The ICG Team

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. Amy supports districts and leaders nationally and internationally in her work with ICG 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!

Brooke Deaton, Administrator at ICG, manages all workshop and event registrations, supervises online product purchases, and operates the shipping of product and event materials. She also assists Ruth on additional administrative tasks as needed. Brooke loves being a part of ICG and hopes she can make an impact in her corner of the world.

Chase graduated from the University of North Texas in 2018 with a BFA in Communication Design. After apprenticing his professor, Clinton Carlson, for a summer, Chase began working with ICG as the company's only designer. Since then, ICG has grown and Chase has helped to develop ICG's design team, learning constantly from the many great leaders on the team. His favorite creative projects at ICG include designing the annual TLC conference, creating courses for Radical Learners, and designing book covers for One Fine Bird Press. He lives in Portland, Oregon, with his wife Mycaela and their dog Willa, and spends his free time skateboarding, hiking, and reading.

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), and The Definitive Guide to Instructional Coaching (2021). Knight 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, Knight conducts coaching workshops, hosts the Facebook Live series, “Coaching Conversations,” and provides consulting for coaching programs around the world.

Kamina began her career in North Carolina as a High School Teacher and Varsity Cheerleading Coach. She has also served as an Instructional Coach, Beginning Teacher Mentor, Career Development Coordinator and School Administrator. The heart of her work at ICG surrounds building relationships and increasing student achievement through quality instruction.  

Kamina received her Doctoral Degree in Educational Leadership from Gardner-Webb University where her focus was on evaluating the effectiveness of the Career and Technical Education curriculum to student outcomes. Kamina loves making meaningful connections with people and has a keen desire to help others maximize their potential and productivity. When not working, she can be found creating delicious vegetarian meals, reading/writing, attending church, or spending quality time with family and friends.

Mary began her teaching career in Texas where she taught fourth grade, third grade, and served as a school librarian before becoming a campus administrator. With more than 19 years of experience in administration as an assistant principal, principal, and Managing Director of Elementary Instruction, Mary successfully built her large suburban's district elementary instructional coaching program into a cohesive and robust support program for teachers and students in partnership with the Instructional Coaching Group. Mary received her doctoral degree in Education Leadership from the University of North Texas where her focus was identifying the systems and supports a district can put into place to support the Principal and Instructional Coach. She lives in Dallas, Texas with her husband Scott, and two sons Kieran and Thomas.

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Emily Malatesta, Chief Operating Officer at ICG, graduated from Arizona State University with a master’s degree in education in 2011. Emily’s focus at ICG is to ensure that the organization is running as effectively and efficiently as possible. She also considers herself to be a good listener, and supports the team anyway she can. She loves that ICG at its core is passionate and dedicated to the betterment of themselves and others. In her free time, she enjoys playing on the beach with her family, hiking with her dog, and traveling.

Erin Krownapple, Director of Events, has built her career on a variety of roles and responsibilities related to professional learning solutions. She has managed multiple product lines, planned and organized professional conferences, and coordinated professional development engagements. In ICG, Erin has found a home that she loves – an organization that aligns with her values of integrity, dignity, and mutual concern. Her favorite parts of her role are interfacing with partners and collaborating with the amazing staff at ICG. Outside of work, Erin loves CrossFit, traveling and exploring with her husband, and relishing life’s simple pleasures with her family of five – six if you include the mutt.

Jenny Kelley is the administrative assistant to Jim Knight and Emily Malatesta. Having recently retired from a long career in dentistry where she assisted in the clinical care of patients and led and instructed teams, she realized she was most passionate about facilitating the relationship building required to create a thriving and healthy work environment where each professional was empowered to have the most positive impact. Jenny places a high value on life-long learning and is naturally aligned with ICG’s mission. As such, she’s excited to be part of the team and help move the vision forward. A native Kansan, Jenny unapologetically loves the midwest! When she isn’t working, you will find her either spending time in nature, cuddling her dog, Kubo, or hanging out with her amazing friends.

