Convention Schedule

Jay B. Marks, Ph.D. is a widely-respected educator who has been in education since 1991, where he began his career as a Special Education Teacher at Northern High School with the Detroit Public School System. During his career he has served as a classroom teacher for 17 years with both Detroit and Southfield Public School Systems, as well as an educational consultant on the local and national level. Most recently, Dr. Marks worked as a Diversity & Equity Consultant with Oakland Schools (the Intermediate School District in Oakland County, Michigan) where he served and supported the diversity, equity, and inclusion needs of the 28 school districts within Oakland County. He is highly sought after for his work in the area of equity focused on Anti-Racism, Social Justice, Cultural Proficiency, Courageous Conversations about Race, Culturally Responsive Teaching, Educating African American Males, and Student Engagement. In addition to his professional work in the field of education, he has been mentoring youth since 1989, and has started several mentoring programs in the Metropolitan Detroit Area as a result of his experiences. Currently, Dr. Marks is an independent consultant in the area of diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice on the local and national level.

His academic credentials include a B.S. degree from Western Michigan University (1990), M.A. degree from University of Detroit Mercy (1995), and an Education Specialist Certificate (1997) and Ph.D. (2005) in Curriculum and Instruction both from Wayne State University. As a graduate student, Dr. Marks studied abroad at Oxford University in Oxford, England as a student in their British Studies Program.

Dr. Marks is an active member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., and the proud father of two beautiful daughters, Amari (19) and Jalia (16).

 Tiffany Foster is a longtime child advocate, committed to championing children and families to have positive, empowering, and enriching experiences. She currently serves on National PTA’s Board of Directors. She has previously served in multiple positions in local, district and national levels of PTA and has a personal motto of three I’s: impact, integrity and inclusion.

With a focus on membership and diversity and inclusion strategies, she consistently works to build new partnerships with local nonprofits and businesses to bring additional resources to families in her city. From PTA local leader trainings, family financial literacy classes to webinars on navigating a housing crisis and tenant rights, Tiffany works to share the value and mission of PTA, while trying to keep her community informed of resources. 

Aside from PTA, she currently serves as a commissioner for both the Durham County Women’s Commission and Durham Racial Equity Commission, a Durham Public Schools Parent Ambassador, a Parent Lead for the Durham Public Schools Title I Steering Committee, and a member of the Emily Krzyzewski Center Parent Advisory Council and most recently completed an Ignite Change fellowship with Emily’s List.

Tiffany Foster is a lifelong volunteer and advocate for all, devoting much of her time outside of PTA to helping her own community. She has served as rape crisis counselor, guardian ad litem and girl scout leader, while overseeing a career in finance as a Sr. Treasury Analyst in her home state of North Carolina. She is most proud of her family, which includes her husband and two beautiful girls.

Dr. Michael F. Rice was appointed Michigan's 44th Superintendent of Public Instruction by Michigan's State Board of Education in May 2019. He came to the Michigan Department of Education after serving 17 years as a local district superintendent - most recently at the Kalamazoo (MI) Public Schools, where he started full-day pre-kindergarten and quintupled the number of full-day kindergarten students; and led the improvement in student achievement in reading, writing, math, Advanced Placement participation and success, and graduation rates.

Prior to serving as Kalamazoo's superintendent, Dr. Rice served five years as superintendent of the Clifton (NJ) Public Schools. Dr. Rice began his career in public education in the Washington, D.C. Public Schools, where he taught high school French, and founded and coached an award-winning speech and debate program.