John Lester

John E. Lester is an educational consultant, educator, and author whose career focuses on developing leadership, critical thinking, and 21st-century skills in students and teachers. Lester holds degrees in comprehensive social studies, gifted education, and educational administration, and is a graduate of Morehead State University with both a bachelor's degree and master's degree. His expertise covers K–12 education, specializing in classroom differentiation and leadership, with experience teaching at the elementary, middle school, and high school levels, as well as in curriculum development, administration, and serving as a local and county gifted education coordinator.

Lester is the founder and director of the Ohio Leadership Institute, a statewide nonprofit organization providing leadership opportunities for Ohio youth. He also founded and directs Ohio Leadership Training Camps, Ohio's only statewide residential leadership camps for students in grades 3–12. In addition, Lester is the founder and director of the Ohio Model United Nations program, Ohio's largest global education and leadership program. He has developed and directed both Ohio Leadership Training Camps and Ohio Model United Nations for more than 33 years.

Lester is a past president of the Ohio Association for Gifted Children and serves as an adjunct instructor at Ashland University in Columbus, Ohio. His professional recognitions include Ohio Social Studies Teacher of the Year, the Ashland Oil Teacher Achievement Award, and educational fellowships in Japan, Germany, and the former Czechoslovakia. Lester also served as Key Club advisor, directing students in grades 9–12 in community service activities, one of which was selected by President Bush as the nation's 52nd Point of Light.

As an author, Lester has produced a range of practical resources for educators. He is the author of "Generating Standards-Based Lessons — Planning and Implementing Lessons in the Age of Standards," as well as a series of "Differentiating Lessons Using Bloom's Taxonomy" titles covering math, science, social studies, research, writing, and reading. His book "Blue Ribbon Teaching" furthers his mission of equipping educators with actionable strategies. As an educational consultant, Lester works with school districts, administrators, and teachers in Ohio and across the nation, delivering professional development and activity-oriented workshops and keynotes. His experience and nationally recognized programs position him as a knowledgeable voice in education, leadership development, and curriculum design.