2025 Speakers

Dr. Robert Biswas-Diener is a researcher, author, and consultant with 75 peer-reviewed academic articles on topics as wide ranging as well-being, friendship, hospitality, and leadership. Before co-authoring Radical Listening, his previous books include Positive Provocation (2023) The Upside of Your Dark Side (New York Times Bestseller, 2014), and the 2007 PROSE Award winner, Happiness. He has presented to Lululemon, Deloitte, Humana, AARP, and the World Bank, among others. Robert has especially loved working with educators and has conducted training in public and private schools in British Columbia, Florida, Washington, Oregon, and all over Australia. He has worked with the Bastow Institute and the Australian Council for Educational Leaders. In 2024, Thinkers50 named Robert one of the “50 Most Influential Executive Coaches in the World.” He lives in Portland, Oregon, where he enjoys drawing and rock climbing.

Dr. Jim Knight, Founder and Senior Partner of Instructional Coaching Group (ICG), is also a research associate at the University of Kansas Center for Research on Learning. He has spent more than two decades studying professional learning and instructional coaching.

Jim earned his PhD in Education from the University of Kansas and has won several university teaching, innovation, and service awards. The pioneering work Jim and his colleagues have conducted has led to many innovations that are now central to professional development in schools.

Jim wrote the first major article about instructional coaching for the Journal of Staff Development, and his book Instructional Coaching (2007) offered the first extended description
of instructional coaching. Jim’s book Focus on Teaching (2014) was the first extended description of how video should be used for professional learning. Recently, writing with Ann Hoffman, Michelle Harris, and Sharon Thomas, Jim introduced the idea of instructional playbooks with their book on that topic. Jim has written several books in addition to those described above, including Unmistakable Impact (2011), High-Impact Instruction (2013), Better Conversations (2015), The Impact Cycle (2018), The Definitive Guide to Instructional Coaching (2021), Data Rules (2024), and The IC Toolkit (2024).

Jim has also authored articles on instructional coaching and professional learning in publications such as “Educational Leadership”, “The Journal of Staff Development”, “Principal Leadership”, “The School Administrator”, and “Kappan”. Jim is also a columnist for “Educational Leadership”.

Through ICG, Jim conducts coaching workshops, hosts “Coaching Conversations” podcast, and provides consulting for coaching programs around the world.

Dr. Haesun Moon is a communication scientist, an educator, and author of Coaching A to Z: The Extraordinary Use of Ordinary Words and several collaborative books, including Thriving Women, Thriving World, and Foundations of Brief Coaching, a short handbook for professional coaches.

Haesun received her Ph.D. in Adult Education and Community Development from the University of Toronto. She cares about people experiencing better conversations at home and at work – and she does that by training, coaching, and consulting. She believes that conversations can change the world, and she defines this process as hosting dialogic conditions in which people participate to imagineer and perform their preferred change.

Her academic and professional research in coaching, dialogues, and pedagogy from the University of Toronto led to the development of a simple pedagogical framework, the Dialogic Orientation Quadrant (DOQ). The DOQ has transformed the way people coach and learn coaching worldwide. The DOQ also serves as a research framework in communication studies that offer evidence-based process research of coaching and mentoring conversations.

She was most recently celebrated as one of the world’s leading thought leaders in “Coaching and Mentoring” by Thinkers50, an accolade often referred to as “the Oscars of Management Thinking” by the Financial Times.

Her most current contribution in the field of coaching and mentoring includes active speaking engagements, both in-person and online, at the European Mentoring and Coaching Council, International Coach Federation, Institute of Coaching at Harvard Medical School, and WBECS by Coaching dot com. Haesun was voted as the highest-ranking speaker in the WBECS pre-summit in 2022 and 2023, where over 12,000 people worldwide registered in her session.

She serves as a faculty at the Institute of Coaching, Harvard Medical School affiliate, where she is currently teaching on the topic of Efficacy of Coaching.

Haesun contributes to the coaching and mentoring community in Canada as she serves as a chair for the Canadian Universities and Research Alliance Summit (CURAS), where coaching research, praxis, and community of practice are actively organized and growing. Haesun teaches Brief Coaching at the University of Toronto and serves as Executive Director at the Canadian Centre for Brief Coaching and Principal at The Human Learning Institute.

Kim Scott is the author of Radical Respect: How to Work Together Better and Radical Candor: Be a Kickass Boss Without Losing your Humanity. Kim was a CEO coach at Dropbox, Qualtrics, Twitter, and other tech companies. She was a member of the faculty at Apple University and before that led AdSense, YouTube, and DoubleClick teams at Google. Kim learned the most valuable but painful management lessons as co-founder and CEO of two failed start-ups, Juice Software and Capital Thinking. Earlier in her career she was an analyst at the Soviet Companies Fund, started a diamond cutting factory in Moscow, and was director of operations of a pediatric clinic in Kosovo. Kim shares what she’s learned from failures and successes alike at Radical Candor, the executive education company she co-founded and on the acclaimed management podcasts she co-hosts. She lives with her family in Silicon Valley.

Dr. Natasha Sistrunk Robinson is on a mission equipping people to Live and Lead on Purpose. Dr. Robinson is President & CEO of T3 Leadership Solutions, Inc., and Visionary Founder of the 501(c)(3) nonprofit, Leadership LINKS, Inc., a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit that collaborates with schools and businesses for the leadership education and character development of Black girls and young women. A graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, Gordon-Conwell and North Park Theological Seminaries, she is a sought-after international speaker, executive leadership coach and consultant with more than 20 years of leadership experience in the military, federal government, academic, and nonprofit sectors. She is an Associate Certified Coach (ACC) with the International Coaching Federation (ICF), host of A Sojourner’s Truth podcast, and the author of several books including Voices of Lament (editor) and her memoir, A Sojourner’s Truth. Dr. Robinson honorably served her country as a Marine Corps officer and employee at the Department of Homeland Security.

Juliana Urtubey, NBCT has used her platform as 2021 National Teacher of the Year to advocate for a “joyous and just” education for all students, one that is inclusive and celebratory of all students’ identities, families and communities. A bilingual, first-generation immigrant, Juliana has worked throughout her teaching career to serve as a mirror for her school community, helping students to be proud of their identities and families, and to acknowledge their strengths and contributions to the community.

