Special Needs

Cate Hart Hyatt has spent more than 30 years as an educator, teaching preschool through graduate school students. She is a research associate for the Center on Education and Lifelong Learning at the Indiana Institute on Disability and Community at Indiana University.

Heather Friziellie is currently superintendent of schools for Fox Lake Grade School District 114, located in the suburbs northwest of Chicago. She previously served as both an elementary principal and a middle school principal.

Jeanne Spiller is assistant superintendent for teaching and learning for Kildeer Countryside District 96 in Illinois. Her work focuses on implementation of the Common Core State Standards.

Julie A. Schmidt recently retired as superintendent of schools for Kildeer Countryside Community Consolidated School District 96 in Illinois. The district began its professional learning community (PLC) journey 22 years ago, and all seven schools have been recognized as Model PLC at Work® schools. Woodlawn Middle School in District 96 was the 2018 DuFour Award winner.

Joshua Depoe, EdD, is the principal at Benton Elementary in the Neosho School District in Southwest Missouri. During his 17 years as an educator, he has also served as a classroom teacher and an assistant principal. His work has focused on ensuring all students achieve at high levels.

Hillary Woest is an instructional specialist at Pasadena Independent School District, a Model PLC at Work® district in Texas. With over 23 years of experience, she supports teachers and administrators in successfully implementing differentiated instruction in a PLC at Work.

Paula Maeker is an educator, consultant, and advocate for learner-centered education. She has more than twenty-three years’ experience as an elementary teacher, literacy specialist, instructional coach, Title 1 program coordinator, campus administrator, director of elementary literacy, and director of instructional design.

Yazmin Pineda Zapata, EdD, is a program specialist and teacher leader at Health Sciences High and Middle College in California. Her expertise in delivering special education services allows her to advocate for students in grades K–12 with varying learning differences.

Mandy Barrett, EdD, currently serves as an elementary school principal in northwest Arkansas. She has over 20 years of experience working in high-poverty schools and schools with large ESL populations.

Kimberly Salomonson provides coordination and professional development for state and district work in continuous quality improvement efforts. She served seven years as the director of pupil personnel services with the Sanger Unified School District.