About John O'Connor
John O’Connor led school improvement initiatives at the state and local level during his 30 years in public education. He started his career as a special education teacher serving students with orthopedic impairments in elementary and middle schools. Since that time, he held a variety of administrative positions. For nine years while working at the Georgia Department of Education, he led state-wide initiatives to improve the achievement and learning of students with disabilities. He also served in local districts as an Assistant Director for Special Education, Executive Director for Special Services, Assistant Superintendent for Student Services and Director for Interventions. John has written five books, including his most recent, the 2nd Edition of Great Instruction Great Achievement for Students with Disabilities: A Road Map for Special Education Administrators. He also co-write a textbook chapter, a desk guide and numerous articles. Since his retirement, John has provided training, school visits, and coaching to hundreds of groups ranging from Hawaii to South Carolina.
John has presented to over 500 school, district, state and national audiences. Here are just a few:
- American Dairy Association Northeast (Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Virginia and New York)
- Atlanta Area Association of Independent Schools
- Council for Administrators of Special Education
- Coweta County Schools (Georgia)
- CSRA RESA (Georgia)
- Drexel University (Washington D.C.)
- East Georgia Learning Resources System
- Eaton and Ingham Regional Services Agencies (Michigan)
- EdWeek
- Frederick County Public Schools (Maryland)
- Griffin RESA (Georgia)
- Georgia Council for Administrators of Special Education
- Kentucky CASE
- Long Island Association of Special Education Administrators (New York)
- Macomb Regional Services Agencies (Michigan)
- Michigan Association of Administrators for Special Education
- Missouri CASE (MOCASE)
- Monongalia School District (West Virginia)
- Okefenokee RESA (Georgia)
- Pleasants County School System (West Virginia)
- Pugent Sound Educational Service District (Washington)
- Richland County School District One (South Carolina)
- Southeast South Central Educational Cooperative (Kentucky)
- Student Support Team Association of Georgia Educators
- Taylor County Schools (West Virginia)
- Union City Area School District (Pennsylvania)
- Utica Community Schools (Michigan)
- Virginia Council for Administrators of Special Education
- West Virginia Council for Administrators of Special Education
- Wheeler County Schools (Georgia)
- White County Schools (Georgia)
- Wyoming Association of Special Education Administrators
What people are saying about GREAT Instruction Training:
Missouri Council for Administrators of Special Education
"John O'Connor provided an engaging presentation focused on practical application of essential evidence-based and high leverage practices to increase the achievement of all students including and especially those with disabilities and other special needs. His very accessible approach modeled effective instruction and kept the group of over 800 actively involved throughout. I highly recommend him as a keynote presenter." Steven Beldin, Director of Innovation and Learning, Missouri Council of Administrators of Special Education
Ingham Intermediate School District (Michigan)
"John has a clear message about improving educational systems at scale by clarifying what we mean by high quality instruction. His presentations engage participants in actionable activities. He provided our leadership teams with personalized coaching conversations that contextualized the work to our needs. From his rich educational experience, he shared practical advice for all levels in districts to improve outcomes for all students." Joe Liberato, Executive Director, Student Instructional Services
Georgia Council for Administrators of Special Education (GCASE)
“We were able to provide our special education teachers and administrators with John O’Connor’s timely interactive webinar “Strengthening Virtual Instruction for Students with Disabilities” right as school restarted and teachers were searching for how to serve this important group of students. John shared with our teachers and leaders ways to place research-based instructional practice into virtual instruction in general education, co-teaching, and special education classes. He modeled effective virtual instruction throughout the session and his breakout activities and handouts allowed the attendees to participate in a meaningful manner that can be replicated in their own online classrooms. Excellent!” Sarah Burbach, Executive Director for GCASE
Pleasants County School System (West Virginia)
"John O'Connor's message is one that every educator needs to hear again and again. His focus on great instruction for ALL students resonates with general educators and special educators alike. The take-aways from his presentation in our district will have a profound impact on students, teachers and administrators in the most positive way! Thank you John!"
