

INTRODUCING & IMPLEMENTING LAYERED LESSONS™
Differentiation in the classroom expects teachers to implement new instructional strategies to reach all students in the classroom.  Layered Lessons™ are designed using the same concepts and or skills in the common core standards and the same assessments to reach diverse groups of students.  Lessons are designed to reach students working at different grade levels in the classroom.  Layered Lessons represent a new differentiation technique based on standards based learning.  Lessons use current state standards and reflect various differentiation techniques for teachers including pre-assessment and classroom grouping techniques.

TRAINING TEACHER LEADERS
Teacher leadership is paramount to the success of a school building and a school district.  Many teachers possess the leadership ability needed to move a district forward.  Teachers are now recognized as the “driving force” in outstanding schools across the nation.  Building teacher leadership is the hallmark of an outstanding building and district.  Leadership training materials, activities, lessons, and inventory instruments are provided along with leadership action plans to aid teachers in creating and developing essential leadership skills.

DEVELOPING GLOBAL AWARENESS & LEADERSHIP
How does global awareness and leadership education support 21st Century Learning?  How can these areas be incorporated into classrooms and gifted resource settings?  What global awareness and leadership opportunities exist for students in grades K-12?  What is the connection between giftedness and global awareness and how does leadership factor into gifted education?  Since leadership is clearly defined as an area of giftedness in the Federal definition of “gifted and talented children”, why have we been avoiding this area of giftedness?  Participants find the answers to these questions learn about global awareness and leadership activities and opportunities to use with students.

For more information or to book John click here.