Dr. Jan Burkins was an elementary classroom teacher for seven years and a literacy coach for seven years. She has worked as a part-time assistant professor, a district literacy leader, and is currently a fulltime writer and consultant. Kari Yates is an author, speaker, consultant, and staff developer with a passion for helping busy literacy educators thrive. Her experiences include classroom teacher, special education, Reading Recovery teacher, elementary principal, and district literacy coordinator. Dr. Katie Egan Cunningham is committed to supporting teachers in making learning joyful, purposeful, and evidence based. She is an Associate Professor of Teacher Education at Sacred Heart University where she teaches literacy methods and children's literature courses. Author of many books and a renowned educational consultant, J. Richard Gentry has been an elementary classroom teacher, professor, and director of a university reading center. An internationally recognized researcher in reading, spelling, and the links between oral and written language. Gene Ouellette is professor and former head of the Psychology Department at Mount Allison University in New Brunswick, Canada. Yvette Zgonc has more than 35 years of experience in education as a teacher, guidance counselor, parent educator, national presenter, and senior consultant for Literacy First. She is a licensed mental health counselor and is Brain-Based Certified with the Jensen Learning Corporation. Dr. Kimberly Zgonc has twenty-five years of experience as a special education teacher, and curriculum consultant. As a full professor, she currently teaches elementary and special education methods courses at Indian River State College.
