Authors & Presenters

Obie Leff has more than 30 years of expertise in education and leadership. He currently serves as director and principal of Twin Rivers Charter School, a 2024 Model PLC at Work® and National Blue Ribbon School.

Cheyana Leiva is a transformational leader who understands the challenges schools are facing and the strategies necessary to improve. As a principal, she led her high-poverty school to an A rating in three years.

Allison Lewallen, EdM, is a Pasadena ISD principal and school support coach with over 18 years of experience. As former principal of Morris Middle School, she led the campus to be named a Model PLC at Work® school.

Pamela Liebenberg, EdD, has been an educator for more than 25 years. She has served as an award-winning teacher, assistant principal, principal, regional director, and district director supervising 35 schools in the Tuscaloosa County School System.

Dana Lillis serves as the director of teaching and learning for Carlisle Community Schools in Carlisle, Iowa. Dana’s passion is developing agency in teacher leaders and administrators to ensure they have the knowledge, skills, and tools to lead and support the PLC process.

Doug Lillydahl is recently retired after 12 years as director of communication arts at Adlai E. Stevenson High School in Illinois. He has been an integral part of professional learning communities for three decades while supporting literacy interventions and staff development.

Jill Lizier is a districtwide director of curriculum, instruction, and assessment in Exeter, New Hampshire, and has previously served as an assistant principal and special education building coordinator, a curriculum coordinator for an elementary school, and first-grade teacher.

Gearl Loden is the superintendent of Nixa Public Schools. Under Dr. Loden’s leadership, Nixa Public Schools has been recognized as a Model PLC at Work® district and includes multiple Model PLC at Work schools.

Dave Ludy is a former principal of a Model PLC at WorkⓇ in Wisconsin. His work is focused on implementing the PLC process and he has extensive experience with rural school districts.

James Luttrell has more than 20 years of experience in education—from preschool to high school and from rural to urban. He specializes in data analysis protocols, improving school culture, and implementing professional learning communities (PLC) processes.