Authors & Presenters

Dr. Nathan Boyd is a leadership coach specializing in creating healthy culture and bolstering strong leadership within schools. With over 20 years of experience, his award-winning work led a school to receive the Blue Ribbon Award for sustained excellence.

Tricia Graham is a passionate educator with more than 29 years of industry experience. She currently serves as director of student support services for Deer Valley Unified School District in Phoenix, Arizona.

Amanda Boyer, EdD, currently serves as the director of special services in the Neosho School District in southwest Missouri. She has over 18 years of experience in various roles, including special education teacher, early childhood director, early interventionist and behavior specialist.

Michelle Wambach is an elementary principal in Southern Arizona, where she is a dedicated and visionary educational leader. She has served as a teacher, student achievement teacher, and administrator.

Andrea Thompson is the principal of Shell Lake Middle/High School in Shell Lake, Wisconsin, and has previously served as a director of curriculum and instruction, district assessment coordinator, summer program coordinator, and gifted and talented coordinator.

Joshua Depoe, EdD, currently serves as the executive director of elementary education for the Neosho School District. In this role, he supports curriculum, instruction, and intervention systems to ensure high levels of learning for all students. With nearly 20 years of experience in education, Dr. Depoe is known for his leadership in developing collaborative cultures, strengthening Tier 2 supports, and guiding schools through continuous improvement. Dr. Depoe is a member of NAESP and has been recognized for his impact on instructional leadership. He holds a specialist degree and doctorate in educational leadership from William Woods University.

Becky Conner is a specially designed instruction executive coach at the Georgia Department of Education with over 32 years of experience. A former special education director, she is recognized for her leadership in inclusive education and student success.

Cara Shores is coordinator of exceptional education in Bartow County Schools, a Model Professional Learning Communities at Work® district. She works with K–12 educators and students with IEPs, coordinates professional learning, oversees multitiered systems of supports, and is an instructional coach.

Tania Amerson is executive director of exceptional education for the Bartow County School System where she cultivates a professional learning community culture. With 30 years of experience in special education, she’s served as a teacher, instructional coach, and administrator.

Dena D. Slanda, PhD, is a research associate in the College of Innovation and Education at the University of Central Florida. She is also a professor in residence for the Teacher Quality Partnership grant project, which emphasizes mathematics and disciplinary literacy for preservice teachers.

Beth Dalton, EdD, is an educator and presenter with more than 35 years of experience. In her career, she has served as an assistant superintendent, a special education supervisor, a principal, an assistant principal, and a special education teacher.

Richard Medina is a special education administrator for the Exceptional Learners Collaborative, which serves four school districts in Lake County, Illinois. His work focuses on providing individualized, high-quality services and support to a variety of special education students.

Jose “JoJo” Reyes, EdD, is a dynamic award-winning leader and presenter for the students and staff he serves. Dr. Reyes is currently a faculty and lecturer for California State University.

Suzanne Gruendling is an experienced principal in elementary and middle school education in Vermont. She has a passion for working with guiding coalitions and collaborative teams to find the best path forward.

Matthew Blackmore is an award-winning administrator who leads professional learning communities through best practices to ensure that all students learn at high levels. He is director of student services for North Polk Community School District near Des Moines, Iowa.

Tim Reid, EdD, serves as the director of pupil services at Nevada Joint Union High School District. He focuses on ensuring all students learn at high levels and maintains an unyielding focus on collaboration, culture, and results.

Brenda Davis is an experienced educator originally from New Zealand. As an educator, Brenda is committed to educational equity for all students and has served in Title 1, urban, high poverty, and high multilingual learner populations for over 20 years.

Robert Mountjoy is the former principal of West Side Elementary School in Rossville, Georgia, where he led his staff in developing a collaborative culture centered around the three big ideas of a professional learning community (PLC). He is passionate about equity, data-driven practices, and schoolwide systems.

Jessica Edwards is an instructional support specialist at the Professional Learning and Innovation Center, Broome-Tioga BOCES in upstate New York. Previously, she taught special education for eight years across various grade levels and educational settings.

Dusti Larsen, MEd, currently serves as the alternative learning environment teacher focusing on behavior plans and social-emotional skills at Gravette Upper Elementary in northwest Arkansas. She is also the coordinator of math interventions.

Erica Barraza currently serves as the instructional coach at Lotus Elementary School in Fox Lake, Illinois. With more than 15 years of experience in education, she specializes in providing effective professional learning opportunities to educators.

Mary McCorvey has worked in public education for over 20 years. As an instructional specialist, she works with K–12 teachers and administrators to support students receiving special education services in inclusive settings.

Laurie is a highly experienced teacher in both general education and special education and has embraced leadership roles throughout her career to exemplify best practices and improve student growth.

Amy Moore leads Deer Valley Unified School District’s PLC vision and mission as the professional learning manager. In May 2021, Deer Valley Unified School District was recognized as a model PLC district.

Jill Lizier is a districtwide director of curriculum, instruction, and assessment in Exeter, New Hampshire, and has previously served as an assistant principal and special education building coordinator, a curriculum coordinator for an elementary school, and first-grade teacher.

Karen Johnson is a full time Solution Tree Associate. She specializes in helping schools identify areas for growth and improvement as they implement and refine their PLC at Work® implementation.

Karly Ward is an experienced educational leader with over 17 years in teaching and administration. She specializes in visionary leadership, sustaining a healthy school environment, and ensuring system fidelity.

