2025 SAS Institute

Monday – Wednesday

Facilitator

Spud Marshall

Spud Marshall is a creative community builder, social entrepreneur, and author of Designing Creative Communities. As the founder of My Creative Community, he partners with schools, state agencies, companies, and nonprofits to facilitate collaborative experiences—from strategic planning retreats to large-scale education summits. Across Pennsylvania, he has supported initiatives like PAsmart, STEM Ecosystems, regional workforce summits, and professional development programs with the PA Department of Education, all focused on the intersection of education, innovation, and community engagement.

Spud has launched numerous ventures to support the next generation of changemakers, including the co.space, an intentional living community for young leaders, and 3 Dots Downtown, a creative arts and innovation hub. His education work blends practical tools with bold ideas—from touring the country in an RV interviewing thought leaders about the future of learning, to leading an Extreme School Makeover in Pennsylvania that reimagined how physical spaces can spark student agency. He’s a trusted partner to groups like Teach for America and regional school networks exploring how to elevate student voice, strengthen cultures of belonging and collaboration, and build future-ready classrooms. Along the way, Spud has collected an impressive failure résumé that continues to shape his grounded, innovative approach to helping schools and communities design what’s next.

Monday 

Keynote Speaker

Carrie Rowe, Acting Secretary of Education

A visionary leader in public education, Dr. Carrie Rowe brings 25 years of public education experience to her role as Acting Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Education. In this role, she provides guidance, support, and oversight to partners in the pre-K–12 field on topics ranging from structured literacy, educational stability, workforce needs, teacher recruitment and retention, and student mental health and well-being.

Dr. Rowe advocates for policies and programs that provide college and career pathways for every student, especially those that include access to expansive dual credit opportunities, high-intensity summer learning, and multilingual programs.  

 

Tuesday

Keynote Speaker

Baruti Kafele

Baruti Kafele, a highly regarded urban educator in New Jersey for more than 20 years, has distinguished himself as a master teacher and a transformational school leader. As an elementary school teacher in East Orange, NJ, in addition to being named the East Orange School District and Essex County Public Schools Teacher of the Year, Principal Kafele was a finalist for New Jersey State Teacher of the Year and a recipient of the New Jersey Education Association Award of Excellence.

As a middle and high school principal, Principal Kafele led the turnaround of four New Jersey urban schools, including "The Mighty" Newark Tech—which went from a low-performing school in need of improvement to national recognition, and which was recognized three times by U.S. News and World Report as one of America's best high schools.

Principal Kafele is the creator and host of the popular AP & New Principals Academy, streamed live every Saturday morning. He is the recipient of over 150 educational, professional and community awards which include the prestigious Milken Educator Award, the National Alliance of Black School Educators Hall of Fame Award, the East Orange, NJ Hall of Fame, recognition as one of the World’s Top 30 Education Professionals for 2020, 2021, 2022 & 2023 by Global Gurus Top 30.

 

 

Additional Notes

• Targeted tracks and breakout sessions designed to understand, investigate, and explore critical topics in today’s educational landscape
•  An Act 45 course focusing on and applying new learning to meet the known challenges of today and prepare for the unexpected challenges of tomorrow
• An opportunity to visit informational tables and participate in a raffle - with exciting prizes for the winners
•  Sponsored events each evening providing fun, food, and relaxation