Authors & Presenters

Austin Buffum, EdD, has more than 45 years of experience in public schools. His many roles include serving as former senior deputy superintendent of the Capistrano Unified School District in California.

Norene A. Bunt, EdD, is an author and former teacher, administrator, and college instructor. She is an expert on integrating the science of reading into sound high-impact literacy instruction.

Stephanie Burdette has more than 24 years of experience as an educator. She has served in various roles as a classroom teacher and instructional coach. Stephanie is currently the elementary math specialist for Greenville County Schools in South Carolina.

Allyson J. Burnett is an author, a consultant, a facilitator, and a trainer specializing in developing a schoolwide interdisciplinary approach to meet the Common Core Standards for literacy at the secondary level.

Eric Burns is the principal at Lynn Lucas Middle School for Willis ISD in Willis, Texas. His focus is coaching collaborative teams through the PLC process and designing effective RTI systems to monitor student performance. He has received accolades including being named Hardy Elementary’s Teacher of the Year in 2012 and Willis Independent School District's Principal of the Year in 2020.

Jennifer Burris, principal of Benton Intermediate School in Louisiana, has been working in education for over 20 years. She currently works with educators to implement proven practices to ensure high levels of student learning.

Brian K. Butler is an educational presenter with over 30 years of experience who has worked with thousands of schools throughout the U.S.A., Australia, and Canada presenting on the PLC at Work and RTI at Work models. Brian is a retired principal who last served at Mason Crest Elementary School in Fairfax County, Virginia in 2017. Under Brian’s leadership, Mason Crest received Solution Tree’s first annual DuFour Award in 2016.

With over 20 years of experience in elementary education, Jeff Byrnes specializes in the implementation of professional learning communities and multitiered systems of supports at the elementary level.

Dr. Margarita Espino Calderón, professor emerita at Johns Hopkins University, has worked on numerous research projects from 1990 to 2010 for JHU’s Center for Research on Education of Students Placed at Risk, Center for Data-Driven Reform, and Success for All Foundation.

David (Cal) Callaway, EdD, is the deputy head of school at the International Community School of Addis Ababa in Ethiopia. He has worked in international education since 1998 and has served as both a teacher and an administrator.