Dedra Stafford is a widely known educational speaker, trainer, and author. She is a former middle-level teacher and district professional development specialist who now consults and provides staff development in classroom management, differentiated instruction, technology integration, and teacher motivation. For the last 14 years, she has helped educators bridge the digital divide and improve school performance through publications and hands-on trainings at conferences and schools across the globe. Much of her time is spent supporting high-risk schools in an embedded capacity.
Dedra holds both an administrator’s and a superintendent’s license and collaborates with district leaders, principals, coaches, and teachers across the country supporting their work in providing quality instruction that produces success in the classroom. Dedra’s personal story of her educational journey will leave audiences with a newfound determination to do “whatever it takes” to reach the students in their classrooms.
A regular contributor to professional journals and online teacher resources, Dedra stays abreast of current educational issues as well as technology trends. As a former classroom teacher, she understands the need for professional development that offers practical ideas that can be put to use immediately. She has a unique ability to put teachers at ease as she teaches concepts and beliefs incorporated with humor in a user-friendly way.