While teaching in Las Vegas, students gave her the nickname “Ms. Earth” for her efforts to beautify schools and unify the community through murals and gardens. With great pride, Juliana has coined the term “linguistically gifted” to honor the incredible linguistic gifts her students and their families contribute to our school communities. Juliana currently leads professional development for educators in Arizona and is the beloved Ms. Appleberry on the early childhood learning show, CoCoMelon Classroom.

Juliana is a National Board Certified Teacher and holds a bachelor’s degree in bilingual elementary education and a master’s degree in special bilingual education from the University of Arizona. In September 2022, President Biden appointed Ms. Urtubey to the President’s Advisory Commission on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence, and Economic Opportunity for Hispanics. She is a National Board for Professional Teaching Standards Board of Directors member and an Understood.org expert.

Ms. Urtubey has been featured on the cover of People Magazine representing educators as the 2021 People of Year. She was featured on Telemundo’s 2022 Hispanic Heritage Celebration and was selected as a Mujer Imparable by the network’s initiative to celebrate Latinas who are “breaking barriers and changing the game.”

Since being announced as National Teacher of the Year in May 2021, Juliana has shared her “joyous and just” message with thousands of pre-service teachers, educators, and policymakers across the country – including at the White House and Harvard and Stanford University– and through U.S. and international media, including Good Morning America, the TODAY Show, Univision, Telemundo, and Colombia’s El Pais and El Espectador.

Dr. Christian van Nieuwerburgh is Professor of Coaching and Positive Psychology at RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences where he leads the Centre for Positive Health Sciences. He is also Consulting Professor with Growth Coaching International. Considered a thought leader in the areas of coaching in education and the integration of coaching and positive psychology. Christian is passionate about the creation of positive learning environments and works with schools, colleges, and universities all over the world.

Christian is the author of the best-selling Introduction to Coaching Skills: A Practical Guide, currently in its third edition (2014; 2017; 2020). He has published 10 books on the topics of coaching and positive psychology. He shares practical strategies and ideas from these fields on his website (www.coachonamotorcycle.com) and social media channels (Youtube: @coachonamotorcycle; Instagram: @coachonamotorcycle; X: @christianvn).

Dr. Kristin Anderson is an educator, researcher, founder, and CEO of The Brilliance Project. Through her research and consultancy over her 20-plus-year career, Kristin has helped thousands of educators, leaders and aspiring world-changers transform their potential and unleash their personal power through the lens of education.

Kristin’s early career was spent working with students from marginalized and disadvantaged backgrounds, often outcast from mainstream school systems. This formative experience exposed the duality of education in both its capacity to fortify and lift the human spirit, as well as isolating the oppositional factors that actively disable it. These insights invoke the redemptive themes of her current-day work, such as building trust, hope, and belief through personal efficacy, and a specialized focus on adult learning that embraces the life cycle of the whole educator along with their wellbeing.

Kristin has worked within instructional and leadership roles across a diverse range of K-12 settings. She has developed professional learning programs for Edison Schools,The Leadership and Learning Center, and Corwin, and is known as the person who brought Visible Learning to North America. In parallel, she has completed advanced degrees from Sterling College, the University of Denver, the University of Colorado, and Vanderbilt University.

In recent years, Kristin has collaborated with global leaders to design, implement, and evaluate professional learning frameworks, and has led large-scale development initiatives for sustainable impact through education. Kristin’s approach is anchored in her understanding of behavioral and decision science, balanced with her practical and humanizing implementation of research in real-world settings. She has delivered keynotes, workshops, and extensive professional learning on various topics in teaching, learning, and leadership across the Americas, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Africa.

Kristin is the author of Data Teams Success Stories Volume 1, Real Time Decisions, Getting Started with Rigorous Curriculum Design, and a soon to be published book on Educator Wellbeing.

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Steve Barkley began his teaching career in a rich, teaming and coaching environment long before the terms instructional coaching and professional learning communities were in the educational literature. During the past three plus decades, Steve has worked with educators internationally to build programs that focus on educator growth for student growth.

Steve is the author of Quality Teaching in a Culture of Coaching and Instructional Coaching With the End in Mind. His weekly blogs and podcasts add to a continuous exploration of his learning being shared with others.

Matthew Bertke is an Instructional Coach and French teacher at GBS where he has been teaching for 17 years and has been coaching for 10 years. In addition, Matt taught in Sylvania, Ohio for the first three years of his teaching career. Matt is passionate about equity and inclusion and works hard to create and maintain opportunities for every student in every space.

The GBS Coaching Program has had many local, national, and international visitors to discuss the implementation and operation of their coaching program. Three members of the team became Certified Instructional Coaches through ICG in the Fall of 2019. In 2023, the team won the “Award of Excellence” in the Team Category from the Illinois State Board of Education.

Andrea (Annie) Bolander received her bachelor’s degree in music education and is a wife and mother of three. She received her Montessori Early Childhood certification and has taught in a classroom for 15 years.

During her time at Dancing Moose Montessori School, she has taken the role of Education Coach and curriculum developer, for the classroom and online. Annie co-created assessments for the Early Childhood program supporting the math and language areas for three school campuses.

Annie is a Totem PD instructor for her school team, and works in coaching and behavior help for teachers and classrooms.

In her free time Annie enjoys performing with a handbell music choir, creating string-art designs, and watercolor painting with her children.

Margarita Espino Calderón, Ph.D., is a Professor Emerita/Senior Research Scientist at Johns Hopkins University. The Carnegie Corporation of New York funded her five-year study Expediting Comprehension for English Language Learners (ExC-ELL) to train 6th – 12th math, science, social studies, language arts, and ESL teachers on integrating language, reading, and content. She has conducted several five-year studies with grants from U.S.D.O.E (IES, OELA), and U.S.D.O.L. With a Title III NPD grant, she developed A Whole-School Approach to Professional Development with ExC-ELL. She has over 100 publications on language and literacy. She works with national and international schools, districts, and education departments. She was recently inducted into the Multilingual Education Hall of Fame.

Ben Calleja is Director of Growth Coaching International in WA, SA and NT. In addition to his work as an executive coach and facilitator, he is also responsible for the leadership and strategic direction of the business across those regions. Ben is a highly dynamic and engaging executive coach and consultant who is passionate about drawing out the strengths of those he works with. His skill is connecting with the specific needs of clients and adapting what works to meet those unique needs—whether that is with individuals or large groups.

