MSAA Summer Institute

Pre-Conference Workshops - Tuesday, July 22, 2025

• Dr. Curtis Bates: Utilizing Restorative Practice and Community Circles to Build School Communities and Reshape School Discipline

• Daniel Evan Bauer: Build Leadership Momentum: How to Create the Perfect Principal Entry Plan

• Jessica Minahan: Behavioral Blindspot: Revealing Overlooked Strategies to Increase Engagement and Reduce Oppositional Behavior 

Speakers

Deputy Commissioner Regina Robinson, Ed.D. is the special assistant to the Commissioner at the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education for stakeholder engagement and outreach and is responsible for advancing its mission and educational vision through strategic communication and robust community outreach. 

Regina joined DESE in 2021 as a deputy commissioner overseeing planning and research, workforce diversification, secondary pathways, student and family services, early college, educational options, and public adult education. Regina is a collaborative and skilled leader in education with a passion and expertise in student success for over 25 years.

As a promoter of student effectiveness and support, Regina understands the various pathways for students from admittance to degree conferral, preK to career, engaging higher education and preK-12 stakeholders on the critical components impacting student success. She has been a fierce advocate for students with disabilities in the Greater Boston area and in 2014 was appointed to the Boston Public School Committee, where she served for one term.

Since 2008, Regina’s vast service to organizations has ranged from board and community engagement and has lectured at 10 colleges and universities across the Commonwealth, specifically focused on topics of student success, career pathways, disability inclusion, parental and sibling advocacy, and family engagement.

Regina possesses the unique ability to visualize educational attainment through many lenses, as a former college administrator for two decades, instructor, and local district leader to current K-12 parent advocate and statewide policymaker.  Regina is a mom of four children, one of whom is a star with Down syndrome, which allowed her to become personally invested in access to education and career success for all students, from all backgrounds, and with all abilities. With her doctorate in Higher Education Leadership from Regis College, Regina’s research spotlights gender, race, and executive leadership in education. When she is not working, you can find her cheering for the Robinson 4 in basketball, football, and track.

Dr. Adolph Brown Dr. Adolph Brown aka "The World's Greatest Edu-tainer" (the name given to him by friend Doug E. Fresh - "The World's Greatest Entertainer,") is an internationally renowned credentialed master teacher, character education leader, servant leadership consultant, educational & clinical psychologist, author, researcher, entrepreneur, and an influential thinker/practitioner in the fields of education, human behavior, and neuroscience. He was once the youngest tenured full professor in our nation even after his extremely humble beginnings and being the first in his family of 5 to graduate from high school.  Head Start gave Dr. Brown his aptitude for learning and he continues to grow and learn to this very day. Dr. Brown is a graduate of the College of William & Mary with degrees in Psychology, Anthropology, and a minor in Education. He completed his graduate studies in clinical psychology at the College of William and Mary extension of the Virginia Consortium for Professional Psychology (Child & Family and Education tracks). He completed his residency at the Eastern Virginia Medical School. He writes and teaches from a unique perspective of an experienced passionate & award-winning educator & research scientist, an innovative & effective business leader, and an engaging consultant. Dr. Brown has devoted his life’s mission to positive human development. Adolph loves to receive invitations to present any number of his vast array of master classes. He is not your typical “motivational speaker” or self-proclaimed “guru.” He educates, informs, challenges, and delights with some amusement and a little "show and tell.” Adolph customizes each masterclass or workshop for the audience with lots of audience participation, profound challenges, multiple takeaways, and BIG FUN!  Catch Dr. Brown and Ali Wentworth on their new television show “The Parent Test” on ABC primetime.  https://www.docspeaks.com
 

Danny Bauer As a chronically late student, Danny Bauer once told his Chemistry teacher a fib about saving an entire girl scout troop from a burning building to get out of a tardy.  Danny is not sure if it was the very made up story, the very real cookie he offered his teacher, or a combination of both that got him out of a detention that day …That experience taught him it pays to develop your storytelling skills. Danny has been telling stories since then, most recently on the Better Leaders Better Schools podcast, ranked in the TOP 1% of 3 million global podcasts, and via his 5 books.  His mission is to help Ruckus Makers Do School Different.  To learn more visit https://betterleadersbetterschools.com/meet-daniel/.  Danny will also be leading a pre-conference workshop on Tuesday, July 22. Information will be available soon.