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Kate Kennedy develops and leads professional development workshops for educators on how to use value-added analysis, formative assessment, and other research-based strategies and tools for school improvement. A Director at Battelle for Kids in Columbus, Ohio, she also develops online learning resources to support educators’ efforts to apply these strategies to accelerate student progress.

Dr. Mary Peters has conducted extensive research in the area of value-added analysis. In her role as Battelle for Kids’ Senior Director of Value-Added Research Services, Mary was responsible for managing a $6M grant with the Ohio Department of Education pertaining to the delivery and training of value-added analysis to school personnel across Ohio.

With more than 30 years of education experience, Dr. Mike Thomas is one of the foremost experts on the implementation of value-added analysis for school improvement in the United States. Most recently, Mike has provided value-added training to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, the Houston Independent School District (TX), the Fort Worth Independent School District (TX), and numerous districts throughout New York and Ohio.

Nic Cooper, Ed.D., LPC, LMSW, has 34 years of experience in public education as a counselor, alternative education developer, assistant principal and principal. He spent most of his career at the middle school level after beginning as a high school counselor. Prior to his retirement, his middle school was named as one of Michigan’s first Schools to Watch in 2006. He has also worked as a substance abuse counselor and a probation officer.

 Cindy Lawrence has been an educator for over 20 years. She has a B.S. in Elementary Education and Early Childhood from Lamar University and an M.Ed in Education with a concentration in curriculum and instruction from American Intercontinental University. 

Rufus Thompson is a retired educator. He wrote part of the Heath (now Houghton Mifflin) Middle Level Literature series and High School Anthology. Starting in 1988, he trained teachers throughout California on how to implement technol­ogy into the curriculum using best practices and sound classroom principles and taught middle school for 17 years before becoming the technology coordi­nator of the Mountain View School District in Ontario, California.

Judy Reinhartz’ career spans nearly five decades in K-16 education, as an elementary and middle school science teacher, secondary school biology and department science chair, and a professor of undergraduate and graduate science education, curriculum development, research, educational leadership and supervision, and instructional strategy courses.

Steve Chappuis has served as a public school teacher, principal and district administrator. In the private sector he helped small and large education service companies establish strategic plans for professional development and publishing. He has delivered presentations around the country to school leaders on the benefits of quality classroom assessment and how to implement local balanced assessment systems, and has authored and co-authored books and articles on the same topics.

Beth Kelley, MA, LPC, is a psychotherapist who worked as a school-based therapist for nearly 20 years. Additionally, she has worked in community mental health, in private practice, and as a clinical supervisor. Currently, Beth is a leadership coach and an educational consultant for schools interested in developing a more holistic school model. Beth is deeply committed to supporting mental wellness in school communities and businesses.

Educator and author Jan Chappuis began her career as an elementary and secondary teacher, after which she became a curriculum developer in English/language arts, mathematics, social studies, and world languages. She joined Assessment Training Institute in 2001, working with Rick Stiggins and Steve Chappuis to write books and develop workshops focused on classroom assessment practices that support learning.

Linda Campbell has extensive experience at all levels of education, including as a former public school K-12 teacher and NEA school restructuring specialist, and currently as a professor of education at Antioch University Seattle. In addition to serving as the University’s project director for the Gates Foundation Early College Initiative for Native Youth, she is a consultant and a presenter.