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Dr. Colin Ackerman - Consultant

Dr. Colin Ackerman is an experienced researcher and educator obsessed with exploring practical ways to innovate the K12 classroom space. After beginning his career as an early elementary teacher in Nashville, TN, he decided to pursue a career in research. In graduate school, Colin explored technology implementation in classrooms through the lens of developing democratic values (e.g., collaboration, critical thinking, responsible dissent) in a social world where technology is increasingly ubiquitous and pervasive. He then shifted his focus to Social Emotional Learning (SEL), serving as a researcher and lead SEL curriculum reviewer at the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL). Today, Colin works as a full-time K12 Research Consultant based in the Chicago Area. Colin holds a B.A. in Mass Communication, an M.Ed in Instructional Leadership & Practice, and a Ph.D. in Media Studies.

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Maia Appleby - Consultant

Maia Appleby has more than 15 years of experience in managing, developing and designing WordPress websites, primarily in the education space. She’s skilled at technical, creative, and editorial work, so she can deliver solid design along with copywriting, proofreading, and messaging refinement as needed. In short, she’ll give you an impactful, user-friendly, attractive web presence that’s accessible, mobile-friendly, and search-engine optimized. Maia believes that good marketing is grounded in empathy; the way to connect with an audience is to see through their eyes and build content that resonates. She’s equipped to take this approach with your web design, as her experience in the education/edtech industry has given her a broad understanding of the personas within the audience, as well as their priorities and challenges. Since 2018, Maia has been leading the digital strategy for the American Consortium for Equity in Education at ace-ed.org. She created the website and built it out to include interactive features like an awards program, a digital journal and functionality to submit press releases, articles and other materials. She also works with companies, and organizations as a marketing and brand consultant, providing a wide array of services to support and advance their marketing and communications activities.

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Dr. Catherine Atkinson - Consultant

Dr. Catherine Atkinson is a researcher and edtech instructor. Dr. Atkinson’s passion for meaningful learning with technology stemmed from her work as a classroom teacher in a district where technology devices were available, but often were not used to support engaging and active learning experiences for students. She has experience conducting needs assessments, field observations, and focus groups, as well as analyzing qualitative data using thematic analysis. Dr. Atkinson has conducted program evaluations to determine the efficacy of technology to influence teacher technology practices as well as students’ perceived satisfaction with technology-mediated learning. In addition to her work as a learning consultant, Dr. Atkinson has presented at over 75 regional and national conferences in the areas of technology integration, differentiation, gifted learning, and digital literacy. Her research interests and publications focus on ways to integrate meaningful learning with technology in K-12 / teacher education and social emotional learning. Dr. Atkinson holds a B.A. in psychology from the University of California, Santa Barbara, a M.S. in Educational Technology from California State University, Fullerton, and an Ed.D. from Johns Hopkins University.

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Dr. Bernadette Beavers-Forrest - Consultant

Bernadette Beavers-Forrest is a freelance instructional designer and adjunct Assistant Professor in the Instructional Technology program at the University of Alabama. She holds a Ph.D. in Instructional Leadership with a concentration in Instructional Technology from the University of Alabama. She also holds a B.S. in Counseling and M.S. Ed. in Instructional Design and Technology from Samford University. She has also completed the Quality Matters Online Teaching Certificate. She is the founder of Bernadette Forrest Solutions, an educational consulting organization.

Bernadette’s research addresses mindfulness as a holistic approach to wellness, online teaching and learning, technology integration, and technology leadership. As a scholar, she has co-authored several publications and presented her research on using mindfulness to create a balance between living, working, and learning, Cohort experiences in a hybrid PHD instructional technology program, and social justice and the digital divide among underrepresented African Americans in STEM careers. 

She is actively involved in the CLT/eMerge Africa IRCEES project, where she is engaged in cross-cultural research as a member of the Open, Distance, and eLearning (ODeL) research and mentoring group. In addition, she is co-authoring Culture, learning, and technology, and the promise of diversity, equity, and inclusion; Leading AECT into a more inclusive future (Book Chapter for Association for Educational Communications, Technology (AECT)).

Bernadette mentors service men and women in their transition from the armed services to private enterprise through American Corporate Partners’ Mentoring Program (ACP). In addition, she enjoys working with colleagues who share her commitment to promoting equity, inclusion, and social change in and through the study and practice of instructional design and technology.

