We are very excited to bring you two wonderful, dynamic educators as our keynote speakers. See below for details!

Dr. Josue Falaise began his 20 year career as an elementary school science teacher, middle and high school biology and environmental science teacher. After four years of teaching and time as an adjunct professor at Mercer County Community College, he spent the last 15 years as an administrator in the roles of principal and Chief Academic Officer. He was also an educational consultant with NJPSA/FEA. Currently, Dr. Falaise is director of the Rutgers Institute of Improving Student Achievement (RIISA) at the Rutgers Graduate School of Education (RGSE). He oversees an institute that works to build the capacity of adults to equip them with a lens of implementing equity to better change the course of children for the future. Follow Dr. Falaise on Twitter- @josuefalaise and on Instagram- josuefalaise. Follow RIISA on Twitter- @RutgersIISA and Instagram- RutgersIISA and Hashtag #weRiisa. ​


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Dr. Pat Raupers began her career in education as a teacher of Social Studies at Northern Valley Regional High School at Old Tappan where she also served as the Coordinator of Gifted Programs. After many years as a classroom teacher she was offered the task of working with administrators and teachers to create a professional development program for the educators of the eight Northern Valley districts. She worked for the Northern Valley Schools consortium as a staff developer, supervisor of professional development, and later as the Director of Curriculum and Instruction. Dr. Raupers was an original member of the New Jersey Staff Development Council and later represented the Northern Valley as the co-president of the Bergen County Curriculum Consortium. Most recently, Dr. Raupers has served as a Superintendent of Schools in Waldwick and Norwood and an Adjunct Professor at the Rutgers Graduate School of Education. Her undergraduate and masters degrees are in history and education from Seton Hall University and her doctoral degree is in Instructional Leadership from St. John's University.