|
Barbara Pedersen President
|
 |
| Barbara Pedersen |
|
As Founder and Director of C.L.A.S.S., Barbara Pedersen is an educational leader, classroom educator and motivating force for thousands of educators across the country. Her enthusiasm for teaching, perseverance in improving education, and drive to serve others is overtly expressed through her delivery. Barbara realized early in her professional career the importance of providing meaningful curriculum, experiences and opportunities to allow students to reach far beyond their potential. Over the last 20 years, she has manifested her beliefs and practices into a comprehensive curriculum model called C.L.A.S.S., Connecting Learning Assures Successful Students. As an expert in brain-based learning, Barbara strives to help educators discover themselves as professionals and establish the power of teaching through the C.L.A.S.S. Model. As a recipient of several awards including the Christa McAuliffe Fellowship and author of educational resources, Barbara continues her mission of serving the educational community to better the lives of our future generations.
|
|
Jim McMillan Vice President Curriculum & Instruction
|
 |
| Jim McMillan |
|
As a classroom educator, Jim has taught across primary and intermediate grades including special education using the C.L.A.S.S. Model with tremendous success. His enthusiasm, storytelling and positive delivery has made him a “highly-in-demand” C.L.A.S.S. presenter across the United States. Jim is an alumnus of Indiana University East with extensive training in literacy education. He enjoys being a husband to his wife Amy and a father to his two daughters. Jim spends many hours on the sidelines of the softball field as a dad and a fan. When there is extra time, he loves to read, write, and express himself through art.
|
|
Jeff Pedersen, PhD Advisor
|
 |
| Jeff Pedersen |
|
Jeff Pedersen has served the educational community for over 15 years. Jeff earned his B.A. at Indiana University, M.Ed. and Ph.D. at University of Louisville. He has authored and co-authored several articles, CDs, and videos on curriculum, leadership and character development for classroom application and continues his work in helping educators, students and the educational community achieve success through the C.L.A.S.S. philosophy. Jeff’s research and scholarship interests include the exploration of leadership distribution; diffusion of instructional practices; 21st century workforce development; and instructional design and development. Jeff lives in the Indianapolis area with his wife, Valerie, and their two daughters.
|
 |
| Inga Randle |
|
Inga Randle began her educational journey as an assistant in the reading resource room in the Western Boone School Corporation. Later graduating from Indiana University, she began teaching first grade at Perry Worth Elementary followed by fifth grade at Central Elementary in the Lebanon Community Schools. While teaching across the hall from Barbara Pedersen, Inga witnessed the power of brain compatible teaching as students were engaged, eager and empowered. She began honing her skills and eventually began coaching and training educators in brain-based techniques. Inga has been with C.L.A.S.S. since its inception in 1990. She lives on a farm south of Lebanon, Indiana with her husband, Dave, their oldest son, Jon, his wife Tiffany and their children. Their daughter April lives in Lizton with her two sons, Brad and Cory. Inga’s youngest son, Marshall, is a freshman at Indiana University.
|
|
Ruby Butler-Fincher Cadre Coach
|
 |
| Ruby Butler-Fincher |
|
Ruby is a native of Indianapolis and has spent over the last 10 years dedicated to improving the lives of young people through education. She believes that educators have the power to inspire and change lives on a daily basis. Ruby states, “It is my sincere desire to use my influence, creative talents and gifts to positively impact a school’s culture... to produce effective change... to make a difference in the community… to change lives!” Ruby is an alumnus of Indiana University. In her spare time, she enjoys being with her two sons and actively participating in her church.
|
|
Chris Froberg Cadre Coach
|
 |
| Chris Froberg |
|
Chris Froberg is a passionate educator and enjoys working with teachers and students. Chris is a native of Indianapolis and attended Indiana University of Bloomington. She taught both Primary and Intermediate grades in Pike Township before joining C.L.A.S.S. in 2008. The C.L.A.S.S. Model has been her core both inside and outside the classroom. She currently works with the C.L.A.S.S. Student Leadership Ambassador Program and loves seeing how the program is changing school environments across the state. Chris enjoys spending time with family and friends. She keeps busy with their family of three children.
|
|
Jan Holsopple Cadre Coach
|
 |
| Jan Holsopple |
|
Jan Holsopple is currently the guidance counselor at Parkside Elementary School in Goshen, IN. She serves on the professsional development team, coordinates CLASS trainings and coachings, and leads the Student Leadership Ambassador Program at Parkside. Jan has 14 years of teaching experience in the classroom and worked with C.L.A.S.S. as a coach and trainer for six years. She has a bachelor of education degree from Goshen College and a Masters in Education from Ball Sate University. Jan is married and has three children. She lives with her family on a small farm outside of Goshen, IN. She enjoys attending her childrren's sporting events, being involved in community events, and spending time with family and friends.
