Dr. Elizabeth Anderson - Consultant

Dr. Elizabeth Anderson, PhD is the founder/lead research consultant of Embraced Wisdom Resource Group, LLC (EWRG) and is an industry leader, with over fifteen years experience in Research Methods and Statistics, and Instructional Design and Technology. EWRG is a consulting company providing data analysis and education for organizations that are revolutionizing their fields. Dr. Anderson has specifically trained in psychometrics, measure development, and non-traditional use of traditional measurement development techniques. Dr. Anderson’s hope for the world is equity. Divesting away from the traditional and often problematic forms of education, to build spaces and learning experiences that are student focused and inclusive.

Dr. Catherine Atkinson - Consultant

Dr. Catherine Atkinson is a researcher, instructional designer, and edtech instructor. She is a strong advocate for meaningful learning with technology in K-12 education—a commitment that was sparked during her time as a classroom teacher, when she saw technology’s underutilized potential for fostering student empowerment and agency. Dr. Atkinson has experience conducting needs assessments, field observations, and focus groups, with a specialization in thematic analysis. She has also conducted program evaluations to assess the efficacy of technology in influencing teacher practices and to gauge students' perceived satisfaction with technology-mediated learning. In addition to her work as a learning consultant, she has presented at over 75 regional and national conferences in the areas of technology integration, differentiation, gifted learning, and AI and digital literacy. Her research interests and publications focus on ways to integrate meaningful learning with technology in K-12 and teacher education, as well as social-emotional learning. Dr. Atkinson holds an Ed.D. in Education with a specialization in Technology Integration in K-16 Education from Johns Hopkins University, an M.S. in Educational Technology from California State University Fullerton, and a B.A. in Psychology from the University of California Santa Barbara.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Dr. Rebecca Itow - Consultant

Dr. Rebecca C. Itow is Principal of IU High School Online. She earned her PhD in Learning Sciences from Indiana University, and was a public high school teacher. Driven to facilitate safe spaces for learners to navigate their academic journeys in valuable and valued ways, Rebecca researches, designs, and implements Responsive Online Pedagogical practices in online learning environments. Her work guides current University & community partnerships that innovate online teaching, learning, and design.

Dr. Kathryn Kennedy - Founder & Principal

Dr. Kathryn Kennedy is founder and principal consultant of Consult4ED Group (C4E). Kathryn is dedicated to conducting equity-informed and community-based, participatory research and evaluation to effect meaningful and intentional, systemic change and highlight programmatic impact. With over 20 years of research and evaluation experience, she enjoys collaborating with organizations and supporting them to understand their past, inform their future, and share their impact. For these organizations as well as others, she conducts research and evaluations and produces internal and external reports as well as measurement tools, playbooks, toolkits, guides, and curriculum. Kathryn partners with quantitative methodologists to support her qualitative methods. Her experience with qualitative methods includes grounded theory, The Delphi Method, phenomenology, case study, critical theory, narrative, and ethnography. She has extensive experience with data collection methods including interviews, focus groups, observation, questionnaires, documents/records, oral histories, portfolios, surveys, note taking, participant diaries/journals, storytelling, concept mapping, cognitive walkthroughs, videos/recordings, art, and participant and researcher digital artifacts. Her data analysis methods include but are not limited to grounded theory, narrative analysis, content analysis, discourse analysis, thematic analysis, and framework analysis.

She has focused on the areas of K-12 online, blended, and digital learning for over 20 years as well as SEL for teachers and students, in addition to healing trauma through somatics, for over 10 years. In addition to her consulting work, C4E also houses two programs – Wellness for Educators (formerly a 501(c)(3) nonprofit) and Embodied Change Coaching – that posit educator support and multi-faceted wellness as a catalyst for systemic whole school / district change. Kathryn holds multiple certifications in somatics and mind-body coaching (including attachment theory, internal family systems, trauma therapy, polyvagal theory, compassion-based approaches, and more) and is currently in the process of pursuing her coaching certification through ICF. She coaches educators, school & district leaders, edupreneurs, and others. She is author of the book The Mind-Body Connection for Educators (Jossey-Bass, 2023).

In the past, Kathryn served as the Director of the Michigan Virtual Learning Research Institute, the research arm of Michigan Virtual, Director of Research for the International Association for K-12 Online Learning (iNACOL) (which became the Aurora Institute and now is FullScale Learning), adjunct professor and advisor for the Ed.D. program at Johns Hopkins University School of Education, and assistant professor of instructional technology at Georgia Southern University. She served on the Leadership Team for the National Standards for Quality Online Learning. She is one of the founding editors-in-chief of both the Journal of Online Learning Research and the Handbook of Research on K-12 Online and Blended Learning.

