About Just ASK
Consultants
Just ASK ConsultantsContact us to schedule a Just ASK consultant. Paula Rutherford
Paula’s presentations of note include Meeting the Needs of Diverse Learners® and Mentoring in the 21st Century® Institutes in Washington, D.C., Chicago, Los Angeles, Orlando, and Dallas. She is proud to have been a member of the faculty of the Association of California School Administrators (ACSA) Principals’ Center Summer Institutes at UCLA for the past 16 years. Paula has led pre-conferences at Learning Forward’s (NSDC) Conferences, ACSA’s Annual Conferences and Leadership Summits, the Kentucky Association of School Administrators’ Annual Conference, and keynotes at the Dallas Public School Mentoring Symposium, the Virginia Staff Development Council’s Annual Conference, and the Rigor, Relevance, and Relationships Leadership Conference hosted by Cypress-Fairbanks ISD, Texas. Her work this past year included The International School of Tbilisi, Republic of Georgia and Educare, the Singapore Teachers Union, Singapore. Paula holds a Master of Education with an emphasis on Special Education from the University of North Florida, and has completed post-graduate course work in administration and educational leadership at the University of Virginia, Virginia Polytechnical Institute and State University, and George Mason University. Additionally, she holds a Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education from the University of Oklahoma. She was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Education by MacMurray College, Jacksonville, Illinois, as well as the Outstanding Achievement Award for Excellence in Education by the College of Education at the University of Oklahoma. She has been a history and social studies teacher, a physical education teacher, a kindergarten teacher, a special education teacher, coordinator of special education programs, a school administrator, and professional development specialist in school districts across the country. Contact Paula at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or 800-940-5434. Michael DiSalvo
Mike made a presentation titled TIPS to NETS*T: Bringing Professional Development Together at the 2011 ISTE Annual Conference in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In this session, he explained the development of TIPS (Technology Integration Practical Strategies) and how ACPS developed a summer workshop that uses face-to-face, blended learning, online learning, and collaborative teams. He and Kyle Dunbar made a presentation titled Targeting Student Results with NETS*T at the 2010 ISTE Annual Conference in Denver, Colorado. As a certified NETS*T (Educational Technology Standards for Teachers) evaluator, Mike and two colleagues have led two cohorts of ACPS teachers to NETS*T certification and three hours of graduate credit from James Madison University. In 2011, Mike completed the Johns Hopkins University (JHU) Graduate Certificate Program in School Administration and Supervision. Watch a digital story produced by Mike as part of his work in that program on YouTube. He earned a Master of Education in Mathematics and a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics from Boston University. Contact Mike at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or 800-940-5434. John Elwell
Sarah HartmanSarah Hartman, an ASK Group Consultant, lives in the Washington, D.C. area. Sarah and Janet Greet, Director of Professional Development in Prince William County Public Schools, Virginia made a presentation at the Learning Forward (NSDC) Annual Conference in Atlanta. Sarah is currently is on the staff of Buckland Mills Elementary School in PWCS. Before returning to school-based work, she was Director of Consulting Services for Just ASK. Prior to joining Just ASK, Sarah was a Professional Development Specialist in Prince William County Schools (PWCS), Manassas, Virginia. In this position, Sarah facilitated the design process for a new division-wide standards-based supervision and evaluation system, supervised the Just ASK Certified Local Training (CLT) Program of 30 CLTs who taught Why Didn't I Learn This in College?® (aka Teaching and Learning in the 21st Century) to all new teachers in PWCS, and led the redevelopment of the PWCS mentor program based on Mentoring in the 21st Century®. She also coordinated programming and state funding for the PWCS schools identified as underperforming by the Virginia Department of Education and collaborated in the creation of multifaceted professional development supporting the organizational development of ten thousand employees. Sarah earned her undergraduate degree in Elementary and Special Education at Purdue University. She has also served as a board member of the Virginia Staff Development Council. Contact Sarah at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or 800-940-5434. Harriet Hopkins
Brenda Kaylor
Prior to joining Just ASK, Brenda was the Director of Professional Development in St. Vrain Valley School District, Longmont, Colorado. Before assuming that position, she was Director of Professional Development in Brighton Public Schools, Colorado. Brenda holds a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education from Adams State College, a Master of Arts in Elementary Education from the University of Northern Colorado, and Professional Certification in Educational Administration from the University of Denver. Brenda is an active member of the National Staff Development Council (NSDC), and has worked extensively with their Academies. Articles by Brenda have been published in JSD, the journal of Learning Forward (NSDC), and in Colorado Staff Development Council publications. She is a co-author of Creating a Culture for Learning and the editor of Results-Based Professional Development Models originally published by St.Vrain Valley School District and now available online at www.justaskpublications.com.Brenda is fluent in Spanish. Contact Brenda at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or 800-940-5434. Heather Clayton Kwit
Heather is a co-author of Creating a Culture for Learning and author of the Just ASK e-newsletter Making the Common Core Come Alive! Her book Great Mini-Lessons for Teaching Genre Writing was published by Scholastic in 2001. Heather earned a Master of Science in Special Education from Nazareth College, Rochester, New York and a Bachelor of Science in Education from West Virginia University. She holds certifications in New York state as a school district administrator and supervisor, elementary education, and special education. Contact Heather at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or 800-940-5434. Julie McVicker
