2023 AESD Annual Conference

Chris Reykdal, State Superintendent of Public Instruction

Chris Reykdal was born and raised in Snohomish, Washington, as the youngest of eight children. He has served as a high school history teacher, local school board member, state legislator, and budget and policy executive for our state’s community and technical college system. Reykdal has dedicated his entire career to public education, and he is currently serving in his first term as the State Superintendent of Public Instruction. He and his wife, Kim, live in historic Tumwater with their two children, Carter and Kennedy.

Joan Wade, AESA Executive Director

Joan Wade, Ed.D. is a life-long educator with over 30 years of service in public education. She began serving as the Executive Director for the Association of Educational Service Agencies (AESA), on July 1, 2016. Dr. Wade began her career as a library media specialist in Montello, Wisconsin. After attending graduate school, she served in various administrative capacities in Wisconsin school districts including as Technology Coordinator for Portage Community School District, and Distance Learning Director for CESA 5.

Shakti Butler, PhD, President and Founder of World Trust Educational Services, Inc.

Dr. Shakti Butler is a visionary, filmmaker, transformative learning educator, wife, mother, grandmother and friend to many. She is also President and Founder of World Trust Educational Services, Inc., a non-profit transformative educational organization. Rooted in love and justice, World Trust produces films, curricula, workshops and programs that are catalysts for institutional, structural and cultural change. Dr. Butler is an inspirational speaker, facilitator, trainer and lecturer who is sought after by schools, universities, public and private organizations, and faith-based institutions.

Youth Equity Stewardship Project

Benjie Howard

Benjie Howard is the executive director of New Wilderness Project, an outdoor education program focused on developing youth leadership for equity and land justice. He is the co-founder of Youth Equity Stewardship (YES!), a program offering an inter-generational, experiential, arts based approach to school change efforts in public education.

Wade Antonio Colwell

Wade Antonio Colwell gratefully serves geographically diverse school communities as a poet, author, teacher, songwriter, facilitator, mentor and performance artist. His passionate collaboration as Co-Founder of Youth Equity Stewardship (YES!) and national consultant for the Deep Equity professional development process with Corwin Press, is inspired by a growing social movement of collective reciprocity.