Professional Learning Communities

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.

Claire Springer is a partner in education specializing in master scheduling at the elementary level, creating school systems to support the professional learning community process, and implementing data protocols to monitor high levels of learning for all. She has 13 years of experience in education, eight of those years in school leadership.

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.

Lorrie Hulbert has more than 30 years of experience as a public school teacher, interventionist, and administrator in New York State.

Marsha Jones, EdD, is former executive director of curriculum and instruction at Pasadena Independent School District near Houston, Texas. Her experience includes teaching grades 1–8 and serving as elementary assistant principal, elementary principal, middle school principal, and district-level administrator. Under Marsha’s leadership, Pasadena ISD became the largest Model PLC at Work® district in North America and Canada.

Toby Youngs is principal of Windsor Central High School and director of physical education for the Windsor Central School District. With more than 17 years of educational experience, he focuses on building systems and programs to support learning for all students.

Daniel Evans, Jr. currently serves as the principal of Moores Mill Intermediate School, a Model PLC in Alabama. Previously, he served as a high school career technical education teacher and a high school instructional assistant principal.

Michael L. McWilliams is a fierce advocate for classroom teachers, school leaders and staff members who work daily to ensure all students learn at high levels. Michael has spent the last 28 years as an educator, with 20 of those years serving as an elementary school principal. Equipping and empowering others to be the best version of themselves is his life’s mission. He specializes in developing the foundation needed for effective implementation of the Professional Learning Communities at Work® process.

John D. Ewald, EdD, is a former superintendent, principal, adjunct professor, and teacher. He has been an administrator and teacher at the elementary, middle, high school, and college levels.

Chad M. V. Dumas, EdD, focuses primarily on collaborating to develop capacity for continuous improvement. An international educational presenter and award-winning researcher, he has led nationally recognized improvements for both students and staff.