The Kravis Center welcomes it’s Corporate Partner’s to the 2025-2026 Business Speaker Series. For the third installment of the series, the Kravis Center is excited to bring moderator Ava L. Parker, President of Palm Beach State College, to discuss The Future of Education with Panelists’ Mike Burke, Superintendent of the Palm Beach County School District, Dr. Joel Herbst, Superintendent of Schools at Florida Atlantic Laboratory Schools, and Dr. Denise Spirou, Head of School at The Greene School.

About Ava L Parker

Ava L. Parker, President of Palm Beach State College (PBSC), is the first woman to lead the institution since its founding in 1933. Under her leadership, PBSC has expanded to five campuses, achieved record enrollment, and earned national recognition as a leader in technology innovation and workforce development. Parker was the driving force behind PBSC becoming home to the world’s first tech golf league – TGL – co-founded by Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy. Broadcast to global audiences, this groundbreaking collaboration positions PBSC at the intersection of technology, innovation, and education.

Before joining PBSC in 2015, Parker served as executive vice president and chief operating officer at Florida Polytechnic University and spent more than a decade on the Florida Board of Governors. She also held a seat on the University of Central Florida’s Board of Trustees. An accomplished attorney, Parker’s career includes roles as a law firm partner, general counsel for multiple organizations, and assistant public defender in Miami-Dade County.

Parker serves on the boards of Orchid Island Capital and MasTec. Locally, she is Chair of Rise Coleman Park – a Purpose Built Community, Vice President of the International Women’s Forum Palm Beach, and a member of the boards of Kravis Center and Business Development Board, The Economic Council, and the Orange Bowl Committee.

Her accolades include Florida Trend’s Florida 500 (2019–2025), South Florida Business Journal’s Ultimate CEO (2022), and Power Leaders in Education (2021–2025). She earned B.A. and J.D. degrees from the University of Florida and is married to Joe Gibbons; together they have two children.

About Mike Burke

As the Superintendent of an A-Rated School District of Palm Beach County, Mr. Michael Burke is passionate about ensuring academic excellence and paving the way to post-graduate success for the District’s more than 170,000 students who attend 183 district-operated schools.

He is deeply committed to the School Board’s mission to educate, affirm, and inspire each student in an equity-embedded school system.

As Superintendent of the 10th largest district in the nation, Mr. Burke also oversees Palm Beach County’s largest workforce. The District employs nearly 23,000 people.

About Dr. Joel Herbst

Dr. Joel Herbst serves as Vice President for PK–12 and Pre-Baccalaureate Programs at Florida Atlantic University and as Superintendent of the Florida Atlantic University Laboratory School District, where he leads A.D. Henderson University School & FAU High Schools, a nationally recognized K–12 through bachelor’s degree laboratory school system. With more than 35 years of experience in public education, Dr. Herbst leads innovative K–12 and early college initiatives that integrate university-level research, teaching, and learning while expanding opportunity for students and strengthening the educator pipeline.

He is the founder of the Center for Educational Strategy and Innovation, advancing research driven programs and professional learning that support schools across Florida. His leadership has advanced programs while fostering partnerships that connect K–12 education with higher education and industry, including service on Coca-Cola’s Council for Corporate and School Partnerships. Over the course of his career, Dr. Herbst has served as an Advanced Placement instructor, assistant principal, principal, director of school improvement, regional superintendent, and superintendent of schools.

Under his guidance, FAU’s laboratory schools have achieved national recognition. A passionate advocate for educational excellence and student success, Dr. Herbst is widely respected for building programs that translate vision into measurable impact.

About Dr. Denise Spirou

Dr. Denise Spirou is the Founding Head of School of The Greene School in West Palm Beach, Florida, an independent school she built from the ground up with heart, courage, and a clear vision for what education can and should be. With more than 35 years in education, Dr. Spirou has dedicated her life to nurturing children’s potential and creating environments where students feel deeply known, appropriately challenged, and genuinely loved.

The Greene School was created from her belief that education should be both rigorous and deeply personal.  She envisioned a learning community designed specifically for intellectually curious and high potential learners, where academic acceleration is thoughtfully balanced with social and emotional development Under her leadership, the school has grown into a vibrant lower, middle, and high school community known for academic excellence, character development, student voice, and a culture grounded in curiosity, kindness, and respect.

Dr. Spirou is also the voice behind Growing the Gifted Mind, where she advocates for differentiated instruction, thoughtful acceleration, and a deeper understanding of the academic and emotional needs of gifted children. She works closely with families and educators to help them look beyond test scores and truly understand the whole child.

Her leadership and advocacy have been recognized nationally. She is the recipient of the Laura Joyner Award from the Mensa Foundation for her outstanding work with gifted children. She also serves as a Trustee for the Palm Beach Chamber of Commerce, reflecting her commitment not only to education, but to the broader community she calls home.

Dr. Spirou’s leadership style is both strong and compassionate. She believes that high standards and warmth are not opposites, but partners. She is known for building meaningful relationships with students, families, and faculty, and for leading with integrity, optimism, and love. She is passionate about helping children develop confidence, resilience, intellectual independence, and a lifelong love of learning.

About Sari Weltmann, MS. Ed.

Sari Weltmann is the Junior High Principal at the American Heritage Schools Broward Campus and the Executive Director of Curriculum & Instruction for both the Broward and Palm Beach campuses. She provides strategic leadership and oversight for all PK3–12 curricula across subject areas.

With more than 25 years of experience in education, including her early years in Broward County Public Schools and 18 years of service at American Heritage, Sari is recognized for her commitment to instructional excellence, coherent curriculum design, teacher development, and long‑term academic planning. She holds a Master’s in Education from Nova Southeastern University.

Speaker Luncheons are a benefit of the Kravis Center Corporate Partners and are by invitation only.

Kravis Center Corporate Partners are a group of corporate and professional leaders in Palm Beach County whose mission is to support and enable the Kravis Center to continue its extensive educational and community outreach programs. Learn more about becoming a Corporate Partner.