Our Associates

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.

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.

Dirk R. DeBoer is a middle school principal leading a Marzano High Reliability Schools Level 4 building. Prior to becoming a school administrator, he acquired valuable experience as a school psychologist and instructional coach.

Michael Evans, EdD, brings over 28 years of experience as a classroom teacher, school counselor, building-level leader, and district-level leader.As a practitioner, he has led the transition to standards-based learning in multiple districts and continues to support schools and districts across the United States as an associate with Marzano Resources.

Douglas Finn III has been an active participant in the personalized competency-based education (PCBE) community since 2004. Through his years of teaching in Alaska and Maine, Doug has taught all grade levels. From that hands-on work within PCBE, he transitioned to supporting students, teachers, and administrators as a mentor, instructional and administrative coach, and associate who has presented all over the country and the world.

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.

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.

Marisa Hafley, coordinator of talent development at Region 9 Education Service Center in Wichita Falls, Texas, specializes in supporting campuses and districts with professional development opportunities, school improvement efforts, and the Marzano High Reliability Schools framework.