New York, NY, Oct 18, 2010—Ron Clark and Dr. Maria Trozzi confirmed as keynotes for 2011 North American Jewish Day School conference.

The North American Jewish Day School Conference has confirmed two dynamic and celebrated professionals as the key note speakers at their upcoming conference, February 6-8. 2011. Ron Clark and Maria Trozzi are outstanding and path breaking educators whose work has challenged conventional norms and changed the way we think about education.

Ron Clark, New York Times Bestselling author, 2000 Disney American Teacher of the Year and Founder of the Ron Clark Academy will address the topic: “Teaching Through Adversity - Facing Challenges and Making a Difference.”

Maria Trozzi, Assistant Professor of pediatrics at Boston University School of Medicine, Director of the Good Grief Program at Boston Medical Center and a nationally renowned expert on family resiliency and loss, will speak on the topic of Special Education and Parenting

Ron Clark

Known to many as "America's Educator," Ron Clark is the 2000 Disney American Teacher of the Year, a New York Times Bestselling author, the subject of a television movie and the founder of The Ron Clark Academy. Ron is regularly featured on network and cable television (The Today Show, CNN and Oprah,) and was dubbed by Ms. Winfrey as her first "Phenomenal Man."

Ron Clark brings charisma, energy and devotion to the education profession. Ron pioneered innovative projects in rural North Carolina working with minority students in a low wealth area. His highly effective programs garnered national attention and led to a White House invitation to be honored by the President of the United States.

Ron Clark's personality is marked by a sense of challenge and adventure. Upon watching a television piece chronicling low test scores and the lack of teachers in inner-city New York, Ron packed his car and moved to Harlem. After being warned by the principal that his class was the least disciplined group she had seen in years, Ron prepared himself by visiting the home of each student before the first day of school. Ron Clark involved his students in projects in the city and state, and his "low achievers" soon began to excel; and by the end of the year, their scores were higher than the “gifted” classes in his district.

In 2003, Ron Clark released the New York Times Bestselling book "The Essential 55" which includes his 55 expectations of students - as well as all individuals - young and old. Ron's second book, "The Excellent 11," was released in August 2004 and further captured the attention of parents, educators and students alike.

Most recently, Ron Clark has founded The Ron Clark Academy, an inner-city school serving students from across metro Atlanta. The privately-funded institution is unique for its innovative teaching methods and curriculum based on worldwide travel. Each year the students, grades 5 through 8, apply their in-class lessons to international adventures. And, by the time of graduation, each child will have visited six of the seven continents. Teachers from around the world visit the Academy to observe the innovative and "out-of-the-box" methods for achieving student success.

In addition to his may duties as an educator, Ron Clark is a much sought after keynote speaker. He shares the uncanny adventures he has had in the classroom and speaks of his experiences teaching in Harlem. Within his humorous and heartwarming stories, he delivers a message relevant to each of us. It is a message of hope, dedication and the never-say-never attitude required to achieve goals and dreams.

Maria Trozzi

Maria Trozzi, M.Ed., is an Assistant Professor of pediatrics at Boston University School of Medicine, a consultant for the Child Development Unit at Children’s Hospital in Boston, and Director of the nationally renowned Good Grief Program at Boston Medical Center. Her credentials and expertise have established her as one of the foremost experts on family resilience and loss in the country.

Her first book, Talking With Children About Loss, was published by Putnam/Penguin in 1999. She has appeared as a guest on “Larry King Live!”, the CBS’s Early Show, Good Morning America and several other national news programs; including multiple appearances with Dr. T. Berry Brazelton as cohost of his weekly Lifetime national television show, “What Every Baby Knows” and “Brazelton on Parenting.” She is a frequent contributor to both national print and electronic media, lending her expertise to a variety of situations families face that involve change, loss and transition.

As one of the handful of lecturers on the topic of child and family resilience as they face stressful life events, Trozzi frequently lectures and provides training for educators and health professionals across the country. She provided consultation to the Missoula Demonstration Project, a 15-year research project that is exploring the quality of life’s end. This project has received national media attention for its groundbreaking work.

Since 1991, she has lectured nationally with Dr. T. Berry Brazelton as a faculty member of the National Seminar Series, in which she and Dr. Brazelton do an annual ten-city tour to early childhood and health care audiences across United States. She keynotes dozens of national conferences each year primarily involving health care, education, social service and early childhood professional audiences. She particularly enjoys tailoring her remarks to particular audiences, providing a lively, often interactive approach when possible.

Hospitals, organizations, and city officials often call upon Trozzi in times of crisis. She was flown to Littleton, Colorado, after the Columbine High School shooting to administer crisis management consultation to the parents, caregivers, and educators of Columbine High School. Immediately following September 11th, she worked with families and schools at Ground Zero and in Boston continues to support dozens of bereaved families whose loved ones died on the planes that emanated from Boston.

She provides on-going consultation to the Pediatric Trauma Program at Columbia Babies and Children’s Hospital in New York, where she is designing and implementing a bereavement protocol response for both families and clinicians. Trozzi’s approach will potentially serve as a model for Trauma Units all over the country.

Trozzi’s interest in supporting resilience expands to the grief families’ experience when a child is born with a disability: the grief that keeps on giving. Her recent research focuses on exploring particular stresses and training educators and health providers to be responsive. Trozzi hopes her findings will take this grief out of the closet for both affected families and the clinicians who treat them.

Recently, Maria received the Humanitarian Award from Boston Theological Society for her contributions to the field.

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