Authors & Presenters

Jeff Byrnes is the former principal of Mountain Meadow Elementary in the White River School District in Buckley, Washington. With over 25 years of experience in elementary education, Jeff specializes in the implementation of professional learning communities and multitiered systems of supports.

Kimberly Rodriguez Cano, a consultant with over 30 years’ experience, is a former transition specialist, special education coordinator, professional development director, and school improvement specialist for the Florida Department of Education, supporting educators in that state and across the United States.

Scott Carr has more than 30 years of experience as an educator and administrator at the middle school level. He was the principal at Heritage Middle School in Liberty, Missouri, for 21 years.

Heather Carter is the current secondary instructional support specialist for the Bartow County School System in Georgia. She specializes in cultivating and sustaining a PLC culture by providing support to teacher collaborative teams, leadership teams, and district stakeholders.

Bob Carter is an educational leader with over 30 years of experience. As a Principal, he has led significant improvements in three schools, two of which were recognized as Model PLC at Work® schools.

Blake Clark brings a wealth of experience from various educational settings, including schools, districts, and charter schools across North America. He is a firm believer that schools can achieve their fullest potential through collaborative efforts centered on intentional learning.

Daniel Cohan retired in 2023 as chief of schools for the Jefferson County Public School District in Colorado, where he supervised elementary, middle, and high schools, K–12.

Charlie Coleman has been a principal at the high school, middle, and elementary school levels in ethnically and socioeconomically diverse communities, where he effectively decreased behavior problems and increased academic success. Creating positive learning environments for ALL continues to be a priority for Charlie, and he has experience improving school culture in many schools, K–12.

Shawn Creswell, author and presenter, has over 25 years of experience in education and has served as a classroom teacher, assistant principal, principal of two campuses, and district director of curriculum, instruction, and assessment. She is currently a school board member in her community.

Luis F. Cruz, PhD, is a sought-after presenter, coach, thought leader, and accomplished author with over 30 years of experience in education.