Authors & Presenters

Brad Neuendorf, principal of Lander Valley High School, led its recognition as a Model PLC at Work® school in 2019 and a 2020 DuFour Award Finalist, reflecting his commitment to student achievement and continuous school improvement.

Joanna Newton, PhD, is a professor of education at Notre Dame of Maryland University, where she specializes in literacy instruction. She has been an elementary classroom teacher, literacy coach, reading intervention specialist, and curriculum developer.

Kim Nichols, EdD, is former assistant superintendent in Ringgold, Georgia. Under her leadership, Catoosa County Schools was named the first Model PLC District in Georgia and twelve schools have become Model PLCs.

Hedreich Nichols is an author, educator, and specialist in helping schools institute transformative change in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).

LeAnn Nickelsen, an author and a former teacher, is an expert on brain research strategies, best practices in literacy, and other high-impact tools that close and prevent gaps in high-poverty schools.

Rebecca Nicolas, EdD, is the principal of Fern Creek High School in Louisville, Kentucky. Her work is focused on the implementation of the PLC process and the integration of collaborative teams.

Nicole Peterson, PhD, is an educational coach with more than 20 years of experience in education. Previously serving as a teacher, district instructional coach, assistant principal, and principal, her expertise is in growing school cultures and cultivating the Professional Learning Communities at Work® process.

Maria Nielsen, educational speaker and author, specializes in supporting teachers and administrators in the areas of PLCs, RTI, school culture, curriculum design, the highly engaged classroom, and assessment systems. Her life’s work is to help schools build successful systems to ensure high levels of student learning.

Jamie Nino is an area superintendent of Sanger Unified School District in California and oversees TK–12 school sites. She specializes in developing leaders at all levels, fostering strong learning cultures, and building fortified PLCs.