School Improvement

Joellen Killion serves as the senior advisor for Learning Forward. With more than 40 years’ experience, she leads, facilitates, and contributes to initiatives related to examining the link between professional learning and student learning.

James Rawls serves as a principal in a large metropolitan school district in Georgia. His passion for education is evident through his experience of more than 20 years in the field.

Dr. Daman Harris is an award-winning education leader focused on equity, instructional leadership, student advancement, and educator development.

As educators and leaders across the nation grapple with the challenge of changing policies, practices, and procedures to ensure high levels of learning for all students, the inability to effectively change the mindsets of colleagues, faculty, and staff is proving to be the biggest hurdle of all. Hence, in order for systems to change, outlooks will also need to change.

Learn how U.S. Grant High School changed from the “dropout factory” to an engine of hope for the students it serves, and how its success can be replicated anywhere.

Dr. Pamela Swanson is an acclaimed educational leader with nearly four decades of experience. Most recently, she served as superintendent of Westminster Public Schools in Colorado, where she led the district’s transformation to a preK–12 competency-based education system.

Dr. Oliver Grenham is a visionary educational leader known for his expertise in competency-based learning, school transformation, and leadership development. With over 40 years in education, he has pioneered personalized, learner-centered systems and continues to advocate for sustainable, student-centered reform.

Breauna C. Wall, EdD, is an esteemed education professional with over a decade of experience as a leader, scholar, and practitioner. She champions equitable and collaborative education, with a focus on empowering educators through transformative knowledge, training, and support.

Mike Ruyle, EdD, has served as a classroom teacher, athletic coach, school principal, program director, university professor, and professional development presenter over a 30-year career.

Dr. Tonya Balch is a professor in the Department of Applied Clinical and Educational Sciences in the Bayh College of Education at Indiana State University and has been the program coordinator for the School Counseling M.Ed. program for 15 years. She is passionate about ensuring excellence in graduate programming and providing authentic experiences in practice.