Sean Slade

BTS Sparks, Head of Education

Sean Slade is a global education leader, speaker, author, and policymaker. He is Head of Education, North America at BTS Spark, a global education non-profit focused on developing the next generation of educational leaders. Prior to this role he served for over a decade as the Senior Director of Whole Child/Global Outreach at ASCD, focusing on promoting and expanding the ASCD Whole Child approach across the United States and globally. He led the development and launch of the Whole Child Network spanning 58 countries; the ASCD & CDC Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child Model (WSCC); and helped shift public dialogue about K12 education from an academic focus to a whole child approach that encompasses all factors required for successful student outcomes.

In addition, he is also a co-founding member for the UNESCO Chair on Global Health and Education; a member of the OECD's Future of Education 2030; a HundrED Global Ambassador; and an NBC Today Show social and emotional learning expert.

Brandon Frame

The Urban Assembly, Senior Director of Social Emotional Learning (New York)

Brandon Frame is a visionary leader, social innovator and educator. Brandon Frame is the Senior Director of Social Emotional Learning at The Urban Assembly (UA) where he leads a team of 20 to work with districts and schools around implementation, integration, evaluation and sustainability of social emotional learning. The UA is committed to ensuring the social and economic mobility of students by advancing capacity to enhance student achievement, well-being, and preparation for postsecondary opportunities in its 23 schools. In partnership with the NYC Department of Education and hundreds of public, private, and nonprofit partners, the UA currently serves over 9,000 students in small, subject-themed public middle and high schools.

He is also the Founder & Chief Visionary Officer of TheBlackManCan, Inc. an award-winning nonprofit that amplifies the stories of what Black Men and Boys can do, established a MENtor network of over 500 Black Men, and built a socially conscious online community that has over 900,000 followers and generates 7 million impressions weekly.

Jen Perry

Edmentum, Director of Whole Learner & SEL

Jen Perry joined Edmentum as the Learning Designer for Social Emotional Learning after 30+ years of work with youth in educational and community settings. As a teacher, administrator, and trainer, her passion has been to help educators develop an understanding of the importance of social emotional learning and build trauma-informed responses and systems. This work has included supporting youth, administrators, and schools in understanding behavior and implementing transformational change through strength-based approaches.