Authors & Presenters

Doug Lillydahl is director of communication arts at Adlai E. Stevenson High School in Illinois. He guides literacy interventions and ELA staff development, oversees assessment, and supports curricular and instructional evolution.

Jill Lizier is an assistant principal and special education building coordinator at Memorial School serving grades 4-6 in Newton, New Hampshire. Her previous work experience includes curriculum coordinator for an elementary school in Brentwood, New Hampshire, and first-grade teacher in Newton, New Hampshire.

Dave Ludy is a former principal of a Model PLC at WorkⓇ in Wisconsin. His work is focused on implementing the PLC process and he has extensive experience with rural school districts.

Benjamin Luis is assistant superintendent of Lemoore Union Elementary School District in California. He specializes in building capacity in leaders and collaborative teacher teams through the professional learning communities (PLC) process and positive school culture.

Kyle Machen, EdD, the principal of Benton Middle School in Louisiana, has been an educator for close to 20 years. Under his leadership, Benton Middle School was recognized as Louisiana’s first Model PLC.

Paula Maeker is an educator, consultant, and advocate for learner-centered education. She has more than twenty-three years’ experience as an elementary teacher, literacy specialist, instructional coach, Title 1 program coordinator, campus administrator, director of elementary literacy, and director of instructional design.

Michael J. Maffoni, an educator since 1987, has a diverse background that includes experience as a teacher, principal, and central administrator in a variety of districts in Colorado. He also teaches courses in educational leadership as an affiliate faculty member at Regis University.

Nathan Manley serves as the assistant superintendent of instruction in the Neosho School District. During his nearly 20 years of experience, Nathan has also been a classroom teacher and principal, leading the development of five different professional learning community school recognitions.

Michelle Marrillia has 17 years of experience as an educator and is currently an assistant principal of Fern Creek High School in Louisville, Kentucky. As an instructional coach, staff developer, and PLC coordinator at Fern Creek, Michelle helped move the school from a persistently low-achieving school in 2010 to a proficient school in 2015.

Erica Martin is a literacy specialist at Kildeer Countryside School District 96, located in the northwest suburbs of Chicago. She has experience as a district leader, reading interventionist, and classroom teacher.