Authors & Presenters

Suzanne Gruendling is an experienced principal in elementary and middle school education in Vermont. She has a passion for working with guiding coalitions and collaborative teams to find the best path forward.

Karen Johnson is a full time Solution Tree Associate. She specializes in helping schools identify areas for growth and improvement as they implement and refine their PLC at Work® implementation.

Brandon Jones, an author and expert, works with educators to implement the Professional Learning Communities at Work® and Response to Intervention at Work™ processes. As a practitioner, he has served as a high school teacher and assistant principal, as well as a principal at the elementary, middle, and secondary level.

Education specialist Kristi S. Langley most recently served as a district-level director of professional learning communities and a director of data and assessment. She has repeatedly facilitated successful schoolwide implementation of the professional learning communities process for more than 25 years.

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.

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.

Paula Maeker is an educator, presenter, and advocate for learner-centered education. She has more than 23 years’ experience as an elementary teacher, literacy specialist, instructional coach, Title 1 program coordinator, campus administrator, director of elementary literacy, and director of instructional design.

Mary McCorvey has worked in public education for over 20 years. As an instructional specialist, she works with K–12 teachers and administrators to support students receiving special education services in inclusive settings.

Richard Medina is a special education administrator for the Exceptional Learners Collaborative, which serves four school districts in Lake County, Illinois. His work focuses on providing individualized, high-quality services and support to a variety of special education students.

Amy Moore leads Deer Valley Unified School District’s PLC vision and mission as the professional learning manager. In May 2021, Deer Valley Unified School District was recognized as a model PLC district.