Jenny Knight, Senior Partner of ICG, founded the company with Jim Knight in 2006. Jenny co-authors the Reflection Guides and Field Guides and oversees most of the communication, design, and financial aspects of the company. Jenny also partners with Jim to refine the vision and reach of ICG and to increase the impact of its research arm, The Impact Research Lab. Jenny is independently educated with emphases in educational practice, philosophy, and design.

Jessica graduated from Florida State University in 2017 with a BA in Humanities and a double minor in British Studies & Hospitality Management. In 2019 she earned her TEFL certificate and spent over two years in Chiang Mai, Thailand as an English teacher at an International school. Her passion for education and love of learning aligns perfectly with ICG’s goals. Her role includes managing ICG’s social media presence, copywriting, and supporting the marketing department in creating, organizing, & tracking campaigns. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, reading, sewing, and spending time with her family (and dog) in Orlando, Florida.

Kristen’s role at ICG includes assisting with all accounts payable and receivable duties. She loves to work with a team that strives to make the best learning environment for each and every child around the world.

Melissa Terrano graduated from the University of Southern California in 2004 with a bachelor’s in communication and double minors in spanish and business. She also received her teaching certification from California State University, Bakersfield in 2007. In 2018 she graduated from California State University, San Marcos with her master’s in literacy and in 2020 she graduated from the University of North Carolina, Greensboro with her master’s in school administration. She spent 14 years as a teacher in private schools, public school settings, home school organizations, and public charter schools. Melissa strongly resonates with ICG’s goals of promoting education and excellence in the classroom, and helping people be their best selves, inside and out of the classroom. In her free time, she enjoys being outdoors with her family, running and working out, watching her kids swim, and adventuring around her new home in North Carolina.

Michelle Harris, Senior Consultant at ICG, began teaching in El Cajon, California. She taught middle school English and social studies before serving as an instructional coach, Title I coordinator, student manager, and assistant principal at three middle schools, a K-8 school, and a 6-12 IBO school, all in Beaverton, Oregon. A seasoned staff developer, Michelle has presented and keynoted all over the United States and in Europe and Africa. She lives in Portland, Oregon, with her husband and two sons. When not working, she enjoys reading, traveling, attending her sons’ numerous sporting events, entertaining friends and family, and sitting in a chair on a sunny beach. Michelle is co-author of Evaluating Instructional Coaching and The Instructional Playbook.

Nasreen McDowell graduated from Indiana University with her Bachelor’s in Education. She also earned her MBA in Educational Leadership from the University of Indianapolis. Her career includes 17 years in education ranging from teacher, to instructional coach, to administrator. Her role at ICG includes building partnerships with teachers, administrators, and school districts to learn how ICG may help further the goal of excellent instruction, every day, in every class, for every student. In her free time, she is traveling with her family and friends or reading on her front porch with her two dogs.

Ruth started with ICG in 2007, handling the administrative side of ICG from her home in rural central Nebraska. But as the company has grown and more people brought on-board, her work has become more focused on the bookkeeping and payroll portion of the business. We have also been blessed to be able to move into an office building, that now provides office space for both Brooke and Ruth, along with warehouse space for our books and other materials.

Tracey Stokes-Marriott, Manager of Sales and Outreach for the West Coast has built her career in being an elementary educator for 30 years. She taught in the k-8 sector in California in public, private, and charter schools. She also built a remarkably successful career in sales alongside her teaching career, and held the title of Regional Vice President. In her role at ICG, Tracey’s favorite aspect is interacting with the school districts in her territory and working closely with the amazing senior consultants. Outside of work, Tracey loves traveling with her husband, doing yoga, taking walks along the beach, and spending time with her friends and 4 grown kids!

William’s role at ICG includes bookbinding, keeping inventory, shipping, receiving, and stocking the warehouse, as well as generally trying to be helpful.