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.

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.

Stefani Hite is a professional learning education consultant who specializes in supporting systemic educational change initiatives in schools, districts, learning associations, and state departments. Her expertise includes building teacher and administrator instructional capacity, standards-based grading practices, curriculum development, and strategic assessment strategies. She designs, manages, and implements leadership sessions to encourage educators to push their practice in meaningful ways.

Hite is a member of ASCD's FIT Teaching® (Framework for Intentional and Targeted Teaching®) Cadre. She is founder of Tigris Solutions and associate at McTighe & Associates. Prior to that, Hite served as deputy head (principal) of a preK–13 international school in the United Kingdom, curriculum director for a countywide support institution, curriculum supervisor for several school districts in Pennsylvania, and a classroom teacher in elementary, middle, and high school. Significant accomplishments in her consultant work include the design and implementation of a statewide teacher evaluation process in New Jersey and the design and facilitation of elementary and middle school reforms.