Leading with Fidelity: The Key to Effective Implementation and Lasting Results

About the Presenters

Simone McQuaige is a dedicated and innovative educational leader with over 30 years of experience in curriculum development, literacy instruction, and educational leadership. Her extensive background reflects her commitment to fostering student success and supporting teachers through effective instructional practices and professional development. A proud alumna of Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS), Simone began her career as an elementary school teacher and has since held various leadership roles, including mentor teacher, reading specialist, and Reading/English Language Arts (R/ELA) instructional specialist. She has also served as an adjunct professor.

Currently, she is the Supervisor of Reading/English Language Arts, K-5, leading the Elementary Literacy Support Team in the Office of Curriculum and Instruction. Passionate about collaboration, Simone works closely with district leaders and school teams to develop innovative programs that enhance teacher capacity and improve student achievement. She regularly visits classrooms to inspire students with a love for literacy.

Dr. Terra Greenwell is the Chief Academic Officer for Jefferson County Public Schools, where she brings over two decades of experience as a teacher, instructional coach, principal, and district leader. With a doctorate in educational leadership, her work is rooted in equity, innovation, and a deep understanding of instruction and operations. A key architect of the Academies of Louisville and the Explore Pathways program, Dr. Greenwell has championed early career exploration and equitable access to future-ready learning. In 2023, she led the district’s first adoption of high-quality instructional resources for math and literacy and launched a comprehensive K–12 literacy plan grounded in research. She oversees all academic programming and support for nearly 100,000 students, including curriculum, professional learning, multilingual learners, extended learning, and family engagement.

Dr. Deann Collins is the Chief Executive Officer of MonumentalEd LLC. She is an educational leader who has worked in the field of education with PreK-12 and postsecondary leaders and educators, policymakers, and philanthropists for more than two decades. Most recently, she led the Maryland State Department of Education’s charge to accelerate student achievement as the Deputy State Superintendent of Teaching and Learning and engaged with various stakeholders to develop Maryland’s first Comprehensive PreK-3 Literacy Policy.

She started her career as a teacher in Montgomery County, Maryland, for Montgomery County Public Schools, which is a large, ethnically and racially diverse school community serving over 160,000 students. After serving as a teacher, she transitioned to different leadership positions that include staff development teacher, PreK-12 school improvement specialist, assistant principal, principal, central office director, and executive director to the deputy superintendent. Dr. Collins is well known for her passion and expertise in transformational leadership, systems thinking, coaching, and professional learning.

About the Moderator

Joan Macenat Charles serves as a Regional Partner at the Really Great Reading Company, where her focus on literacy advocacy and education has made a significant impact. She has been a respected speaker at numerous conferences, notably delivering presentations on the Science of Reading. As a National Board Certified Teacher and with a career spanning over 15 years in education, including roles as a special education teacher, administrator, and national trainer, Joan has consistently championed the cause of improving reading skills. Her primary goal is to address decoding deficits among students, regardless of their age, by providing invaluable support and resources to district leaders. Joan firmly believes that enhancing teachers’ knowledge ultimately leads to tangible improvements in student performance, fostering meaningful change within literacy education.