Ben’s keen interest is in helping people develop positive and high functioning professional relationships, which he sees as fundamental to effective leadership and organizational development. In addition to facilitating GCI’s suite of coach training programs, much of Ben’s current work is in assisting schools and organizations in their strategic planning work. He also has a keen interest in developing the coaching skills of students.

Ben has worked as a leader in diverse educational settings throughout Australia and the United States. He has experience in Indigenous education, university teaching, special needs education, boarding management and counselling. He has worked collaboratively with corporate and government groups.

John Campbell is the Founding Director of Growth Coaching International (GCI), an organization that provides coaching and coaching services to school leaders and teachers across Australia and now in NZ, the UK, the Middle East, Spain and Central and South America.

John has been a high school teacher, a curriculum development advisor, a management consultant in the corporate sector and from 2004-2018 was involved in leading the GCI work across Australia. During that period over 60,000 school leaders participated in GCI professional learning programs. He has co-authored, with Prof Christian van Nieuwerburgh, The Leaders’ Guide to Coaching in Schools: Creating Conditions for Effective Learning(Corwin, 2017). He is also the author of the chapters, ‘Coaching in Schools’ and ‘The GROWTH Model: A Framework for Practitioners’ in Coaching in Professional Contexts, (Sage,2016), and with Prof Christian van Nieuwerburgh and Dr Jim Knight, ‘Coaching in Education’, in Professional Coaching: Principles and Practice (Springer, 2018). He regularly speaks at ‘coaching in education’ events and conferences across Australia and has led workshops and conference keynotes in NZ, the UK, Spain, Asia and the US.

In addition to his teaching degrees, he holds master’s degrees in organizational communication (UTS) and in the psychology of coaching from the University of Sydney.

As Founding Director, he is no longer directly involved in the operational side of GCI but rather spends his time writing about and researching ‘coaching in education’ related topics.

Dr. Floyd Cobb has almost 20 years of experience spanning the P-20 educational continuum, holding roles as a teacher, school leader, district curriculum leader, and a statewide policy implementer. He holds a Ph.D. in curriculum and instruction from the Morgridge College of Education at the University of Denver. There, he is an adjunct faculty member and teaches courses on social inequality through the lenses of race, class, and gender.

In 2017, Floyd was awarded the Ruth Murray Underhill Teaching Award for excellence in teaching, which is given to one adjunct faculty member at the university. He has published numerous articles and book chapters and is the co-author of the book Belonging Through a Culture of Dignity, which focuses on dignity as a key component of equity implementation. He is also the author of Leading While Black (2017), an auto-ethnography detailing his reflections on the Black experience in educational leadership.

Dr. Ayanna Cooper is a consultant, writer, U.S. Department of State English Language Specialist alumna, “edu-story” teller and recently served a three-year term on the Board of Directors for TESOL International Association.

She is the author of several publications including And Justice for ELs: A Leader’s Guide to Creating and Sustaining Equitable Schools and Black Immigrants in the United States (co-edited).

As the editor of Language Magazine’s “Pass the Mic” series she highlights the intersectionality of race, English language teaching and learning, and centers on multilingual student experience.

Dr. Tina Curry is an award-winning coach, professor, and teacher.

Tina brings a 24-year distinguished track record and innovative success as an educator in Chicago, as well as her experiences as a valued member of the adjunct faculty at National Louis University and a lead equity facilitator for DePaul University’s Office of Innovative and Professional Learning. Tina currently works as lead instructional coach at Fernwood Elementary School in Chicago. She has been an invited presenter for IWP, AERA, LRA, NCTE, and IRC as well as a featured guest on Coaching Conversations Podcast with Jim Knight.

Tina is a 2023 and 2024 nominee for NCTE Nominating Committee, College Section. Her accomplishments include being a contributing writer to Teaching for Racial Equity: Becoming Interrupters winner of the 2022 Excellence in Equity Book Award.

Her support for professional learning at the leadership and classroom level have transformed lives professionally and personally. She is inspiring, insightful, and ignites a passion for coaching and equity.

Dr. Tina Curry was recently a guest on Episode #59 of the Coaching Conversations podcast with Jim Knight. Listen to her episode on your favorite podcast platform.

Suzanne Dailey is an instructional coach in the Central Bucks School District where she has the honor and joy of working with over 600 elementary teachers and 9,000 students. She teaches model lessons, facilitates professional development sessions, and mentors teachers to be the best for the students in front of them.

Suzanne is Nationally Board Certified, a fellow of the National Writing Project, and has a masters degree in reading. She is dedicated to nurturing and developing the whole child and teacher and presents these topics in-person and virtually at a local, state, and national level.

Suzanne is the author of Teach Happier this School Year: 40 Weeks of Inspiration & Reflection and is the host of the popular weekly podcast, Teach Happier.

Joy de los Santos has been in the field of special education for nearly 20 years. She received a Bachelors in Special Education from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Masters in Early Childhood Education with Special Education Approval from Governors State University, and her Masters in Education Administration from Concordia University Chicago. She has taught every grade from early childhood through high school in both district and cooperative settings. Joy became involved in instructional coaching 3 years ago when she was tasked with helping to set up a team of coaches at the special education cooperative where she currently works. In 3 years that team has grown exponentially and supports classrooms within our cooperative as well as in each of our 9 member districts. She has seen the impact coaches have on teachers working with students who have, or are suspected of having, a disability, and it has become a significant focus in her career. Joy lives in Bourbonnais, IL with her husband, daughter, dog (S’Mores), and 2 hermit crabs (Te Fiti and CooCoo2).

Dr. Timothy Dohrer is an Assistant Professor and Director of Educational Leadership at National Louis University, and has been a classroom teacher, administrator, and author for 35 years in K12 schools and higher education. He was a teacher and Principal at New Trier High School in Winnetka, Illinois, a school of 4,000 students and staff. He has also served as a Director and Assistant Professor at Northwestern University and Northern Illinois University. Tim’s major areas of research include social & emotional learning, school climate, curriculum and instruction, teacher education, and leadership. His most recent book, The Schools We Need Now: A Guide to Designing a Mentally Healthy School, is a best-seller from Corwin Press.

Renowned speaker, author, and equity consultant Dr. Nancy A. Dome co-founded Epoch Education in 2014 to provide leaders in education and business with accessible professional development to support equity efforts in pursuit of greater diversity, inclusion, and belonging.

