Authors & Presenters

Cristi Parsons has 28 years of education experience as a teacher, counselor, principal, curriculum director, and assistant superintendent. She was named National Distinguished Principal in 2013 and has led two campuses in PLC practices to become Model PLC schools.

Garrick Peterson helps teachers and administrators become high-functioning PLCs with a specific focus on making the connection between assessment and intervention.

Barbara Phillips is an educational presenter and researcher from upstate New York with over 20 years of experience in public education. She specializes in effective instruction and leveraging teacher strengths to maximize student achievement and learning.

Karen Power is an educational presenter and a former teacher, principal, superintendent, and senior advisor for professional learning and leadership. Karen has implemented the PLC process both as a principal and as a superintendent, and for several years, she has supported collaborative work in schools to meet the needs of students.

Nathaniel Provencio is associate superintendent in Prince William County, Virginia. Under his leadership, Minnieville Elementary School was recognized as a Model Professional Learning Community and was the 2019 winner of the prestigious DuFour Award.

Jackie Ramsay-Tolman, MEd, is the director of learning and instructional impact for the Essex Westford School District in Vermont. As a former classroom teacher, special educator, and principal, she brings deep knowledge, passion, and empathy to her work.

Joshua Ray, EdD, is an educational speaker and author who has led the Professional Learning Communities (PLC) at Work® process at the elementary, secondary, and district level. He is passionate about building healthy school cultures, the work of collaborative teams, systems of support, and educator well-being.

Anthony Reibel hails from Adlai E. Stevenson High School in Illinois and is the current assistant principal for teaching and learning. Anthony is also coauthor of several books: Proficiency-Based Assessment, Proficiency-Based Instruction, Proficiency-Based Grading in the Content Areas, and Pathways to Proficiency which explore the relationship between proficiency, pedagogy, and evidence-based grading.

Dr. Will Remmert is an author and educational presenter with over 25 years of experience as a principal, teacher, coach, and Solution Tree associate working with preK–12 and district-level educators across the country.

Vanessa Reyes is a high school principal with over 22 years of experience in secondary education. She is passionate about leading in ethnically and socioeconomically diverse communities and has led two different schools to Model PLC at Work® certification.