Dr. Goelman Rice has been a classroom teacher for 17 years with National Board Certification since 2004.  She holds Georgia credentials for Elementary and Middle School education, Special Education, Educational Leadership, and Instructional Coaching.  Dr. Goelman Rice has served on various state committees for curriculum and assessment development and was named a Top Ten Finalist for Georgia Teacher of the Year in 2007.  Her current areas of focus include curriculum development, professional learning, instructional improvement, and gifted programming.

Mr. Jonathan Shearer has spent the past 14 years in the Bellevue School District in Washington State, serving as a high school and middle school AP, and the past 8 years as an elementary school principal. Prior to the principalship, he was a Spanish teacher, AVID elective teacher, Activity Coordinator and Dean of Students at the high school level in Seattle Public Schools. These different roles and experiences have shaped his values and beliefs in education and leadership, particularly instructional leadership, with core beliefs centered on service, empowerment, and strengths-based coaching.