Kimberly Kehrer, Director of Special Programs and Lori Barnhart, Director of Curriculum and Instruction
Pleasants County Schools, WV
Kimberly Kehrer, Director of Special Programs and Lori Barnhart, Director of Curriculum and Instruction
Pleasants County Schools, WV
Eaton Regional Services Agency (Michigan)
John O'Connor provided a session for our 17 districts in Mid-Michigan designed to launch our effort to integrate special and general education instruction. All 17 district superintendents and central office leadership reported the session to be well-planned and a good start to this work. Many of these leaders said it was the best district-level professional development that they had ever experienced. I highly recommend working with Mr. O'Connor. We plan to work with him over the next 3-5 years because we think he has the experience to help us build integrated systems. Dr. Sean Williams, Assistant Superintendent for Instruction, Eaton Regional Services Agency
Puget Sound Educational Service District (Washington)
John’s presentation to principals and special education leaders provided participants with practical ways to put research about effective instructional practices into action. He is an excellent presenter. His is information was easily digested and immediately applicable. John’s information is directly relevant to the work we lead and his presentation was engaging and most of all was helpful.
Coweta County Teachers (Georgia)
"I gained ideas to provide GREAT instruction to struggling students and students with disabilities."
"This professional learning really targeted ways to provide GREAT, effective Tier 1 instruction and how to specifically design instruction to meet the needs of students with disabilities and struggling learners in my classroom."
“This professional learning did not add one more thing to the plate of teachers. It focused on how to make small changes that increase the opportunities for all students to practice and engage in learning. Purposeful small changes = huge opportunities for growth of all students.”
"This professional learning really targeted ways to provide GREAT, effective Tier 1 instruction and how to specifically design instruction to meet the needs of students with disabilities and struggling learners in my classroom."
“This professional learning did not add one more thing to the plate of teachers. It focused on how to make small changes that increase the opportunities for all students to practice and engage in learning. Purposeful small changes = huge opportunities for growth of all students.”
American Dairy Association Northeast
"It was great having John O’Connor as the keynote speaker for American Dairy Association North East’s school summits on leadership. His presentation on Turning Average Instruction into Great Instruction, engaged and inspired the stakeholder mix of school administrators, teachers, and child nutrition leaders in attendance to address the whole child and offered tangible takeaways that will have the greatest impact on student achievement."
Monongalia County Schools (West Virginia)
"John O'Connor provides a practical road map for administrators to follow on their journey to improving achievement for all students. The principals in my district were inspired by John's confirmation that there is no magic formula to improve achievement for students with disabilities. Great instruction is the key!" Tiffany Barnett, Director of Student Services and Exceptional Student Education, Monongalia County Schools
West Virginia Council for Administrators of Special Education
"Founded in experiences from the classroom to the state department level and based upon evidenced based practices, John O'Connor brings to the forefront key instructional practices that will enhance the academic achievement of students with disabilities." Dr. Vic Fisher, Supervisor of Pupil Services, Harrison County Schools, Clarksburg, WV & President, WVCASE.
"Founded in experiences from the classroom to the state department level and based upon evidenced based practices, John O'Connor brings to the forefront key instructional practices that will enhance the academic achievement of students with disabilities." Dr. Vic Fisher, Supervisor of Pupil Services, Harrison County Schools, Clarksburg, WV & President, WVCASE.
Georgia Council for Administrators of Special Education (GCASE)
“Georgia-CASE is still receiving great feedback from John O’Connor’s two one-day Drive-In Conferences held across the state: Increasing the Achievement of Students with Disabilities (and Other Students who Struggle)! Participants shared that this was the most practical, time-worthy conference they had ever attended and that they were able to go back to their systems and immediately implement what they learned.” Sarah Burbach, Executive Director, GCASE
Others
"I thoroughly enjoyed John O'Connor's workshop. He gave me some tools to use when talking with my general education co-teachers and parents." Shelby Turner, High School Special Education Teacher, Lincolnton, GA
