Speakers
PATRICIA A. POPP, PH.D.
Patricia A. Popp, Ph.D. is the state coordinator for the education of homeless children and youth in Virginia and a clinical associate professor at the William & Mary School of Education. In addition, she serves as a Virginia Department of Education liaison to the Virginia Department of Social Services to ensure educational stability for children and youth in foster care. Prior to joining the university in 1995, Pat was a teacher for students with learning disabilities. Her research interests include students experiencing homelessness and high mobility, students with disabilities, and teacher quality. Her publications include Students on the Move, Reading on the Go, and Effective Teaching and At-Risk/Highly Mobile Students for NCHE and West Meets East for ASCD. She has presented at international, national, and state level conferences in the areas of highly mobile and homeless students, classroom management, and teacher effectiveness. Pat is a past president of the Virginia Council for Learning Disabilities, past president of the National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth (NAEHCY), and past chair of the NAEHCY Education Scholarship Fund.
JOSH FARRIS
Mr. Ryan Sykes is a nationally recognized public school educator from Chesapeake, Virginia. He currently serves as the Principal of Pleasants Lane Elementary School for Petersburg City Public Schools. He started his career in 2011 in Chesapeake Public Schools as a 6th grade Special Education Math Teacher. In 2017, he got his first assistant principal position at Carter G. Woodson Middle School in Hopewell, VA where he won the Milken Educator Award in 2019 for the Commonwealth of Virginia. Mr. Sykes earned a bachelor’s in interdisciplinary studies in 2011 and a master’s in administration and supervision in 2014 from Virginia State University.
He is currently seeking his doctoral degree in education administration supervision at VSU.
Bruce A. Copeland, Ph.D., LCSW
Bruce A. Copeland, Ph.D., LCSW, is a 30-year career professional in the field of clinical social work practice. Dr. Copeland holds a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Social Work from Norfolk State University (NSU). Dr. Copeland's research and interest have centered on parental involvement among African American fathers.
In 1995, he became licensed by the Virginia Board of Health Professions (Board of Social Work) as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), and in 1999, he also became licensed by the Board of Psychology as a Certified Sex Offender Treatment Provider (CSOTP).
Dr. Copeland is a highly skilled psychotherapist who provides mental health services for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of mental, behavioral, and emotional disorders in individuals, families, and groups. Dr. Copeland has demonstrated those skills in a variety of settings to including outpatient, acute care, residential, and private practice.
Currently, Dr. Copeland is an administrator for Hampton City Schools where he is Coordinator of School Social Worker Services and is an adjunct professor at NSU, School of Social Work. Dr. Copeland is also an independent contractor providing clinical supervision, training, and assessment for various agencies in the Hampton Roads community.