Starting her career as a Child Care Worker, she has always had a strong desire to support those students most at risk. Realizing the education track would allow her greater flexibility and reach than the social services track, she re-educated to become a teacher and spent 10 years working in multiple capacities, ranging from classroom teacher, Mentor Teacher, and Teacher on Special Assignment, in the Juvenile Court and Community Schools in San Diego. Roles, which allowed her to train and support teachers in becoming more culturally competent educators for the diverse population they served.

Dr. Dome’s passion for education prompted her to obtain her doctorate in 2004, which allowed her to secure a tenure track faculty position at CSUSM in the College of Education. There she spent 7 years working with future teachers to build their capacity in the classroom with a social justice focus, building their awareness around the necessity of being culturally competent. During that time, Dr. Dome coordinated a College of Education program that sought to identify racially under-represented undergraduates and support them in becoming teachers to help diversify the workforce.

In 2008, Dr. Dome accepted a position with Pacific Educational Group as the Director of Online Programming where she developed online professional development opportunities for individual teachers and school districts. Realizing that online would provide a greater reach, she provided hundreds of educators with an interactive and transformative curriculum that challenged and inspired them to work as advocates for their underrepresented student populations.

Today Dr. Dome continues her important work as Founder/CEO of Epoch Education whose primary charge is to provide current, accessible and transforming Professional Development that helps school districts and educational agencies throughout the country navigate complex topics, build bridges, and work together for inclusive, impactful change. Dr Dome also works with businesses providing inspirational keynotes, individual and small group coaching sessions, and trainings on effective communication through Compassionate Dialogue throughout the US and in the UK.

Dr. Dome is the author of the bestselling book Let’s Talk About Race and Other Hard Things: A Framework for Having Conversations That Build Bridges, Strengthen Relationships, and Set Clear Boundaries that laid the foundation of Compassionate Dialogue as a mainstream strategy to support the development of strong workplace climates and cultures. In 2024, she published The Compassionate Dialogue Journey: A Workbook for Growth and Self-Discovery that provides a pathway for internal exploration by guiding readers through prompts and exercises designed to deepen their Compassionate Dialogue practice as a form of self-care.

When Nancy is not working, she spends much of her time in service to her community, gardening, and making memories with her loved ones.

Dr. Martha D. Elford is a co-founder and consultant with VECTOR Coaching and an internationally recognized expert in virtual coaching who recently co-authored the book, Implementing a Virtual Coaching Model for Teacher Professional Development (Myers, Rowland, Elford, 2021). Dr. Elford served as an Instructional Coach with the Kansas Coaching Project directed by Jim Knight.

In addition to coaching, she has experience as a classroom teacher and a reading specialist. As a post-doctoral fellow, Dr. Elford supervised two research projects: A Poses Foundation grant studying Instructional Coaching and an IES grant for TeachLivE, the use of simulation in teacher preparation programs. She formerly served as Program Designer for the Online High Incidence Disabilities Teacher Education Practicum Program at the University of Kansas. Her research interests include the impact of coaching on professional growth for pre- and in-service teachers, and using virtual learning environments, such as Virtual Professional Performance (VPP) Lab for teacher preparation and professional development. Dr. Elford participated as a Fulbright Specialist for Fulbright Finland where she collaborated with scholars to explore the use of video for coaching and feedback in teacher preparation.

Elford is the co-author of GET Feedback: Giving, Exhibiting, and Teaching Feedback in Special Education Teacher Preparation.

Currently, Dr. Elford serves as non-tenure track faculty at Southern Illinois University Department of Teaching and Learning.

Dr. Alison Gordon is Co-founder and Co-Facilitator of the Educational Coaching Network, an entity created to serve the professional growth needs of Instructional Coaches and School, District, and regional educational leaders. Once a part of Northwestern University, ECN is now affiliated with Northern Illinois University, where she works.. Alison’s career started as an elementary school teacher and then she enjoyed a long tenure as building Principal, serving students through the years from Early Childhood through Eighth Grade, in California and Illinois. She also served as a School District Leader, as Interim Superintendent, Program Director for Multilingual Student Services, Gifted Services, and Community Engagement. Alison has been an Adjunct Instructor at Benedictine University, National Louis University, and Northwestern University, in the Teacher Leadership Program. She currently consults with schools and provides professional development to support mentoring and instructional coaching programs, as well as professional learning communities.

Meg Groseclose is an experienced Early Literacy Facilitator and Coach dedicated to enhancing K-5 literacy instruction with 15 years experience, 8 years in coaching. She holds a Master of Arts in Education (MAEd) in Reading and Literacy K-12 (Reading Specialist) and a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Elementary Education, providing her with a strong foundation in literacy development and effective teaching practices.

With National Board Certification in Reading-Language Arts (Early and Middle Childhood), Meg has extensive experience working with diverse and multicultural student populations, specializing in intensive, individualized reading interventions for K-5 learners. She has also played a key role in modeling and coaching teachers in literacy instruction, supporting educators in implementing research-based strategies.

In addition to her school-based coaching, Meg has consulted in Chicago schools, helping 4th and 5th-grade teachers refine their literacy instruction. She completed Jim Knight’s 16-week Coaching Institute and collaborates with Jim Knight and the Instructional Coaching Group (ICG) as a Learning Partner, engaging in coaching cycles to refine instructional practices. Most recently, Meg collaborated with Jim Knight with his 1-on-1 coaching sessions.

A dedicated mentor and trainer, Meg supports Beginning Teachers (BTs) and serves as a Master Teacher Trainer for mClass Reading3D. Her commitment to excellence in education has earned her recognition, including being named Teacher of the Year (Malpass Corner Elementary, 2015-2016). She has also served as a Student Ambassador for ECU’s MAEd in Literacy and Reading, a Graduate Assistant in the Reading and Literacy Department at ECU, and was nominated for ECU’s Student Employee of the Year.

With a passion for empowering educators and fostering literacy growth, Meg continues to make a lasting impact on students and teachers alike.

Jennifer Hlavka is the Coordinator for National Board Certification & Teacher Career Pathways in Howard County, MD. With experience as an elementary teacher, RTI Coordinator, and Teacher Development Specialist, she has played a key role in creating a nationally recognized support program for National Board Certification candidates. Jennifer leads initiatives in instructional mentoring, teacher leadership, grant funding, and high-impact professional learning across the district. She holds degrees from Johns Hopkins University, the University of Maryland, and Loyola University, and has facilitated professional development at local, state, and national levels. As a high-impact consultant with the Instructional Coaching Group, Jennifer works with educators nationwide to enhance teaching practices and leadership. Passionate about fostering curiosity and engagement, Jennifer is dedicated to empowering educators and creating vibrant learning environments.

