Joanne Picone-Zocchia has worked in school, district, regional, and statewide programs, focusing on the design and implementation of teacher induction programs, portfolio assessment systems, and standards-based curriculum and assessment design. In addition, she is actively engaged in exploring connections between systems thinking skills and processes and issues of systemic educational reform. She assists schools, districts and educational organizations in the areas of strategic planning, visioning, restructuring, and organizational development. A teacher herself for 22 years, she has a background in elementary, secondary, and special education.

Giselle O. Martin-Kniep was the president of Learner-Centered Initiatives, Ltd., an educational consulting organization specializing in regional and school-based curriculum and assessment. Her work focused on building inclusive and collaborative, cross-cultural communities where students and teachers were encouraged to share practices and learn with one another. She earned a master's in international development followed by a PhD in education and political science from Stanford University. She served as a program evaluator, curriculum auditor, researcher, and teacher educator. As a consultant, she worked with more than 500 schools and districts both nationally and internationally in the areas of alternative assessment, student-driven curriculum design, school change, and action research and directed comprehensive, multiyear professional development programs for K–12 teachers. She also worked as a consultant for the International Baccalaureate and the New York State Department of Education, taught in the School of Education at Adelphi University, and served as president and CEO of the Center for the Study of Expertise in Teaching and Learning.