We are proud to introduce a team of Consultants and Coaches who are unmatched in their expertise and commitment. Our high quality team is incredibly diverse — we span early childhood through higher education, rural to urban, and much more! Our team members bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to every engagement. Our team includes but is not limited to superintendents, curriculum leaders, building-level administrators, technology leaders, and formally-trained instructional designers.
Our team members bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to every engagement. This powerfully crafted bench includes but is not limited to superintendents, curriculum leaders, building-level administrators, technology leaders, and formally trained instructional designers.
Bridging research and practice for educational excellence.
Dr. Tovah Sheldon is currently a School Design Strategist for Michigan Virtual. For more than 20 years, Dr. Sheldon has served education as a teacher, professor, administrator, researcher, leadership coach, and consultant across pK-12 and higher education. She has a passion to cultivate constructive relationships, bring innovation to spaces that are managing complex change, and support implementation of evidence-based practices that promote equity and opportunity for all. Her demonstrated expertise ranges from curriculum, instruction, and assessment to professional development, capacity building, strategic planning, and system’s iteration for growth and sustainability. Dr. Sheldon has also served on various boards from within her community of Jackson and across the state of Michigan. Dr. Sheldon earned her Ph.D. from Michigan State University in Curriculum, Instruction, and Teacher Education.
Connecting people, exceeding expectations.
As the School Design Project Coordinator, Tracy’s role is to be a connector. She loves building relationships with her clients and the talented folks who join forces to make their goals a reality. What fuels her passion? It’s all about delivering an exceptional experience. Keeping the client’s ultimate vision in mind, she pays close attention to every little detail. Communication is key, so she makes sure to stay in touch regularly to adapt and adjust as priorities change. It’s exciting for her to witness the unique ways clients tackle the challenges that come with expanding choices for learners through online, blended, and competency-based models.
Dr. Precios M. Armstrong is a proud wife, mother, and advocate for children whose commitment to education has spanned more than 20 years across Pk-12 classroom, administrator, and University roles. Currently, in addition to being a Michigan Virtual Leadership Coach for Innovation, Dr. Armstrong is the Director of Special Education for East Lansing Public and an adjunct professor for Central Michigan University and Grand Valley State University. She is also the 2024-2025 Board President of the Michigan Council for Exceptional Children, a member of the Michigan Association of Administrators of Special Education. and Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. Dr. Armstrong is also a contributing author to the book Critical Analysis of Parental Involvement in Schools: Working with Families Across Sociocultural Context being published by Taylor and Francis Publishing. More than anything, Precios believes student achievement is enhanced through collaboration, innovation, and identifying resources.
For more than 20 years, Dr. Mike Burde has served in a number of leadership roles in supporting learners throughout Michigan. Dr. Burde has also served in a number of settings, including rural, suburban, and urban learning communities. Whether it be the principalship, various central office roles, or the superintendency, Dr. Burde has been steadfast in his commitment to support and design learning experiences that are student-centered and grounded in strong relationships. Beyond his work in Michigan public schools, Dr. Burde has also served on the executive board for MASFPS.
Dr. Burde has been one of Michigan’s thought leaders in the area of personalized competency-based learning. In addition, he has extensive experience supporting curriculum, instruction, and assessment, as well as facilitating the development of building and district-level continuous improvement plans and strategic plans.
Dr. Burde earned his B.S. degree from Spring Arbor University and M.A. and Ph.D. from Western Michigan University. Dr. Burde and his family enjoy traveling, outdoor activities, and sports.
Chris Davidson is a dedicated educator and leader with a deep commitment to student-centered learning. With a strong foundation in educational leadership, he holds a Master of Arts in Educational Leadership from Central Michigan University and a Bachelor of Sciences in Mathematics from Michigan Technological University. Chris’s career spans various roles, including Superintendent of the Public Schools of Calumet Laurium & Keweenaw, Principal at Calumet High School, Principal at Horizons Alternative High School, secondary math teacher, and athletic coach.
Throughout his career, Chris has been a driving force behind initiatives that emphasize personalized learning, technology integration, and community involvement. He has developed and supervised numerous programs aimed at enhancing student engagement and achievement, including virtual learning, homeschool partnerships, trauma informed school, project-based learning, micro-school, and experiential learning programs. His leadership philosophy centers on building positive relationships, fostering creativity by empowering staff and students, and ensuring that students have access to flexible, personalized learning experiences.
Ben Gilpin is currently the Superintendent of Newaygo Public Schools. He is a student-centered educator who is focused on collaboration, teamwork, student engagement, and leadership.Ben is all about the Whole Child; he cares deeply about all of his students, and he always tries to foster caring and impactful relationships. Ben began his career teaching 5th grade. After nine years in the classroom, he shifted into administration as an elementary principal. After thirteen years in that role, Ben became a Superintendent. Mr. Gilpin constantly takes an active role in sharing his district’s story and lifting others’ voices. He understands the importance of spreading a positive message to the entire community.