Liz Kennedy - Project Associate

Liz’s work at Consult4ED Group focuses on project management, finances, website design, instructional design, proofreading, and editing. She also serves as the Chief Operations Officer of Wellness for Educators. Liz holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Natural Science with certification in Early Childhood Education from Lesley University and has worked as an administrator and project manager for health-related and education-based organizations for over 25 years. Liz is a yoga practitioner and earned a 500-hr Yoga Teacher Training certificate (YTT).

Kate Mayfield - Consultant

With experience in the business, education, and nonprofit sectors, Kate Mayfield brings a deep knowledge of best practices in education, as well as strategies to effectively implement and manage projects and programs. Innovative and results-driven instructional designer with a robust background in project management, curriculum development, and educational technology. Skilled in designing engaging learning experiences and leading cross-functional teams to achieve their goals.

Kate approaches projects with a user-centered, solution oriented approach. She taught middle school English for seven years before moving into the nonprofit sector. She holds a BA in English from Louisiana State University, as well as a Master of Arts in Teaching from Eastern Kentucky University and a Master of Education in School Administration from Murray State University.

Kate worked with a nonprofit for four years to bring innovative practices to teaching and curriculum in Kentucky’s schools. Additionally, Kate led the Kentucky Online Learning Experience Collaborative convening district online programs together to determine collective best practices, provide support and professional learning, as well as continuous improvement efforts.

Dr. Mary Rice - Consultant

Mary Rice is an Associate Professor of Literacy in the Department of Language Literacy and Sociocultural Studies at the University of New Mexico. She taught English language arts and English as a second language at the middle level in public schools for 10 years. Her research and teaching explore the roles and responsibilities that emerge in designing and doing digital learning. Recent honors include a publication award from the Innovations in Special Education Technology Division of the Council for Exceptional Children (2024) and the K12 National Open and Distance Learning Award from the Open and Distance Learning Association of Australia (2025).

Jonathan Santos Silva - Consultant

Jonathan Santos Silva has been a trouble-making, system-breaking leader in education for over 12 years. You may know him from his work as Founder of The Liber Institute and as Chairman of The Bored of Ed Podcast, but Jonathan can also be credited with contributions to the Cambiar Catalyst Fellowship and South Dakota’s Native American Achievement Schools. Jonathan has been recognized for his work as a classroom teacher, founding school leader, and leadership coach, and is a sought after speaker due to his engaging and uplifting style. He holds a B.S. in Business Administration from Northeastern University and an M.A. in Education Administration from the University of South Dakota and currently resides in Rhode Island with his wife, four children, and two dogs.

Aaron Schorn - Consultant

Aaron is a father, teacher, and learner. Aaron is Head of Growth and Learning at Unrulr where he works to make learning visible and joyful. He is also a teacher, program director, and co-designer of student-agency-driven learning communities around the globe. His work is focussed on apprenticeship, craftsmanship, storytelling, and providing youth the space, time, resources, and methodologies to turn their ideas into iterative realities. Aaron's professional background is in education, international business, digital storytelling, and operations/management. At the Nalukai Foundation, Aaron creates and implements entrepreneurship schema and curriculum rooted in culture, hustles to find mentors, and waxes poetic on authentic storytelling.

Jessica Shopoff - Consultant

Jessica Shopoff is the Director of Policy for the Texas Public Charter Schools Association.  She is responsible for championing the Association’s efforts to reform charter school policy in Texas as we pursue our mission to ensure every family has the ability to choose a high-quality public school. Prior to joining TPCSA, Jessica was a Harvard Strategic Data Project Fellow and School and Market Analyst for the Learn4Life network of dropout recovery charter schools.  She is an educator at heart and her professional career includes time spent as an elementary teacher, online charter high school lead advisor, regional data specialist and trainer, and accountability policy specialist.  She is a self-professed data nerd and policy wonk who believes that zip code should not determine a child’s future. Jessica holds a BA in Interdisciplinary Studies from the University of Texas at Dallas and a M.Ed in Educational Technology Leadership from Lamar University.  She lives in San Antonio, and in her free time enjoys reading, watching football, and hiking and camping in the Texas Hill Country with her husband, four kids, and two dogs.

Dr. Janice Silver - Consultant

Dr. Silver started her education career as a high school science teacher in rural, eastern North Carolina. She went on to serve in the Curriculum and Instruction division at North Carolina Virtual Public School, which is the 2nd largest state virtual school in the country. Her leadership across this organization focused on digital teaching and learning. Dr. Silver later served as Director of Curriculum and Instruction, Chief Technology Officer, Chief Academic Officer, and Superintendent where she led schools to high student growth every year. She now serves in Government Affairs in the Education Technology field.