Contact information:

Email– jhlavka@instructionalcoaching.com
Threads– @jenniferhlavka
Linkedin– https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-hlavk

Andrea Honigsfeld, EdD, is professor in the School of Education and Human Services at Molloy College, Rockville Centre, New York, where she teaches graduate courses related to cultural and linguistic diversity and TESOL methodology. Before entering the field of teacher education, she was an English-as-a-foreign-language teacher in Hungary (secondary and adult) and an English-as-a-second-language teacher in New York City (elementary and adult). She also taught Hungarian at New York University. She was the recipient of a doctoral fellowship at St. John’s University, New York, where she conducted research on individualized instruction. She has published extensively on working with multilingual learners and collaborative instructional practices. She received a Fulbright Award to lecture in Iceland in the fall of 2002. Over the past 20 years, she has been presenting at conferences across the United States, Great Britain, China, Denmark, Italy, Japan, Thailand, Sweden, the Philippines, Singapore, and the United Arab Emirates. She frequently offers professional learning opportunities, primarily focusing on effective content and language integration strategies and collaborative practices for ELD and bilingual/dual language specialists and general education teachers. She coauthored over 60 articles and chapters and coauthored or coedited over 30 books, 11 of which are national bestsellers.

Dr. Jataune Jones, Director of Professional and Organizational Development for Chesapeake Public Schools, has over 20 years of experience as a teacher, assistant principal, and staff development administrator. She leads the design of a student-centered coaching model to improve teacher effectiveness and student outcomes and works closely with district coaches to refine their practices.

Stacy Krabbe is a passionate and dedicated educator with a background in Earth Science, Environmental Science, and Physics. Currently serving as a science teacher and Instructional Coach in District 117, Stacy has been a part of Antioch Community High School since 2015.

As an Instructional Coach, Stacy plays a vital role in mentoring teachers and facilitating their professional growth through Impact Cycles and High Impact Communities, along with colleague community growth.

Recognized for her outstanding contributions to education, Stacy received the honor of the Illinois State Board of Education 2020 Illinois Outstanding Early Career Educator and a Meritorious status for the 2023 Team Award through Those Who Excel with her two Instructional Coaching counterparts.

Stacy holds a Master’s of Arts in Educational Technology from Aurora University, demonstrating her additional commitment towards academic excellence. Stacy’s unwavering dedication to education, coupled with being a mom of two, makes her a dynamic educator and a positive influence in shaping the minds of future generations.

John Krownapple is an educator, author, and speaker who specializes in professional learning and organizational development.

Focused on inclusive work and learning environments, he centers belonging and dignity as the primary concepts that help people thrive in school, work, and life in general.

John has been an adjunct professor at Johns Hopkins University since 2007, and for fifteen years he served as the coordinator of diversity, equity, and inclusion in a Maryland school district of over 50,000 students.

Additionally, he has served as a classroom teacher, curriculum specialist, and professional development facilitator. John has authored articles and books, and he is the co-author of Belonging Through a Culture of Dignity: The Keys to Successful Equity Implementation.

Kat Laag started in education in 2000 teaching first grade and later began working from home in 2007 teaching kindergarten through eighth grade at California Virtual Academies before moving into school leadership in 2009. After spending two years instructional coaching as part of her school leadership role, Kat started instructional coaching full time in 2018 and began supporting a school-wide team of instructional coaches in 2019. She now supports a team of 34 instructional coaches and provides professional development and coaching to school leaders.

‍Dr. Lisa Lande has dedicated her professional endeavors to advocating for teachers and students around the globe. It is her aspiration that every classroom in every school is one that she would want her own three children to learn in.

Dr. Lande is a former teacher, college professor, and director of several large-scale school reform projects. She currently serves as the Director of International Programs for the Quaglia Institute for School Voice and Aspirations.

Dr. Lande is a co-author of Teacher Voice: Amplifying Success, Engagement by Design: Creating Learning Environments Where Students Thrive, and The Power of Voice in Schools: Listening, Learning, & Leading Together.

Dr. Nathan D. Lang-Raad is an educator, speaker, and author. Throughout his career, he has served as a teacher, elementary administrator, high school administrator, and university adjunct professor. He was the Director of Elementary Curriculum and Instruction for Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools, as well as education supervisor at NASA’s Johnson Space Center. He was also the Chief Education Officer at WeVideo. He serves as the US State Ambassador for the Climate Action Project, a collaboration between the United Nations, World Wildlife Fund, NASA, and the Jane Goodall Institute, and an advisor for TAG (Take Action Global).

Nathan is the author of:

• Everyday Instructional Coaching
• The New Art and Science of Teaching Mathematics, co-authored with Dr. Robert Marzano
• WeVideo Every Day
• Mathematics Unit Planning in a PLC at Work
• The Teachers of Oz, co-authored with Herbie Raad
• The Boundless Classroom, co-authored with Dr. James Witty
• Instructional Coaching Connection
• Never Stop Asking

Nathan received a bachelor of arts degree in general science-chemistry from Harding University in Searcy, Arkansas, a master of education degree in administration and supervision from the University of Houston-Victoria, and a doctorate of education degree in learning organizations and strategic change from David Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tennessee.

With 28 years in education, Carla’s worn many hats; elementary music teacher, children’s chorus director, technology integration specialist, instructional coach, and now, a leader in professional development. Her passions include building strong teams, helping educators connect with their core values, and creating engaging, student-centered learning experiences.

In her current role, Carla has helped bring all of Chesapeake Public Schools’s coaching teams together under a unified district-wide model. She designs and facilitates learning experiences for coaches that align with The Impact Cycle and Partnership Principles, while actively participating in coaching cycles with district teachers to further develop her own practice.

Beyond education, Carla built and led a successful team of nearly 100 women as a Senior Director with Thirty-One Gifts, where she hosted regional events and mentored her team to reach their personal and professional goals. Whether in schools or in business, she leads with authenticity and compassion and is committed to helping others do the same.

With over a decade of teaching experience, Josh Merritt brings a wealth of knowledge and passion to his role as a K-8 PE Instructional Coach for Boston Public Schools. Having spent significant time in the classroom, he understands the nuances of effective P.E. instruction and the challenges educators face. His tenure as a Dean of Students further cultivated his expertise in student behavior and school-wide support systems.

