LEARNINGFORWARD - Key Persons
Beth Mulvey - 22 years in public education. I began my teaching career as a middle school and high school business teacher. Later, I began working as an instructional technology coordinator, school-to-work coordinator, and A+ grant coordinator before moving in to secondary administration. I was an associate principal and lead principal at the high school level for eight years combined. Most recently, I have worked in academic and student services at the central office level. I am currently the Director of Curriculum & Instruction with the Grain Valley R-V School District. I am passionate about leadership and helping teachers realize their full potential through high-quality professional learning! I serve as the Secretary on the Learningforward-MO Board of Directors.
Job Titles:
- Representative from the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
Dr. Chris Templeton has been in public education for 28 years teaching 6th grade for a few years, and then serving as an administrator in a number of capacities. She was a primary principal, an elementary principal, a middle school principal, and served as a central office administrator for several years. During 2016-2017, Dr. Templeton served as the Assistant Director for Greater Ozarks Cooperating School Districts (GOCSD), a cooperative of Southwest Missouri School Districts. She is now the Assistant Superintendent of Academics for Willard Public Schools. Currently, she serves as the President of Learning Forward MO. Dr. Templeton's passion is positively impacting lives and growing leaders and teachers to make a positive impact on the lives of students.
Job Titles:
- Representative from the Missouri State Teacher Association
Dr. Deana Ogden has over 30 years serving in public education. She has been an elementary teacher, a building level and district level administrator focusing on the areas of K-12 curriculum, instruction, assessment, and professional development. Ogden currently is the Professional Learning Manager for the Missouri State Teachers Association (MSTA) where she oversees the professional development needs of teachers and schools and serves as an MSTA liaison with several educational stakeholder groups. Ogden holds a Bachelor of Arts from Drury University in Springfield, MO; a Master of Science in Education and a Specialist in Education both with an emphasis in Educational Administration from Missouri State University in Springfield, MO; and a Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, AR. Ogden resides in Ozark, Missouri. She considers herself a life-long learner and values the opportunity to work with great educators throughout the state Missouri.
Job Titles:
- Kansas City Regional Representative
Dr. Eric Flack began his career in public education in 1996. He has served as a middle school social studies teacher, director of instructional technology, executive director of professional development, and currently serves as the executive director of curriculum. In addition, he is an Adjunct Professor for Webster University where he has taught since 2003. His goal is to help teachers be successful to ensure students realize their full potential.
Job Titles:
- Southwest Area Regional Representative
Dr. Garrett Lowder is serving in his 12th year in public education. He began his career as a 4th grade teacher in Nixa Public Schools and soon transitioned to supporting the development of one of Missouri's first STEM elementary schools as a 4th grade teacher in the years that followed. Dr. Lowder has since served as an administrator in multiple roles including assistant principal at John Thomas School of Discovery and Inman Intermediate School in the Nixa School District. He transitioned to the Marshfield R-1 School District as Executive Director of Academic Services in 2019-2020 and presently serves as the district's Assistant Superintendent of Academic Services. Currently Dr. Lowder serves on multiple advisories and committees related to professional learning including the Greater Ozarks Cooperating School District's professional learning advisory, Agency for Teaching Leading and Learning's Advisory, and as a Missouri Learning Forward board member.
Job Titles:
- Vice - Present / President
Dr. Glenna Bult joined Missouri Learning Forward as a Kansas City Regional Representative of the Board of Directors in the spring of 2021. Previous to joining the board, she served on the 2019 National Learning Forward Conference Host Committee. She is also a graduate of the Learning Forward Academy, Class of 2019. Glenna currently serves as the Director of Curriculum and Instruction in the Grain Valley School District. She began her career in education as a high school math teacher and then moved into building administration at the secondary level in the Fort Osage School District and Independence School District.
Job Titles:
- Assistant Superintendent
- President - Elect
- Vice President
Dr.Jason Adams serves as the Assistant Superintendent for Learning in the Webster Groves School District. Prior to his time in Webster Groves, Dr. Adams served as a Principal in the MRH School District, an Associate Instructor at Maryville University and through Mizzou, an Assistant Principal in the Parkway School District and a classroom teacher in the Kirkwood School District. Through Maryville University, Jason has a B.A. and M.A. degree in Elementary Education, an M.A. degree in Educational Leadership, completed graduate programs in literacy and gifted education and completed his Doctorate in Educational Leadership. In addition, Dr. Adams is a proud advocate for educational equity and inclusive learning spaces. He is a certified Seeking Educational Equity and Diversity facilitator, a graduate of the Leadership Academy for Character Education, and a former Chair and Board Director for the St. Louis based organization Educators for Social Justice. Recently, Dr. Adams completed the Learning Forward Leadership Academy and served as the Chairperson for the 2019 National Learning Forward Annual Conference in St. Louis.