Prior to joining Just ASK, she was the Director of Priority Schools in St. Vrain Valley School District, Longmont, Colorado. Her responsibilities in that position include coordinating the K-5 Literacy Department, supervising elementary principals, working with schools on closing the achievement gap, and leading systemic change. Earlier, she was principal of elementary schools in St. Vrain Valley School District, Adams County School District, and Burlington School District, Colorado. She has also served as a District Migrant/ELPA Education Coordinator, Gifted and Talented Coordinator, and staff developer. Bilingual education and ESL strategies are areas of focus in Julie’s work. She earned a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Northern Colorado, Greeley, Colorado, and Master of Arts at Western State College, Gunnison, Colorado. Contact Julie at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or 800-940-5434. Bruce Oliver
Bruce has made multiple presentations at the Virginia ASCD and VSDC Conferences. He delivered keynote addresses at two Creating a Culture for Learning® Summits in Las Cruces, New Mexico, and the Bremen County Public Schools District 228, Illinois, Opening of School Institute. He also made two presentations at the AMLE (National Middle School Association) Conference in Baltimore, Maryland. He is scheduled to make the keynote address as the VASCD Fall Conference in September 2012. He holds a Master of Arts in Education from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Anthropology from the College of William and Mary. Subscribe to Just for the ASKing! Contact Bruce at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or 800-940-5434. Ronni Reed
Additionally, Ronni has been president of the New Jersey Staff Development (Learning Forward), and president the New Jersey Career Development Association; she has served on four New Jersey State Advisory Boards on teaching, mentoring, alternate route, and transforming schools. Other professional development responsibilities have included the design and implementation of a New Jersey State model for delivery or survival/life skills and chair of the Monmouth County Professional Development Board overseeing 54 district professional development plans. Ronni earned a Master of Art in Counseling from Michigan State University and a Bachelor of Science in Education from Temple University. She holds certification in elementary education, student personnel services, and supervision. Contact Ronni at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or 800-940-5434. Sherri Stephens-Carter
Sherri holds a Master of Education from Colorado State University and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Northern Colorado. Sherri’s professional experiences include not only extensive leadership in assessment but eight years as Mathematics Coordinator in St. Vrain. Sherri was most recently the interim principal at the Carbon Valley Academy Charter Schools in Frederick, Colorado. Additionally, she served as President of the Colorado Association of Educational Evaluators, served on the Colorado Standards Committee that developed the math standards for Colorado, and taught graduate courses at Adams State College, Colorado State University, and the University of Colorado, Denver. Contact Sherri at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or 800-940-5434. Louise Thompson
Prior to joining Just ASK, Louise was the Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction and Director of Guidance for Brookline Public Schools, Massachusetts. Earlier in her career, she was an instructor for Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts, and Director of Guidance and Director of Elementary Summer School for Dubuque Community Schools, Iowa. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics from MacMurray College, a Master of Education in Guidance and Counseling from the University of Illinois, and a Doctorate of Education in Counseling Psychology from Boston University. She also holds an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from MacMurray College. Contact Louise at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or 800-940-5434. Theresa Doherty West
Theresa was presented the prestigious Robert R. Spillane Leadership Award at the FCPS 2010 Leadership Conference. This award honors outstanding FCPS employees who, through their leadership, “keep the main thing the main thing,” making a significant impact on the academic achievement of students. She was also a FCPS Certified Local Trainer (CLT) and co-led Just ASK’s Leading the Learning® workshop series for practicing principals. Earlier administrative positions include serving as assistant principal at Glasgow Middle School, FCPS, Virginia, and student activities director at George Mason High School, Falls Church City Public Schools, Virginia. Besides her work as a school and district level administrator, a teacher of Spanish, ESL, civics, math, and a professional developer, she brings to her consulting work many years of experience working with children of poverty, extensive cross-cultural experience including eleven years living overseas, and bilingual Spanish/English fluency. Theresa made a presentation titled “ Leading the Learning and Creating High Expectations for Student Achievement” at the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP) Annual Conference in Houston, Texas. She also made multiple presentations at the Just ASK Creating a Culture for Learning® Summits in Las Cruces, New Mexico. Most recently she and Maria Eck, current principal of McNair Elementary School, FCPS, made a presentation at the VAESP Conference titled “Taming Those Difficult Conversations.” Theresa served as a principal mentor for NAESP and has worked with schools in Georgia, New York, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Virginia. During 2012-2013, she will be mentoring new principals in FCPS. Theresa is a co-author of Creating a Culture for Learning, a text that districts are using to build productive learning communities. The book features an in-depth look at the work she led at McNair Elementary School. Theresa earned a Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership and Policy and a Master of Arts in Education from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies with a bilingual/bicultural emphasis from California State University at Chico, California. Contact Theresa at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or 800-940-5434. Interested in scheduling a Just ASK Consultant to help your school or district? |