Invitational Education (IE) is an educational theory of practice introduced by co-founders Dr. William Watson Purkey and Dr. Betty Siegel of the International Alliance for Invitational Education (IAIE). Purkey is professor emeritus of counselor education at the University of North Carolina-Greensboro and writes prolifically as a catalyst for school improvement. In addition, Dr. John Novak, professor emeritus at Brock University in Ontario, Canada, is a primary contributor to the development of Invitational Theory and Practice, authoring numerous books on the subject and lecturing internationally.