Project Leadership

Conversation Project is a social impact initiative that is a collaboration between community-based organizations, businesses and teachers from the public and private sectors.  It is being led by Teach Different, a professional development organization headquartered in Chicago.

Dr. Steve Fouts and Dan Fouts, both founders of Teach Different, lead the Conversation Project.

The Federation of Independent Illinois Colleges and Universities
The Federation of Independent Illinois Colleges and Universities is the oldest independent college association in the nation. The Federation is an advocacy organization that represents the public policy interests of Illinois’ non-profit colleges and universities.
Plato
The Philosophy Learning and Teaching Organization nurtures young people’s curiosity, critical thinking, and desire to explore big questions, through philosophy and ethics programs for students, educators, and families.
Teach Different
Founded by practicing teachers in 2017, Teach Different is a Chicago-based startup that provides professional development to educators in discussion-based techniques for the classroom.
Inquiry Partners
Inquiry Partners works with students and educators to develop the questions and dispositions needed to solve problems, think critically and build social-emotional (SEL) skills. Five key inquiry strategies guide or work. We prioritize joy every step of the way.
Illinois Institute of Independent Colleges and Universities
The Illinois Institute of Independent Colleges and Universities was established in 1982 with a broad mandate to strengthen private higher education in Illinois through research, fundraising and other collaborative activities.
Republic Foundation
Founded in 2009 by teachers, writers and artists, Republic Foundation is a Chicago-based, non-profit organization that supports professional development of teachers and leadership development of underserved youth.
Mighty Networks
The technology used by the Conversation Project is powered by Mighty Networks. Mighty is a cultural software platform that allows any person, brand, or organization to build a community with content, courses, commerce, and more.

Advisory Partners

Dr. Frank Houston

Dr. Frank Houston

Joyce Kelly

Joyce Kelly

Jenna Daube

Jenna Daube

Kathleen B. King, Ph.D.

Kathleen B. King, Ph.D.

Dr. Steve Fouts

Dr. Steve Fouts

Dan Fouts

Dan Fouts

Kimberly Mitchell

Kimberly Mitchell

Jacob Plummer

Jacob Plummer

Mike Petitti

Mike Petitti

Dr. Terri Daniels

Dr. Terri Daniels

Workshops and Conferences

Date: July, 2023
Where:  National Association of Secondary School Principals Conference, Denver, Colorado

Date: July 2023
Where: Illinois Education Association Summer Leadership Academy, Normal, Illinois (pending)

Date: April 2023
Where: Association of California School Administrators, North State Professional Development Conference, Reno, Nevada

Date: March 2023
Where: Illinois Education Association Representative Assembly, Rosemont, Illinois

Date: February 2023
Where: Chapters International Worldwide 2-Day Workshop

Date: January 2023
Where: McHenry High School Social Studies workshop, Crystal Lake, Illinois

Date: January 2023
Where: Lake County Regional Office of Education Administrator Academy

Date: November 2022
Where: Proficio Special Education Conference, Oak Lawn, Illinois

Date: November 2022
Where: Chapters International Worldwide 4-Day Workshop

Date: October, 2022
Where:  City-Wide Equity Conference, Reynoldsburg, Ohio

Date: March 2022
Where: Special Education Conference Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin

Date: January 2022
Where: Chapters International Worldwide Conference

Date: January, 2022
Where: Jackson, Mississippi

Date: November, 2021
Where: Proficio Education Conference

Date: November, 2021
Where: Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin

Date: October 2021
Where: Birdville ISD, Texas

Date: July, 2021
Where: Springfield, Illinois

Date: June 2021
Where: Birdville ISD, Texas

Date: April, 2021
Where: Oregon Council for the Social Studies – Portland, Oregon

Date: November, 2020
Where: Mid Hudson Social Studies Council

Date: 11:00am EST, November 14th, 2020
Where: 3-Step Method Webinar Series   Sign up here

Date: November 2020, December 2020, January 2021, February 2021, March 2021
Where: National Webinar Series

Date: November 2020
Where: Proficio Special Education Conference

Date: November, 2020
Where: Lake County Regional Office – Grayslake, Illinois

Date: September, 2020
Where: Folsom Middle School, Folsom, California

Date: July 2020
Where: Folsom Middle School, Folsom, California

Date: March 2020
Where: IEA-RA Rosemont, Illinois

Date: February, 2020
Where: DuPage Regional Office of Education – Wheaton, Illinois

Date: February, 2020
Where: Hindsight 20/20 McLean County – Bloomington, Illinois

Date: January, 2020
Where: Kinnikinnick CCSD #131 – Roscoe, Illinois

Date: March 2020
Where: University of Illinois at Springfield, Springfield, Illinois

Date: October 2019
Where: Online Webinar Hosted By National Council for the Social Studies

Date: October 2019
Where: Illinois Council of the Social Studies, Harper College

Date: August 2019
Where: Tri-Conference Event, McHenry High School, IL

Date: December 2018
Where: National Council for the Social Studies, Chicago, IL

Date: September 2018
Where: Ohio Center for Law Related Education, Columbus, OH

BIG QUESTIONS AND TECHNOLOGY = BIG POSSIBILITIES
Date: August 2018 Where: Tri-Conference Event, McHenry County, IL
TEACH THE RIGHT THING: ETHICS IN YOUR SOCIAL STUDIES CLASSROOM
Date:  December 2016 Where: National Council for the Social Studies, New Orleans, LA
TEACH LIKE SOCRATES: ASK THE RIGHT QUESTIONS
Date:  June 2015 Where: National Council for the Social Studies, Washington D.C.