Authors & Presenters

Patrick L. Sullivan, PhD, is an associate professor of mathematics at Missouri State University. He is a former principal, mathematics teacher, and a mathematics department head.

Makini Sutherland, EdD, is a mathematics educator with experience at the elementary, high school, and collegiate level. She has also facilitated training elementary teachers for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Jamaica mathematics project.

Dr. Pamela Swanson is an acclaimed educational leader with nearly four decades of experience. Most recently, she served as superintendent of Westminster Public Schools in Colorado, where she led the district’s transformation to a preK–12 competency-based education system.

Dan Swatek is the elementary principal at Cardinal Elementary School in Nebraska, which he helped lead to Model PLC status in 2018. Throughout his nearly twenty-year career as an educator, he has also served as an assistant principal, middle school teacher, and head coach.

Rachel Swearengin teaches fifth grade in Olathe Public Schools and serves as a field educator for the Kansas State Department of Education, leading professional development and contributing to assessment and planning committees.

Marie Swift has been a K–3 classroom teacher for the majority of her career. She was also a K–12 technology resource teacher and a literacy resource teacher for K–8 in the Simcoe County District in Ontario, Canada.

Becky Symes specializes in educator wellness, supporting new teachers, curriculum development, effective instruction, and professional learning communities. She has experience as a new teacher induction coordinator, literacy coach, instructional facilitator, curriculum developer, and presenter.

Liza A. Talusan, PhD, is a strategic partner in areas of diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice. She is currently a faculty member at the University of Massachusetts Boston, where she teaches courses on anti-racist leadership and identity-conscious leadership skills.

Lisa Tartaglia is a high school assistant principal in Loudoun County Public Schools in Virginia. She has been an educator since 1994 and has experience as an elementary classroom teacher, reading specialist, and high school literacy coach.

Barbara Tasber is the director of learning and continuous improvement for Windsor Central School District in Windsor, New York. As an educator and leader with over 20 years of experience, she is instrumental in leading the professional learning community process throughout the district.