Presenters

Shelley Gies, EdD, is a full-time Marzano associate. She is the former director of curriculum and instruction and a former building-level principal in central Indiana. Shelley also spent 23 years as a classroom teacher, serving most grades K–6.

Kim Frees has worked in education for over 25 years and currently serves as an elementary school principal. She has worked with Marzano Academies for the past three years with a focus on competency-based learning.

David Franklin, EdD, is an author, professor of education, and consultant and has worked with school leaders and teachers around the country in the areas of school vision, instruction, technology, and collaboration.

Michael D. Evans, EdD, brings over 30 years of experience as a classroom teacher, counselor, principal, and administrator. He helps schools implement personalized, competency-based learning and High Reliability Schools frameworks, providing practical guidance to improve student-centered outcomes nationwide.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.