Powerful Teaching and Learning into Practice

Our Leadership Team

Alison Olzendam, Ph.D., Founder and President

Dr. Alison Olzendam is the President and Founder of the Powerful Teaching and Learning Group. She currently serves as an adjunct professor at Washington State University, and has been affiliated with the Principal Certification Program for 8 years. Alison has been a trainer for the Washington School Research Center, presenting Seminars at OSPI conferences, and numerous other conferences and is certified as an Extraordinary Leader Trainer in the Zenger-Folkman leadership series. In addition Alison has worked with schools and school districts across the state, providing research and support to raise student achievement. She has been involved in several research projects in the State of Washington.

Alison has been a classroom teacher and principal. She last served as principal at Mead Middle School in Mead, Washington. Mead Middle School received one of the first Gates Foundation grants to schools. Mead Middle was named as one of the “100 Highly Successful Middle Schools” in the United States in 2000. Alison was the recipient of the Milken Award in Education in 1997, is a member of the Josten’s Renaissance Educator Hall of Fame, and a Washington State Exemplary Educator. Her work in promoting tolerance and respect for all cultures and backgrounds earned her an award from the Anti-Defamation League.

Heather Knight, M. Ed., Vice President

Heather Knight holds an M. Ed. in Professional Development and currently serves as the Vice President of the Powerful Teaching and Learning Group where she designs and delivers training to meet the unique, advanced training needs of instructional leaders, administrators, coaches and professional learning communities. In conjunction with the development of these programs she has co-authored a Professional Learning Communities Guide and developed and produced extensive tools to facilitate the coaching process, guide collaborative team processes, and aid in the successful implementation of the STAR observation protocol in schools throughout Washington State.

Since receiving her Coaching Certification training from the Hudson Institute of Santa Barbara, Heather has spent the last several years coaching professionals and executives including administrators, principals, teachers, and coaches. In addition, she is certified as an Extraordinary Leader Trainer in the Zenger-Folkman leadership series and conducts ongoing leadership workshops throughout the Pacific Northwest.

Heather is an adjunct faculty member of Seattle Pacific University and has been a classroom teacher and elementary school principal. She is a member in good standing with the International Coaching Federation.

Mickey Venn Lahmann, M.Ed., Senior Associate

Mickey Lahmann brings over thirty years of experience as a Washington state educator and leader. She has worked in districts large and small - as a teacher in Tumwater schools and as a principal for the Adna, Olympia and Puyallup School Districts. Mickey also served as Director for K-12 Student Learning in the Puyallup School District. Combined with her early experiences in Washington D.C. with the Institute for Educational Leadership as well as working at the Washington State Legislature, Mickey has a strong understanding of our public education system.

Most recently Mickey served as Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction at the Office of Superintendent of Instruction (OSPI) from 2001-2007. During this period she worked with state leaders, teachers and content specialists to create Grade Level Expectations (GLEs) for our state's Essential Academic Learning Requirements. Additionally, she facilitated initiatives with the state's Educational Service Districts to promote common understanding and support for student learning. The K-12 Reading Model, Bias and Fairness Reviews, Instructional Materials Alignments, On-line Grade Level Resources and curriculum-based assessments stand out as some of the many accomplishments by Lahmann's team. She served as the OSPI representative on boards of the Washington Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (WSASCD) and the Elementary Principals Association of Washington (ESPAW). Literacy, leadership and alignment continue to be her passion and interest.

Joining the Leadership Innovations Team and Powerful Teaching and Learning in 2007, Mickey is excited to provide the support needed to deepen school reform efforts with educational leaders and teachers throughout our state and region. A seasoned professional developer, she is a certified Extraordinary Leader trainer and provides coaching services to individuals and districts on their development plans. Her expertise, enthusiasm and leadership in our state further enhance the work of the Powerful Teaching and Learning group and Leadership Innovations Team.

Janet Steele, M.A., Senior Associate

Janet Steele joined the Powerful Teaching and Learning Group in 2006. She has served as an educator and professional development leader for 27 years. As an elementary and multi-age teacher, her classrooms were highly constructivist and focused on the integration of technology and fine art into the instructional environment.

After leaving the classroom, Janet joined the Milken Family Foundation in 1999 as the Milken Educator Network Director, and then as the National Training Director for the Teacher Advancement Program, a national model for school reform.

In 2003, Janet became the Worldwide Program Manager of Primary-Secondary Programs for the Microsoft Corporation. As such she was responsible for program development and expansion of worldwide professional development frameworks under the Partners in Learning Initiative. This included driving the worldwide Innovative Teachers Network, implementing the Microsoft Peer Coaching Program, and working closely with respected author, Professor Michael Fullan, to develop and implement the Learning to Lead Change curriculum focused on the knowledge base required to lead and manage change in a country.

Throughout her career, Janet has presented nationally and internationally on educational issues. Her honors include the Milken Family Foundation National Educator Award, the Christa McAuliffe Washington State Excellence in Education Award, and Phi Kappa Phi Academic Honorary.

Jeanine Butler, Ph.D.

Jeanine Butler has been the Assistant Superintendent of Learning & Teaching for the Wenatchee School District since 1998. Prior to that, she served as a middle school principal for eight years in Edmonds School District, and a teacher, coach and assistant principal in for 12 years in Northshore School District. She received her doctorate at the University of Washington where she focused on the disproportionate minority participation in school programs. She has also taught in the undergraduate and graduate programs for Heritage and Central Washington University. She is a Lifetime Husky Marching Band Alum.

Jeanine has published articles in Curriculum in Context: Journal of the Washington State Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development including “A Cultural Case for Site Based Decision-Making,” “Dialectical Thinking in the Classroom,” and, most recently, “The OTHER Characteristics of Students who don’t meet standard on the WASL.”

Arthur Dolan, M.Ed.

Arthur brings more than 30 years of classroom experience to our organization. He has taught middle school and high school science for 27 years in the Spokane Public Schools where he was recognized as a “Distinguished Teacher”. The Washington State Science Teachers Association named him “Eastern Washington Middle School Science Teacher of the Year” in 1989. His classroom achievements, as well as his publications in “The Science Teacher”, the “Washington State Association of Supervision and Curriculum Development” as well as his curriculum development for the NASSP study skills program, bring rich experience and depth to the Powerful Teaching and Learning staff.

Heather Fox

Heather Fox brings to the Powerful Teaching Group fifteen years of instructional excellence centered on the progressive implementation of student activities that support a powerful learning environment. Her areas of focus have been Secondary English and History as well as serving on numerous student-centered and school improvement committees. She has coached both district cross country and track and field teams and served as Assistant Cross Country and Indoor Track Coach at Eastern Washington University where she held several track records herself.

Heather has trained as a coach with the Northwest Educational Coaching Network (NWECN) in using the STAR Protocol as developed by the BERC Group. She has been a mentor teacher and participated in Washington State University’s Cooperating Teacher Program. Heather’s outstanding instructional skill is featured in training DVDs developed by the BERC Group to illustrate the STAR Protocol. She received her Professional Certificate from Pacific Lutheran University.

Lisa Holmes, M.Ed.

Lisa Holmes comes to the Powerful Teaching and Learning Group with a diverse background in public education, technology, grant writing as well as medical research. She has been in public education for twenty four years and has championed many issues facing rural and remote schools. She has served on a variety of committees both locally as well as state wide. Lisa was a member of the Smart Tools Task Force and later as a Smart Tools instructor in Washington State. Ms. Holmes was appointed by Governor Gary Locke to his state-wide task force working on online learning. At this time, Lisa continues to participate as a board member for the Digital Learning Commons for Washington State. She has also served as a past president of the Washington Association of Secondary School Principals. Ms. Holmes has also served as a K-12 principal.

Lisa is co-author of Net Savvy: Information Literacy, 1st Ed. She has also been a contributing author for teaching materials on other technology issues as well as Gifted Education. She has been a keynote and conference speaker at the local, state and national level. Most recently, Lisa was appointed to the K20 advisory board for Internet2.

Carla Jones, M.A.

Carla is an Associate Clinical Professor at Washington State University and has been teaching classes in the department as well as serving as the Clinical Coordinator. She received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Elementary Education/Communication Disorders from WSU and her Master of Arts degree from WSU in Communication Disorders. Carla holds the Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech-Language Hearing Association and school credentials as a special educator and speech-language pathologist.

Carla has been a speech language pathologist in the public schools and worked on several Federal Model Demonstration Projects. She has been at WSU for 15 years and continues to provide direct service to children with disabilities in the WSU Clinic and Head Start.

Freddie Barrett

Freddie Barrett, courageous pioneer, innovative educator and life-long learner, began her career as the first woman Management Trainee at the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco. Utilizing eight years of business and management experience, Freddie taught high school accounting, data processing and business math. She feels that the peak of her teaching career was when Cindy, one of her accounting students, won first place in the Future Business Leaders of America’s accounting competition in 1982.

After 20 years in high-tech sales and sales management, Freddie launched Resilient Solutions, a leadership development and coaching company, which inspires expanded possibilities. She has been a mentor in a “Coming of Age” program for 12-14 year olds, as well as teaching leadership classes in the “Gear Up” summer program at the University of Washington. As a Coach and Educator with the Powerful Teaching and learning Group, Freddie is passionate about making a difference in the lives of educators and our future leaders.

Monica Chandler, M. Ed.

Monica Chandler brings years of classroom and administrative experience to the Powerful Teaching and Learning Team. Most recently, Monica worked with the Small Schools Project and the Coalition of Essential Schools to coach schools with restructuring grants from the Gates Foundation and facilitate the process of developing vision, goals and action plans.

In addition to her eight years of experience as a classroom teacher, Monica worked as an Elementary School Principal in the Nooksack Valley School District, where she also served as the district Co-director for Curriculum and Assessment.

Following her principalship, Monica applied her expertise in development and facilitation as the Language Arts Curriculum Specialist in Ferndale School District where she worked to align district benchmarks with Washington State EALR's, designed and implemented assessments, and planned staff development in reading and writing.

Monica's extensive leadership experience and diverse development skills are a welcome and exciting addition to the Powerful Teaching and Learning Team.

Douglas Nelson, Ed.D.

Douglas M. Nelson, Ed.D. is a life-long educator and builder of people. His 38-year distinguished career has been highlighted by his ability to lead people toward extraordinary results even in the most difficult of times. He has held leadership positions at several levels of school districts including 19 years as superintendent of two school districts - Pullman, Washington with 2200 students and 300 employees and Bend-La Pine, Bend, Oregon with 16,000 students and 1700 employees. Dr. Nelson has guided individuals in all phases of careers and at all levels of school districts.

Dr. Nelson brings a unique blend of skills and experiences to coaching individuals and schools. People who have worked with Dr. Nelson know that he is focused on their best interests and knows how to bring out the best in them. While serious in his work, his optimism and light touch put people at ease. He is tireless in his efforts for people and continually seeks to find ways for people to succeed.

Dr. Nelson is not only a keen listener and skilled communicator, but is adept at helping in the development of plans that will benefit both individuals and organizations. Part of his skill is to be a warm-demander who holds people accountable to what they have committed.

Working with Dr. Nelson will be an enriching experience that can be life-changing and can form the basis for continued growth and excitement in a person's or organization's life.

Kris Lindeblad, M.A.

Kris brings to educators many years of highly successful teaching experience in math. She is the recipient of three prestigious awards: The Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics Education, the Washington Award for Excellence in Teaching (Christa McAuliffe Award) and Distinguished Teacher for the Spokane School District.

Kris is also affiliated with several national groups, The Dana Center of Texas being one of them. These groups enable Kris to be involved in current approaches and research on raising math achievement.

What makes Kris unique is her outstanding ability to work with adults. Her presentations are exciting, and thought provoking. Teachers learn skills that are immediately applicable in their math classrooms. The feedback she receives from educators is very positive. Teachers leave with activities, strategies, lessons, and research that can be used immediately in classrooms.

Kris also provides workshops for administrators, principals and central office personnel. For those leaders without a math background Kris provides the knowledge for them to successfully lead efforts to raise math achievement.