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Laurence Steinberg, Ph.D. is the world’s leading expert on adolescence. Currently, he is the Distinguished University Professor of Psychology at Temple University, in Philadelphia. He is the author of approximately 400 articles and essays on development during the teenage years, and the author or editor of 17 books, including The 10 Basic Principles of Good Parenting and Adolescence, the leading college textbook on the subject. His latest book is Age of Opportunity: Lessons From the New Science of Adolescence.

Denise Pope, Ph.D., is a Senior Lecturer at the Stanford University Graduate School of Education, where she specializes in student engagement, curriculum studies, qualitative research methods, and service learning. She is co-founder of Challenge Success, a research and intervention project that provides schools and families the tools they need to raise healthy, motivated students. Challenge Success is an expanded version of the SOS: Stressed-Out Students project that Dr. Pope founded and directed from 2003-2008.

Marc Brackett, Ph.D., is Director of the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence. His research focuses the role of emotional intelligence in decision making, relationships, mental health, and both academic and workplace performance, as well as the impact of emotional intelligence training. He has published over 100 scholarly articles and is the recipient of numerous awards, including the Joseph E. Zins Award for his research on social and emotional learning.

Jesse Payne, Ed.D.,  is currently serving as the Director of Undergraduate Teacher Education at Corban University in Salem, Oregon and the Director of Education at the Amen Clinics.  He is a perfect example of someone who relied on his brain power and education to change his life.  He holds a B.A. in business and an M.A. in education from Vanguard University of Southern California, and earned his doctorate degree in education with a specialization in K-12 leadership from the University of Southern California (USC).

Margaret Heritage joined WestEd Senior Scientist in October 2014 after 12 years as an Assistant Director at the National Center for Research on Evaluation, Standards and Student Testing (CRESST) UCLA. Heritage’s current work is focused on formative assessment and how to support teachers’ effective implementation at scale, and on language learning progressions to ground assessment of English language learners. Her most recent book English Language Learners and the New Standards, is co-authored with Aida Walqui and Robert Linquanti and is published by Harvard Education Press. 

Chris Minnich was appointed Executive Director of the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) in December, 2012. As Executive Director, Chris has ushered in a new strategic plan in which CCSSO is committed making sure all students participating in our public education system – regardless of background – graduate prepared for college, careers, and life. 

Richard Cohn-Lee obtained his undergraduate degree in Chemistry from Princeton University and his J.D. from Northwestern School of Law of Lewis & Clark College. Rich’s prior legal experience includes serving as a judicial clerk for the Honorable David Brewer and Ancer Haggerty and as a litigation attorney with the firm of Stoel Rives.

Deb Reed is an educational consultant working with school systems throughout North and Central America, Europe and Asia. He consulting work focuses on developing teacher leadership and instructional expertise with new and experienced teachers, the design and implementation of supervision and evaluation systems, understanding and steering systemic change, developing alternative certification programs for teachers, organizational development, school culture, and leadership.  She brings to her work more than 40 years of experience in education.

Mary Ann Haley-Speca is an educational consultant working with school systems throughout North and Central America, Europe and Asia. He consulting work focuses on developing teacher leadership and instructional expertise with new and experienced teachers, the design and implementation of supervision and evaluation systems, understanding and steering systemic change, developing alternative certification programs for teachers, organizational development, school culture, and leadership.  She brings to her work more than 40 years of experience in education.