Authors & Presenters

Luis F. Cruz, PhD, is former principal of Baldwin Park High School, located east of Los Angeles, California. He has been a teacher and administrator at the elementary, middle, and high school levels.

Jennifer Deinhart is an educational consultant and K–8 mathematics specialist. Jennifer is currently working as a mathematics instructional coach at Rose Hill Elementary, part of Fairfax County Public Schools.

Janelle has been Deputy Principal at Helensvale State High School for the last five years. Her current portfolio focuses on Professional Learning, an area in which she is deeply passionate about. Ongoing, meaningful “Learning for All” is at the heart of best practice and can take flight within a rich culture of collaboration and true commitment to student success at high levels.

John F. Eller, PhD, has served as director of the educational leadership doctoral program at St. Cloud State University, worked with educational leaders at Virginia Tech University, and developed teacher leaders in a master's program. He is a former principal, director of a principal's training center, and assistant superintendent for curriculum, learning, and staff development. Dr. Eller specializes in dealing with difficult people, building professional learning communities, employee evaluations, conferencing skills, coaching skills, strategic planning strategies, school improvement planning and implementation, differentiated instruction, leadership for differentiation, employee recruitment, selection, and induction, supervisory skills, and effective teaching strategies.

Sheila A. Eller is an elementary principal in Mounds View Public Schools in Minnesota. A renowned author, consultant, and trainer, she works with educators to develop energised staff meetings, school-improvement initiatives, team-teaching strategies and employee supervision plans. She specialises in working with difficult and resistant people and developing and implementing multiage instruction. Previously, Sheila was an elementary principal in Fairfax County Public Schools in Virginia, a middle school principal in Mounds View Public Schools, and a principal in other schools in Minnesota and Illinois. She has also been a university professor, a special education teacher, a Title 1 math teacher, a multiage teacher and a self-contained classroom teacher for grades 1–4.

Selena Fisk, EdD, has 15 years teaching experience in both state and private schools in Queensland, Australia, and in comprehensive schools in South London, England. She earned her Doctor of Education degree from the Queensland University of Technology in 2017 and has held a range of leadership roles in her career, including learning area-specific leadership and whole-school curriculum and pedagogy. In 2017, Selena started her data consultancy practice, Aasha for Schools, to help teachers and school leaders see the inherent good that data can bring, as well as the benefits of using data to develop thriving learning communities.

Fiona Forman is an author and a primary school teacher from Dublin, Ireland, with over 30 years of classroom experience at all levels. Fiona is the co-author of Weaving Well-Being, an international multi-level Positive Education program for primary school students. She is also the author of Wired for Well-Being, a program for secondary level students which is based on neuroscience and Positive Psychology.

Adrienne Gear has been teaching in Vancouver, Canada for almost 20 years. After four years working as a Literacy Mentor – supporting students, teachers and schools throughout the Vancouver School District – she is happy to be back "home" in the classroom teaching part-time. When not teaching, Adrienne presents workshops, conducts demonstration lessons and facilitates teacher leadership groups throughout British Columbia and internationally in the US., UK, and Sweden. Her books have been translated into French, Swedish, Danish and Chinese. She lives in Vancouver with her husband and their two teenage sons.

With experience as a teacher, assistant principal and educational coach, Gavin Grift's passion, commitment and style have made him an in-demand presenter of keynotes, seminars and in-school support days. As a speaker, Gavin connects with national and international audiences on topics ranging from Cognitive Coaching and quality teacher practice to professional learning communities (PLCs) and learning-centred leadership.

Kathleen Herbert has been a professional educator since 1975. Her specialties include curriculum development with a focus on social competencies, adult education and alternative learning opportunities. As a Hawker Brownlow Professional Learning Solutions (HBPLS) training associate, Kath brings her 30 years of experience in teaching to Dr Ruby Payne's Framework for Understanding Poverty initiative.

Jan Hoegh is associate vice president of Marzano Research in Colorado. During her 28 years in education, she has been a classroom teacher, building-level leader, professional development specialist, high school principal and curriculum coordinator. As a member of the Marzano Research team, Jan has published several books with Hawker Brownlow Education.