Dr. Silver earned her Education Doctorate in Educational Leadership and Management from Capella University. Shortly thereafter she earned her Education Specialist Degree from Appalachian State University. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology (Pre-Medicine) from Elizabeth City State University and Master of Science in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Scranton. Dr. Silver has published several professional journal and op-ed articles in the field of online learning, education leadership, MTSS, and Science of Reading. Her area of expertise lies in thought leadership, district transformation, adult SEL, MTSS, and facilitation. She believes that service is the rent that we pay to live on this wonderful planet called Earth!

Sarika Simpson - Consultant

Sarika has dedicated her life to education. Sarika began as a teacher and for more than 20 years, she has served in multiple leadership roles across the country in both the public and private sectors. Sarika has proven success in the areas of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging, Leadership Coaching, Professional Learning, Emotional Intelligence, Creating Healthy Teams, and Academic Achievement. Sarika consistently has positive outcomes and is impactful because she answers the question, what problem am I prepared to solve? Sarika works collaboratively to assess the needs, develop a plan, and implement the plan with fidelity. Sarika is known as a servant leader. She takes education seriously, maintains high expectations, inspires passion, and always looks for opportunities to learn.

Dr. Dacia Smith - Consultant

Dacia Smith identifies as a native New Yorker living in Maryland. For more than two decades, Dr. Smith has made her passion for education her life’s work. Teaching did not seem to be a foregone conclusion. A graduate of Binghamton University with a B.A. in History, Dr. Smith attended New York University where she received a Master’s in Education. Thereafter, Dr. Smith pursued a career in the law at Brooklyn Law School. Upon completion, the experience led Dr. Smith back to education. Dr. Smith graduated from Johns Hopkins University where she completed her doctorate in education. During her time as a classroom teacher, Dr. Smith initiated academic programs designed to support young women of color. As a high school teacher, Dr. Smith coordinated academic and extra-curricular programs to provide academic and social-emotional support to prepare and encourage the participants to enroll in advanced placement courses. Additionally, Dr. Smith sponsored and chartered honor societies to inspire and elevate excellence in black and brown students. As a middle school administrator, Dr. Smith leads professional development for her staff with an emphasis on culturally responsive teaching, antiracism, and engaging students in social activism. Outside of school, Dr. Smith continues her work in social justice through service in a variety of civic and community service organizations.

Dr. Leann Smith - Consultant

Leann V. Smith, PhD, is a licensed psychologist, researcher, and the founder of The Mending Place, a culturally affirming therapeutic and wellness brand. She has expertise in culture, trauma, stress, and coping. Her research is well-cited and focuses on race, racism, and the ways in which success can be bolstered for marginalized populations. As a licensed psychologist, Dr. Smith has helped a variety of clients cope with a range of mental health concerns. Dr. Smith is an assistant professor of educational psychology with specialized training in school psychology, child and family services, trauma-informed care, and cultural resilience. Dr. Smith serves on the editorial boards for two American Psychological Association (APA) journals and is the convention co-chair for the 2022 APA Convention. Her work has been published in the APA’s flagship journal, American Psychologist, as well as leading journals in subfields of psychology, such as Child Development and the Journal of Counseling Psychology. Dr. Smith considers herself to be a community-engaged scholar, who is intentional about bridging the research-to-practice gap.

Dr. Tracy Steele - Consultant

Dr. Steele earned a Ph.D. in Psychological Studies in Education with an emphasis in Child and Adolescent Development from Stanford University in 2009. She holds two Master's degrees, one in School Counseling and Guidance and the other in Secondary Teaching. While at Stanford, Dr. Steele mentored teachers participating in the Stanford Teacher Education Program (STEP), completing her dissertation on the topic of teacher preparation in linguistically diverse classrooms. Prior to entering the Stanford doctoral program, Dr. Steele held a variety of positions working with secondary students. She has worked as a teacher and/or director in South Africa, Venezuela, Russia, and the U.S. Currently, Dr. Steele serves as the Director of Student Support at Stanford OHS where she focuses on student social and emotional development, wellness, and diversity, equity and inclusion while also conducting research and teaching at the university level.

Dr. Es Swihart - Consultant

A believer in the transformative power of reflection and coaching, Dr. Es Swihart has worked as both an instructional coach and Jungian coach. Her dissertation research on the impact of the teacher-student relationship on student self-worth, learning, and engagement underscores her belief that coaching educators positively benefits students. In over a decade and a half in education, Es has worked with students of all types, represented Sarasota County as their 2018 Teacher of the Year, and served on the board at the Education Foundation of Sarasota County. She is currently the Dean of Middle and Upper School Academics at the Out-of-Door Academy. She earned her doctorate in Education, with a focus on Mind, Brain, and Teaching, at Johns Hopkins University.