Jim Knight is a research associate at the University of Kansas Center for Research on Learning and the president of the Instructional Coaching Group. He has spent close to two decades studying professional learning and instructional coaching. He has written or co-authored several books on the topic including Instructional Coaching: A Partnership Approach to Improving Instruction published by Corwin and Learning Forward (2007) and Unmistakable Impact: A Partnership Approach for Dramatically Improving Instruction (2011). Knight co-authored Coaching Classroom Management (2006) and also edited Coaching: Approaches and Perspectives (2008).

Ann Hoffman is a Professional Development Leader for the University of Kansas, Center for Research on Learning and has worked with thousands of teachers and administrators both in the U.S. and internationally. Most recently she has served as a project leader on several federal research projects focusing on secondary literacy.

Michelle Harris began her teaching career at a middle school in El Cajon, California, and has worked for the Beaverton School District in Oregon in the capacity of teacher, coach, and administrator. Michelle is a seasoned staff-development specialist who has facilitated trainings across the state of Oregon, as well as for the Memphis City Schools in Memphis, TN.

Conn Thomas is an international consultant on innovative approaches to promote content learning among diverse groups of learners. He received a M.Ed. in psychology and counseling services from Georgia State University and a M.Ed. in special education from Columbus State University. He completed his Ph.D. from the University of Mississippi. He has authored and co-authored several publications and presented at numerous national and international conferences as an invited speaker.

Peter DeWitt is a principal in upstate New York and taught elementary school in several city schools. Peter is an adjunct professor in the Graduate School of Education at the College of Saint Rose and has presented at state and national conferences around the United States. Peter is a freelance writer for Vanguard magazine (School Administrators Association of New York State). His articles have appeared in education journals at the state, national, and international levels.

Ainsley Rose has experience as an elementary and secondary classroom teacher and principal, as well as an instructor of graduate-level courses for administrators and pre-service teachers. As the former director of curriculum and instruction for the Western Quebec School Board in Gatineau, Quebec, Ainsley was responsible for initiating many systemic changes that continue to impact teaching and learning within the school board today. He is also a published author, keynote presenter, and facilitator. 

Jenni Donohoo is a Research and Program Evaluation Consultant with the Greater Essex County District School Board. Jenni holds a doctorate in education from the University of Windsor, Brock University, and Lakehead University’s Joint Educational Studies PhD Program. Her classroom teaching experiences include elementary, secondary, and post-secondary education

Kara Vandas has worked as a teacher, teacher leader, trainer, and program developer. She holds a master’s in education with an emphasis in curriculum and instruction from Regis University. Kara has worked as the Director of Teacher Effectiveness for the Colorado League of Charter Schools.

A national education consultant, Lisa Cebelak facilitates professional development onsite and provides follow up implementation visits in various areas such as curriculum, instruction, and assessments. In her former district, Lisa was an instructional coach specializing in secondary literacy coaching.  She also taught English Language Arts at the high school level for ten years and lived in Costa Rica, where she taught English, Literacy, and focused on U.S. curriculum. Lisa earned a Bachelor’s in Secondary Education and a Master’s in Adult and Higher Education with an emphasis in English from Grand Valley State University in Michigan.

Lindsay Deacon is currently a 6th grade teacher and SIM Professional Developer in Portland, Oregon. Lindsay has experience teaching grades K-8, and served as an Instructional Coach under the Striving Readers Program. She recently finished her administrative credential and is training new and pre-service teachers in Portland to use Content Enhancement Routines through Portland State University and Marylhurst University.