Each year, OCALICON features keynote speakers whose research and real life experiences reaffirm our work, challenge our conventions, and inspire us to think differently about what is possible. These internationally recognized leaders help jump start our hearts and minds with thought-provoking, intriguing, and stimulating content. We are honored to have them join us.
Interested in seeing a list of previous keynotes? Skim the list and see how many names you recognize!
Opening Keynote
Tuesday, November 18, 2025 | 12:30 - 1:30 pm EST
Breathing Oxygen
The best leaders, teams and organizations breathe good oxygen into themselves and those around them, which renews passion and service for the mission at hand. During uncertain and challenging times, the mindsets and actions we breathe in help shape the connections and impact we have in the world.
Jason Barger is committed to engaging the minds and hearts of people in order to strengthen leadership, culture, and clarity of mission, vision, and values. He is a sought-after keynote speaker, visionary, and leadership consultant. As founder of Step Back Leadership Consulting LLC, he works with organizations that are passionate about culture shaping, leadership development, innovation, service, and bringing their mission to life every day. Barger received certification from Georgetown University in nonprofit executive management, and delivers over 50 speeches annually around the world and is passionate about positive change in people, leaders, organizations, and the world.
Closing Keynote
Friday, November 21, 2025 | 12:30 - 1:30 pm EST
Consequential Leadership: What Great Leaders Do to Ensure Learning for ALL
This session overviews 5 evidence-based leadership imperatives, defines consequential leadership and provides specific leadership actions that result in positive consequences for entire school communities. Learn how to foster collective accountability, motivate a shared vision, use multiple forms of evidence, nurture teacher expertise and collective efficacy, and improve organizational performance. Aligned with Ohio’s leadership priorities, these include shared leadership, collaborative decision-making and vision-setting connecting the collective, developing professional capital to enable student-centered approaches, and nurturing positive relationships and mutual trust to create a sense of belonging and engagement of all members in the school community.
Cathy Lassiter, Ed.D., is an author and international consultant with over 40 years in public education. Previously she served as a middle and high school social studies teacher, award-winning middle school principal and respected senior leader in a large urban district in Virginia. She has published several books with Corwin Learning, her most recent title Consequential Leadership: An Illustrated Guide for Leading for Impact. Her expertise includes school and central office leadership, school improvement, curriculum, instruction, assessment and professional development. She is a certified consultant in Visible Learning, Teacher Clarity, and other Corwin Learning content lines.