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Valerie Saxton Sharpe currently works as an educational consultant in the areas of cognitive disabilities, executive functioning, and teacher preparation.  Val and Roberta co-founded Project Boost, a program to help students use metacognitive strategies to boost their executive function skills.  They wrote and co-taught a curriculum that provides executive function skill training for students K-12 by building skills through a 7-Step Model.

Matthew Kane is the Director of Research and Writing at The Learner First, where he focuses on the role and experiences of school systems in developing the learning outcomes that contribute to lifelong success, connect us with one another, and make a difference in our communities.

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.

Brooke O’Drobinak, MA, has been in secondary education for more than 25 years. Most recently, she has served in school administration for the past 13 years at a high-functioning, inner-city Denver high school. Her work is founded on the belief that students and relationships are at the heart of school communities. She also deeply values the critical roles that professional learning and leadership play in supporting all student learning.

Amanda Brueggeman, Ed.D. is a literacy coach and consultant with over 18 years in education. She grew up on a farm in Southeast Missouri, working her way to the suburbs of St. Louis, MO, where she taught at Valley Park and Wentzville for ten years prior to being a coach. Her passions include literacy and collective efficacy in relation to working with new teachers and mentors. Amanda is the author of the upcoming book, Student-Centered Mentoring (forthcoming 2022).

Brent Duckor, Ph.D., is professor in the Department of Teacher Education at San José State University. Dr. Duckor also serves as a core faculty member in the Ed.D. Educational Leadership program at the Lurie College of Education. He taught government, economics, and history at Central Park East Secondary School in New York City in the 1990s.

Carrie Holmberg, Ed. D., is a lecturer in the Department of Teacher Education and preservice teacher educator at San José State University. She taught at a Title I comprehensive high school in Silicon Valley for nearly a decade and has extensive experience mentoring new teachers. Carrie has twice earned her National Board Certification. She also worked with the Stanford Partner School Induction Program and the Santa Cruz/Silicon Valley New Teacher Program for many years.