Bernadette past leadership roles in human recourses have afforded her great opportunities to work and partner with people from various racial, social, gender, and economic backgrounds in the retail, law, healthcare, and academic environments. 

Bernadette is married with three children and an avid golfer who enjoys international traveling, reading, and gardening.

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Tara Becker - Consultant

Tara (she, her, hers) is a Licensed Master Social Worker in Dallas, Texas, and the mom of two little ones. Originally from Cincinnati, OH, she has lived and worked in Chicago, IL, Chulucanas, Peru, and Honolulu, HI. Tara has experience within a variety of non-profit settings, with her most recent work focusing on the integration of mental health and education in school systems and classrooms. Tara partners with school leaders and teachers to support learning around well-being, social emotional learning, and trauma healing. In the past Tara has worked with families in long-term case management, refugee resettlement, and supporting re-entry for women leaving the prison system. Tara aims to support schools to become places where all students and adults can show up as their full selves, be valued for who they are, and experience social, emotional, and mental wellness.

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Dr. Carey Borkoski - Consultant

Dr. Carey Borkoski is an Associate Professor in the School of Education at Loyola University Maryland. Dr. Borkoski has expertise and experience in student onboarding, coaching, and identity. Her research publications and projects sit at the intersection of belonging, educating the whole person, leadership, and learning. Carey has published scholarship on best practices for online learning including cultivating community, connections, and belonging. She has written about faculty identity development, well-being, and the role of value congruence in cultivating inclusive and welcoming spaces for faculty and students. Most recently, Carey published her first book about noticing, naming, and navigating personal and professional transitions. Along with her research team, Dr. Borkoski is currently using data from her podcast to explore the many faces of belonging in schools, leadership, and during a global pandemic.

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Nishant Chandrasekar - Consultant

Nishant is a visual artist from Chennai, India, currently based in Maine. Ginsu Media is a full fledged creative studio that he founded in India in 2015, with the idea of telling people’s stories in an honest and relatable way using video and animation. Over the last five years, he has spent countless hours talking to people from all over the world, capturing their wellness journeys for the Indian digital health platform, HealthifyMe. Now working out of his studio in beautiful Midcoast Maine, he is helping our clients tell their story.

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Kim Corneille - Consultant

Kim is an educator with 22 years of experience working in education in various roles- as a tutor, mentor, Outdoor Educator, classroom teacher, Education Liaison, Foster Youth Services Coordinator, Trauma Informed Practices for Schools (TIPS) trainer, and, most recently, as a Senior Community Organizer at the Santa Cruz County Office of Education. She's worked with a wide range of underserved children and young people (ages 3-24), as well as families, teachers, administrators, and other community partners. Additionally, she is a certified Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) Coach, a student of Dr. Monica Sharma's Radical Transformational Leadership framework, and a developer of Educator Wellness trainings. A longtime yoga and meditation practitioner, she is involved with several other Social-Emotional Learning and Wellness efforts in her community. Kim is passionate about transforming schools into more healing-centered environments for at-promise students and the adults who serve them. Her internal values of love, justice, and wholeness are the cornerstone of how she approaches her work (and life). 

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Dr. Nandita Dinesh - Consultant

Nandita holds a PhD in Drama from the University of Cape Town in South Africa, an MA in Performance Studies from the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University, and a BA in Economics & Theater from Wellesley College. An alumna of the United World College movement, Nandita has conducted community-based theatre projects in Kashmir, India, the United States, Mexico, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, South Africa, and Zimbabwe. In 2017, she was awarded the Elliott Hayes Award for Outstanding Achievement in Dramaturgy by Literary Managers and Dramaturgs of the Americas. Currently Nandita is working on writing projects across genres, and as an independent consultant with organizations that center education, the arts, and/or social impact.

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Dystanie Douglas-Burger - Consultant

Dystanie Douglas-Burger is a forever educator with a passion for serving and advocating for students of color and underprivileged backgrounds. She holds undergraduate degrees in Mass Communications Multimedia Technology and Secondary Education from Abilene Christian University, a master’s degree in Professional School Counseling from Texas Wesleyan University, and is currently working towards a PhD in Educational Psychology from Capella University. She is a Texas native, a product of the public school system, and a first-generation college graduate. Working in public education in various capacities for eight years, Dystanie is passionate about the work of being a social justice advocate and leader for people of color in education. In her past roles as a teacher, a behavioral interventionist, and a student support specialist, she has gained tools to best support student needs and help close achievement gaps. Dystanie currently oversee’s content development for Cultures of Dignity, an organization that focuses on transforming social-emotional learning by integrating principles-based approaches and shifting the conversation toward belonging for all people. It is her hope that she will be able to add and share research-based resources, gained knowledge, and personal experiences with this organization that she is so excited to be a part of!

