Professional Learning Communities

Paula Maeker is an educator, consultant, and advocate for learner-centered education. She has more than twenty-three years’ experience as an elementary teacher, literacy specialist, instructional coach, Title 1 program coordinator, campus administrator, director of elementary literacy, and director of instructional design.

Blake Clark brings a wealth of experience from various educational settings, including schools, districts, and charter schools across North America. He is a firm believer that schools can achieve their fullest potential through collaborative efforts centered on intentional learning.

Luke Francois, EdD, is superintendent of Waterford Union High School in Wisconsin. He specializes in the continuous improvement process to support the work of PLCs in small rural and large suburban districts.

Jeff Byrnes is the current assistant superintendent for teaching and learning in the St. Helens School District in St. Helens, Oregon. With over 25 years of experience in education, Jeff specializes in the implementation of professional learning communities and multitiered systems of supports. He is certified to lead in Professional Learning Communities (PLC) at Work® and Response to Intervention (RTI) at Work™. He has also served as a teacher, assistant principal, and principal in Arizona and Washington.

Stephanie Discher serves as the director of elementary education for Wasatch County School District in Utah. With a sincere passion for empowering educators, she is dedicated to fostering a deep understanding of and appreciation for the professional learning community process.

Robert Mountjoy is the former principal of West Side Elementary School in Rossville, Georgia, where he led his staff in developing a collaborative culture centered around the three big ideas of a professional learning community (PLC). He is passionate about equity, data-driven practices, and schoolwide systems.

Rob J. Meyer, EdD, is an experienced educator currently serving as the director of secondary teaching and learning at Monona Grove School District in Wisconsin. With over 20 years in education, he previously served as a teacher of social studies, an assistant principal at the secondary level, a principal at the primary level, and a 4K–12 C&I director.

Karen Johnson is a full time Solution Tree Associate. She specializes in helping schools identify areas for growth and improvement as they implement and refine their PLC at Work® implementation.

Joshua Ray, EdD, is an educational speaker and author who has led the Professional Learning Communities (PLC) at Work® process at the elementary, secondary, and district level. He is passionate about building healthy school cultures, the work of collaborative teams, systems of support, and educator well-being.

Kim Nichols, EdD, is former assistant superintendent in Ringgold, Georgia. Under her leadership, Catoosa County Schools was named the first Model PLC District in Georgia and twelve schools have become Model PLCs.