Josh is deeply committed to fostering equitable and inclusive P.E. experiences for all students, believing every child deserves access to high-quality physical education. He’s also dedicated to empowering teachers through collaborative coaching (through the use of the Impact Cycle), professional development, and resource sharing, ensuring educators have the tools and support to create engaging and liberating learning environments.

Originally hailing from San Francisco, CA, Josh finds balance and rejuvenation outside of work through rigorous training, immersive reading, and exploring the beauty of nature. His dedication to health and wellness informs his professional approach, making him a well-rounded and effective advocate for physical education and instructional coaching.

An educator first and foremost, Chris Munro has extensive experience in supporting and leading the growth and development of teachers and school leaders drawn from more than 30 years spent in Government, Independent, and Catholic schools in Australia and Scotland, and in Initial Teacher Education at the University of Aberdeen.

As an Accredited Senior Practitioner Coach (EMCC Global), Chris continues to coach and mentor education leaders and leads the design and delivery of coaching and mentoring training courses and consultancy projects across Australia and internationally. He has a particular interest in the impact of coaching on organizational learning culture. He regularly writes and speaks about coaching and mentoring in education and is an active contributor on social media. A highly experienced facilitator, Chris has presented at major conferences in the UK, Australia, and the USA.

Amy Musante is an educator and instructional coach and, at the heart of her work, is a belief in learning with others, building relationships, and helping diversified school communities move into action that authentically suits their unique needs.

She spent 18 years in Oregon as a High School English Language Arts teacher, Instructional Coach, and Secondary Schools Intervention Specialist. She received her MA from Teachers College, Columbia University with a focus on secondary literacy.

In her work with ICG Amy supports districts and leaders nationally and internationally, intentionally focusing on developing long-term partnerships to impact outcomes for all students in all classrooms.

Amy serves on a Board with the State University of New York (SUNY) system focusing on impacting the student experience at the high school and college level.

In her free time, she loves reading, spending time in nature, seeing friends and family, and cheering on Buffalo sports teams!

Sarah Ogborn is an Instructional Coach and English teacher at Antioch Community High School in Antioch, IL. A National Board Certified educator, Sarah led a team in creating and implementing a focused and cohesive Instructional Coaching program at ACHS. Sarah collaborates with educators on a daily basis while planning school-wide professional development for faculty.

In her 20 years as an educator, Sarah has consistently focused on creating an engaging and supportive classroom environment. Sarah also serves as president of her building’s association. As building president and an instructional coach, she is able to advocate for and support her peers.

Outside of school, Sarah is a Boilermaker, a mom, a wife, and a CrossFit addict. Sarah enjoys reading and playing with her pup.

Coming from a family of educators, Christina Ortega has devoted her career to public education for over 20 years in various capacities. She started her career as a Special Education Teacher teaching full-time learning support students. Christina then transitioned to the regular education classroom where she gained teaching experience at the elementary and middle school levels.

During her time as a classroom teacher and tenure as a technology facilitator, she found her passion for coaching and high impact instruction. In this role, she learned, implemented, and promoted blended learning with high impact instructional strategies in her building and district by way of professional development sessions and facilitative coaching capacities.

Christina transitioned into a full time Instructional Coaching role serving teachers at K-12 levels. It was in this role that she deepened her understanding of the Instructional Coaching Group and their resources as she transformed the district’s coaching program.

Today, Christina is a district level administrator as the Elementary Curriculum and Instruction Coordinator where she continues to expand her impact of empowering and equipping teachers, instructional coaches, and leadership teams with high effect instructional strategies for all students.

Christina lives in Hershey, PA with her husband, daughter, and their chocolate lab, Beauty.

Christina’s favorite quote: “Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.” – Dr. Maya Angelou

Claudia Owad brings nearly 30 years of experience in coaching, leadership development, and strategic training across diverse sectors, including education, corporate, finance, health, government, creative arts, and non-profits. She is a Director at The Instructional Coaching Group and Growth Coaching International (ICGCI), an organization that leads global instructional and leadership coaching in education.

A Master Coach Practitioner with EMCC Global, Claudia specializes in developmental assessments and holds a Master of Applied Coaching from the University of Sydney. She is also a certified Solution-Focused Business Professional from the University of Wisconsin. Her expertise in coaching earned her a seat on the board of the International Coaching Federation Australasia.

With a deep background in Coaching and Positive Psychology, Claudia has spoken at numerous national and international conferences on their integration. Passionate about fostering leadership potential, she helps individuals and teams build strengths-based, positive workplace cultures. Through training, consultancy, and coaching, she supports leaders in creating environments where individuals, teams and organizations thrive.

Jamie Pitcavage is an enthusiastic educator and instructional coach. He completed his first-year teaching high school English in the suburbs of Philadelphia, but soon found himself transported to the west coast, teaching middle school English in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Most of his time in the classroom was spent in 8th grade, which became a formative time in his career. Over the years, Jamie also taught fifth grade, served as an instructional coach, and held the role of Curriculum Supervisor.

His passion is facilitating professional development and coaching teachers and administrators. He has worked with many districts in various capacities, from key-note speaker to workshop facilitator to one-on-one coach.

Regardless of the number of people involved, Jamie loves being a thought partner and support to improve practices that benefit kids.

Besides education, Jamie really enjoys Disney, LEGOs, and group fitness classes.

Sonja is an experienced educator, school leader, and coach who has supported students and teachers across Canada, Ethiopia, and Australia for over 14 years. Based in Toronto, she is a Consultant at Instructional Coaching Group (ICG). Sonja is dedicated to advancing coaching and effective professional learning in education so that students, teachers, and school leaders everywhere have the support they need to flourish.

A certified coach with Growth Coaching International, Sonja holds the European Mentoring and Coaching Council’s Global Accreditation at the Practitioner level. She is a Senior Mentor Coach and facilitator with the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education Mentorship Program at the University of Toronto.

Guided by values of respect, kindness, and empathy, Sonja sees the best in others and believes in the limitless potential of every individual she serves. Outside of work, she loves fitness, time with family and friends, cheering on local sports teams, and is on a mission to keep her plants alive!

Brittany Rehal has been an educator for the past decade leading Educator Wel-Being programs and authoring Faculty Well-Being policies for schools in China, the Middle East and the U.S. Brittany is a Consultant at the Instructional Coaching Group and Growth Coaching International (ICGCI), an organization that leads global instructional and leadership coaching in education.

