Authors & Presenters

Cassandra Erkens is the author of eight books with more currently in progress, as well as chapters in several anthologies. Additionally, she is a facilitator, a trainer of trainers, an educator, and a coach. Her work focuses on educational topics, including assessment, instruction, leadership, school improvement, and professional learning communities.

Maria Espinoza, EdM, is the principal of Freeport Elementary in Freeport, Texas. With 17 years of experience, she specializes in early childhood education and implementing the professional learning community process to help underperforming schools.

Daniel Evans, Jr. currently serves as the principal of Moores Mill Intermediate School, a Model PLC in Alabama. Previously, he served as a high school career technical education teacher and a high school instructional assistant principal.

John D. Ewald, EdD, is a former superintendent, principal, adjunct professor, and teacher. He has been an administrator and teacher at the elementary, middle, high school, and college levels.

Darin L. Fahrney, PhD, is the coordinator for strategic implementation and an upper school teacher at the American International School of Zagreb, Croatia. He brings a broad range of experience and expertise to his work, having previously served as a high school principal, learning support coordinator, gifted and talented coordinator, contributing author, researcher, and consultant.

Paul C. Farmer is a practitioner who has worked at the classroom, building, and central office levels. As principal of Joyce Kilmer Middle School, Paul was one of the first principals in Fairfax County, Virginia, to build a PLC.

William M. Ferriter uses his 29 years of experience as a full-time classroom teacher to design professional development sessions for educators on topics ranging from establishing professional learning communities and effective systems of intervention to integrating meaningful differentiation, extension, and student-involved assessment opportunities into classroom instruction.

Kimber Fessler serves as the principal of Clark Elementary in Evanston, Wyoming. An educator for nearly 20 years, she has experience in classroom teaching both primary and intermediate grades, instructional coaching (K–6), and administration.

Dr. Loni Fife currently serves as the director of curriculum and instruction for the Littleton Elementary School District in Arizona. She has worked to bring greater awareness to the power of educator collaboration to enhance student learning.

Mark Fletcher is the principal of Bloomington High School South in Indiana, which has been a National Model PLC since 2012. Mark has more than 20 years of experience leading professional learning communities.