CASE Conf 2025

Gregory Benner
Helen and Pat O'Sullivan Professor
University of Alabama


Dr. Gregory J. Benner is the Helen and Pat O’Sullivan Professor in the College of Education at the University of Alabama. From 2012 to 2018, Dr. Benner served as Professor and Executive Director of the Center for Strong Schools at the University of Washington Tacoma before assuming his current role. Dr. Benner has served as Principal Investigator or other leadership role on 45 sponsored research projects, to date. The total amount of external grant funds awarded for these projects is over $32M. He has a knack for grassroots collective impact — getting whole communities including youth, families, service providers, and educators on the same page to realize the full potential of all youth. He is co-founder of the Whole Child approach, a blueprint for comprehensive and sustainable school transformation. Tacoma Whole Child was highlighted in a recent cover story in Newsweek in addition to the How Learning Happens video series published by Edutopia, including how to create a seamless whole community system of support in and outside of school. He now leads Tuscaloosa Whole Child, bringing transformational school improvement to all schools in Tuscaloosa County. Visit bamawholechild.com to explore the Whole Child approach, get updates, and to learn how to build strong schools in your community. Dr. Benner loves educators and they love him back. He builds the capacity of those who serve youth who are struggling most. He has a reputation for giving educators what they need — practical strategies for real-world challenges they face every day. Dr. Benner conducts 40-50 invited presentations on practical behavioral and instructional strategies each year.

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