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.

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.

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.

Dirk DeBoer is an experienced educational leader and consultant specializing in student support, instructional improvement, and the High Reliability Schools Framework. He empowers schools with practical strategies rooted in The New Art and Science of Teaching.

Karrie Ehlenfeldt has more than 15 years of experience as a classroom teacher, campus instructional coach, and district assessment coordinator, and she’s a certified High Reliability Teacher in all three levels.

Kameron Ervin has enjoyed over 20 years in education as a classroom teacher, curriculum and building leader. As a teacher, she served as a model educator, collaborating with colleagues to implement the most effective instructional practices.