Authors & Presenters

Gwendolyn Battle Lavert, PhD, is an internationally recognized literacy specialist. She has been an educator since 1974 and has experience as a teacher, district literacy specialist, and district administrator in a variety of school settings.

Donna Simpson Leak, PhD, is superintendent of Community Consolidated Schools District 168 in Illinois. She has trained thousands of teachers and presented at more than 200 conferences worldwide.

Brig Leane, a consultant, has over 20 years of experience in education as a teacher, assistant principal, and principal in a variety of settings.

Kristina Leckliter is an innovative educational leader who has served as an elementary teacher, instructional coach, reading specialist, and induction mentor specialist. She is also a professional learning community trainer for a Model Professional Learning Community at Work® district in Phoenix, Arizona.

Obie Leff has more than 30 years of expertise in education and leadership. He currently serves as director and principal of Twin Rivers Charter School, a 2024 Model PLC at Work® and National Blue Ribbon School.

Erin Lehmann, EdD, currently serves as an assistant professor for the University of South Dakota. She is an author, leader, and facilitator, advocating for mathematics and high levels of learning for all.

Cheyana Leiva is a transformational leader who understands the challenges schools are facing and the strategies necessary to improve. As a principal, she led her high-poverty school to an A rating in three years.

Cheryl Lemke, an author and a consultant, specializes in public policy for K–12 learning technology, working at a variety of levels with governors, legislators, superintendents, business leaders, and teachers.

Jennifer A. Lenhardt, MEd, is a senior manager for professional services with Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, where she integrates her experience as a teacher and her research interest into equity and culturally responsive teaching with the professional learning she creates.