Ben is recognized as an innovative leader throughout the State of Michigan and beyond. Ben was named one of the Top 100 Influential Voices of 2014 by Bam Radio. He also presents and consults on numerous educational topics. Most recently, Mr. Gilpin led sessions on social media, Professional Blogging, Personalized Learning, and Redesigning Learning Spaces.
Ben earned his Elementary Education degree from Tri-State University, his Master’s in Education from Spring Arbor University, and his Educational Leadership Certificate from Eastern Michigan University. To learn more about Ben’s work, visit: follow @benjamingilpin
Dr. Jennifer Gottlieb is currently serving as an adjunct instructor at Oakland University. She also provides professional learning, coaching, and leadership consulting services and is a Regional Facilitator (United States) for Fullan & Quinn’s international organization: New Pedagogies for Deep Learning Global Partnership.
Jennifer taught high school science and math in New York City and in Troy for 15 years before moving to a variety of leadership positions at the district and county levels in southeast Michigan. Jennifer is fiercely committed to a better future for our children. Her passion is to find ways for students to flourish in the world – by prioritizing student voice, choice, and agency in authentic, meaningful ways that support the whole child. She loves to grapple with ways to deepen learning for all children, and her favorite sentence starter is “Wouldn’t it be cool if….?” Moving and supporting leaders (or adults) in the space of education to show up and think differently is meaningful innovation.
Jennifer holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from the University of Michigan, a Master of Arts degree in Secondary Science Education from Teachers College at Columbia University, and a Doctor of Education degree in Organizational Leadership from Oakland University.
Dr. Erik Orndorff is currently the Superintendent of Pequea Valley School District. He was named to this position in 2012. He earned his doctorate in education from Immaculata University. Over the past 10+ years, Dr. Orndorff and the administrative team at Pequea Valley School District have created and led a unique “Mass Customized Learning” initiative with a clear vision that empowers learning facilitators and learners to reinvent what education looks like. Erik is also the author of the “Early Start Career Series,” a participatory career/character exploration guide for teachers and students. He co-authored an Instructor’s Manual for “Becoming the Best Me,” 2nd edition, geared towards character development for middle and high school students. Dr. Orndorff is also a national presenter on personalizing learning and career and character development.
Pioneer in project-based and competency-based education with 20+ years in education.Dr. Pazur is the Director of School Leadership at CS Partners and oversees the FlexTech High School network in Michigan. She holds a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership from Oakland University and an MA in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Detroit Mercy. She is the founder of FlexTech Education, a teacher-powered consulting organization that helps schools implement project-based learning and competency-based education. Her education career spans over 20 years. Dr. Pazur has served as a teacher, curriculum director, principal, and virtual principal in project-based middle and high schools across Detroit; she also developed curricula for Authentic Education under the direction of Grant Wiggins. Dr. Pazur is a member of the Future of Learning Council; a national and local presenter, and her education writing has appeared in EdSurge, EdWeek, Education Post, Phi Delta Kappan, English Leadership Quarterly, Principal Leadership Magazine, and Hybrid Pedagogy. Her chapter, “A Bridge Across Our Fears: Poetic Imagination as a Catalyst for School Change,” appears in the book Cultivating Imagination in Leadership, out March 2023, with Teachers College Press.
Rebekah is passionate about cultivating educational ingenuity and collaborating with educators and families to promote personalized learning. With extensive technical knowledge and research expertise, she drives innovative teaching and learning solutions in any educational setting. As the Executive Director of Innovative Programming for Jenison Public Schools and the founding leader of Jenison Innovation Academy (JIA), Rebekah oversees two online and hybrid schools while supporting the success of others across multiple environments and various district-wide programs. With 15 years of experience in designing and implementing new schools and programs, as well as fostering domestic and international partnerships, she also serves as the Primary Designated School Official (PDSO), supporting international student exchange through the U.S. Department of State.
Prior to her current position, Rebekah previously worked as a director, principal, assistant principal, and high school science teacher. She has earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Secondary Education and a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership. She is currently a doctoral candidate, focusing her research on teacher evaluation and educational technology.
Rebekah’s professional memberships include the Association of International Educators, the Michigan Association of Superintendents and Administrators, the Digital Learning Collaborative, the International Society for Technology Education, the Future of Learning Council, and she is the facilitator for the Online Educator Network in Michigan.
Dr. Ryan Rowe has led educational change over the past 27+ years through many different roles and contexts, including teacher, principal, superintendent, executive director, and CTE administrator. Dr. Rowe is focused on relationship-building and empowering others through collaboration to create, implement, evaluate, and improve educational programs.
Dr. Rowe is recognized as a distinguished leader in the field of Career Technical Education (CTE). He actively collaborates with business and educational leaders to create and implement career pathways. As the CTE Director and CEPD Administrator for the Washtenaw Intermediate School District (WISD), Dr. Rowe is instrumental in redesigning and transforming CTE through strategic visioning aimed at ensuring equitable access to experiential and applied learning for all students – preschool through high school. His goal is to ensure that every student graduates with a clear understanding of their career interests and the pathways to achieve their goals.