Shawn Creswell, author and presenter, has over 25 years of experience in education and has served as a classroom teacher, assistant principal, principal of two campuses, and district director of curriculum, instruction, and assessment. She is currently a school board member in her community.

Education specialist Kristi S. Langley most recently served as a district-level director of professional learning communities and a director of data and assessment. She has repeatedly facilitated successful schoolwide implementation of the professional learning communities process for more than 25 years.

Matthew Treadway, EdD, is the former principal of Freedom Elementary School in Shepherdsville, Kentucky, where he led his staff in developing a collaborative culture centered on the three big ideas of a professional learning community.

Kathryn E. Sheridan is the early literacy and language director for Kildeer Countryside Community SD 96 in Illinois. She has previously served as a teacher, instructional coach, middle school assistant principal, and elementary principal.

Amy Gluck is assistant superintendent of teaching and learning in Grayslake CCSD 46 in Illinois. Her work focuses on ensuring all students achieve high levels of learning.

Megan Clarke is the superintendent of a special education collaborative serving four school districts in Illinois. In addition to supporting the collaborative, her work focuses on building partnerships with parents, community agencies, and other districts.

Jane Pedersen, EdD, is the assistant director of educational services at Kildeer Countryside School District 96 in Illinois. She has previously served District 96 as an elementary school assistant principal and a school psychologist.

Anisa Baker-Busby, EdD, serves as an elementary school principal in middle Georgia. She has over 16 years of experience working in high-poverty schools as an elementary teacher and administrator.

Kristen Bordonaro, EdD, has served as a school- and district-level administrator for the last 15 years. She’s worked with both private and public school districts as well as special education collaboratives. Dr. Bordonaro’s passion is in uniting school teams to support the needs of all students through an “all means all” model.

Dr. Aisha Thomas has been an educator for over 20 years, serving in all levels of school leadership at the middle school and elementary levels. She has helped lead two schools to receive the National Blue Ribbon Award.

Maureen M. Rubenstein is a literacy coach and special education instructor in Lincolnshire, Illinois. She works with other literacy coaches to coordinate and implement book clubs, PD sessions, and coaching sessions.

Dr. Amy Williams brings over 25 years of experience in education, specializing in fostering inclusive practices and systems-level change to improve student outcomes.

Kevin Ryan, EdD, serves as assistant superintendent in North Shore 112. Since 2018, he has also been an associate with Solution Tree, presenting on key topics such as professional learning communities, Yes We Can!, standards, assessment, and instruction.

Dr. Jason Williams is an educational consultant specializing in the PLC at Work® process to improve collaborative practices and student achievement. With experience as a teacher, coach, and administrator, he holds advanced degrees in educational leadership and curriculum design

Mandy Barrett, EdD, currently serves as an elementary school principal in northwest Arkansas. She has over 20 years of experience working in high-poverty schools and schools with large ESL populations.

Casey R. Ahner is currently the coordinator of special programs at Albuquerque Bilingual Academy, and he has served as a special education teacher, counselor, assistant principal, and principal at the intermediate and elementary levels.

Paula Maeker is an educator, consultant, and advocate for learner-centered education. She has more than twenty-three years’ experience as an elementary teacher, literacy specialist, instructional coach, Title 1 program coordinator, campus administrator, director of elementary literacy, and director of instructional design.

Dr. Will Remmert is an author and educational presenter with over 25 years of experience as a principal, teacher, coach, and Solution Tree associate working with preK–12 and district-level educators across the country.

Kimberly Rodriguez Cano, a consultant with over 30 years’ experience, is a former transition specialist, special education coordinator, professional development director, and school improvement specialist for the Florida Department of Education, supporting educators in that state and across the United States.

Karen Power is an educational presenter and a former teacher, principal, superintendent, and senior advisor for professional learning and leadership. Karen has implemented the PLC process both as a principal and as a superintendent, and for several years, she has supported collaborative work in schools to meet the needs of students.

Julie A. Schmidt has served as a school psychologist, Director of Student Services, Associate Superintendent of Student Services, and recently retired from Kildeer Countryside CCSD 96 in Illinois after serving as Superintendent of Schools for 13 years. The district began its professional learning communities (PLC) journey nearly 25 years ago, and all seven schools have been recognized as Model PLC at Work^® schools. She is passionate about ensuring ALL students have an opportunity to thrive and reach their goals.

With over 30 years of experience in K–12 education, author and education expert Jeanne Spiller is an associate with Solution Tree, supporting schools and districts through workshops, coaching, and collaborative initiatives to enhance instruction, foster innovation, and promote equity.

Heather serves as the superintendent of schools in Fox Lake District 114 in the northern Illinois suburbs. Her work focuses on ensuring learning for ALL in schools.

Geri Parscale spent 28 years in education and has worked as a classroom teacher, principal, professional development director, and finally deputy superintendent of Fort Leavenworth Schools, USD 207. Her mode of operation was always the same: learning for all kids.

Brandon Jones, an author and consultant, works with educators to implement the Professional Learning Communities at Work® and RTI at Work™ processes. As a practitioner, he has served as a high school teacher and assistant principal, as well as a principal at the elementary, middle, and secondary level.

Angie Freese is an author and speaker with expertise in assessment, leadership, system improvement, and strategic planning. With over two decades in education, Angie brings a unique blend of experiences that include classroom teacher, building administrator, curriculum specialist, and district leader.