Professional Learning Communities

Hope Meares is a digital learning coach in Anderson School District One, located in upstate South Carolina. She works with teachers on the implementation of digital learning strategies in their classrooms while also supporting professional learning communities in the district.

Ryan Searle is the curriculum director for Carbon County School District #2 in Saratoga, Wyoming. He has served in K–12 administration roles for over 15 years at the elementary and secondary levels, most recently as principal of Rawlins Middle School.

Lee Wright, EdD, has been an educator for over 25 years in various roles as a teacher/coach, principal, and district executive leader in Tomball, Texas. He is currently the assistant superintendent for strategic innovation in Tomball ISD.

Dr. Derek Voiles is the assistant principal at Lincoln Heights Middle School in Morristown, Tennessee. With more than 15 years of experience in education, he emphasizes collaboration as a tool for better learning, particularly through professional learning communities.

With over 25 years of experience in elementary education, including five years in early learning, Janel Ross specializes in the implementation of professional learning communities and multitiered systems of supports at the elementary level.

Ann Alfonso has been the principal of Bethke Elementary, a Model Professional Learning Communities at Work® school in Timnath, Colorado, since 2008. She is passionate about sustaining a positive, inclusive culture and developing young educators.

Brittany Castillo is an assistant principal in the Dallas-Fort Worth area with experience at a Title I school and as an instructional coach and English teacher. She enjoys working through the professional learning communities process with collaborative teams, focusing on interventions and extensions for all students.

James Luttrell has more than 20 years of experience in education—from preschool to high school and from rural to urban. He specializes in data analysis protocols, improving school culture, and implementing professional learning communities (PLC) processes.

Catherine M. Thompson, EdS, is the principal of Marco Forster Middle School, located in San Juan Capistrano, California. She specializes in the implementation of professional learning communities (PLC) and is a passionate advocate for meeting the diverse learning needs of every student.

Dr. Jeff Washington is the principal of a Professional Learning Community (PLC) at Work® elementary school in Georgia. With a nearly 20-year career spanning various educational fields, his work has helped generate successful outcomes for schools and stakeholders.