Dr. Rowe completed degrees from Michigan State University, Eastern Michigan University, and Siena Heights University, and in 2017, Ryan finished his Ph.D. from Western Michigan University in Career Technical Education/Workforce Development. His doctoral dissertation was on the career decision-making process of youth as they work towards establishing their post-secondary plan towards college and career.
Lisa is a passionate educator, lifelong learner, and ardent advocate for student-centered learning. She believes in flexibility for every child to explore and master content while supported by educators who facilitate their learning. By bringing people together to discuss and learn from one another, Lisa promotes mindset changes that lead districts closer to personalized learning.
Over the last 30 years, Lisa has taught middle school through post-secondary and has worked with school districts as they design and implement personalized learning models for students. The Michigan CoOp (MiCoOp), led by Lisa, are innovative leaders transforming learning in their districts and the state by providing options so that all students can succeed.
Lisa is dedicated to finding solutions that help organizations and individuals realize their goals. Through the strategic planning process, she guides districts in developing a plan that leads to successful students as identified in their portrait of a graduate. Her experience in the business and nonprofit worlds, combined with her educational experiences in traditional, vocational, and online environments, gives her a unique perspective on identifying system-wide changes to problems, resulting in creative and innovative ideas to fulfill your mission.
Kristi Teall is an accomplished educator and leader with over 32 years of experience in education. She has a deep understanding of MTSS, strategic planning, building leadership capacity, online learning, and system-wide change. She has worked in a variety of roles, including classroom teacher, building principal, curriculum director, superintendent, executive director, and school design strategist for districts and organizations in Michigan and across the nation.
Teall’s passion for creating learning environments that meet the needs of all students led her to pursue a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership and Central Office Endorsement. After completing her degree, she received an endorsement in building-level leadership and a superintendent’s endorsement. Most recently, Teall’s focus has been leading teams in designing and implementing innovative learning programs that support student-centered and personalized learning. She works closely with school leaders to create programs that provide unique learning opportunities for students.
Teall’s expertise as a school leader and her passion for creating engaging and high-quality learning environments makes her highly effective in every engagement. She is dedicated to ensuring that all students have access to high-quality, personalized learning experiences that prepare them for success in college, career, and life.
Dr. Chris Timmis is a relationship-driven leader and visionary innovator dedicated to transforming education. Dr. Christopher Timmis has served as Superintendent of Dexter Community Schools since 2013, where he has spearheaded significant advancements, including passing a $71 million bond proposal that led to the construction of two new buildings and the acquisition of a 200-student early childhood center. Under his leadership, Dexter Schools also launched international exchange programs, secured nearly $10 million in state and federal funding for a senior and community center, and implemented innovative student programming at all grade levels.
Before Dexter, Dr. Timmis transformed Adrian Public Schools during his five-year tenure as Superintendent, raising the high school’s ranking from the 3.7th to the 91st percentile in the state, increasing the graduation rate from 70% to 90%, and stabilizing district finances.
A seasoned educator with experience as a teacher, principal, curriculum director, and more, Dr. Timmis holds an Ed.D. from Eastern Michigan University, an M.Ed. from Wayne State University, and a B.A. from Adrian College. Dr. Timmis’s passion for education extends beyond his district roles. As a founding member and President of the Future of Learning Council, he continues to lead transformative efforts across Michigan. His ability to inspire, connect, and innovate has positioned him as a respected voice in education, consistently prioritizing the well-being and success of students, educators, and communities alike.
Dr. Carrie Wozniak is the Superintendent of Fraser Public Schools. This is her 13th year working in Fraser, and her sixth year as Superintendent. She is passionate about creating positive and engaging learning environments for all of students using the principles of Universal Design for Learning. With a focus on blended learning and competency-based education, Fraser has developed a strategic plan and portrait of a graduate to support system wide change throughout the district.
Before taking the position of Superintendent in Fraser Public Schools, Dr. Wozniak was the Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction in Fraser for seven years. Prior to that she was a Literacy and English Language Arts Consultant for the Macomb Intermediate School District. Dr. Wozniak spent 10 years with Lake Shore Public Schools as a classroom English teacher. She has led many professional development sessions on the topic of Universal Design for Learning, and she promotes the importance of using technology and design thinking to help reach all learners.
Dr. Wozniak earned her B.A. at the University of Michigan – Dearborn, master’s Degree at the University of Michigan, Educational Specialist Degree and PhD at Oakland University.
To learn more about her professional work, go to Dr. Carrie Wozniak
Get hands-on support & guidance from a national bench of transformational leaders who’ve been in your shoes.
Empowering educational leaders like yourself to navigate the complexities of educational leadership and drive change.
Explore a diverse collection of tools, research, and success stories designed to inspire and support educators, administrators, and leaders in their journey toward impactful change.
If you are a PK-12 school leader, ISD/RESA leader, or leader of another educational or non-profit organization, join us in cultivating an authentic organizational culture that thrives on innovation and continuous improvement!
