Melanie Killen is Professor of Human Development and Associate Director, Center for Children, Relationships, and Culture, at the University of Maryland
Emily Kissner teaches fourth grade in rural Pennsylvania. In her 15 years of teaching, she has worked in preschool, middle school and elementary school. She is the author of the Heinemann books Summarizing, Paraphrasing, and Retelling and The Forest AND the Trees: Helping Readers Find Details in Texts and Tests.
Chris Hoeh is a second-grade teacher at Cambridge Friends School in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He has developed an academically rigorous, multi-disciplinary, yearlong social studies curriculum that follows the creation of clothing from cotton. Each step in this process is connected to historical and contemporary struggles for social justice. Hoeh has led anti-racist study groups and shares his substantial experience as a mentor to practicing teachers. He is also a recipient of the 2014 Teaching Tolerance Award for Excellence in Teaching.
Lauryn has over 10 years experience as an elementary classroom teacher, literacy instructional coach and culturally responsive trainer. She was formerly a teaching and learning specialist with Teaching Tolerance. She holds a bachelor's degree in American Studies and a master's of education degree in culturally responsive teaching, both from the University of Colorado. She is currently working on her doctorate in education at Vanderbilt University. Lauryn has a passion for educating teachers on engagement strategies and is particularly interested in closing the opportunity gap for young males
Dianna Minor is an education writer and consultant. Her professional experience includes literacy curriculum and instruction at the secondary and collegiate level. She earned her BA in English/Political Science at the University of Alabama and MA in Education at the University of West Alabama.