Professional Learning Communities

Heather Silvia is a presenter with over 30 years of experience as an educational leader and inspirational keynote speaker. A Model PLC at Work® principal, she maintains laser focus on collaboration, data-driven decision-making, and leadership development.

Chad Lang, associate superintendent of school improvement at Glenwood Community School District in Iowa, brings two decades of experience in teaching, administration, and district leadership, with expertise in curriculum development, grading reform, and Professional Learning Communities (PLC) at Work®.

Kenneth Christian is an assistant principal at Fern Creek High School in Louisville, Kentucky. His work focuses on ensuring a guaranteed and viable curriculum for all students through the professional learning community process and transforming the work of collaborative teacher teams.

Jim Judd has been an educator for almost 30 years and currently serves as Timpanogos Middle School’s principal in Heber City, Utah. There, Jim helped lead the PLC process, which resulted in TMS being named a Model PLC at Work® school.

Brandi Genenbacher, EdD, serves as the director of curriculum, instruction, and assessment at Orchard Farm R-V School District in Missouri, where she supports K–12 staff in implementing professional learning communities and data-driven interventions.

Ryan Vogler has over 20 years in education currently serving as the principal at Holmen Middle School in western Wisconsin. In his role, Ryan led Holmen Middle School to become an internationally recognized Model PLC at Work® school.

Kristi Mixdorf has 27+ years of experience as an educator. She has led culture and climate initiatives, developed school improvement plans, and led the implementation of the PLC process, resulting in her school becoming a Model PLC at Work® School.

Karin K. Hess, EdD, the creator of the Hess Cognitive Rigor Matrices, is an internationally recognized speaker and leader in developing practical approaches for using cognitive rigor and learning progressions in assessments. Since 1998, Karin has been working in schools as an elementary and middle school principal, district curriculum director, and classroom teacher.

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.