Authors & Presenters

Geoffrey Fenelus is the national director of partnership development at Phalen Leadership Academies. He has worked as a teacher, dean, assistant principal, turnaround principal, founder, and executive director in traditional, independent, and charter schools.

Kathryn Fishman-Weaver, PhD, is an educator, author, school leader, and international lecturer. She began her teaching career in a public K–8 school in Oakland, California, and currently serves as the executive director of Mizzou Academy.

Jillayne Flanders the executive director of the Center for Educational Improvement, a nonprofit organization focused on supporting mindful and compassionate schools with heart-centered, trauma-informed practices. She has taught graduate classes at Westfield State University, supervised student teachers at Mount Holyoke College, and lectured at Boston University, Springfield College, Boston College, and Harvard Graduate School of Education.

Ari Gerzon-Kessler leads the family partnerships department for the Boulder Valley School District in Boulder, Colorado. He is also an educational consultant working with schools and districts committed to forging stronger school-family relationships. Ari Gerzon-Kessler is a seasoned facilitator, has served as a teacher and principal, and currently leads the family partnerships department for the Boulder Valley School District in Boulder, Colorado.

Emily L. Gibson, EdD, is a teacher-consultant with the Redwood Writing Project, providing professional development in writing and literacy instruction for K–college teachers in Humboldt County.

Alexandra Guilamo is an expert in the implementation, education, and effective leadership of dual-language, bilingual, and language-learner education. She has previously served as a teacher, academic coach, elementary school principal, and district-level educator.

Dr. Patrick B. Hardy is the current principal at Hinsdale South High School in Illinois and has enjoyed a distinguished 26-year career in education. Notably, Dr. Hardy was principal at Proviso East High School in Maywood, Illinois, which became the first certified Marzano Academy in the nation. Dr. Hardy’s work has focused on school transformation and innovation, leadership development and coaching, equitable education, and personalized competency-based education.

Daman Harris, PhD, has over 28 years of experience as an educator. He’s had a wide range of positions from teaching to coaching, speaking, and writing. He currently serves as a manager for Anne Arundel County Public Schools in Maryland.

Orinthia Harris, PhD, has extensive experience in classroom and extracurricular settings. She is the founder of STEMearly LLC, an organization dedicated to reigniting teaching passions so educators and students can thrive.

Dr. Sharroky Hollie is a national educator who provides professional development to thousands of educators in the area of cultural responsiveness. Since 2000, Dr. Hollie has trained over 150,000 educators and worked in nearly 2,000 classrooms.