Dr. Jody Wood worked 31 years in public education during which time she was a public school teacher in elementary, middle, and high school prior to becoming a curriculum facilitator. While working in the curriculum arena, she served as a secondary language arts coordinator, an instructional specialist/coach, and a school-to-work director. She became an assistant superintendent for curriculum and instructional services at Wentzville School District prior to joining the Educational Leadership Department at Saint Louis University. She is now in her 18th year at SLU where she serves as an associate professor of educational leadership and is the Executive Director of LearningForward-MO. Jody's goal is to develop leaders who make a difference for students.
Job Titles:
- Director of Student Services
- St. Louis Regional Representative
Montize Aaron is a passionate educator who is devoted to supporting students and teachers to reach their fullest potential. Montize is currently the Director of Elementary Education who works with educators and staff members across the Pattonville School District, to provide the best learning environment for students. After spending nearly a decade as an administrator, Montize knows the one thing that truly drives student success is working with a passionate adult who is committed to learning and growing.
Montize has been a Director of Student Services, an Elementary Principal, an Assistant Principal, and an Elementary Teacher. He is also a part-time National Faculty Member for the Buck Institute. Montize has a Bachelor's degree from University of Central Missouri in Elementary Education, a Master of Science degree from Lindenwood University in School Leadership, and completed his Doctorate degree from Maryville University in School Administration.
He has been happily married for more than 15 years to his wife Terrilyn. They have one son, Myles.
Job Titles:
- Elementary Principal
- Northeast Area Regional Representative
Dr. Stacy Quinn serves as the Elementary Principal in the Macon Co. R-1 School District. She began her career in education as a classroom teacher in second grade and fifth grade in the Brookfield R-III School District. Her administration career began when she assumed the role of Elementary Assistant Principal in the Macon Co. R-I School District, eventually moving into the principal's position. Dr. Quinn holds a B.A. degree in Elementary Education from Mizzou, an M.A in Elementary Administration from Northwest Missouri State University, and Specialist and Doctorate degrees in Educational Leadership from William Woods University. Her doctoral dissertation researched professional development in rural areas and provided her with significant insight into various professional development models and how teachers and principals view quality professional develoment practices. Dr. Quinn's career experience has focused on several different things, including at-risk learners, trauma-informed practices, and professional development.
Dr. Tim Roth enjoys collaborating with others to create an environment promoting continuous improvement and learning for all. Tim began his career in public education as a third and fourth-grade teacher. He served as a primary and elementary principal for over twelve years, seven years as an Assistant Superintendent and is the current Interim Superintendent at Southern Boone County R-I Schools. Focus areas for Dr. Roth in his tenure at Southern Boone include: developing a guaranteed and viable district curriculum, utilizing assessment data to make informed instructional decisions, promoting quality professional development for all staff and creating a robust infrastructure for technology-enhanced education. As a regional representative for the Missouri Learning Forward Board, Tim looks forward to learning alongside others and increasing opportunities for high-quality professional development across the state.
Job Titles:
- Southeast Missouri Regional Representative
Job Titles:
- Director of the Central Regional Professional Development Center
- Representative from the Regional Professional Development Centers
Julie Blaine serves as the Director of the Central Regional Professional Development Center. She has held this role for over 20 years. Prior to joining the Central RPDC, Julie was an educator in the Blue Springs School District. Julie served as a member of the National Learning Forward Board of Trustees from 2011-2015. In 2014, she served as the President of the National Learning Forward Board. In addition to her service at the national level, Julie has served Missouri Learning Forward through the years as a Board Member and Past President.
Mrs. Laura Oyler serves as the Primary Principal in the Oak Grove R-VI School District. She serves over 500 students Pre-Kindergarten through second grade. She began her educational career teaching first grade in the Oak Grove R-VI School District in 2002 and then moved over to administration in 2006. Mrs. Oyler holds a B.A. degree in Elementary Education from MIssouri State University, an M.A. in Elementary Administration form Missouri State University, and a Specialist degree in Educational Leadership from the University of Central Missouri. She has been an active participant in both the Central and KC MAESP organizations.
Job Titles:
- Representative from the Missouri National Education Association
Samantha Hayes works every day to center the learning and growth that is possible for each of us as individuals. She is the Teaching and Learning Director at Missouri NEA who comes to Learning Forward with a wealth of experience in her time as a teacher in the classroom and as a leader in the buildings and districts she has served. She has taught 9-12 English in rural, suburban, and urban settings while also serving in many leadership roles that focused on Professional Development, Standards Referenced Grading, Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS), Equity, Professional Learning Community (PLC), School Culture, AVID, and more. She received her B.S.Ed. in English from Missouri State University, M.Ed. in Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis from Mizzou and EdS in Learning Technologies and Design from Mizzou.