Authors & Presenters

Dr. Nathan Boyd is a leadership coach specializing in creating healthy culture and bolstering strong leadership within schools. With over 20 years of experience, his award-winning work led a school to receive the Blue Ribbon Award for sustained excellence.

Amanda Boyer, EdD, currently serves as the director of special services in the Neosho School District in southwest Missouri. She has over 18 years of experience in various roles, including special education teacher, early childhood director, early interventionist and behavior specialist.

Carla Braun, EdD, currently serves as the director of continuous school improvement and professional learning in Westmont, Illinois, a K–12 school district. She is an experienced principal, professional development provider, interventionist, and elementary teacher.

Larry Brendtro, PhD, is director of The Resilience Academy and professor emeritus at Augustana University. He has rich, practical experience as a teacher, principal, and psychologist—including 14 years as president of Starr Commonwealth.

Diane J. Briars, PhD, a mathematics education consultant, is president of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. She was mathematics director of Pittsburgh Public Schools for 20 years.

MaryAnn Brittingham helps educators working with students at risk. She is an instructor and supervisor of student teachers at the State University of New York at New Paltz.

Dr. Karen Johannesen Brock has been an educator and educational presenter for more than three decades. She has assisted more than 100 schools (K–12) and districts with implementing school improvement plans. Her work with schools and districts focuses on instructional coaching and design as well as professional learning plans, school-improvement plans, English learners and multilingual students, and literacy.

Dixon Brooks, PhD, has spent more than 30 years as an educator working to maximize learning opportunities for students, as well as district and school staff members, by leading cultural and systemic change processes that result in exceptional student achievement.

Dr. Rebecca Brooks is an associate professor in the special education teacher preparation and graduate program in the School of Education at California State University San Marcos. She previously served as a public school special educator for grades K–12.

Jo Brown, an instructional coach and presenter, specializes in enhancing instructional practices and teacher leadership. She collaborates with educational institutions to drive improvements through professional development and coaching.