Professional Learning Communities

Bo Ryan is principal of the Ana Grace Academy of the Arts Elementary Magnet School in Bloomfield, Connecticut. He is passionate about building and sustaining professional learning communities (PLCs) and has led two different schools to Model PLC at Work® certification.

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.

Cristi Parsons has 28 years of education experience as a teacher, counselor, principal, curriculum director, and assistant superintendent. She was named National Distinguished Principal in 2013 and has led two campuses in PLC practices to become Model PLC schools.

Janna Cochrane is principal of North Greenville Elementary School in Wisconsin. She has over 20 years’ experience as an elementary principal in three different districts. Prior to that, she taught fourth grade for 9 years.

Kathryn Morem, EdD, has served as a dedicated leader in education for over 30 years. As a leading expert for Solution Tree, Dr. Morem partners with school and district leaders across the country to achieve top-tier rankings.

Ted Goergen, EdD, is the director of student activities at the award-winning Adlai E. Stevenson High School in Lincolnshire, Illinois. A practitioner for 20 years, he also served as a middle and high school science teacher and curriculum team leader.

Karen Johnson is the coordinator of Language Acquisition for the Pleasanton Unified School District Pleasanton, California. She is passionate about the topics of equity, inclusion, and ensuring high levels of learning for all students.

Faith Short is the principal at East Pointe Elementary. With 25 years of experience in education, she is fiercely passionate about the work of collaborative teams as a vehicle to ensure high levels of learning for every student. She specializes in helping leaders and teachers implement the PLC process to impact teaching and learning.

Toby Youngs is principal of Windsor Central High School and director of physical education for the Windsor Central School District. With more than 17 years of educational experience, he focuses on building systems and programs to support learning for all students.

Michael L. McWilliams is a fierce advocate for classroom teachers, school leaders and staff members who work daily to ensure all students learn at high levels. Michael has spent the last 28 years as an educator, with 20 of those years serving as an elementary school principal. Equipping and empowering others to be the best version of themselves is his life’s mission. He specializes in developing the foundation needed for effective implementation of the Professional Learning Communities at Work® process.