Brittany earned her Master of Education from the University of California, Santa Barbara and her Master of Science in Applied Positive Psychology and Coaching Psychology from the University of East London. Brittany is a writer, editor, and researcher and created the Ecological Model for Flourishing Educators with co-author Christian van Nieuwerburgh.

Brittany has shared her research in educator flourishing and professional experiences at national and international conferences. Brittany’s faith in human-centered education integrated with social and emotional learning contributes to how Brittany champions individuals, groups and teams to live lives infused with meaning, agency, and self-compassion. Through coaching, training and consultancy, Brittany supports educators and leaders in restoring community and connection so all people feel seen, valued and heard.

With her dynamic energy and extensive expertise, Dr. Kim Richardson is a force in educational leadership and coaching. A Professional Certified Coach (PCC) through the International Coaching Federation (ICF), her PhD research focused on leadership identity development. She is thrilled to host her own column titled Teachers ARE LEADERS in the 2025 publications of the Learning Forward Professionalmagazine and serves as the Regional Director for Virginia Learning Forward. Additionally, she serves on the VASCD Annual Conference Planning Committee.

Dr. Kim’s impact extends even further—she designed Radical Learners: Coaching for Connection, Certainty, and Autonomy for Jim Knight’s Instructional Coaching Group, and her district’s coaching program was featured in Knight’s book, Focus on Teachers.

What sets Dr. Kim apart is that she is a current practitioner. As the Director of Induction and Development for Hampton City Schools, Dr. Kim leads professional learning for school and district teams, focusing on instruction, coaching, and leadership growth. Her dissertation research reinforced her belief that outstanding leaders, especially coaches, are cultivated and supported. Among her many roles, she most cherished her time as an Instructional Coaching Coordinator, where she built the district’s coaching program from the ground up. Her diverse background also includes experience as an elementary principal, technology specialist, instructional coach, and classroom teacher.

Outside of work, Dr. Kim treasures time with her husband, three sons, daughter-in-law, and young granddaughter. She also brings her passion for movement to life as a Zumba® instructor, dancing her way to joy every Saturday morning!

Jessica Robbins is currently in her 22nd year of education in Rockport-Fulton ISD. She began her career as a high school English teacher, honored to serve the students of her hometown. Learning alongside other strong school leaders, Robbins served as a subject area coordinator, leading teachers on campus for six years. After ten years in the classroom, her focus shifted to district leadership, where she has served in a variety of capacities, including assessment, special populations, and curriculum & instruction.

Currently serving as Executive Director of Teaching and Learning, Robbins is focused on building strong systems of support in a district serving students with diverse needs. She believes that every student deserves administrators and teachers who are well-supported through quality professional learning, high-quality instructional resources, and job-embedded coaching. She is completing her dissertation at this time with a focus on central office support of principals who serve as key levers for change in schools.

Sharon Sheehan is an Instructional Coach and mathematics teacher at GBS where she has been teaching for 31 years and has been coaching for 14 years. In addition, Sharon has been the Co-Coordinator for the Educational Coaching Network at NIU/Northwestern for eight years. She has conducted numerous Instructional Coaching workshops with teachers and administrators and is an adjunct professor at Northwestern where she teaches a course on instructional coaching.

The GBS Coaching Program has had many local, national, and international visitors to discuss the implementation and operation of their coaching program. Three members of the team became Certified Instructional Coaches through ICG in the Fall of 2019. In 2023, the team won the “Award of Excellence” in the Team Category from the Illinois State Board of Education.

Stephany Sipes serves as Executive Director of Secondary Curriculum and Instruction at Prosper ISD. With over 13 years in educational leadership, including roles of curriculum coordinator and campus administrator, Stephany guides a team of program directors, curriculum coordinators, and instructional coaches that foster an environment where educators can learn and grow together.

Summer Snyder is dedicated to fostering inclusive and equitable classrooms and schools. With over twenty years of specialized experience in supporting differentiated instruction, she has served as a classroom teacher, instructional coach and the Differentiation Coordinator for a district that serves over 55,000 students across eight municipalities in Denver, Colorado. Summer currently works with Dignity Consulting. In this role, Summer leads a range of professional learning and development initiatives focused on helping schools build the capacity to meet diverse needs while fostering inclusive environments where all students and staff feel a sense of belonging and their dignity is honored.

Summer’s work has earned her multiple accolades, including the Golden Heart Award, the Excellence Award for Organizations, the Superintendent Making a Difference Award, and the 2023 Teacher of the Year for Cherry Creek Schools. She holds degrees in Elementary Education, Special Education, and a Master’s in Curriculum and Instruction.

William A. Sommers, PhD, of Austin, Texas, continues to be a learner, former teacher and principal, author, leadership coach, and consultant. Bill has come out of retirement multiple times to put theory into practice as a principal. He is the Director of SCC for Educators and is the co-founder of www.learningomnivores.com.

Bill has authored and coauthored over ten books, including:

• Developing Courage, Humility, and Discipline: Stakeholder Centered Coaching (in press)(2024)
• Setting the Stage for Learning (in press) (2024)
• Compliance Cop to Culture Coach (2023)
• Creating Talent Density: Accelerating Adult Learning (2021)
• Responding to Resistance: 30 Ways to Manage Conflict in Schools (2019)
• 9 Professional Conversations to Change Schools: A Dashboard of Options (2018)
• Living on a Tightrope: A Survival Handbook for Principals
• Being a Successful Principal: How to Ride the Wave of Change Without Drowning;
• Reflective Practice to Improve Schools (now in the third edition as Reflective Practice for Renewing Schools)
• A Trainer’s Companion: Stories to cause inspiration & reflection
• Energizing Staff Development Using Video Clips
• Leading Professional Learning Communities
• Guiding Professional Learning Communities
• Principal’s Field Manual
• Habits of Mind Teacher’s Companion (in the second edition).

Bill is a consultant for Stakeholder Centered Coaching, Polarity Management, Why Institute. Cognitive Coaching, Adaptive Schools, and Conflict Management.

Dr. Sommers continues to coach school and district leaders, as he has done for over 35 years. In addition to serving on graduate faculties at several universities, Dr. Sommers he has been a program director for an adolescent chemical dependency treatment center and on the advisory board of a halfway house for 20 years. Currently Bill is on the boards of Stevie Ray’s Improv Group and Lian Dante Foundation for Social Justice.

