Student Engagement

Joan Reimer is a retired educator and former education officer at the Ontario Ministry of Education. With experience from K–12 classrooms to teacher education, most of her career was spent in Ontario, but she also taught in Manitoba, the Northwest Territories, and Malawi, Africa.

James Simons is an educator, writer, and coach passionate about meaningful learning and leadership. He partners with schools to support instructional growth, curriculum design, and educator development. His work appears in Inside Higher Ed and Edutopia.

Maureen Chapman is a lifelong educator with over 15 years of experience in the field. As a curriculum director, she managed professional development, curriculum, resources, student data, coaching, new teacher induction, accountability, and career education initiatives.

Mary K. Gove, PhD, is professor emeritus at Cleveland State University and specializes in promoting a balanced approach to literacy education. Dr. Gove formerly taught grades K–6 and worked in an urban district as a full-time professional developer.

Jen Cullerton Johnson is an award-winning children’s author, educator, and environmental advocate. With nearly two decades of teaching experience, she’s worked with incarcerated youth and urban classrooms; taught abroad in Japan, Ecuador, and Argentina; and led nature-writing workshops in outdoor settings.

Ronald A. Beghetto, PhD, is Pinnacle West Presidential Chair and Professor of Mary Lou Fulton College for Teaching and Learning Innovation at Arizona State University. His work explores the psychology of human creativity, generative artificial intelligence, and what’s possible in educational settings.

Brenda Duncan-Davis is an education consultant. She specializes in bridging education and industry through work-based learning opportunities, registered apprenticeship programs, and professional development in workplace readiness skills.

Christi McBride is the director of Hoosier Hills Career Center in Indiana. A former elementary and high school counselor, she works with students, staff, and community partners to provide positive, productive outcomes.

Nina Parrish has more than 18 years of experience working as a special education teacher, education center director, speaker, and educational presenter. She is the cofounder and chief academic officer of Parrish Learning Zone in Virginia.

Dr. Amy Gaumer Erickson is an associate research professor at the University of Kansas whose practice-based research focuses on guiding educators to embed competency instruction within coursework and evaluate students’ social-emotional growth.