Authors & Presenters

Bill Barnes is the chief academic officer for the Howard County Public School System in Maryland. Bill was a recipient of the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching and has served on the board of directors for the National Council of Supervisors of Mathematics. Bill is passionate about working to ensure that students graduate with their dream intact.

Brady Barr, PhD, is National Geographic’s reptile expert. Dr. Barr started his teaching career at North Central High School in Indiana, teaching subjects like zoology, biology, and earth and life sciences.

Erica Barraza currently serves as the instructional coach at Lotus Elementary School in Fox Lake, Illinois. With more than 15 years of experience in education, she specializes in providing effective professional learning opportunities to educators.

Mandy Barrett, EdD, currently serves as an elementary school principal in northwest Arkansas. She has over 20 years of experience working in high-poverty schools and schools with large ESL populations.

Taylor Barton, EdD, is a K–12 school leader in Atlanta, Georgia. He led his high-poverty school to achieve Model PLC at Work® status, and he currently leads a digital school, grades 3–12.

Kim Baxter is an instructional specialist in social studies and literacy in the Socorro Independent School District in El Paso, Texas. She is a former social studies teacher, campus intervention coach, and secondary campus administrator.

Michael Bayewitz is the principal of Cloverly Elementary School in Silver Spring, Maryland. He has previously served as a director of elementary schools, principal, assistant principal, and classroom teacher.

Scott M. Beattie is the assistant superintendent for instruction of the Windsor Central School District in Windsor, New York. With over 15 years experience, he specializes in professional learning community and Community School implementation, technology integration, and K–12 career pathway development.

Becky Jo Evers-Gerdes, EdD, is the dean of academics at Loyola Catholic School in Mankato, Minnesota. Becky earned her master’s degree from Minnesota State University and doctorate from Bethel University.

Linda Beggs has more than 30 years of organizational development experience, specializing in culture, change, and team effectiveness. She collaborates with schools to create a high-trust culture essential to implementing wraparound resource centers.