As Director of Stakeholder Engagement, Dan is responsible for our system, network and organization-level partnerships and programs across the East Coast of Australia. He also oversees the management and delivery of GCI’s coaching projects across the East Coast of Australia and North America.

A previous assistant principal (Learning, Teaching & Curriculum Innovation) and instructional coach, he has taught and held leadership positions in government, catholic and independent schools across metropolitan Melbourne and remote Western Australia. He is passionate about student engagement and learning, developing aspiring and current leaders, and using coaching approaches to drive improvement in teaching, learning, and leadership in educational settings.

He was more recently Assistant Principal at Aldercourt Primary School in North Frankston, where he led the development of the new whole-school curriculum and teaching and learning model. Coaching was integral to his leadership work across the Frankston North community of schools, and this collaborative work across three schools was recognized in 2022 by winning the Outstanding School Improvement award and Lindsay Thompson Award for Excellence at the Victorian Education Excellence Awards.

Dan is highly regarded for his learner-centered approach; engaging and interactive presentations, workshops and keynotes, and always keeping students, teachers, or leaders he is working with at the core of every learning experience.

His appetite for learning has extended to working as a sessional University tutor with beginning teachers, completing a Bachelor of Education (Hons.), a Master of Educational Leadership (Leading Learning), and pursuing doctoral study on the impact of coaching on leaders.

Rachel currently lives in Wyoming with her husband of 21 years, two daughters (15 and 17), two dogs, a cat, and several chickens. Rachel earned her BA at the University of Northern Colorado in 2000 in Sociology/Criminal Justice, her Multiple Subject teaching credential from CSU, Bakersfield in 2003, her clear teaching credential in 2008 from UCLA, and her MA in Education with a focus in Online Instruction in 2023 from SNHU. Rachel began teaching 4^th and 5^th graders in a classroom at a private school, then taught 7^th-12^th graders at a public independent charter school. She joined the California Virtual Academies staff in August of 2006 and worked as a K-8 teacher and Community Day teacher before going into leadership as a Regional Lead in 2010. In 2016, Rachel began her journey into Instructional Coaching while still holding the Regional Lead position. She and Kat Laag started their partnership and helped to train leadership on the basics of instructional coaching until 2017, then became full-time instructional coaches for over 60 teachers each in the Elementary Department. In 2019, Rachel and Kat were given an opportunity to lead their own department of instructional coaches. As of 2025, California Virtual Academies has 31 instructional coaches who support over 800 teachers and 20,000 students in grades TK-12 and two Coordinators of Leader Development and Instructional Coaching (Rachel and Kat). In this current role, Rachel and Kat provide professional development to all leaders at California Virtual Academies, offer individual leadership coaching, and continue to grow the instructional coaching program.

My educational career began in London in 1995, followed by a move to Thailand in 2002, where I progressed to Assistant Principal (AP) at Shrewsbury International School. Returning to the UK in 2012 as a Primary Head, I developed my passion for coaching, mentoring other heads and delivering leadership coaching programs. Since 2017, as AP at Bangkok Patana School, Thailand, I’ve collaborated with Tom Sherrington and Dr Jim Knight to implement Instructional Coaching across the school. I look forward to continuing with this work and these collaborations, as I take up a new position as the Founding Primary Head of Dulwich International School Bangkok in 2025.

Dr. Mary Webb is a consultant at the Instructional Coaching Group. Mary worked for twenty five years in public education in Texas, dedicating twenty of the years to school leadership in the role of Assistant Principal, Principal, and Director of Instruction in suburban and urban school districts.

Mary is a proud Sooner where she attended the University of Oklahoma to earn her B.S. in Elementary Education. She received her Master’s in Education Administration from Texas A&M Commerce and her Doctorate degree in Education Administration from The University of North Texas. Mary’s dissertation focused on how school systems can create structures for the principal and IC to develop a successful relationship in order to impact student learning.

In addition to her work in public schools, Mary serves as an Adjunct Professor at the University of North Texas. Mary has also facilitated multiple sessions of Courageous Principals at Deloitte University, which focuses on impactful leadership skills for administrators.

Originally from Chicago, Tim came to Boston on a basketball scholarship and earned both a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and a Master of Education in Learning and Instruction from Northeastern University. With a deep passion for instructional coaching and student-centered learning, they have dedicated their career to enhancing physical education instruction and supporting educators in fostering engaging, inclusive, and impactful learning experiences.

As a High School Physical Education Instructional Coach for Boston Public Schools, Tim works closely with PE teachers to implement evidence-based instructional strategies, design curriculum-aligned lessons, and drive student engagement. Their expertise spans instructional coaching, differentiated instruction, special education support, and behavior management. Throughout their career, they have held various roles in K-12 education, including physical education teacher, special education teacher, and paraprofessional, bringing a wealth of experience to their coaching practice.

Beyond the classroom, Tim is actively involved in professional learning communities, regularly participating in Instructional Coaching Group meet-ups and implementing Dr. Jim Knight’s Impact Cycle to support teacher growth. A dedicated advocate for health and wellness initiatives, they have coached youth basketball for over a decade, mentoring athletes and promoting lifelong fitness habits.

Driven by the belief that high-quality instruction transforms student outcomes, Tim is committed to empowering educators, fostering collaboration, and ensuring that every student has access to an enriching and inclusive physical education experience.

Dr. Jessica Wise began her educational career in Gwinnett County, Georgia, as an elementary school teacher. After seven years of teaching fourth grade, she transitioned into the role of an intervention teacher and instructional coach, where she found her true passion in education.

Becoming a school-based instructional coach opened new possibilities for how to support education. After serving her school for two years as a coach, she joined the Curriculum & Instruction department where she served as a Literacy Instructional Specialist, and then a Leadership & Staff Development Instructional Coach. Jessica’s true passion exists in the learning spaces where adults can explore instructional coaching and facilitation that prioritizes people and energizes educators.

Jessica received her doctoral degree in School Improvement from the University of West Georgia where her focus was facilitation of adult learning.

When not working, Jessica enjoys hiking, movie night with her family, and working on DIY projects around the house.

Wendi Young serves as the Executive Director of Elementary Curriculum and Instruction at Prosper ISD. With over 20 years of experience in education, her background encompasses classroom teaching, instructional coaching, and leadership roles at the central administration level. Currently, Wendi provides guidance to program directors, curriculum coordinators, and instructional coaches, fostering a positive learning environment.