Deborah J. Arato

Superintendent
Moore Public Schools
Moore, Oklahoma
M.Ed. in Special Education
University of Central Oklahoma

Mrs. Arato has been employed with the Moore School District since 1978. Prior to being named as Superintendent in July of 2004, she served seven years as Assistant Superintendent (Curriculum/Instruction). In that capacity, her duties included supervision of curriculum for K-12 education, instructional technology, media services, child nutrition, Title Programs I-V, professional development, and student services. Ms. Arato has 31 years of experience in the profession and has served as a teacher, coordinator, building principal, and assistant to the Deputy Superintendent.

Mrs. Arato is currently a board member for the Oklahoma Technology Association. She has twice been recognized as the Moore PTA Administrator of the Year and is the recipient of a lifetime membership award for service. She has also been recognized as the CCOSA (Cooperative Council of Oklahoma School Administrators) Area 7D (metro area) Administrator of the Year, two times as one of the top ten State Reading Principals, Central Oklahoma Reading Council Principal of the Year, and a Highland East Teacher of the Year.

Mrs. Arato graduated from Oklahoma City University in 1971 with a Bachelor of Science degree in music. She earned her Master of Education in Special Education from the University of Central Oklahoma in 1982. She later received her principal and superintendent certificate from the University of Oklahoma after completing extensive post masters work.

Mrs. Arato believes that a learning organization must exemplify continuous growth and improvement. Her favorite quote is, “If you were wondering if your mission here on earth is finished - if you are alive, it isn't.”

Robert James Burkhardt, Jr.

Head of School
Eagle Rock School and Professional Development Center Estes Park, Colorado
Ph.D. in Education
Union Graduate School

Robert Burkhardt is Head of School at Eagle Rock School and Professional Development Center in Estes Park, Colorado, a position he has held for the past fourteen years. Prior to that Robert was involved in National Service work for fifteen years with the California and San Francisco Conservation Corps. A former Peace Corps Volunteer (Iran), circus juggler, newspaper reporter, plumber and classroom teacher, Robert holds degrees from Princeton, Columbia and Union Graduate School. He is a recipient of the Sargent Shriver Award for Distinguished Humanitarian Service (1988), the Josh Miner Experiential Education Award (1997), and was a 2005 Klingenstein Fellow. Robert is married to Elizabeth Halas, and they have two children: Eileen (16) and Patrick (14).

William F. Goodling

Former U.S. Representative and Chairman
Goodling Institute for Research in Family Literacy
Pennsylvania State University
University Park, Pennsylvania
M.Ed., Western Maryland College

Bill Goodling's concern for and commitment to education is well known. His background as a teacher, school principal, and superintendent of schools provided a strong foundation for his work in Congress. Congressman Bill, known as the “Father of Even Start,” served Pennsylvania's 19th Congressional district, including Adams, Cumberland and York Counties, for 26 years. Although he served on several committees in Congress, he is most remembered for his work as Chairman of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce. Prior to his retirement from Congress, he was instrumental in obtaining a one-time federal appropriation to establish the Goodling Institute for Research in Family Literacy in the College of Education at Penn State. Since his retirement from Congress, he has taken on new roles as Chairman of the Goodling Institute's Board of Advisors and as Senior Advisor to Sagamore Associates (a federal affairs consulting group in Washington, DC). Recently, Mr. Goodling spent countless hours urging legislators to support Even Start funding. He is looking forward to presenting Best Practice Awards to selected family literacy programs during the PAACE Midwinter Adult Education Conference in February.