Over her nearly 40 years in education, Lori Conrad has enjoyed many roles: classroom teacher, instructional coach, district curricular specialist, university professor, and staff developer. Much of her work focuses on supporting teachers and school leaders to explore and implement effective literacy practices. This support takes many forms including in-class coaching, demonstration teaching, collaborative planning, group facilitation and leadership team building. She’s published numerous articles and blogs, contributed to a number of professional texts on effective literacy instruction, and co-authored Put Thinking to the Test (Stenhouse, 2008). Along with numerous certifications, Lori’s educational background includes a Master in Arts degree from the University of Colorado Denver and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Northern Colorado.

Chrysann McBride has devoted her career to public education spending thirty-two of these years with Jefferson County Public Schools in Colorado dedicated to the work of teaching, learning, and leading. Among her proud accomplishments working in Jeffco are her work as a district administrator, principal, staff developer, teacher leader, and teacher. Following retirement, she has continued this dedicated work as a consultant doing leadership coaching and teaching Adaptive Schools and Cognitive Coaching in Colorado and across the country.

Chrysann is passionate about creating classrooms where students are engaged in quality learning. Nothing is as exciting as seeing learning in action! This is true for meaningful professional learning with teachers and principals and educational leaders, too. She is also committed to the power of Cognitive Coaching and to the support it offers to educators.

Chrysann has been a long-time member of Learning Forward and Learning Forward Colorado. She is excited to have this opportunity to work with Learning Forward Colorado once again as a Lifeline Coach. It is always a privilege to work with thoughtful educators as they face their remarkable and challenging work.

Jane Ellison, Ed.D., is Director Emeritus of Thinking Collaborative, home of Cognitive CoachingSM and Adaptive Schools. She presents workshops nationally and internationally to educators on Cognitive CoachingSM, Adaptive Schools, change and transition, presentation skills, and facilitation skills. She is co-author of Cognitive Coaching: Weaving Threads of Learning and Change into the Culture of an Organization; Effective School Leadership: Developing Principals with Cognitive Coaching; and a contributing author to the 3rd Edition of Cognitive Coaching: Developing Self-Directed Leaders and Learners.

Jane holds a B.A. in Elementary Education and Social Sciences from SMU, an M.Ed. in Elementary Supervision from the University of North Texas, and an Ed.D. in Education Administration from VPI&SU, Blacksburg, Virginia. Jane is a former elementary teacher, principal and director, who lives in Denver, Colorado.

Jenny Edwards, PhD is a Training Associate for Cognitive CoachingSM and Adaptive Schools. She also holds coaching certification at the ACC level with the International Coach Federation. She has taught Kindergarten through Grade 5 and Grade 7. She presently teaches in the doctoral program in Leadership for Change at Fielding Graduate University in Santa Barbara, California. Some of her books include Inviting Students to Learn: 100 Tips for Talking Effectively with Your Students (ASCD, 2010) and Time to Teach: How Do I Get Organized and Work Smarter (ASCD, 2014). She lives in Evergreen, Colorado.

Sarah is an educator and passionate advocate for high-quality adult learning experiences. In 2006, she began developing as a coach, presenter and facilitator and has been bringing energizing, motivating and transforming learning experiences to educators internationally ever since. In 2009, she was named Arizona’s Teacher of the Year, the first to be recognized for teaching children and coaching adults. In 2010, she was one of five finalists for National Education Association’s Teacher of the Year and received the Horace Mann Teaching Excellence Award, also in recognition of her work as a coach. 

She has supported teachers, coaches, principals and administrators who support students at all educational levels. She also taught master’s level students at the University of Denver for seven years. 

She is married to her best friend and has a sweet and funny baby boy. Together, they enjoy gardening, playing cards and generally, anything outdoors.

Dr. Ann Pearce is a Professional Coach who is certified as a Training Associate for Cognitive Coaching^SM and a Senior Associate for Learning-Focused Conversations.  In addition, she is certified through the International Coaching Federation.  She provides coaching, consultation, and professional training for individuals, groups, and schools.  She has extensive prior experience as a teacher (K – University), special educator, administrator, and Supervisor with CDE.  She is committed to supporting others to reach their personal and professional goals based on her belief that all people have the capabilities to grow.