MSBA Annual Conference in cooperation with MASA

November 4-7, 2021  |  Kansas City Convention Center

In the fall, MSBA hosts the MSBA Annual Conference in cooperation with MASA – the largest gathering of education leaders in Missouri. The conference features nationally recognized speakers and nearly 100 sessions on a variety of timely topics. The Delegate Assembly convenes during the Annual Conference to adopt the legislative resolutions.

Annual Conference Registration fee is $250 per person

New this year, you can register 10 or more district members for a flat fee of $2,500 (for example: register 20 people and your district pays $2,500, a savings of $2,500)

Who can attend?  Board Members, superintendents, administrators, central office staff and safety personnel from MSBA member Districts!

1st General Session

Jean Becker
Author, Chief of Staff to Former President George H. W. Bush and Community R-VI School District Graduate

Jean Becker was chief of staff for George H.W. Bush from March 1, 1994 until his death on November 30, 2018. She previously served as deputy press secretary to First Lady Barbara Bush from 1989 to 1992.  Before joining the Bush White House staff in 1989, Ms. Becker was a newspaper reporter for 10 years, including a four-year stint at USA Today where her duties included covering the 1988 presidential election and a Page One editor.  Her book about Mrs. Bush, Pearls of Wisdom, — released on March 3^rd, 2020; and her book about President Bush, The Man I Knew – released June 1^st of this year – both became New York Times best-sellers.

2nd General Session

Michele Gay
Co-Founder & Executive Director, Safe and Sound Schools

Mother, educator, and co-founder of Safe and Sound Schools®, Michele Gay chose to take action after losing her daughter Josephine Grace on December 14, 2012 in the Sandy Hook School tragedy. Since that time, Michele has channeled her work as an advocate, improving safety and security in schools and communities across our country.

With a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Towson State University, Michele earned Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction from McDaniel College. Prior to the Sandy Hook tragedy, she taught at the elementary level in the Maryland and Virginia public schools.

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3rd General Session

Greg Warren
Comedian and Kirkwood R-VII School District Graduate

Greg Warren, most recently seen on “ Late Night with Seth Meyers”, “The Late Late Show on CBS” and “Last Comic Standing” ” has built a strong fan base with an act inspired by his Midwestern upbringing. His CDs, “Fish Sandwich” (2017) “Running Out of Time” (Sept 2013) and “One Star Wonder” (June 2009) hit #1, #3 and #6 respectively on the iTunes Comedy charts. Self-deprecation, frustration and an arsenal of lifelike characters highlight Greg’s colorful
perspective.

Greg attracts a diverse audience, having performed on BET’s “Coming to the Stage”, Country Music Television’s “Comedy Stage” and Comedy Central’s “Comedy Central Presents”. He is a favorite on the nationally syndicated Bob & Tom radio show. He toured theaters across the country with The Bob & Tom All
Stars Comedy Tour. Greg hails from St. Louis, MO, where his father was a high school wrestling coach and his mother made him play clarinet in the band. He has captivated audiences with anecdotes about the conflict inherent in meshing the two disparate high school identities of varsity wrestler and band geek. Greg’s “Flute Man” bit is a perfect encapsulation of the insecurities of high school and the ongoing quest to be cool, and is one of the most requested bits in the history of the Bob & Tom Radio Show. Greg was also a West Point Cadet, where he distinguished himself by amassing an impressive tally of demerits and endless hours of pointless marching. After moving on to the University of Missouri, he studied journalism and became an All-American college wrestler.

During college, Greg won a comedy contest and was invited to perform at Déja Vu, a local club in Columbia, MO. After a stint selling Jif and Pringles for Procter & Gamble, Greg made the decision to become a full-time comedian. This led to an invitation to Montreal’s prestigious Just for Laughs Comedy Festival in 2002, where Greg performed as one of the featured New Faces of Comedy.

Excerpts from Greg’s act are played daily on Sirius/XM Comedy He appeared in the independent films “Punching Henry”(2016), “Marshall the Miracle Dog” (2015), and “23 Minutes to Sunrise” (2011). He is a founding member of the St. Louis Sketch Week Players.

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4th General Session

Dan Meers
KC Wolf, the Official Mascot of the Kansas City Chiefs

Dan Meers goes to work each day like many other men, dressed in a suit. The only difference is that instead of wearing a tie with his suit, Dan wears a tail. You see, Dan is a professional mascot.

Dan began his career in 1986 at the University of Missouri – Columbia. Dressed as the school mascot, Truman Tiger, it didn’t take long for Dan to establish himself as one of the top college mascots in the nation. After finishing second in 1988, Dan was selected the nation’s #1 college mascot at the 1989 National Collegiate Mascot Championships. As graduation approached, Dan began to receive offers to use his talents at the professional level.

After graduating with honors, Dan decided to trade in his tiger stripes for bird feathers and began his professional career as Fredbird, the mascot for the St. Louis Cardinals baseball team. Although many thought Dan’s “bird legs” were a perfect match for his costume in St. Louis, Dan stayed only a short time. He was offered a job in professional football and decided to exchange his bird suit to become a wolf.

Today Dan is widely known as KC Wolf, the official mascot of the Kansas City Chiefs. He travels throughout the United States and the world entertaining thousands of people both in and out of costume. Dan is in high demand not only as a mascot but also as a humorous and motivational speaker to audiences of all ages. His enthusiasm, optimism and love for life are contagious and makes Dan an inspiration to all those he meets.

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