Professional Learning Communities

Dana Lillis serves as the director of teaching and learning for Carlisle Community Schools in Carlisle, Iowa. Dana’s passion is developing agency in teacher leaders and administrators to ensure they have the knowledge, skills, and tools to lead and support the PLC process.

Amy Miller has over 20 years experience in secondary education and is currently the career and technical education (CTE) director in Richland School District.

Jalal Masri is the professional learning community coach at Bernice Ayer Middle School in San Clemente, California. In this role, he leads sitewide professional learning, supports teacher team collaboration, and oversees the school’s intervention system.

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.

Dave Ludy is a former principal of a Model PLC at WorkⓇ in Wisconsin. His work is focused on implementing the PLC process and he has extensive experience with rural school districts.

Dr. Aisha Thomas has been an educator for over 20 years, serving in all levels of school leadership at the middle school and elementary levels. She has helped lead two schools to receive the National Blue Ribbon Award.

Jane Pedersen, EdD, is the assistant director of educational services at Kildeer Countryside School District 96 in Illinois. She has previously served District 96 as an elementary school assistant principal and a school psychologist.

Barbara Coleman, former principal of Canyon Pointe Elementary in Tomball, Texas, brings over 40 years of educational experience, including roles as a teacher, grant facilitator, assistant principal, and principal,

Jerrod Dastrup is the principal at Arrowhead Elementary School in Saint George, Utah. He is passionate about the PLC at Work® process and specializes in motivating and supporting teachers and administrators in PLC, RTI, school culture, and data analysis.

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.