Meet the Team
One of the most-liked aspects of the ERG work is the professional, high-level consultation schools receive from our coaches.
Meet the people who make this happen.
Alice Oakley
Co-Founder
Areas of Expertise: Instruction and Human Behavior, Curriculum Development, Differentiation, Instructional Standards, Writing
Fun Fact: I used to drive the train at the Museum of Life and Science in Durham.
Educational Belief: We learn by doing.
Hope Reagan
Co-Founder
Areas of Expertise: Best Practices in Reading Assessments, Language and Literacy, National Research, Guided Math Service Development, Curriculum Development
Fun Fact: I am married to Ronald Reagan.
Educational Belief: I believe learning is a lifelong process.
Dr. Amy Nail
Areas of Expertise: Upper Elementary & Middle Grades Instruction, New Teacher Support, Laney Sammons’ Guided Math, Digital Learning, Sue Brookhart’s Design for Classroom Assessment, Educational Leadership
Fun Fact: I have two Cocker Spaniels, Charlie & Marlie.
Educational Belief: I believe movement and accountable talk should be part of every K-12 lesson.
April Greenwood
Areas of Expertise: Literacy, Differentiation, Sue Brookhart’s Design for Classroom Assessment, Laney Sammons’ Guided Math
Fun Fact: I am an obsessive recycler.
Educational Belief: I believe small group instruction is truly the answer to most problems in education!
Carol Lyerly
Areas of Expertise: Guided Reading, Sue Brookhart’s Design for Classroom Assessment
Fun Fact: I am a Guardian ad Litem volunteer and find fulfillment in advocating in court for abused and neglected children.
Educational Belief: Students need plenty of opportunities to have ownership over their own learning and need to know that you value their opinions!
Carrie Haberkost
Areas of Expertise: Instructional Coaching, Upper Elementary and Middle School Instruction, Writing, Curriculum Design
Fun Fact: My 2 little girls and I love to foster kittens through the Humane Society in the late spring and summer.
Educational Belief: I believe that we learn by doing and learn best from someone we know cares about us.
Dorie Hall
Areas of Expertise: K-12 Math, Instructional Coaching, Laney Sammons’ Guided Math
Fun Fact: I’m obsessed with unicorns and my favorite hobby is fishing with my dad.
Educational Belief: Empowering teachers as leaders while acknowledging their strengths is one of the most effective and sustainable school improvement strategies.
Dr. Heather Horton
Areas of Expertise: Personalized Learning, K-12 Science, Technology Integration, Digital Learning, Sue Brookhart’s Design for Classroom Assessment, Laney Sammons’ Guided Math
Fun Fact: I love animals and live on a mini-farm with dogs, cats, chickens, horses, goats, a pot-belly pig, and occasionally rescue wild animals.
Educational Belief: We must prepare students for their future, not our past.
Dr. Jo Beth Clark
Areas of Expertise: K-12 Literacy, New Teacher Support, Unpacking Standards, School Leadership, Laney Sammons’ Guided Math
Fun Fact: I have five children; three of which were in the same grade. I enjoy biking, swimming, reading, and trying to keep up with all five of the kids!
Educational Belief: I believe in the power of building positive relationships to support learning.
Jonathan Ball
Areas of Expertise: 6-12 Literacy, New Teacher Support, Unpacking Standards, Instructional Coaching, Digital Learning
Fun Fact: Prior to education, I was a professional SCUBA diver, bouncer, and game designer. Not all at once.
Educational Belief: I believe that empowered teachers empower students.
Katherine Church
Areas of Expertise: Instructional Coaching, Guided Reading, Laney Sammons’ Guided Math
Fun Fact: I love swimming, walking my dog, reading and spending time with family and friends.
Educational Belief: The most learning happens in classrooms where positive relationships are built.
Kristin Gallagher
Areas of Expertise: K-5 Instruction, Guided Reading, Writing, Instructional Coaching
Fun Fact: My husband and I have raised five children and survived. I love to read, knit and walk my dog. I also play street hockey on Saturdays and love to ski.
Educational Belief: Children have important insight and when their ideas and thoughts are validated, they gain confidence. This helps them realize their abilities and become critical thinkers.
Lisa Kelly
Areas of Expertise: Laney Sammons’ Guided Math, K-5 Literacy, New Teacher Support, Unpacking Standards
Fun Fact: I can speak Gibberish (yes, really). I am also a pastor’s wife and mom to three precious children and a golden retriever.
Educational Belief: I believe nurture and love are the key components to helping children succeed in education.
Melissa Cunane
Areas of Expertise: K-12 Literacy, New Teacher Support, Sue Brookhart’s Design for Classroom Assessment, Digital Learning
Fun Fact: I enjoy spending time in nature. In my free time you can find me on the trails with my dogs.
Educational Belief: Learning is a vulnerable act. When students feel like a valued member of the classroom community, they are more inclined to take the risks necessary to stretch and grow.
Dr. Micha Jeffries
Areas of Expertise: K-12 Literacy, New Teacher Support, Unpacking Standards, Digital Learning, Laney Sammons’ Guided Math
Fun Fact: I love cruising with family and friends in my free time.
Educational Belief: In order to have a true democracy that engages all citizens, literacy should be an absolute right.
Michelle Himmelman
Areas of Expertise: Differentiation, Laney Sammons’ Guided Math, K-12 Literacy, New Teacher Support, Debbie Miller’s Framework for Independent Reading, Digital Learning
Fun Fact: I enjoy outdoor adventures and the adventures of raising a high school daughter.
Educational Belief: An educator’s influence can reach well beyond the walls of a classroom, thus impacting the trajectory of a child’s life forever.
Dr. Myra Cox
Areas of Expertise: Educational Leadership, Differentiation, K-12 Literacy, New Teacher Support, Global Education
Fun Fact: I enjoy singing and traveling in my free time.
Educational Belief: Every student deserves equal access to a high quality education, and every teacher deserves the tools they need to prepare students to be good stewards and citizens of the society they will inevitably inherit.
Tina Brinkley
Areas of Expertise: Laney Sammons’ Guided Math, Exceptional Learners, Social-Emotional Learning
Fun Fact: I enjoy reading, being outdoors, and serving children & families in my community.
Educational Belief: Humans are hardwired to learn best through relationships.
Dr. Sandra Webb
Areas of Expertise: K-12 Literacy, New Teacher Support, Digital Learning, Sue Brookhart’s Design for Classroom Assessment, Debbie Miller’s Framework for Independent Reading
Fun Fact: I enjoy spending time traveling and visiting with my family, reading and writing, daily walks, and yoga with meditation.
Educational Belief: Literacy is a critical quality that allows us to communicate with others, to learn, and to solve problems in our world.
Sheri Golden Perry
Areas of Expertise: K-12 Literacy, New Teacher Support, Unpacking Standards, Sue Brookhart's Design for Classroom Assessment, Digital Learning, Laney Sammons’ Guided Math
Fun Fact: I have twin boys and both of my best friends, who are not married to one another, both have twins as well.
Educational Belief: All students are academically, socially, and emotionally gifted, and it is our responsibility to help them uncover their unique gifts.
Victoria Brownlee
Areas of Expertise: K-12 Literacy, New Teacher Support, Laney Sammons’ Guided Math, Sue Brookhart’s Design for Classroom Assessment, Digital Learning
Fun Fact: I love to challenge myself in the gym with cross-fit type exercises, and practice self-care through personal growth experiences and meditation.
Educational Belief: I believe children need to be taught how to think, not what to think.