William Parrett and Kathleen Budge, of Boise State University’s Center for School Improvement and Policy Studies, have been announced as keynote speakers for the first keynote address of KSDE’s Great Ideas in Education Conference: The Art of Teaching, Oct. 19-21 in Wichita. 

Parrett and Budge will present “Uncommon Sense, Uncommon Success: Turning Any High-Poverty School into a High-Performing School” from 12:30-1:45 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 19. 

Parrett has received international recognition for his work in school improvement related to children and adolescents who live in poverty. He has co-authored 11 books. 

As director emeritus of the Center for School Improvement and Policy Studies (1996-2019), Parrett coordinated funded projects and school improvement initiatives that exceeded $80 million. Recently honored as the Indiana University School of Education’s 2021 Distinguished Alumni, he continues as a frequent speaker at international and national events. 

Budge brings a blend of 26 years of experience as a teacher and administrator combined with 14 years of work dedicated to bridging the gap between the university and the teaching profession. 

As associate professor emerita of Educational Leadership in the Curriculum, Instruction and Foundational Studies Department at Boise State University, she continues her research focus on poverty, rural education, school improvement and leadership development.  

Budget and Parrett co-authored “Disrupting Poverty: 5 Powerful Classroom Practices.”  

The breakout sessions for the conference are being finalized and will be announced soon. 

The draft agenda can be found here. 

Register for the Great Ideas in Education Conference here.