Authors & Presenters

Sarah Ballew is the district mathematics coordinator for grades K-12 at Willis ISD in Texas. She specializes in helping instructional leaders at the elementary and secondary levels implement PLC processes that impact teaching and learning.

Scot Curran is an elementary instructional teacher on special assignment who specializes in cultivating a professional learning community culture by supporting collaborative teacher teams, school leadership teams, and district stakeholders.

Jennifer Deinhart is a K–8 mathematics specialist working as a mathematics instructional coach at Rose Hill Elementary in Virginia. A passionate educator with more than 20 years of experience working with diverse populations within Title I schools, she works collaboratively with teams of teachers to provide quality mathematics instruction.

Amanda Hathhorn, district math specialist and mentor for the Aspiring Instructional Coaching Academy at Pasadena ISD, has over 20 years of experience in education. Notably, she played a pivotal role in successfully implementing the Professional Learning Communities (PLC) at Work® process and subsequently earning a Model PLC at Work school distinction at V. W. Miller Intermediate.

Jen Hollis Smith has over a decade of teaching experience in the Wisconsin Public School system. She is currently a math instructional coach and math interventionist in the Hortonville Area School District.

Tracey A. Hulen is an elementary and middle school mathematics and SEL specialist who has experience leading two professional learning communities in Fairfax County, Virginia, to Model PLC status.

Darshan M. Jain is the director of mathematics and computer science at Adlai E. Stevenson High School in Illinois. Previously, he served as an award-winning mathematics teacher as well as as a curriculum team leader.

Dusti Larsen, MEd, currently serves as the alternative learning environment teacher focusing on behavior plans and social-emotional skills at Gravette Upper Elementary in northwest Arkansas. She is also the coordinator of math interventions.

Janet Nuzzie is a published author with over 28 years of experience in mathematics education, including curriculum and leadership roles at the district, regional, and state level. She specializes in supporting campus leaders and teachers in the implementation of professional learning communities and has facilitated her district’s implementation of a multitiered system of supports for mathematics intervention.

Sarah Schuhl specializes in professional learning communities, mathematics, assessment, school improvement, and RTI. She has been a secondary mathematics teacher, high school instructional coach, and K–12 mathematics specialist.