Student Engagement

Brady Barr, PhD, is National Geographic’s reptile expert. Dr. Barr started his teaching career at North Central High School in Indiana, teaching subjects like zoology, biology, and earth and life sciences.

Beth Pandolpho is an instructional coach for grades 6–12, and she has taught English at the high school and college level for over 20 years. She is passionate about engaging in work that promotes equity and access for both teachers and students.

Michael McDowell, EdD, has been a public school educator for the past 18 years serving in the roles of classroom teacher, academic and athletic coach, school principal, assistant superintendent of personnel and instruction, and superintendent.

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.

Dr. Pattie Noonan is an associate research professor at the University of Kansas, where she centers her work on providing and evaluating professional development related to social-emotional learning.

Dr. Ripley is currently teaching in the departments of elementary and secondary education at the University of Alberta and has over 35 years of experience at the elementary, junior high/middle school, high school, college, and university levels.

Brad Sever is an assistant principal at Carmel High School in Indiana. There, he has helped to create and sustain a successful instructional coaching program and grow the school’s International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme.