Accelerating Learning After COVID-19

Douglas Fisher is a professor and chair of educational leadership at San Diego State University and a teacher leader at Health Sciences High and Middle College. Previously, Fisher was an early intervention teacher and elementary school educator. In 2022, he was inducted into the Reading Hall of Fame by the Literacy Research Association. He has published numerous articles on reading and literacy, leadership, and curriculum design, as well as books such as Your Introduction to PLC+, Welcome to Teaching, How Feedback Works, Teaching Reading, and RIGOR Unveiled. Fisher loves being an educator and hopes to share that passion with others.

Nancy Frey is a professor of educational leadership at San Diego State University and a teacher leader at Health Sciences High and Middle College. Her published titles include The Courage to Learn, The Art and Science of Coaching, How Scaffolding Works, and The Illustrated Guide to Visible Learning. Frey is a credentialed special educator, reading specialist, and administrator in California and learns from teachers and students every day.

Peter DeWitt, Ed.D., is the founder and CEO of the Instructional Leadership Collective. A former K–5 teacher for 11 years and principal for eight years, Peter has spent more than 12 years supporting educators and leadership teams across the United States and internationally. He provides keynotes, workshops, and long-term hybrid professional learning that combines in-person facilitation, virtual coaching, and sustained collaborative inquiry. His work focuses on instructional leadership, collective leader efficacy, and helping leadership teams turn professional learning into meaningful action.

Peter’s work has been adopted by state and provincial agencies, universities, school districts, school boards, regional networks, and ministries of education across North America, Australia, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and the United Kingdom. He is the author, co-author, or contributor to numerous bestselling books, many of which have been translated into multiple languages. Peter co-authors Education Week’s Finding Common Ground column with Michael Nelson, co-hosts Corwin’s Leaders Coaching Leaders podcast, and co-created Education Week’s A Seat at the Table.

Michael Nelson has been an educator for nearly 40 years and continues to consider “teacher” his most important professional title. Throughout his career, he has served as a classroom teacher, principal, district instructional leader, superintendent, and assistant executive director responsible for developing professional learning across the state of Washington. He currently serves as Thought Partner for the Instructional Leadership Collective, where he supports educational leaders through keynotes, workshops, coaching, and long-term hybrid partnerships.

Michael has received numerous state and national honors for his leadership. As a principal, his school received the National Blue Ribbon Award from the United States Department of Education. As a superintendent, he was named Washington State’s 2019 Superintendent of the Year and was elected by his peers to serve as president of the Washington Association of School Administrators. Across every role, Michael’s work has remained grounded in listening, empathy, collaborative leadership, and an unwavering commitment to keeping students at the center of educational decision-making.