Authors & Presenters

Glen Pearsall was a teacher at Eltham High School and a board member of the Curriculum Assessment Authority in Victoria, Australia. He is the author of the best-selling And Gladly Teach, Classroom Dynamics, and The Literature Toolbox and coauthor of Literature for Life and Work Right.

Focus areas: Assessment, Literacy.

Colin Sloper has been a teacher, assistant principal and principal in government schools for the past 35 years. In the course of his career he has been involved in the establishment of five new state government schools, including his time as principal of Pakenham Springs Primary School in Victoria.

Focus areas: Professional Learning Communities, Transformative Collaboration, Collaborative Teams That Transform Schools, Collaborative Teams That Work.

Dr Janelle Wills is the lead training associate for High Reliability Schools, the New Art and Science of Teaching and other Marzano Research topics. She works extensively with schools, regions and systems throughout Australia.

Focus areas: New Art and Science of Teaching, Transformative Collaboration, Academic Vocabulary, Guaranteed and Viable Curriculum, High Reliability Schools, Proficiency Scale Development, Collaborative Teams That Transform Schools.

Mario Acosta has served as a classroom teacher, instructional coach, new teacher professional development specialist, professional development consultant, assistant principal, academic director, and principal.

Marie Alcock is president of Learning Systems Associates and serves as an education consultant in the United States and internationally. Her work focuses on the areas of curriculum, instruction, and assessment. She has spent over twenty years working in public and private education as a teacher, administrator, and public advocate. She is the founder of Tomorrow’s Education Network, a nonprofit dedicated to connecting the greater community with students in the classroom to improve student literacy. Marie has been working with schools to improve student motivation and literacy skills through digital tools and gaming.

Tina H. Boogren, PhD, is a fierce advocate for educators, particularly for their well-being. She is the author of numerous books centered around her passion areas of quality instruction, coaching, mentoring, and wellness and hosts the weekly podcast “Self-Care for Educators with Dr. Tina H. Boogren.” She lives in Denver, Colorado.

Toby Boss, EdD, is the director of professional development at a regional service agency in Nebraska. He has experience as a classroom teacher, district administrator, and professional development consultant.

Tim Brown has over 20 years of experience in administration at both the primary and secondary levels. He excels at creating a positive school climate based on collaboration among educators. Tim has been active in numerous professional committees and task forces and received several awards and honours for his leadership.

Dr Austin Buffum has 38 years of experience in public schools and has presented in over 500 schools around the world. He delivers trainings and presentations on response to intervention (RTI), emphasising a tiered approach that centres on professional learning community (PLC) concepts and strategies. Austin also delivers workshops and presentations that provide the tools educators need to build and sustain PLCs.

Brian K. Butler has been an educator for over 27 years and a school-based administrator for over 12 years and is a former physical education teacher, counselor, and coach. Brian is the former principal of Mason Crest Elementary School in Fairfax County, Virginia. Under Brian’s leadership, Mason Crest received Solution Tree’s first annual DuFour Award in 2016.

Lee Crockett is an author, speaker, designer, inspirational thinker, and the creative force behind some of the most exciting transformations in education happening worldwide. He believes in creating balance in the reality of a digital present and future.

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.