Keynote speakers

DR. Marcey sorensen

Dr. Marcey Sorensen is the Deputy Superintendent of Teaching & Learning for the Virginia Department of Education. Prior to this role, she was the Chief Academic Officer in Fort Worth (TX) Independent School District. She is an educational leader with a proven track record of raising student achievement, improving systems, and developing leaders while supporting all students to realize their fullest potential. In this role, as Chief Academic Officer she raised reading scores for students over 15% through the implementation of evidence-based practices across a District of over 144 campuses and 73,000 students. She has dedicated her career to closing opportunity gaps while ensuring that all students have access to high quality programs, research-based practices, and wrap-around support. As one of her core beliefs, Dr. Sorensen believes that access to a high-quality education is every single child’s fundamental civil right and has worked throughout her career to ensure that all schools and school systems have high expectations for students and educators while nurturing and supporting them so that academic achievement is achieved.

She previously served as the Deputy Chief of Secondary Schools and Executive Director of Curriculum and Instruction in Madison, Wisconsin for 3 years as well as a high school principal and teacher in Chicago Public Schools for over 20 years, where she first began her educational career. She has her doctorate from University of Illinois at Chicago, master’s degree from Northeastern Illinois University, and bachelor’s degree from Northern Illinois University. Dr. Sorensen is married to her husband of over 20 years, who is also an educator, and they have two children who will be attending Henrico County Public Schools.

DR. JILL SILER

Dr. Jill Siler served as the Superintendent of Gunter ISD for nearly ten years and now serves as the Deputy Executive Director for Professional Learning for the Texas Association of School Administrators (TASA). Jill grew up in Rochester & Buffalo, NY and completed her undergraduate work at the University of Pittsburgh where she was a collegiate swimmer. She was a teacher and coach in Pflugerville ISD and began her administrative career in Marble Falls ISD. In 2004, Jill went to Lake Travis ISD where she served as a campus and district leader for 8 years. During that time, she completed her doctorate at the University of Texas.

In her first months as a superintendent, Jill faced financial crisis along with many other challenges that leadership brings. In 2015, her school board was named a TASA Honor Board as one of the top 5 school boards in the state and one of her campuses was named a 2017 National Blue Ribbon School. Jill served as the Chair of the Future-Ready Superintendent Leadership Network (FRSLN) Design Team where innovative leaders across Texas gather to learn, share and grow together.

Jill has a passion for helping others reach their goals and is the leader of Texas’ Aspiring Superintendent Academy and leads Texas’ First Time Superintendents Academy. Jill speaks at leadership and teacher conferences across the country. In 2020, Jill released her first book, Thrive Through The Five: Practical Truths to Powerfully Lead through Challenging Times, which was the #1 Bestselling New Release for Education Administration books and has hit the Top 10 Education Leadership books multiple times since its release. In 2021, Thrive Through the Five was honored with four Eric Hoffer Awards including Reference Category Winner and Montaigne Medal finalist.

You can reach Jill at jillmsiler@gmail.com.

VOYAGE DALLAS MAGAZINE ARTICLE

megan moore

Megan is the current director of the Office of ESEA Programs with the Virginia Department of Education. She has been in education for over 25 year, as an ESOL teacher in Title I schools, ESOL specialist and coordinator and the director of federal programs and family engagement. She is passionate about supporting all students through federal programs… and OMEGA

TIFFANY W. KESSLAR, ESQ

Tiffany Kesslar assists clients with federal education and grants compliance matters under the Office of Management and Budget’s Uniform Grants Guidance (UGG) and other federal administrative regulations, such as the Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR). Ms. Kesslar also assists clients with federal education program compliance. Her areas of expertise include the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), and various stimulus programs.

Ms. Kesslar joined the The Bruman Group, PLLC in July 2006 and became a Partner in 2011. Ms. Kesslar regularly serves as a keynote speaker on federal grants and education compliance. Ms. Kesslar also conducts mock monitoring and internal control reviews of States and non-federal entities for compliance with federal administrative requirements. In addition, Ms. Kesslar actively represents clients in administrative appeals and in the resolution of adverse audit findings.

Ms. Kesslar serves a co-chair on the American Bar Association, Public Contract Law Section, Grant Law Committee. Ms. Kesslar is also a member of Thompson’s Grants Editorial Advisory Board. Ms. Kesslar previously served as the Vice President of the Board of Directors for the National Grants Management Association and remains an active member of the association, recently completing her time as Chair of the Education Committee. Ms. Kesslar also serves as a Board Member of a local childcare center. In 2020, Ms. Kesslar became a Certified Grants Management Specialist. She is also a Fellow of the American Bar Association.

Prior to joining the firm, Ms. Kesslar served as a law clerk at the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. Ms. Kesslar graduated cum laude from Clemson University and received her Juris Doctorate from the Catholic University Columbus School of Law. Ms. Kesslar is a member of the U.S. Supreme Court bar and the District of Columbia bar.

Areas of Practice:

Bar and Court Admissions:

U.S. Supreme Court, 2009
United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, 2016
U.S. District Court of the District of Columbia, 2007
District of Columbia, 2006
Maryland, 2004 (inactive)

Education:

Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law, Washington, D.C., J.D.
Honors: National Trials Team Competitor; Moot Court Associate; Extra Mile Award for Outstanding Service to the Law School Community; Student Bar Association Co-Chair.
Clemson University, Clemson, SC, B.A.
Major: Political Science Minors: Sociology and Speech and Communications
Honors: Cum Laude

Recent Publications:

Affiliations and Activities:

Fellow, American Bar Association, 2023 – Present.
Certified Grants Management Specialist, 2020 – Current.
American Bar Association, Public Contract Law Section, Grant Law Committee Co-Chair, 2018 – Current.
Board Member, Thompson’s Grants Advisory Board, 2011 – Current.
National Grants Management Association, Vice President, 2018 – 2020; Member-at-Large, 2016 – 2018; Board Member, 2014 – 2020; Chair, Education Committee, 2020-2021; Member, 2012 – Current.
AGA, Member, 2017 – Current.

Contact The Bruman Group, PLLC

Page updated

Report abuse