Professional Learning Communities

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.

Cheri Stevenson is the executive director of secondary schools for Washington County School District in Utah. She is passionate about sharing solutions she successfully implemented as a teacher, building administrator, and district director engaged in the PLC process.

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.

Maureen M. Rubenstein is a literacy coach and special education instructor in Lincolnshire, Illinois. She works with other literacy coaches to coordinate and implement book clubs, PD sessions, and coaching sessions.

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.

Dave Ludy is a former principal of a Model PLC at WorkⓇ in Wisconsin. His work is focused on implementing the PLC process and he has extensive experience with rural school districts.

Dr. Aisha Thomas has been an educator for over 20 years, serving in all levels of school leadership at the middle school and elementary levels. She has helped lead two schools to receive the National Blue Ribbon Award.

Mike Suderman has 36 years of experience providing teaching and school leadership at all levels of K–12 education, including district leadership. Mike was a Teacher, Principal and Assistant Superintendent with Edmonton Public Schools and was School Superintendent at a Private School recently.

Lindsey Matkin is the principal at Kinard Core Knowledge Middle School, a PLC Model school, in Poudre School District, Fort Collins, Colorado. Lindsey has served as a classroom teacher, athletic coach, grade level leader, academic dean, assistant principal, and Colorado State University Fellow.

Jane Pedersen, EdD, is the director of student services in Fremont School District 79 in Illinois. She has previously served as assistant director of educational services, an elementary school assistant principal, and a school psychologist for Kildeer Countryside School District 96 in Illinois.