Leadership

With over 20 years of experience in elementary education, Jeff Byrnes specializes in the implementation of professional learning communities and multitiered systems of supports at the elementary level.

Stephanie Discher is the principal of Old Mill Elementary in Heber City, Utah. She has a unique blend of experiences that include classroom teacher, building administrator, instructional coach, and university inclusion specialist.

Brad Rogers is currently the principal at Cadott Elementary School in Wisconsin. He has been an educator for 26 years and specializes in helping schools implement collaborative processes that lead to high levels of learning.

David (Cal) Callaway, EdD, is the deputy head of school at the International Community School of Addis Ababa in Ethiopia. He has worked in international education since 1998 and has served as both a teacher and an administrator.

Nathan Manley serves as the assistant superintendent of instruction in the Neosho School District. During his nearly 20 years of experience, Nathan has also been a classroom teacher and principal, leading the development of five different professional learning community school recognitions.

Scott M. Beattie is the assistant superintendent for instruction of the Windsor Central School District in Windsor, New York. With over 15 years experience, he specializes in professional learning community and Community School implementation, technology integration, and K–12 career pathway development.

Rob J. Meyer is the director of teaching and learning at Beaver Dam Unified School District and president of the Wisconsin Association of Supervision and Curriculum Development. With more than 17 years in education, he previously served as a teacher, assistant principal, and principal.

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.

Explore how teacher teams can ensure equitable literacy learning so that every student masters essential reading standards. Jacqueline Heller and Paula Maeker, authors of Literacy in a PLC at Work®: Guiding Teams to Get Going and Get Better in K–6 Reading, will help literacy educators navigate the teaching, learning, assessment, and feedback cycle of reading through the lens of Professional Learning Communities (PLC) at Work.

As educators and leaders across the nation grapple with the challenge of changing policies, practices, and procedures to ensure high levels of learning for all students, the inability to effectively change the mindsets of colleagues, faculty, and staff is proving to be the biggest hurdle of all. Hence, in order for systems to change, outlooks will also need to change.