REGISTRATION NOW OPEN
APRIL 24 - 25, 2025
The 4th Annual Equity conference will be held at The I Hotel and Illinois Conference Center in Champaign. School boards, administrators, and teachers will be in attendance, including program sponsors. Keynote speakers will play a significant part of the robust discussion and engaging meeting sessions.
2025 Keynote Speaker - Sharon Desmoulin-Kherat, Ed.D
Superintendent, Peoria Public Schools
Topic: Breaking Barriers: Improving Educational Opportunities and Success for Students and Educators
Dr. Sharon Desmoulin-Kherat is a distinguished servant leader in the field of education, with a career that spans from being a teacher to various administrative roles. She embarked on her academic journey at Bradley University, later earning a doctorate from Illinois State University. Dr. Desmoulin-Kherat has been the recipient of over 20 awards throughout her career, including the prestigious Superintendent of Distinction award from the Illinois Association of School Administrators in 2018 and the U.S. Department of Education Blue Ribbon Award in 2005. She was also recognized with the National Exemplary Leadership Award by the Department of Education/USA in the same year. Dr. Desmoulin-Kherat's vision for education is rooted in her community involvement, love and passion to provide opportunities for children to succeed. She firmly believes that schools cannot function in isolation, and it is the collective effort of the community that can truly make a difference.
2025 Legal Updates - David J. Braun, J.D.
Miller, Tracy, Braun, Funk & Miller, Ltd.
David J. Braun graduated from the University of Illinois College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, with a degree in Political Science, and obtained his Juris Doctorate from the Southern Illinois University, School of Law. David is a member of the Illinois State Bar Association, Illinois Council of School Attorneys, and the National School Board Association Council of School Attorneys. He focuses his practice in the area of Illinois schools, universities and education law, and has developed significant experience in the field serving clients in matters of labor management, collective bargaining, grievance arbitration, employment and student discrimination, and student discipline and management. David provided the original draft of the Illinois Principals' Association's Model Student Handbook, and is the author of the Illinois School Law Survey. He also served on the Education Law Council of the Illinois State Bar Association from 2008-2011 and was Assistant Editor of the section council's newsletter from 2009-2010. David was the recipient of the Illinois State University Educational and Administrative Foundations 2018 NTT Education Faculty of the Year.
Interested in Presenting at the Equity Conference?
We are accepting presentation proposals now through February 21st, 2025. The focus of the presentations is to discuss DEI and/or Equity. Those interested may submit proposals via email to contactus@thebeac.org on or before Friday, Feb. 21, 2025.