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Dr. Zulma Y. Méndez is an assistant professor in the Department of Educational Leadership and Foundations at The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP). She earned her Ph.D. in Education from the University of California, Riverside. Professor Méndez’s teaching and research interests include curriculum policy and practice across the K-16 continuum.

Karen T. Maxwell is an assistant professor in the Graduate Studies in Education Department at Abilene Christian University (ACU). Her fields of interest include secondary education, behavior management, and campus leadership. Before coming to ACU in 2006, Dr. Maxwell worked with the Region 2 Education Service Center in Corpus Christi, Texas, where she co-directed a principal certification program and directed the Principal Assessment/Development Center.

Sally Spencer, Ed.D. is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Special Education at California State University, Northridge, where she teaches courses in assessment, special education teaching methods, reading instruction, and collaborative processes.

John DeLandtsheer has served as the GATE Coordinator in the Redlands Unified School District for sixteen years. He has recently retired from his role as principal of Mariposa Elementary but continues to teach at UC Riverside and serve as the GATE Coordinator in Redlands Unified School District. He is a private consultant and trains GATE teachers and others throughout California and the west in differentiated curriculum through his company, JD Seminars.

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Dr. Martin R. Sheehan, integrates a background in research psychology, Direct Instruction, special education, and media development. He is the owner of Double S Instructional Systems and has received federal funding for over 10 National Institutes of Health Small Business grant projects.

Robin Thompson is curriculum coordinator for Manatee High School. Prior to this position, she served as reading coach and an intensive reading teacher at the high school, and taught various elementary and middle school grades. Thompson enjoys the process of designing, building, and launching professional learning networks. Her degree is in Curriculum and Instruction with an emphasis in literacy, and she is especially interested struggling adolescent readers.

A graduate of the University of Florida in educational technology, I lean towards the concept of connectivism when it comes to educating adolescent and adult learners alike. In today’s digital environment it is more important than ever to explore the biology of the human mind as well as the tools that exist outside the human mind that aid in learning. I have experience teaching both English and reading in grades 6-12.

Currently the Principal of Manatee High School in Bradenton, Florida, I have had the honor of bringing a D-rated high school on the Florida Department of Education school-rating scale to an A-rating. I have worked diligently to demonstrate leadership and believe firmly that through teacher empowerment and the modeling of effective guidance any school climate can be transformed and improved.