Anton Schulzki is the interim executive director of the National Council for the Social Studies. With a distinguished career spanning 41 years, Anton spent 35 years at William J. Palmer High School in Colorado Springs, where he inspired countless students, particularly through his 30-year tenure in the International Baccalaureate (IB) Programme. His commitment to social studies extends beyond the classroom. As the 2021-22 President of the National Council for the Social Studies, Anton chaired the November 2021 annual conference, themed "Solidarity in Social Studies." He has also contributed invaluable service to the Colorado Council for the Social Studies since 2005.

Outside his professional life, Anton enjoys outdoor activities like cycling and white-water rafting, along with the occasional good book.

Elizabeth Ross serves as the Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning (TAL) at the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE). Directly prior, Elizabeth served as the Deputy Assistant Superintendent in TAL. In her role, Elizabeth is incredibly proud to lead OSSE’s Advancing Excellence work, which is designed to ensure that all DC students have the opportunity to excel by setting high standards, providing robust supports for educators and holding schools and school systems accountable. In recent years, this work has included drafting and implementing DC’s first Educator Preparation Approval regulations; publishing DC’s first comprehensive Educator Workforce Report; developing a new, one-year provisional teacher credential; supporting the launch of a state-of-the-art Educator Credentialing Information System (ECIS); leading a comprehensive re-write of Washington DC’s K-12 Social Studies standards and developing DC’s first citywide Financial Literacy standards and Social and Emotional Learning standards; and supporting DC’s Early Literacy Education Task Force to a consensus set of recommendations, which are currently being implemented by DC local education agencies (LEAs). 

Dr. Michael Feldman is the Social Studies Education Associate for the Delaware Department of Education in the Curriculum, Instruction, and Professional Development workgroup. In that role, Dr. Feldman works with Delaware’s public schools to align their locally developed curriculum to standards, ensuring that all students have access to high-quality, social studies instructional materials.

Before joining the Department, Dr. Feldman worked with the University of Delaware’s Professional Development Center for Educators to support social studies instruction through cognitive coaching, co-teaching, co-planning, and modeling. He continues to contribute to UD’s teacher preparation programs by serving as an adjunct instructor for undergraduate courses for pre-service social studies teachers.

Dr. Feldman's professional background includes experience as a high school social studies teacher, district-level instructional coach, and co-chair of the Social Studies Coalition of Delaware. His primary interests and expertise include historical thinking, disciplinary literacy in social studies, culturally responsive pedagogy, and civics education in the digital age.

Peter Phineas Ramsey is the Director of Social Studies for the State of Maryland, where he leads the content strategy and oversight for preK-12 social studies programs. In this role, he fosters cross-agency collaborations, manages the development of evidence-based resources, and ensures alignment with cutting-edge educational standards to drive student outcomes. Peter envisions a social studies education that is inclusive, equitable, and reflective of diverse perspectives, preparing students to be active and informed citizens.

Peter also chairs the Maryland State Standards & Frameworks Validation Committee and the Maryland State Asian American Pacific Islander Workgroup. Through these roles, he leads dynamic meetings, enhances educational frameworks, and champions inclusivity and equity in education.

Peter has a proven track record of leading innovative, student-centered curriculum development and state-wide instructional policies. He holds a Master's degree in Educational Leadership from Johns Hopkins University and a Bachelor's degree in Human Ecology from the College of the Atlantic. He has also completed a Leadership & Innovation Program at Georgetown University.

Peter's career includes impactful roles in Washington DC public schools (DCPS), such as Assistant Principal at Charles Drew Elementary School and Cardozo Education Campus, where he supervised staff, led curriculum development, and facilitated professional learning. As an Instructional Coach and Social Studies Department Chair at Cardozo Education Campus, he developed engaging professional learning sessions and curated instructional plans. Recognized as a highly effective teacher, Peter was a nominee for the DCPS Teacher of the Year in 2019.