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Dr. Wendy Drexler - Consultant

Dr. Wendy Drexler has been a champion for empowered online learning for over 20 years.  As assistant professor at Johns Hopkins University, she redesigned and managed the Digital Age Learning and Educational Technology MS Program. Prior to that, Wendy served as Chief Innovation Officer for the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) and continues to serve as ISTE faculty. Most recently she worked on the development of the ISTE Certified Educator program. As Director of Online Development at Brown University, she led the design and production of Brown’s first online master degree programs. As a post doc at the University of Florida, she managed the research portion of the Enhancing Education Through Technology (EETT) federal Title II grant across 23 school districts in Florida. Before earning a Ph.D and Ed.S in educational technology, Wendy managed eLearning design teams at IBM and AT&T. She has taught in elementary, middle, and high school in both public and Independent school settings. As a high school teacher, she developed the first blended learning courses for Shorecrest Preparatory School in St. Petersburg. Her research interests include student construction of personal learning environments, balancing teacher control with student agency, and advancing the processes that support empowered online learning.

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Vickie Echols - Consultant

Vickie Echols, M.Ed., is a dedicated consultant with Wellness for Educators and Consult4Ed Group, based in Dallas, Texas. Passionate about nurturing educational communities, she is an author, coach, and facilitator of workshops for teachers and school leaders, aiming to foster a culture of support and development. Currently, Vickie is exploring how generative AI—technology that can create content and assist in decision-making—supports sustainable productivity and intentional well-being for educators. This innovative approach aligns with her commitment to integrating modern solutions into educational practices. With over forty years of experience spanning the PK-20 continuum, Vickie has worn many hats, including Elementary and Middle School Teacher, Campus Principal, District Director of Curriculum, and Director of Communication. Her comprehensive background underscores her dedication to continuous learning and growth within the field of education.

EDU Café Contributions

Podcast Episodes

Blog Posts

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Dr. Aileen Fullchange - Consultant

Dr. Aileen Fullchange (she/her/hers) is Licensed Psychologist and a Nationally Certified School Psychologist. She is Taiwanese-American and speaks Spanish and English. Dr. Fullchange has a background as a public school teacher and department chair in Oakland, CA, and an educational consultant for Title I schools nationwide. She received her Ph.D. in Counseling, Clinical, and School Psychology from the University of California, Santa Barbara and now resides in Dallas, TX where she works at the crossroads of psychological well-being, education, and equity as a clinician, assessor, supervisor, and workshop facilitator. She is the founder of Fullchange Therapy (www.drfullchange.com), which serves predominantly BIPOC families and community members. She specializes in healing from complex intergenerational trauma, is trained in somatic experiencing and trauma-sensitive yoga, and is passionate about building individual and collective resilience.

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Michael Garcia - Consultant

Michael Garcia is a Licensed Professional Counselor with a Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology from Tarleton State University. Michael specializes in the treatment of trauma in children, adolescents, and their families. He is trained in EMDR, TFCBT, and TBRI Practitioner counseling modalities. Michael has over 7 years of experience presenting to professionals and educators on wellness, trauma informed approach, and work/life balance. He has over 15 years of experience working in the juvenile justice system, education system, in-patient treatment, crisis response, and with victims of crime.

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Katherine Gilmore - Consultant

Katherine received her Master’s Degree from Louisiana Health Science Center for Clinical Rehabilitation and Counseling. During her program, Katie completed her Internship at the LSUHSC Child and Family Counseling Clinic offering individual play therapy, group therapy, talk therapy, filial therapy, and parent consultation with children, adolescents, and families. She has presented at local, state, and international conferences on various topics including: Utilizing Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) and Play Therapy Techniques for Challenging Behaviors in the Classroom, Anxiety in Adolescents: Defining and Considering Interventions and Family System Interventions for Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Katherine is currently a Lower School Counselor in Metairie working with grades PK3-3 rd . Katherine provides individual and group counseling to students for behavioral, social, and, emotional support, works with school staff on fostering social emotional learning in the classroom, and implements educational plans for students with accommodations. Katherine is passionate about researching social emotional resources to foster the individual childs’ growth.

