Dominique Smith is the principal of Health Sciences High & Middle College in San Diego, California, where he also serves as a culture builder and student advocate. He is passionate about creating school cultures that honor students and build their confidence and competence.

He is also a social worker, mentor, national trainer for the International Institute on Restorative Practices, and member of ASCD's FIT Teaching® (Framework for
Intentional and Targeted Teaching®) Cadre. Smith is the winner of the National School Safety Award from the School Safety Advocacy Council and coauthor many books, including Better Than Carrots or Sticks: Restorative Practices for Positive Classroom Management and Building Equity: Policies and Practices to Empower All Learners.

Nancy Frey is a professor of literacy in educational leadership at San Diego State University where she focuses on policies and practices in literacy and school leadership. Staying true to her belief that it is critical to remain deeply embedded in the life of a school, she also teaches at Health Sciences High and Middle College, an award-winning open-enrollment public school in the City Heights neighborhood of San Diego, which she cofounded with Ian Pumpian and Doug Fisher.

For over two decades, her work has been dedicated to the knowledge and skills of caring teachers and school leaders needed to help students attain their goals and aspirations. Frey’s interests include instructional design, curriculum development, and professional learning. She is a recipient of the Christa McAuliffe Award for Excellence in Teacher Education from the American Association of State Colleges and Universities and the Early Career Award from the Literacy Research Association.

Frey has published many articles and books on literacy, instructional design, curriculum development, and professional learning, including Student Learning Communities: A Springboard for Academic and Social-Emotional Developments.

Ian Pumpian is a professor of educational leadership at San Diego State University and has taught, supervised, and chaired dissertations of several San Diego lead principals and area superintendents.

He cofounded and serves as the CEO/president of Health Sciences High & Middle College. Pumpian was executive director of the City Heights Educational Collaborative where he assumed superintendent-level responsibilities over the educational programs of 5,000 students, professional development for their 300+ teachers, and a comprehensive professional development school that annually involved more than 125,000 hours of SDSU faculty and student credential and advanced degree teaching, research, and practical activities.

Doug Fisher is a professor of educational leadership at San Diego State University, where he focuses on policies and practices in literacy and school leadership. Additionally, he is a teacher leader at Health Sciences High & Middle College, an award-winning, open-enrollment public school in the City Heights neighborhood of San Diego that he cofounded in 2007. His areas of interest include instructional design, curriculum development, and professional learning. A passionate educator, Fisher's work is dedicated to impacting professional learning communities and nurturing the knowledge and skills of caring teachers and school leaders so they may help students improve their learning and attain their goals and aspirations.

Fisher is a member of the California Reading Hall of Fame as well as the recipient of an International Reading Association William S. Grey citation of merit and Exemplary Leader award from the Conference on English Leadership of NCTE. Previously, he was an early intervention teacher and elementary school educator. He has published numerous articles and books on literacy and leadership, teaching and learning, and improving student achievement.