Authors & Presenters

Cheyana Leiva is a transformational leader who understands the challenges schools are facing and the strategies necessary to improve. As a principal, she led her high-poverty school to an A rating in three years.

Amanda Lemons, EdD, is an assessment specialist for Madison County School System. She has supported the implementation of PLCs as a middle school instructional coach and assistant principal as well as in her current role.

Allison Lewallen, EdM, principal of Morris Middle School in Houston, Texas, has worked in education for more than 15 years as a teacher, instructional specialist, and assistant principal. As principal, her school was named a Model Professional Learning Community at Work® campus.

Pamela Liebenberg, EdD, has been an educator for more than 25 years. She has served as an award-winning teacher, assistant principal, principal, regional director, and district director supervising 35 schools in the Tuscaloosa County School System.

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.