Mentorship, Leadership, and Growth: The Relationships That Help Us Become

About the Presenters

Dr. BethAnne Hines is an elementary principal, author, speaker, and passionate advocate for students, educators, and aspiring leaders. She holds an Ed.D. in school improvement from UT Tyler, where she formerly served as an adjunct instructor, and is also an educational PD presenter. Her journey from paraprofessional to principal shaped her belief that leadership is less about a title and more about becoming the person others need you to be. She is the author of Becoming Through Mentorship: A View Into the Leaders Who Shaped Us, which blends personal stories, reflection, and practical tools for educators at every stage of leadership. Dr. Hines’ work centers on mentorship, school culture, early childhood education, professional learning communities, and creating schools where every child feels seen, supported, and challenged to grow. Outside of school leadership, she and her husband have fostered more than 100 children and are adoptive parents. Her guiding belief is simple: every child matters, every dream counts.

Schronda Burns is an experienced early childhood educator, leader, and mentor who currently serves as a Texas Rising Star Mentor with the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC). Her career has been dedicated to strengthening early childhood education, developing educators, and improving opportunities for young children and families. Prior to joining TWC, Schronda served as Director of the Charlotte Sharp Children’s Center at Texas A&M University and in early childhood leadership with Bryan ISD. Her work has spanned public education, higher education, teacher development, research, and early childhood program quality. Throughout her career, Schronda has remained deeply committed to building relationships and investing in others. Her ability to encourage, challenge, and develop educators reflects her belief that strong leaders grow by helping others recognize their potential and become confident in their own leadership.

Stephanie Schminkey is currently the Chief Academic Officer for Kilgore ISD and has spent 26 years serving students and educators in public education. She holds a master’s degree in educational leadership and has a Superintendent Certification. Throughout her career, she has served as a teacher, elementary administrator, academic director, and assistant superintendent. Stephanie knew from a very young age that she wanted to become a teacher because of the lasting impact one of her elementary teachers had on her life. That experience shaped her desire to be that person for children, and ultimately, for the educators she has had the privilege to work alongside throughout her career. Stephanie believes leadership is about more than what we accomplish ourselves; it is about the people we help grow along the way. She is married to an educator and coach of 26 years, and together they have three children, Alyssa, Jaxon, and Kinley.

About the Moderator

Connie Warren, M.Ed., is an educator and K–12 education professional with more than 20 years of experience supporting teachers, instructional leaders, and school and district teams. Her background spans instructional coaching, educational leadership, professional learning, instructional materials, educational technology, and implementation support. Throughout her career, Connie has focused on helping educators connect research, instructional practice, and practical decision making to improve student outcomes. She has worked alongside teachers and leaders to strengthen instruction, support effective implementation, and create learning environments where both educators and students can grow. Today, Connie serves as Senior Marketing Manager at BookNook, where she brings an educator’s perspective to conversations with school and district leaders about high-impact tutoring, educational intervention, student achievement, and the systems and supports that help schools create meaningful, measurable academic growth.

BookNook is a leading ESSA Level 1 provider of high-impact virtual tutoring solutions designed to accelerate K-8 student achievement in reading and math. Our synchronous learning model combines engaging evidence-based instruction with consistent learner-leader relationships for exceptional student outcomes. We deliver 1:1 and small-group virtual tutoring that integrates seamlessly with classroom instruction, ensuring that every session is targeted and effective. Our approach is grounded in decades of research, focusing on proven strategies that drive measurable improvements in student achievement.