Authors & Presenters

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.

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.

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.

William M. Ferriter is an eighth-grade science teacher in a professional learning community near Raleigh, North Carolina. A National Board Certified Teacher for the past 28 years, Bill has designed professional development courses for educators nationwide on topics ranging from establishing professional learning communities and using technology to reimagine learning spaces, to integrating meaningful student-involved assessment and feedback opportunities into classroom instruction.

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.

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.

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.

Alex Kajitani is the 2009 California Teacher of the Year and a top-4 finalist for National Teacher of the Year. He is a highly sought-after keynote speaker who supports and motivates teachers and administrators nationwide.

Timothy D. Kanold, PhD, is an award-winning educator, author and consultant. He is former director of mathematics and science, and served as principal of Adlai E. Stevenson High School District 125, a model professional learning community district in Lincolnshire, Illinois.

Dr Jane Kise is an educational consultant, specialising in leadership development, team building, coaching, professional learning communities and school staff development for differentiated instruction, especially in mathematics. She is the author or co-author of over 20 books on these subjects. Jane is also is a frequent workshop speaker and has presented at numerous major international conferences.