2019 Keynote Speakers | 2019 MACTE Symposium

Introducing the 2019 MACTE Symposium Keynote Speakers

John Hunter is an award-winning gifted teacher and educational consultant who has dedicated his life to helping children realize their full potential. Employing his background as a musician composer and filmmaker during a three-decade career as a teacher, Hunter has combined his gifted teaching and artistic talents to develop unique teaching programs using multimedia software programs in creative writing and film courses. In 1978, at the Richmond Community High School, Hunter led the first sessions of his World Peace Game. Over time, in a synchronous unfolding with the growing global focus on increasingly complex social and political conditions, the game has gained new impetus. As Hunter succinctly explains, “The World Peace Game is about learning to live and work comfortably in the unknown.” For more information on John and the World Peace Game, please go to https://worldpeacegame.org/.

Creator of the World Peace Game

John Hunter

For over 20 years, Angela Patton has been a committed ambassador for who she calls "at-promise" girls, as opposed to "at-risk" girls. Angela’s TED Talk—describing Girl Action Teams, in addition to father-daughter dances for incarcerated dads and their "at-promise" girls—has been viewed over 800,000 times. She has been featured on ABC World News, Inside Edition, NPR and This is Life with Lisa Ling. In 2016, President Obama recognized Patton as a White House Champion of Change for after-school programming for marginalized girls of color. For more information on Angela and Girls for a Change, please go to https://www.girlsforachange.org/.

CEO of Girls for a Change

Angela Patton

Special Presenters

Joseph Vibert

Executive Director - Association of Specialized and Professional Accreditors (ASPA)

Joseph Vibert has been the Executive Director of the Association of Specialized and Professional Accreditors (ASPA) since 2011, representing programmatic accrediting organizations in the US. Previously, he led the Canadian Alliance of Physiotherapy Regulators, responsible for testing competency for entry-to-practice through a licensing examination and credential assessment of foreign-trained professionals. He chaired the Canadian Network of National Associations of Regulators, the federation of organizations responsible for protecting the public through self-regulation of professions and occupations. He directed a physical therapist assistant program, has held several administrative positions in hospital settings and served on the board of a foreign credentialing commission.

Tom Bordenkircher

Vice President for Accreditation Relations -Higher Learning Commission (HLC)

Tom Bordenkircher, vice president for accreditation relations, has experience in P–12 public education, higher education, county and state government policy and leadership, national foundation leadership, and specialized accreditation. Prior to coming to HLC, Tom was senior consultant and state director for the Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation’s STEM Teaching Fellowship Program. In Ohio, he was the Associate Vice Chancellor for the state Board of Regents, where he oversaw higher education program approval and the development of a statewide accountability system for educator preparation programs.

His higher education experience also includes roles as professor of education, chair, director, and associate and interim dean. Prior to his work in higher education, Tom began his career as a teacher of young children with severe disabilities. His professional interests continue to center around research and policy work for young children, especially those experiencing learning and reading difficulties. Dr. Bordenkircher holds B.S., M.Ed. and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Pittsburgh.