Throughout his career, Peter has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to advancing educational standards, promoting cultural understanding, and supporting educators in delivering high-quality instruction. His passion for social studies education and dedication to fostering an inclusive learning environment make him a distinguished leader in the field.

Matthew Mingle currently serves as the Superintendent of the Warren Township School District in Warren, New Jersey. In addition, Mingle is the co-president of the ASCD-ISTE Board of Directors and a member of the Pay It Forward 9/11 Charity Board of Directors. Mingle's leadership and innovative approaches in education have been widely recognized. In 2023, he was named the Somerset County, New Jersey Superintendent of the Year, a testament to his commitment to education and the impact of his work. 

Dr. Mingle began his career as a high school social studies teacher and later became the president of New Jersey Social Studies Supervisory Association. His work in education has allowed him to a multi-dimensional view of education ranging from the influence of technology to the impact of humanitarianism, Dr. Mingle’s work with Pay It Forward 9/11 has allowed him to deliver inspiring presentations on the whole child approach to education through his  “Lessons From Gander”, which aims to equip educators with strategies to nurture empathy and inclusivity in classrooms, mirroring the spirit of the Gander, Newfoundland community in the days following the 9/11 attacks.

Dr. Matthew Mingle's full biography is available under Daniel Roselle Keynote Speaker. 

Regent Tilles graduated in 1968 from Amherst College with a Bachelor of Arts degree and from the University of Michigan College of Law in 1971. He became Director of Law and Legislation for the Michigan Department of Education, was elected to the Michigan State Board of Education, and in 1975, he became the Executive Secretary to the Speaker of the Michigan House of Representatives. During this time in Michigan he taught education and the law at University of Michigan, Michigan State, Eastern Michigan and Central Michigan Universities’ Schools of Education. He was also the counsel to the Michigan Teacher Tenure Commission as well as a Special Education Hearing Officer. After being a candidate for U.S. Congress, he opened his own law practice in Washington D.C. in 1978, until his return to Long Island in 1983 where he was the Director of the Tilles Investment Companies. He received a provisional N.Y.C teaching certificate in 1971, following education courses at C.W. Post. He is a member of the New York, D.C. and Michigan Bar Associations. 

He was Chair and founding member of the Association for a Better Long Island, past acting Chair of the Long Island Regional Planning Board, served as a Chair of the Long Island University Board of Trustees, served on the Boards of WNET/Channel 13 and WLIW/Channel21 and has been Executive Vice Chairman of the Tilles Center For The Performing Arts, in addition to serving on the Board of Executive Board of Long Island Association. He has also worked to form the Long Island Arts Alliance, bringing together the cultural institutions of Long Island. 

He is also involved with significant interfaith activities: two of the most prominent being Project Understanding, which he formed with Monsignor Tom Hartman in 1987, bringing Catholic and Jewish teenagers together annually on a mission to Israel; and as the producer of the first Vatican commemoration of the Holocaust under the auspices of Pope John Paul II in Rome in 1994. 

Dr. Jermaine Dawson is the deputy superintendent of Academic Services at The School District of Philadelphia, overseeing curriculum, instruction, student support services and special education/diverse learners. He has a proven track record of raising student achievement and improving outcomes for school districts.

A native of Atlanta, Georgia, Dr. Dawson has held key leadership positions in education across multiple states, achieving notable successes in improving student outcomes, increasing graduation rates and reducing dropout rates. His work has been recognized in publications such as the New York Times and Forbes Magazine for leading his district to excel in academic recovery following the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dr. Dawson has excelled as a principal, teacher and program manager, consistently driving improvements in student achievement. His leadership resulted in the removal of underperforming schools from state failure lists and significantly raised school grades. He was named one of the 100 top influencers in education by DA Leadership and selected for prestigious educational summits worldwide. He has received accolades including a House Resolution from the Georgia State House of Representatives, worked with notable figures like Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, and was featured on NBC National News with news anchor Tom Brokaw.

Dr. Dawson holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Morehouse College, a master’s degree in educational leadership from Kennesaw State University and a doctorate in educational leadership from Northcentral University.