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Lauren Girgash - Consultant

Lauren Girgash’s journey to educator wellness began in the classroom. She is a proud former public school teacher, starting her career as a high school English teacher for one year, eventually making her way to the world of junior high, teaching Language Arts for seven more years. After earning a master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Western Governors University and an Integrative Nutrition Health Coach certification from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, Lauren founded Livable Learning, a wellness company dedicated to decreasing burnout, increasing retention, and fueling fulfillment among educators. Her company is on a mission to empower Whole Teachers—teachers who confidently utilize strategies to prioritize their health and happiness inside and outside the classroom. Lauren’s Whole Teacher framework highlights 12 holistic health categories, emphasizing the wide range of factors impacting teachers’ wellness. Lauren presents at various conferences and leads Whole Teacher Cohorts and workshops at schools across the country. She is also the author of The Whole Teacher Weekly Wellness Guide—a tool that provides six months of daily wellness strategies for teachers. Lauren resides in Arlington, VA with her husband and will be a first-time mom in July 2023!

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Taylor Gonzalez - Consultant

Taylor Gonzalez is a yoga teacher and holistic athletic coach. She launched her career within education through Reading Partners, serving as one of the first Site Coordinators in Baltimore, Maryland. After her year of service, she joined Teach For America's corps and taught second grade. In 2015, she was named a Regional Semi-Finalist for the Sue Lehmann Excellence in Teaching Award. Since then, she has worked for Teach For America and now WorkMonger. Currently, Taylor is training for the 2023 Chicago Marathon. She has her 200 hour yoga teacher certificate from Charm City Yoga/YogaWorks, masters in education from Johns Hopkins University and her bachelors degree from Florida State University. She resides in South Florida and is dog mama to Luna and Axel.

EDU Café Contributions

Podcast Episodes

Blog Posts

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Milo Grammer - Consultant

Milo is a graphic designer, artist, and roller derby coach living in Portland, Maine. After working as a reprographics manager of a print shop for three years, they went back to school to focus on their design skills. In May 2011, they graduated from the New England School of Art & Design with a Master of Arts in Graphic Design. A few months later, they started their graphic design firm. They have worked on print and web design projects for several companies including Gift & Housewares Marketing, HTI Buying Group, Triumph Books, Touchstone Associates, Maine Roller Derby, Turn Two Skate Shop, Student Universe, Light Impressions, and the Northern New England Poison Center. They also worked for over two years as the lead designer at Artist & Craftsman Supply in Portland. They love graphic design because it allows them to engage both sides of their brain—the creative and the analytical. They have dabbled in drawing, painting, bookmaking, sculpture, jewelry making, 3D modeling, and photography. They are a creative problem-solver that loves learning new creative techniques.

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Ashley Harden - Consultant

Ashley Harden, an accomplished eLearning Instructional Designer, embodies a pedagogical philosophy rooted in inclusivity—her mantra being "EACH not all." An advocate for flexible and innovative learning, educational technology, and equity, Ashley draws upon over 15 years of educational expertise. Her journey also encompasses roles such as a secondary science teacher, blended learning specialist, and virtual learning specialist.

Ashley has a B.S. in Marine and Environmental Science from Hampton University and an M.Ed. in Guidance and Counseling from Angelo State University. Her commitment extends beyond conventional boundaries, as she endeavors to educate instructors, students, and parents, fostering an environment that caters to the unique needs of EACH individual. For Ashley, equity is not just an aspiration—it is an indispensable necessity.

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Dr. Sherrell Hendrix - Consultant

Sherrell J. Hendrix, Ph.D. is a strategic leader and equity-driven consultant dedicated to coaching mission-driven organizations on operational excellence and sustainable growth strategies. Her expertise spans strategic planning, organizational culture, and racial equity. She has collaborated with nonprofits, government agencies, and educational institutions to streamline operations, strengthen infrastructure, and achieve lasting impact. Dr. Hendrix enjoys partnering with organizations to define success, co-create actionable priority plans, and provide the tools and accountability needed to achieve their goals. She is deeply committed to fostering equitable and sustainable practices that allow organizations to scale their impact.

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