Leadership

James Rawls serves as a principal in a large metropolitan school district in Georgia. His passion for education is evident through his experience of more than 20 years in the field.

Hiawatha Smith, PhD, is an associate professor of literacy education. Prior to his work preparing educators to teach literacy, Hiawatha worked as a classroom teacher and an instructional coach.

Sheline Miller is a high school vice principal and was the former learning coach for the Washington County School District in Utah, where she successfully worked with teachers and teams to help establish professional learning community practices.

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.

Tommy Reddicks is the school director for Paramount Schools of Excellence in Indianapolis. He has worked in the public, private, and charter school sectors in three US states.

Chris Weber is the principal of Oak Creek Elementary School in Irvine Unified School District, California. He earned his EdD from the University of California, Los Angeles, and has written books on Professional Learning Communities (PLCs), Response to Intervention (RTI), behavior, and mathematics that have supported well over half a million educators.

Margaret Coughlan, EdD, is a classroom teacher, district leader, researcher, and adjunct faculty member at Saint Mary’s College of California. Her professional work includes teaching elementary students, teachers, and graduate school master’s candidates.

Building and sustaining a culture of collective responsibility requires a learning environment that fosters reflection, dialogue, and the courage to act. To create a culture of empowerment and a commitment to continuous improvement, educators need to engage in meaningful conversations about professional best practices.

Mark Anthony Gooden, PhD, is a Christian Johnson Endeavor professor of education leadership at Teachers College, Columbia University. Dr. Gooden has spent over two decades in higher education developing and teaching courses in culturally responsive leadership, race, law, and research methods.

Dr. Dawn Brooks DeCosta, EdD, is a distinguished educator and leader, currently serving as the deputy superintendent for Harlem Community School District 5. She is a renowned advocate for culturally responsive teaching and social-emotional learning.