Professional Learning Communities

Brandi Genenbacher, EdD, serves as the director of curriculum, instruction, and assessment at Orchard Farm R-V School District in Missouri, where she supports K–12 staff in implementing professional learning communities and data-driven interventions.

Ryan Vogler has over 20 years in education currently serving as the principal at Holmen Middle School in western Wisconsin. In his role, Ryan led Holmen Middle School to become an internationally recognized Model PLC at Work® school.

Kristi Mixdorf has 27+ years of experience as an educator. She has led culture and climate initiatives, developed school improvement plans, and led the implementation of the PLC process, resulting in her school becoming a Model PLC at Work® School.

Kara Tidemann has successfully served for over 25 years in education. As a building leader she successfully led an underperforming school to high performance, earning Model PLC at Work® school status for demonstration of exceptional academic achievement over time.

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.

Rebecca Williams, executive director of academic programs for Fulton County Schools, has over 15 years of instructional leadership experience. She led Webb Bridge Middle School in Alpharetta, Georgia, enhancing student achievement and transforming school culture.

Lori Curtis has over a decade of professional learning systems experience and currently serves as the executive director of learning, instruction, and technology in the White River School District, a Model PLC district in Buckley, Washington.

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.