Authors & Presenters

James Savage is an associate professor and postgraduate student at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia. There, he teaches English academic writing courses while pursuing his PhD in writing and rhetoric. He has more than 20 years of experience as an educator teaching age groups ranging from seventh grade to post-secondary graduate students.

Julie A. Schmidt has served as a school psychologist, Director of Student Services, Associate Superintendent of Student Services, and recently retired from Kildeer Countryside CCSD 96 in Illinois after serving as Superintendent of Schools for 13 years. The district began its professional learning communities (PLC) journey nearly 25 years ago, and all seven schools have been recognized as Model PLC at Work^® schools. She is passionate about ensuring ALL students have an opportunity to thrive and reach their goals.

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.

Ryan Searle is the curriculum director for Carbon County School District #2 in Saratoga, Wyoming. He has served in K–12 administration roles for over 15 years at the elementary and secondary levels, most recently as principal of Rawlins Middle School.

Kathryn Sever has 35 years of experience as a public school educator in Maine and New York. She has been a classroom teacher, building administrator, and director of education.

Mary Shay, EdD, is a Colorado-based educational leader, practitioner, and researcher with almost 30 years of experience in public education. She specializes in effective leadership to maximize the collaborative capacity of teams, thereby enhancing student achievement and learning.

Kathryn E. Sheridan is the early literacy and language director for Kildeer Countryside Community SD 96 in Illinois. She has previously served as a teacher, instructional coach, middle school assistant principal, and elementary principal.

Faith Short is the principal at East Pointe Elementary. With 25 years of experience in education, she is fiercely passionate about the work of collaborative teams as a vehicle to ensure high levels of learning for every student. She specializes in helping leaders and teachers implement the PLC process to impact teaching and learning.

Heather Silvia is a presenter with over 30 years of experience as an educational leader and inspirational keynote speaker. A Model PLC at Work® principal, she maintains laser focus on collaboration, data-driven decision-making, and leadership development.

During her more than 15 years in education, Tina Smith has proudly served Pasadena Independent School District, a Model PLC at Work® district, as a four-year, district-level summer school program manager while working as assistant principal at Nelda Sullivan Middle School, a Model PLC at Work school.