|
 |
| Carl Harvey |
|
Carl A. Harvey II serves as the school librarian at North Elementary School in Noblesville, Indiana. As a graduate from Ball State University and Indiana University, Carl has been active in both state and national professional organizations presenting at a variety of conferences and serving in a variety of leadership roles. Carl is a published author in various professional library journals and three professional books for school library professionals and has been awarded Outstanding New Library Media Specialist (1999), Outstanding Media Specialist (2007) and the Peggy L. Pfeiffer Service Award (2007) from AIME. The library media program at North Elementary School has also been recognized with the Blue Ribbon for Exemplary School Media Programs in Indiana (2005) and the National School Library Media Program of the Year Award (2007). In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his nieces and nephews.
|
|
Cindy Anderson-McClellan Cadre Coach
|
 |
| Cindy Anderson-McClellan |
|
Cindy Anderson-McLelland is the Preschool Coordinator for the Edgewood Early Childhood Center in Ellettsville, Indiana. She loves reading scripture, exploring the outdoors, and cooking for friends and family. Most days of the week, you will find her -- either fishing, boating, gardening, or ice-skating. Cindy is a proud C.L.A.S.S. Cadre Staff Member, working to promote "brain-based teaching" methods. Recently, she was honored with a Franklin Initiative Educator of the Year Award. Cindy travels to different schools around the state of Indiana to present C.L.A.S.S. strategies to other educators. During the summers of 2009, 2010, and 2011, she presented at the C.L.A.S.S. Summer Institute in Indianapolis. She has also presented at C.L.A.S.S. support team workshops; helping C.L.A.S.S. educators learn new strategies and brain compatible teaching activities. This past summer Cindy presented at the National American Heritage Girls Conference in Cincinnati, Ohio; to talk with Tween-age girls about self-esteem and leadership.
|
 |
| Tom Hundley |
|
Tom is an Academic Instructional Coach for Westfield-Washington Schools in Westfield, Indiana, as well as, an educational consultant for David Matteson and Associates. His presentations and coaching sessions allow him to draw from career experiences from teaching in diverse classroom settings in Atlanta, Tennessee and Indianapolis. During his tenure, he has taught all grade levels K-5, as well as, served as an assistant principal, director of an early childhood learning center, and literacy coach. Tom is passionate about working with educators to assist in facilitating structures to assist in student success. Continuity, creativity, and community, as well as, well-developed structures and expectations are foundational to successful classroom environments.
|
|
Theresa Meyer Cadre Coach
|
 |
| Theresa Meyer |
|
Theresa Knipstein Meyer teaches as a professor in education at Butler University with student teachers and method classes in special education. She is also the director of the Alternative Accelerated Program in Special Education at Butler. She currently serves on the Milken Education Teacher Advisory Council for Indiana and the national Special Olympics committee on collaboration. Theresa has been involved with CLASS since 1998. She has been a Digital Age literacy coach working with diverse learners and the teachers who impact their lives in the Indianapolis area as well as help open a brain compatible elementary school in her past. Theresa is married with two girls. Theresa enjoys working at the girls' schools, reading, spending time with family and friends, and cooking in her spare time.
|
 |
| Karen Geiger |
|
Karen Geiger has been an elementary teacher for 25 years and currently serves as a principal at Holy Cross Lutheran School. She also had the opportunity to teach at Franklin College, present for the Department of Education and work with Dr. Dorothy Rich as a MegSkills trainer and writer for the MegaSkills in the Classroom Guide for teachers. She has been involved with CLASS since 1991 as a participant, learning club leader and coach. Karen was an undergraduate at Purdue University and a graduate student at Indiana University. She is married with four children and resides in Indianapolis, Indiana.
|
Aaron Roberson Cadre Coach
|
| Aaron Roberson currently resides in Carmel, Indiana. He received his Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education from Purdue University and has his Master's Degree in Educational Administration from Ball State University. Aaron has taught first and second grade in the past and is currently an assistant principal at Stonegate Elementary School in Zionsville, IN. Beyond working and presenting with C.L.A.S.S., Aaron has been active in the educational world, graduating from the Teacher Leadership Academy, serving as a project finalist and presenter at the National ASQ Conference, and facilitating the instructional coaches for Zionsville Schools, to name a few. Aaron has been awarded Purdue's Outstanding Future Educator Award, the Indiana Principal Leadership Academy's Outstanding Aspiring Principal Award, and received the Extraordinary Treasures Teacher Award.
|
|
