2023-2024 Season
January 12, 2024
Jean Prahm - Olympic Bobsleder
Jean started driving a bobsled in 1996 after 4 years of competition for the US junior national luge team. Jean competed in the sport of bobsled from 1996 to 2006 and helped pave the way for women’s bobsled to become an Olympic sport. Jean and her teammates succeeded in adding women’s bobsled to the Olympic schedule for the first time in 2002. To this day, Jean is considered one of the best bobsled drivers (male or female) in the sport.
• 2-time Olympian - 5th place in Salt Lake City (2002), 6th in Torino (2006).
• 2-time World Cup Champion
• 2-time World Championship Silver Medalist, 1-time Bronze
Beyond her involvement with the bobsled program, Jean works in healthcare administration within University of Iowa Health Care, though she is currently taking some time away from work. She resides in North Liberty, Iowa with her husband Ryan Prahm, who is an attorney at Pugh Hagan Prahm in Coralville, Iowa, They have three children.
• 2-time Olympian - 5th place in Salt Lake City (2002), 6th in Torino (2006).
• 2-time World Cup Champion
• 2-time World Championship Silver Medalist, 1-time Bronze
- 6-time National Champion
Beyond her involvement with the bobsled program, Jean works in healthcare administration within University of Iowa Health Care, though she is currently taking some time away from work. She resides in North Liberty, Iowa with her husband Ryan Prahm, who is an attorney at Pugh Hagan Prahm in Coralville, Iowa, They have three children.
February 9, 2024
Rich Allen, Ed.S. - Educator/Broadcaster
Richard Allen currently serves as the Global Director of Partnerships at Voyce, developing partnerships with health systems, hospitals, FQHCs, and clinics throughout the United States, Canada, and the UK. He consults with the staff of Voyce University to assist the Education Department in developing meaningful, purposeful, relevant and rigorous academic models for the interpreters. Dr. Allen is also very involved in many community projects, educational leadership, and broadcasting.
March 1, 2024
Rick Wormeli - In Search of the Giant Squid!
One of the first Nationally Board Certified teachers in America, Rick brings innovation, energy, validity and high standards to both his presentations and his instructional practice, which include 43 years teaching math, science, English, physical education, health, and history, as well as coaching teachers and principals.
Rick's work has been reported in numerous media, including ABC's Good Morning America, Hardball with Chris Matthews, National Geographic and Good Housekeeping magazines, What Matters Most: Teaching for the 21st Century, and the Washington Post. He is a columnist for AMLE Magazine and a frequent contributor to ASCD's Education Leadership magazine. He is the author of the award-winning book Meet Me in the Middle as well as the best-selling books Day One and Beyond, Fair Isn't Always Equal: Assessment and Grading in the Differentiated Classroom (Second Edition), Differentiation: From Planning to Practice and Metaphors & Analogies: Power Tools for Teaching any Subject, all five from Stenhouse Publishers, as well as Summarization in any Subject: 60 Innovative and Tech-Infused Strategies for Deeper Student Learning published by ASCD.
His book, The Collected Writings (So Far) of Rick Wormeli: Crazy Good Stuff I Learned about Teaching Along the Way, is collection of his published articles, guest blogs and more. His classroom practice is a showcase for ASCD's best-selling series, At Work in the Differentiated Classroom. With his substantive presentations, sense of humor and unconventional approaches, he has been asked to present to teachers and administrators in all 50 states, Canada, China, Europe, Thailand, Japan, Vietnam, Korea, Australia the Middle East, and at the White House.
He is a seasoned veteran of many international webcasts, and he is Disney's American Teacher Awards 1996 Outstanding English Teacher of the Nation. He won the 2008 James P. Garvin award from the New England League of Middle Schools for Teaching Excellence, Service and Leadership, and he has been a consultant for National Public Radio, USA Today, Court TV and the Smithsonian Institution's Natural Partners Program and their search for the giant squid.
Rick lives in Herndon, Virginia, with his wife, Kelly, and both are proud of recently launching the last of their children into adulthood. With the kids' college years now behind them, Rick and Kelly are now eagerly spending their childrens' inheritance while Rick works on his first young adult fiction novel and a new book on changing the culture of a school for ethical grading practices.
Rick's work has been reported in numerous media, including ABC's Good Morning America, Hardball with Chris Matthews, National Geographic and Good Housekeeping magazines, What Matters Most: Teaching for the 21st Century, and the Washington Post. He is a columnist for AMLE Magazine and a frequent contributor to ASCD's Education Leadership magazine. He is the author of the award-winning book Meet Me in the Middle as well as the best-selling books Day One and Beyond, Fair Isn't Always Equal: Assessment and Grading in the Differentiated Classroom (Second Edition), Differentiation: From Planning to Practice and Metaphors & Analogies: Power Tools for Teaching any Subject, all five from Stenhouse Publishers, as well as Summarization in any Subject: 60 Innovative and Tech-Infused Strategies for Deeper Student Learning published by ASCD.
His book, The Collected Writings (So Far) of Rick Wormeli: Crazy Good Stuff I Learned about Teaching Along the Way, is collection of his published articles, guest blogs and more. His classroom practice is a showcase for ASCD's best-selling series, At Work in the Differentiated Classroom. With his substantive presentations, sense of humor and unconventional approaches, he has been asked to present to teachers and administrators in all 50 states, Canada, China, Europe, Thailand, Japan, Vietnam, Korea, Australia the Middle East, and at the White House.
He is a seasoned veteran of many international webcasts, and he is Disney's American Teacher Awards 1996 Outstanding English Teacher of the Nation. He won the 2008 James P. Garvin award from the New England League of Middle Schools for Teaching Excellence, Service and Leadership, and he has been a consultant for National Public Radio, USA Today, Court TV and the Smithsonian Institution's Natural Partners Program and their search for the giant squid.
Rick lives in Herndon, Virginia, with his wife, Kelly, and both are proud of recently launching the last of their children into adulthood. With the kids' college years now behind them, Rick and Kelly are now eagerly spending their childrens' inheritance while Rick works on his first young adult fiction novel and a new book on changing the culture of a school for ethical grading practices.
How to Register
7th grade Black River students will receive an email, through the school, with a link to register for our events. The keynote will be presented during the 7th grade lunch period.
The first 30 registered students will be able to attend. Please print your ticket to be admitted.
(The Media Center can only hold 30 students for lunch)
The first 30 registered students will be able to attend. Please print your ticket to be admitted.
(The Media Center can only hold 30 students for lunch)