Retreat Attendees Directory

Dr. Davis has spent the last 23 years in public education. He began as a special education teacher at Alvord USD before moving to Temecula Valley USD as a special education program specialist and eventually to Beaumont USD where he served as Director of Human Resources, Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources, and beginning in 2016 as superintendent. In 2020 he took over the superintendency at Banning USD, a district with nine schools and programs serving nearly 4,500 students from Banning, Cabazon, White Water, Poppet Flats, and the Morongo Indian Reservation. 

Dr. Davis was awarded the Transformational Leadership Consortium Educator’s Award as Superintendent of the Year by the California Economic Empowerment Movement (CEEM) in 2018. That same year, Dr. Davis was awarded Superintendent of the Year by the Association of California School Administrators (ACSA) Western Riverside County Association of School Managers (WRACSM). 

Dr. Davis holds an EdD from University of California San Diego, a MEd in Special Education and Teaching from National University, and a BS in Criminal Justice and Corrections from California State University, Long Beach. 

Dr. Finch has been working in public education for over 29 years, starting out as a technology education teacher in Seneca Valley before joining Hampton Township SD where he served three years as the high school assistant principal, twelve years as the high school principal, and two years as the district’s assistant superintendent. In 2016, Dr. Finch was named Superintendent of Grove City Area SD, a rural district with four schools serving 2,000 students. 

Dr. Finch holds an EdD from Capella University, a certificate of advanced graduate study from Westminster College, an MEd from Carlow College, and a BS in Technology Education from California University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Finch participates on several local and state level boards and committees for regional development and educational partnerships. He has also worked to develop a new Department of Pupil Services. 

Dr. Hamlett has over 25 years of experience in public education, beginning in 1995 as a classroom teacher. In the Jackson-Madison County School System, Dr. Hamlett served as Supervisor of Elementary Education and Chief Academic Officer, while also teaching as an adjunct professor at both Lane College and Union University. In 2014, Dr. Hamlett became the first African-American and the first woman named as the superintendent of Humboldt City Schools. Three years later, she received state recognition for leading that district to Exemplary Status. In 2020, Dr. Hamlett took up her current role as Superintendent of Fayette County Public Schools, a district serving over 3,000 students in seven schools. 

Dr. Hamlett has achieved state recognition for a number of accomplishments during her tenure as superintendent of Fayette County Public Schools. Dr. Hamlett has received numerous awards including Phi Delta Kappa, Inc. Educator of the Year Award, May 2015; TSSAA Administrator of the Year, November 2019; and Omega Psi Phi, Legend Administrator of the Year Award, November 2019. She also serves on the boards of The Exchange Club Carl Perkins Center for the Prevention of Child Abuse in Fayette County and Tennessee School Systems for Equity. 

Dr. Hamlett holds an EdD from Union University, an Education Specialist Degree from Union University, an MEd from Freed-Hardeman University, and a BA in Interdisciplinary Studies from Lane College.

Over the past 20 years, Dr. Holloway has served as teacher, basketball coach, assistant principal, principal, assistant superintendent and superintendent at school districts across north and south Mississippi. As of 2021, Dr. Holloway serves as Superintendent at Simpson County School District where he oversees seven schools and over 3,000 students. Prior to joining Simpson County, Dr. Holloway was the Superintendent of Education for Quitman School District. 

Dr. Holloway holds a BS from Mississippi University for Women. He received both an MS and a PhD in Educational Administration from The University of Southern Mississippi. He is a board member of the East Mississippi Center for Educational Development and a previous board member of the Mississippi Association of School Superintendents. In 2009, he was nominated as Principal of the Year by the Mississippi Association of Secondary School Principals and was selected as Outstanding Educational Leader by the Mississippi Faith-Based Coalition for Community Renewal, Inc.

Dr. Keeley has worked in education since 1999 when he began his career as a teacher at Mission College Preparatory High School in San Luis Obispo. He has since served as alternative education administrator, assistant principal, high school dean, ASB advisor, and Social Science Department Chair. In 2015, he returned to his alma mater, Mountain Empire High School, as principal. In 2020, he began his superintendency at Mountain Empire USD, a rural district covering more than 660 square miles with about 1,850 students spread across 4 preschools, 4 elementary schools, 2 junior high schools, 1 traditional high school, 2 alternative programs, and 1 adult school program. Mountain Empire also authorizes 5 charter schools.

Dr. Keeley earned his BS degree in Social Studies from the California State University, San Marcos, and both an MA and a EdD in Educational Leadership from San Diego State University. His professional credits also include service as a member and chair on Western Association of Colleges and Schools (WASC) committees, serving as a university supervisor for developing administrative credential candidates and being a member of various community-oriented committees and boards. He has been recognized as a high school Teacher of the Year at Templeton High School in 2001 and currently serves as the East County Leadership Charter President for Region 18 for the Association of California School Administrators.

Dr. Lentz began his career in education in 1994 teaching fourth and sixth grades. He moved into administration in 2002, and worked within Abington School District first as an assistant principal at a junior high school, then as a principal at an elementary school, then as Assistant Director of Curriculum for the district. In 2019 he began his superintendency at New Hope-Solebury School District, overseeing four schools with about 1,300 students. He is also the Superintendent of Record for the Middle Bucks Institute of Technology.

Dr. Lentz holds a BS in Elementary Education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, an MA in Education from Gratz College, an MS in Educational Leadership from Arcadia University, and an EdD in Educational Leadership from Widener University. Dr. Lentz is a former Trustee and Board Chairman of Arcadia University’s Board of Trustees, former Chairman of the Abington Community Taskforce, former President of the Welsh Society of Philadelphia, and the current Commander of MOLLUS. He is on the Board of Healthworks Academies, the Executive Leadership Council of Wistar Institute, a member of the Youth Work Committee of the Union League of Philadelphia, and a member of the Academy of Music Restoration Fund Committee. 

