Authors & Presenters

Brian Benevides is the principal at Glenmoor Elementary in Fremont, California. With over 25 years of experience as an educator, he specializes in the development of professional learning communities and strong leadership teams.

Chris Bennett, EdD, is the executive director of middle schools and accountability for Cleveland County Schools in North Carolina. Under his leadership, Burns Middle School was designated a Model PLC School and earned Highly Effective Schools Accreditation.

Chris Bergmann serves as an assistant principal at Timnath Middle-High School in Colorado. Previously, he spent 17 years as an administrator, science teacher, and coach at Kinard Middle School, a Model PLC at Work® School.

Casey Bertram is superintendent of Bozeman Public Schools. He has more than 20 years’ experience as a classroom teacher, assistant principal, and principal at the elementary level, as well as 3 years’ experience in central office roles.

Matthew Blackmore is an award-winning administrator who leads professional learning communities through best practices to ensure that all students learn at high levels. He is director of student services for North Polk Community School District near Des Moines, Iowa.

Cecilia Bonertz is the academic dean at Kinard Core Knowledge Middle School, a Model PLC at Work® school in Fort Collins, Colorado. She provides professional development related to the four guiding questions, leading her school to sustained, substantive school improvement.

Jodi Bonnette, an instructional coach at Singapore American School, has taught internationally for over 30 years. In addition to Singapore, she has worked in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and Osaka, Japan.

Kristen Bordonaro, EdD, has served as a school- and district-level administrator for the last 15 years. She’s worked with both private and public school districts as well as special education collaboratives. Dr. Bordonaro’s passion is in uniting school teams to support the needs of all students through an “all means all” model.

Carla Braun, EdD, currently serves as the director of continuous school improvement and professional learning in Westmont, Illinois, a K–12 school district. She is an experienced principal, professional development provider, interventionist, and elementary teacher.

Dixon Brooks, PhD, has spent more than 30 years as an educator working to maximize learning opportunities for students, as well as district and school staff members, by leading cultural and systemic change processes that result in exceptional student achievement.