Authors & Presenters

Marie Alcock is an educational speaker specializing in the areas of curriculum, instruction, and assessment design. She has spent the last 20 years working in public and private education as a teacher, administrator, and public advocate.

Kimberly Almanza serves as a reading specialist in North Texas. With more than 15 years of experience, she has worked as an instructional literacy coach as well as a classroom dual language teacher.

Heather Anderson boasts a rich and diverse career spanning K–12 education. As a published author and seasoned educator, her areas of specialization encompass the gradual release of responsibility, close reading methodologies, differentiated instruction, collaborative learning, formative and summative assessments, inclusive practices, and the infusion of literacy across disciplines, all aimed at fostering academic growth and equity for all learners.

Daniel M. Argentar is a literacy coach and communication arts teacher at Adlai E. Stevenson High School in Lincolnshire, Illinois. He works with instructors from all divisions to increase disciplinary literacy for students.

Dr. Katie Atkins has served in various administrative and instructional roles in public schools across Texas. She is an advocate for high levels of learning for all students and champions literacy development, practices, and processes through a spirit of collaboration.

Heather Babb has served in education for almost 20 years. Through her leadership, she guided her department, school, and district through the transition to a professional learning community (PLC), ultimately resulting in being recognized as a Model PLC at Work® school.

Brianna Bamber, EdD, is an assistant principal at a priority high school in Sacramento with more than 20 years of classroom experience. Her focus is on literacy instruction, best grading practices, feedback strategies, teacher clarity, and classroom culture.

Norene A. Bunt, EdD, is an author and former teacher, administrator, and college instructor. She is an expert on integrating the science of reading into sound high-impact literacy instruction.

Allyson J. Burnett is an author, a consultant, a facilitator, and a trainer specializing in developing a schoolwide interdisciplinary approach to meet the Common Core Standards for literacy at the secondary level.

Dr. Margarita Espino Calderón, professor emerita at Johns Hopkins University, has worked on numerous research projects from 1990 to 2010 for JHU’s Center for Research on Education of Students Placed at Risk, Center for Data-Driven Reform, and Success for All Foundation.