A 34-year veteran educator, Charlotte Seals has served as Superintendent of Madison County Schools since May of 2019. Prior to that appointment she served the district in numerous capacities including interim superintendent, assistant superintendent for instructional services, principal, and teacher. While principal at Madison Station Elementary School, she implemented the award-winning Arts Create Excellence Program. Madison Station became a model school for arts integration in both the state and region and has since twice been named a National Blue Ribbon School. As assistant superintendent, Mrs. Seals was instrumental in establishing Madison County Schools as one of the premier public school districts in Mississippi, boasting 23 campuses, more than 13,000 students, and covering more than 40 square miles. Mrs. Seals is the first African American to serve as Superintendent of Madison County Schools.

When Mrs. Seals is not at work, she is often found enjoying her favorite pastime: community volunteerism. Currently, Mrs. Seals serves on the Board of Directors for Canopy Children’s Solutions and Girl Scouts of Greater Mississippi. She is also active as a member of the Lieutenant Governor’s Administrator Advisory Council and as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Madison County Business League and Foundation. A life member of Junior Auxiliary of Madison County, Mrs. Seals is a past president of both the local chapter and the National Association of Junior Auxiliaries. Mrs. Seals is also a former board member and chair of the Mississippi Metropolitan Ballet Company. She has also served on the Mississippi Children’s Museum Board of Directors and on the MCM Partners Board. Mrs. Seals is currently a Sustaining member of the Junior League of Jackson having served in numerous leadership positions, including President in 2015-2016. 

Mrs. Seals holds a BS in Biology and Secondary Education from Millsaps College and an MEd in School Administration from Mississippi College. Mrs. Seals serves on the Millsaps Principal’s Institute Advisory Board and serves as a mentor for Millsaps Retention Advocate Program, an initiative designed to support minority students at Millsaps.

Since May of 2021, Robert Steckel has served as the Superintendent of Schools for the Whitehall-Coplay School District. The WCSD is a 13.1 square mile school district with over 30,000 residents in Whitehall Township and Coplay Borough. A single-campus setting serves 4,300 students from diverse backgrounds and employs 650 employees. Dr. Steckel is focusing his leadership on progressing the WCSD education system by developing a “community campus” that comprehensively serves the varying needs of families throughout the school community and provides opportunities for all students to attain college and career readiness at graduation. 

Prior to his time in the WCSD, Dr. Steckel worked in several roles in the Northampton Area School District. First, he was a middle school and high school social studies teacher as well as head football coach. He then began his career in educational leadership as an assistant principal at Northampton Area High School and then principal of NAHS. Finally, he served as assistant superintendent in charge of human resources, school safety, and general district operations. His education career started in the Parkland School District where he taught seventh grade social studies and served as a team leader and student council advisor. 

Dr. Steckel earned a bachelor’s degree from Kutztown University, master’s degrees from Wilkes University, and a doctorate from Lehigh University. Professionally, Dr. Steckel is involved in NCEE’s Superintendents Alliance as well as several other professional associations. Dr. Steckel is active in several community organizations and local athletic committees.

Mr. Vuckovich began his career in education in 2002 as a middle school civics instructor. He has since served as a High School Classrooms for the Future coach, an assistant principal, a principal, Director of Education, and Interim Superintendent of Schools (from 2016–2018) at the Greater Johnstown School District. In 2018, Mr. Vuckovich accepted the position of Superintendent of Schools at the Indiana Area School District, serving more than 2,700 students in six schools spread over an area of 82 square miles.

Vuckovich earned his BEd in Social Studies from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and his MEd from the University of Akron. He is currently pursuing his EdD in Educational Leadership from Penn State University. In 2022 he was the recipient of the Leadership in Public Education Award from the Pennsylvania Association of School Administrators (PASA). That same year, Mr. Vuckovich was awarded the Educational Policy and Leader Center’s Alumni award for “exceptional leadership for significant education policy.” In 2021, Mr. Vuckovich was identified as a “Superintendent to Watch” by the National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA) for “demonstrating dynamic, fast-paced leadership with strong communication at its core.” Mr. Vuckovich has also been awarded the Instructional Leadership Award by PASA and the William E. Caldwell Award by the Pennsylvania School Study Council at Penn State for “excellence in administration and supervision.” In 2015, Mr. Vuckovich was awarded the NAACP Freedom Citation Award by the Johnstown branch for providing opportunities for students to access higher education through dual enrollment programming. 

Mr. Vuckovich also serves as the chair of the Community Impact Committee of the United Way of Indiana County, as well as a member of the Workforce Development Committee of the Indiana Chamber of Commerce, a member of the Pennsylvania Association of Rural and Small Schools (PARSS), was featured on Katie Couric’s “America Inside Out,” served on a number of panels in the Commonwealth, and serves as a Board member of the Pennsylvania School Study Center at the Pennsylvania State University.

With over 20 years in education, Dr. Watts has held a variety of positions including middle school teacher in the areas of science and reading, elementary school counselor, fourth and fifth grade teacher and alternative school teacher. From 2008–2015 Dr. Watts served in the Bay-Waveland School District where she was a high school counselor for one year, alternative principal for three years and an elementary principal for three years. From 2015–2017, she was assistant superintendent at the Moss Point School District. In January 2018, Dr. Watts joined the Laurel School District as superintendent, overseeing eight schools and centers serving over 2,800 students. 

Dr. Watts holds a BA in Elementary Education from Dillard University, as well as a MEd in School Counseling and a PhD in Educational Administration from the University of Southern Mississippi.