Massachusetts association for health, physical education, recreation and dance Inc.

Shannon Milliken is a former physical education teacher, wellness consultant at the Colorado Department of Education (CDE), and founder of The P.L.A.Y. (Please. Learn. As. You.) Education Corporation, a non-profit that supports organizations and communities in creating inclusive environments where children can learn, grow and thrive, just as they are. Shannon was the first woman of color to be President of the Society of Health and Physical Educators (SHAPE) Colorado and now through a combination of her professional and personal journey, uses her lived experiences as a transracial adoptee, who grew up in a white world, in middle-class, suburbia, Colorado, where privilege, access, and opportunity were at the forefront of her education and career, her teaching experiences in a variety of districts and schools and working at CDE, which allowed her to observe and experience the inequities our educational system faces, to provide diverse, equitable, and inclusive environments for children, specifically in rural, low social-economic communities with vulnerable populations and marginalized/underrepresented groups, to educate others of how race, trauma and privilege play a critical role in how students show up and learn and how teachers, plan, teach and assess. Her passion and enthusiasm for children, education, and social justice inspire her to be the voice for the voiceless and be a driving force to support and create spaces where each child can be seen, heard, and valued as their true, authentic selves.

Dr. Toni Ryan is an Associate Professor in the Department of Educational Leadership and Instructional Technology at Central Connecticut State University (CCSU). She is the Director and Research Coordinator for Central Connecticut State University’s Center for Excellence in Social & Emotional Learning (CESEL). Additionally, she is the Director of the Leadership Community of Practice for CCSU’s Teacher Residency Program and is actively engaged in developing new collaborations and partnerships among higher education institutions and PK-12 districts. Prior to joining CCSU, she enjoyed a 20+-year career in PK-12 public schools, serving for a decade as Director of Curriculum, Instruction, Assessment, and Accreditation at a regional educational service center, providing central office leadership in K-12 and clinical day treatment programs. Dr. Ryan continues to provide K-12 regional and district support for professional learning, curriculum design, social and emotional learning, and leadership development in urban and rural schools. Dr. Ryan has designed and facilitated professional learning for school, district, and community organization leaders, and has taught graduate and doctoral courses in leadership for systems transformation for over a decade. Dr. Ryan has designed and is currently conducting a multi-year grant-funded research project supporting pre-career young women and veteran women leaders as change agents in educational systems.