Authors & Presenters

Jane Ardell is a full-time Solution Tree associate with over 30 years of experience in education. She was most recently a director at Cartwright School District in Phoenix, Arizona, where she worked with teachers and administrators on instructional planning, assessment and intervention.

Jordan Ashley has guided schools to a culture of collective efficacy for student learning through the establishment of necessary foundational structures. As the director of instruction, equity, and instructional personnel for the Cortland Enlarged City School District, he supports district- and building-level practices for a guaranteed and viable curriculum related to both academic and social-emotional learning.

Kim Bailey is former director of professional development and instructional support for the Capistrano Unified School District in California. She also served as an adjunct faculty member at Chapman University in California.

Tim Brown, an educational speaker and author, has 30 years of experience in education. As principal of elementary, middle, and high schools in Missouri, he led each to become a successful professional learning community.

Heather Carter is the current secondary instructional support specialist for the Bartow County School System in Georgia. She specializes in cultivating and sustaining a PLC culture by providing support to teacher collaborative teams, leadership teams, and district stakeholders.

Cassandra Erkens is the author of eight books with more currently in progress, as well as chapters in several anthologies. Additionally, she is a facilitator, a trainer of trainers, an educator, and a coach. Her work focuses on educational topics, including assessment, instruction, leadership, school improvement, and professional learning communities.

Dr. JoAnne Andre-Flanagan has more than 30 years of experience in the field, where she has served across the preK–12 continuum as a teacher, building administrator, assistant superintendent, and superintendent.

Lazunia Frierson, EdD, is assistant superintendent of district and school effectiveness in a Georgia Model PLC at Work® district. She is a 24-year educator with district and school leadership experience.

Troy Gobble is principal of Adlai E. Stevenson High School in Illinois. He previously served as assistant principal for teaching and learning at Stevenson.

Jennifer Gracyalny, EdD, serves as the assistant superintendent of teaching and learning in the Pulaski Community School District in Wisconsin. She has served as an elementary principal, middle school associate principal, and secondary agriscience teacher/FFA advisor.