Presenters

Mario Acosta, EdD, is an award-winning educator, author, speaker, and presenter. He spent 20 years of his career as a teacher, instructional coach, assistant principal, academic director, and principal. He was named the 2022 Principal of the Year in Texas while serving Westwood High School.

Debbie Aholt is a leadership coach in Meridian, Idaho. She has over 30 years of experience as a classroom teacher, instructional coach, building administrator, and leadership coach. Debbie works with districts and schools to support systemic transformations that impact student and adult learning.

Jennifer Alvarado has served over 25 years in education as a teacher, school leader, district-level program director, and district-level curriculum, instruction, and professional development coordinator. She is passionate about empowering teachers to excel in their craft so that they, in turn, can inspire all students to reach their potential.

Ashley Avila is an implementation specialist for Marzano Academies, a current associate for Marzano Resources, and coauthor of Teaching in a Competency-Based Secondary School: The Marzano Academies Model.

Tina H. Boogren, PhD, is a fierce advocate for educators, particularly for their well-being. She is the author of numerous best-selling books centered around her passion areas of quality instruction, coaching, mentoring, and wellness and is co-director of Solution Tree’s Wellness Solutions for Educators with Dr. Timothy D. Kanold. She hosts the weekly podcast Self-Care for Educators with Dr. Tina H. Boogren and has received several accolades, including being ranked #5 among the Top 30 Global Gurus in Education. She is also a recipient of the Marquis Who’s Who of Professional Women award and has been recognized by the Wall Street Journal as a Who’s Who of Distinguished Leaders. Dr. Boogren resides in Denver, Colorado.

Toby Boss, EdD, has over 40 years of experience in education. He spent 22 years as a classroom teacher before assuming the role of district administrator and then taking a professional development consultant position at a regional service agency. As a High Reliability Schools associate, Dr. Boss works directly with schools to help design systems of continuous improvement through coaching and support.

Kathy Cawthron has worked in public education for 34 years, with 26 of those years in campus and district leadership roles. She led her last two campuses through High Reliability Schools Levels 1–3 certifications and rebranded her former elementary campus as an arts integration academy.

Amber Clark is the principal of a Marzano Academy and has nearly two decades of combined teaching and leading experience in elementary and secondary schools and at the college level. Personalized Competency-Based Education is her passion, with a focus on mentoring and growing Effective Teachers, ensuring Guaranteed and Viable Curriculum and Social Emotional Learning for healthy school culture.

Bev Clemens, PhD, is an experienced educational leader who has worked in large suburban districts and in smaller urban districts with diverse student populations. In addition to her work with Marzano Resources, Dr. Clemens has worked with a small nonprofit organization focused on developing leadership skills in school leaders who are working to transform schools to meet the needs of all students.

Mitch Craft spent over two decades working in K–12 schools, serving as a teacher, instructional coach, assistant principal, principal, and assistant superintendent. His expertise and passions center on supporting principals and leaders to improve outcomes and experiences for educators and their students.