Linda Cliatt-Wayman is a nationally recognized motivational speaker, education leader, and author with an unwavering belief in the potential of every child. Her transformative leadership as a high school principal in North Philadelphia has been featured on NPR’s “TED Radio Hour,” “ABC World News Tonight,” and “Nightline.”
Raised in poverty in North Philadelphia, Cliatt-Wayman experienced firsthand the systemic injustices faced by students in underresourced schools. She has dedicated her life and career to ending educational inequity and ensuring all students — regardless of zip code — have access to opportunity, excellence, and hope.
She spent 20 years as a special education teacher before becoming principal of FitzSimons High School in 2003. At FitzSimons, Cliatt-Wayman led a dramatic turnaround — transforming a school known for low academic achievement and high levels of violence into a safe, student-centered environment focused on learning.
In 2005, she assumed leadership of The Young Women’s Leadership School at Rhodes High School. When she arrived, only 3% of students were proficient in math, and 9% were proficient in reading. Through high expectations, intensive professional development, a strong leadership team, and an unwavering belief in her students, Cliatt-Wayman guided the school to significant growth, with most students reaching proficiency and 94% of seniors being accepted into college.
She later served as Assistant Superintendent of High Schools for the School District of Philadelphia. When the district merged FitzSimons, Rhodes, and Strawberry Mansion High School, Cliatt-Wayman returned to the principalship to lead the newly merged school — once again demonstrating what is possible for students in low-income communities.
Following 32 years in public education, Cliatt-Wayman began advocating full-time for justice in education. She is the Founder and Executive Director of Currently Trending, a nonprofit that helps students escape poverty through leadership development, direct coaching, and academic support. She also is the CEO of Principal Wayman Consulting, providing coaching and leadership development for educators and organizations across the country, and the author of Lead Fearlessly, Love Hard: Finding Your Purpose and Putting It to Work.
Cliatt-Wayman earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Kutztown University and her Master of Arts degree from Saint Joseph’s University.
Arne Duncan
Former U.S. Secretary of Education
Managing Director, Emerson Collective
Arne Duncan served as U.S. Secretary of Education under President Barack Obama from 2009 to 2016. Prior to joining the Obama Administration, Duncan served as chief executive officer of Chicago Public Schools. From 2001 to 2008, Duncan won praise for uniting the city's stakeholders behind an education agenda that included opening 100 new schools; expanding after-school, summer learning, early childhood, and college access programs; dramatically boosting the caliber of teachers; and building public-private partnerships around a variety of education initiatives.
He currently leads Chicago CRED, a nonprofit working to achieve a transformative reduction in gun violence in Chicago. Through partnerships with local business leaders, community organizers, and nonprofit groups, Duncan aims to provide outreach, therapeutic, educational, and employment opportunities for the young men most likely to be engaged in gun violence. He is also the managing partner at Emerson Collective, an organization dedicated to removing barriers so people can live to their full potential.
Secretary Duncan graduated magna cum laude from Harvard University in 1987, majoring in sociology. At Harvard, he served as co-captain of the basketball team and was named a first-team Academic All-American.
Duncan serves on the boards of Ariel Investments, Communities in Schools, Eat. Learn. Play., Edmentum, Education Advancement, ESS, Howard University, Metropolitan Family Services, MGT Consulting Group, My Brother's Keeper Alliance, Peace for DC, and Schoolhouse.world. He is chair of the board of the Hunt Institute.
Joel Rodriguez
Chair, Council of Urban Boards of Education (CUBE)
Joel Rodriguez is an advocate for public education with a proven track record of leadership across multiple sectors.
As founder of Green Consultants, LLC, an Indiana base consulting firm, Joel brings more than 20 years of experience in planning, project execution, and business and community development—skills he actively applies to his leadership in school board governance.
Now in his fourth term on the School City of East Chicago Board of Trustees, Joel has served as Board President multiple times. He has helped guide the district through some of its most complex challenges, including pandemic response, major bond implementation, shifting accountability systems, and significant budget restructuring. He is also on the Executive Board with the Indiana Voter Registration Association.
His leadership is grounded in clarity, collaboration, and a steady commitment to student success.
He is a Master Board Trustee through the School City of East Chicago; a member of the Board of Directors of the Indiana School Board Association; and a member of the NSBA Board of Directors.
A strong advocate for children and his community, Joel brings a grounded perspective, collaborative spirit, and a long-term commitment to public service, striving for excellence in support of all students.
Kareem Weaver
Co-Founder & Executive Director
FULCRUM
Kareem Weaver is the Co-Founder & Executive Director of FULCRUM, an Oakland-based literacy nonprofit with a national presence. Weaver is an award-winning educator and community advocate with extensive experience leading schools and systems in district, juvenile justice, and managed-care settings. His advocacy is featured in the 2023 documentary The Right to Read.
Weaver began his career in the classroom. He taught grades spanning elementary to high school before becoming an administrator and later joining New Leaders as an executive director. He previously served as the Commissions Chair for the Oakland East Bay Alliance of Black Educators and is the former 2nd Vice President and Education Committee Chair of the Oakland NAACP.
In 2019, Weaver set out to examine a critical question: Why weren't children in Oakland reading? His research and exploration unearthed jarring realizations that eventually led to FULCRUM. Read the full story here.
Weaver has engaged with the Council of the Great City Schools, the College Board, and the Ontario Human Rights Commission on literacy as a civil right. He has offered diagnostic support to districts, states, and educator preparation programs; presented at over 150 conferences, departments of education, universities, and community organizations; and led field visits for system leaders, all in service of bringing clarity to the literacy crisis and illuminating the most productive path forward so that all children have access to Full and Complete Reading, which is a Universal Mandate (FULCRUM).