Meet Your CEC2027 Convention Wednesday Keynote Panelists

Chyna McLaughlin is a dynamic educator from Minnesota who has spent the past nine years in special education and is passionate about helping every child thrive. As an Elementary Behavioral Specialist, speaker, and creator of Especially SPED, she is dedicated to equipping educators with realistic, relationship-centered strategies that make a lasting impact in the classroom. 

Ms. Chyna serves as an Elementary Behavioral Specialist and Case Manager, supporting students in Kindergarten through 6th grade. She believes behavior is communication and that meaningful relationships, consistency, structure, and engagement are the foundation of student success. Guided by the philosophy that "kids do well if they can," she is passionate about equipping educators with realistic, proactive strategies while teaching students the social, emotional, and behavioral skills they need to succeed. 

Beyond the classroom, Ms. Chyna is a national speaker who presents at schools, conferences, and virtual events, inspiring educators with creative behavior strategies, classroom management techniques, and relationship-centered approaches to teaching. Her engaging, relatable presentation style combines real classroom experiences with practical tools educators can implement immediately. 

Through Especially SPED, she shares resources, professional development, and behavior strategies with educators around the world. She also creates educational content across social media, has been featured on numerous education podcasts, and hosts her own podcast, Chats with Ms. Chyna. 

Whether presenting to educators across the country or working alongside students in her own school, Ms. Chyna's mission remains the same: to empower educators with realistic, trauma-informed behavior strategies, lead with compassion, and help every child (and every teacher) feel seen, supported, and capable of success.

Jonathan Alsheimer is the unorthodox, energetic, and entertaining middle school teacher who refuses to live a life of limitations and works with UFC Fighters, Celebrities, and Clothing Brands. In addition to being a passionate educator, Jonathan is an international keynote speaker and the author of "NEXT LEVEL TEACHING," a #1 new release in education on Amazon in March of 2020. In August 2024, Jonathan released his latest book, "School of Engagement," also a top new release. 

Jonathan, taught at the world-renowned Fred Lynn Middle School, which was featured in two documentaries "Relentless" and "Relentless: Chasing Accreditation," as the teacher who forged a partnership with UFC Fighter and light-weight contender Paul Felder to bring a message of never giving up, fighting for their education, and empowering the students to believe in themselves, all principles that Jonathan promotes in his classroom. 

Jonathan Alsheimer also partnered with Fear the Fighter, an MMA clothing brand, to launch a stop-bullying campaign with Principal Hamish Brewer, the "Relentless" Principal. Jonathan Alsheimer didn't stop there and established a relationship with Chris "Drama" Pfaff, MTV reality star and CEO of Young and Reckless, to promote and build student leaders in his school. 

Jonathan formally taught at THE Chancellor Middle School in northern Virginia and has been featured on USA Channel 9 and NBC News for establishing a national give-back movement called "A Rae of Hope," started in his classroom to help pediatric patients in hospitals, which has now grown and been implemented in schools and classrooms in over 15 states. 

As Jonathan always says, "Game-changing is not a cliché motto; it is a way of life... some talk about it while others live by it!