Authors & Presenters

Rea Smith is an elementary mathematics and science curriculum specialist in northwestern Arkansas. She passionately supports the work of professional learning communities with a focus on common assessments to improve student and teacher learning.

Jennifer L. Sparrow is deputy superintendent of Singapore American School. She spent 13 years as a middle school teacher and 11 years as a schoolwide administrator.

With over 30 years of experience in K–12 education, author and education expert Jeanne Spiller is an associate with Solution Tree, supporting schools and districts through workshops, coaching, and collaborative initiatives to enhance instruction, foster innovation, and promote equity.

Brian M. Stack is a superintendent of schools in New Hampshire and a former principal who specializes in supporting teachers and administrators in developing, sustaining, and enhancing structures to support all learners.

Mandy Stalets is a teacher and learner who is passionate about sound assessment and grading practices, as well as standards-based learning. Along with her consulting work, she is currently a high school mathematics teacher at Illinois State University’s laboratory schools.

Rebecca Stobaugh, PhD, is a professor at Western Kentucky University. She teaches assessment and unit-planning courses, supervises first-year teachers, and consults with school districts on critical thinking, instructional strategies, assessment, technology integration, and other topics.

Erica Strick is the principal of Floyd L. Bell Elementary, a Model PLC at Work® school in the Windsor Central School District. With over a decade of experience, Erica continuously implements systematic strategies that effectively address the achievement gap.

Becky Symes specializes in educator wellness, supporting new teachers, curriculum development, effective instruction, and professional learning communities. She has experience as a new teacher induction coordinator, literacy coach, instructional facilitator, curriculum developer, and presenter.

Andrea Thompson is the principal of Shell Lake Middle/High School in Shell Lake, Wisconsin, and has previously served as a director of curriculum and instruction, district assessment coordinator, summer program coordinator, and gifted and talented coordinator.

Amy Tollefson is the district-level principal with Osseo Area Schools in a diverse suburb of Minneapolis. Over more than 20 years, she has also served as a secondary school principal, secondary social studies teacher, district office coordinator, and assistant principal.