Authors & Presenters

Bill Zima is the director of implementation for Marzano Academies, working with schools to help realise their unique vision of high reliability organisations that build agency in all learners.

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.

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.

Regina Owens is an internationally recognized presenter and practitioner who specializes in creating a culture of connectivity and collaboration while utilizing systems thinking.

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.

Jasmine K. Kullar, EdD, is an assistant superintendent for Cobb County School District, the second-largest school district in Georgia. She has expertise in building professional learning communities as well as school leadership.

Alexander McNeece is director of instruction and state and federal grants for Garden City School District in Michigan. He is also a children’s book author and award-winning former principal of Douglas Elementary School.

Katie White is coordinator of learning for the North East School Division in Canada. With more than 20 years in education, she has been an administrator, a learning coach and a classroom teacher.

Mona Toncheff, an education consultant and author, is project manager for the Arizona Mathematics Partnership (a National Science Foundation-funded grant). She is a former mathematics content specialist for Phoenix Union High School District in Arizona where she provided professional development and curriculum development to high school teachers and administrators. Mona has supervised the culture change from teacher isolation to professional learning communities, creating articulated standards and relevant district common assessments and providing ongoing professional development on best practices, equity and access, technology, response to intervention, high-quality grading practices, and assessment for learning.

Eric Twadell, PhD, is superintendent of Adlai E. Stevenson High School in Lincolnshire, Illinois. He has been a social studies teacher, curriculum director, and assistant superintendent for leadership and organizational development.

Kipp Rogers, PhD, is director of secondary instruction for York County Schools in Virginia. With nearly 20 years of experience in education, Dr. Rogers has classroom teaching and instructional leadership experience at all levels in urban and suburban schools. Under his leadership, staff achieved high levels of professional learning and meaningful collaboration after looking at data, integrating technology and differentiating instruction. Those significant efforts resulted in increased student performance in reading, writing and math.