Author list

Dr. Spencer Kagan is an internationally acclaimed researcher, presenter, and author.

He has published over 20 books which have now sold over 1 million copies. His books are translated into many languages. Dr. Kagan received his doctorate in clinical psychology from UCLA, was a clinical psychologist, and a full professor of psychology and education at the University of California. He has received two honorary doctorates.

Dr. Kagan is the principal author of the single most comprehensive book for educators in each of six fields: cooperative learning, brain-friendly teaching, Social-Emotional Learning (SEL), multiple intelligences, classroom discipline, and classroom energizers.

Dr. Kagan developed the structural approach to instruction based on hundreds of popular brain-based, cooperative learning, and multiple intelligences structures like Numbered Heads Together, Timed Pair Share, and Number Group Mania! 

Dr. Kagan is the founder and co-director of Kagan Publishing and Professional Development, one of the largest educational training companies in the world with franchises in over a dozen countries. Dr. Kagan has provided workshops and keynotes in over 40 countries.

Free Spirit Publishing creates books for children, educators, and mental-health professionals to enrich early childhood learning and promote child and teen well-being.

Pamela Espeland

Pamela Espeland has authored, coauthored, or edited over 200 books for Free Spirit Publishing on a variety of subjects. Pamela graduated from Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota, and currently lives in Minneapolis.

Amadee Ricketts

Amadee Ricketts received her MLS degree from the College of St. Catherine and has been a librarian since 2002. She is currently the library director at the Cochise County Library District in Arizona.

Elizabeth Verdick

Elizabeth Verdick has been writing books since 1997, the year her daughter was born. Her two children are the inspiration for nearly everything she writes. Before becoming an author, Elizabeth edited books for children and parents.

These days she writes books for babies, toddlers, teens, and every age in between. She especially loves creating new board books. The Happy Healthy Baby® series is designed to capture the interest of the littlest readers. Elizabeth’s Toddler Tools® series helps young children and their parents cope with those tough times and transitions that happen every day (like naptime and bedtime). In the Best Behavior® series, she helps toddlers reach new milestones and improve their day-to-day behavior.

Elizabeth also enjoys getting the chance to look at the funny side of life in the Laugh and Learn® series, which helps kids ages 8–13 get a handle on the social-emotional skills they’re developing throughout the elementary and middle school years. She’s also coauthor of The Survival Guide for Kids with Autism Spectrum Disorder (And Their Parents), which offers kids with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) their own comprehensive resource for both understanding their condition and finding tools to cope with the challenges they face every day.

Gershen Kauffman

Gershen Kaufman was educated at Columbia University and received his Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the University of Rochester. Professor Emeritus in psychology at Michigan State University, he is a pioneer in the study of shame. He is the author of Shame: The Power of Caring and The Psychology of Shame: Theory and Treatment of Shame-Based Syndromes.

He is the coauthor with Lev Raphael of Dynamics of Power: Fighting Shame and Building Self-Esteem and Coming Out of Shame. With Lev Raphael, he co-developed the program, “Affect and Self-Esteem,” on which Dynamics of Power and Stick Up for Yourself! are based. 

John F Taylor

John F. Taylor, Ph.D., has written and created many materials for young people with ADHD and their families. He is the founder and president of ADD Plus, a company that offers resources and workshops for parents and teachers of kids with ADHD. 

Thomas McIntyre

Thomas McIntyre, Ph.D., is a professor of special education at Hunter College of the City University of New York. A popular workshop presenter and keynote speaker, he hosts the award-winning website www.BehaviorAdvisor.com.

Thomas S Greenspon

Thomas S. Greenspon, Ph.D., is a licensed psychologist and licensed marriage and family therapist in private practice. He earned his B.A. from Yale and his Ph.D. in psychology from the University of Illinois. Tom lectures and writes on a variety of topics including perfectionism and the emotional needs of gifted children and adults.

Marilyn Gootman

Marilyn E. Gootman, Ed.D., is founder of Gootman Education Associates, an educational consulting company that provides workshops and seminars for parents and educators focusing on successful strategies for raising and teaching children. Dr. Gootman has been in the teaching profession for over 25 years, and her teaching experiences range from elementary school to the university level.

The author of numerous books and articles, she is known nationally for her advocacy efforts on behalf of children, parents, and teachers. Her media appearances include CNN and other major networks as well as radio and television broadcasts throughout the United States and Canada.

Martine Agassi

Martine Agassi, Ph.D., is a clinical therapist with extensive experience as a behavioral consultant, counseling children and families in schools, residential facilities, foster care, and private practice. She has led workshops and group counseling in communication skills, parenting, drug and child abuse prevention, divorce, and self-esteem.

Cheri J Meiners

Cheri J. Meiners, M.Ed., has her master’s degree in elementary education and gifted education. A former first-grade teacher, she has taught education classes at Utah State University and has supervised student teachers.

Trevor Romain

Trevor Romain is an award-winning author and illustrator as well as a sought-after motivational speaker. His books have sold more than a million copies and been published in eighteen languages. For more than twenty years, Trevor has traveled the world, speaking to thousands of school-age children.

Trevor is well known for his work with the Make-A-Wish Foundation, the United Nations, UNICEF, the USO, and the Comfort Crew for Military Kids, which he co-founded.

James J Crist

Dr. James J. Crist is the clinical director and a staff psychologist at the Child and Family Counseling Center (CFCC) in Woodbridge, Virginia, and a substance abuse counselor, working with addictive disorders in teens and adults. At CFCC, he provides psychological testing and individual, couples, and family psychotherapy for children, adolescents, and adults, specializing in children with ADHD, depression, and anxiety disorders.

He has authored and coauthored numerous books including What to Do When You’re Cranky and Blue; What to Do When You’re Scared and Worried; Siblings: You’re Stuck with Each Other, So Stick Together; and The Survival Guide to Making and Being Friends.

Jill Starishevsky

Jill Starishevsky has been an assistant district attorney in New York City since 1997, where she has prosecuted thousands of sex offenders and dedicated her career to seeking justice for victims of child abuse and sex crimes. Her mission to protect children, along with her penchant for poetry, inspired My Body Belongs to Me.

A mother of three, Jill has been featured on The Oprah Winfrey Show and is a prevention specialist who, through media appearances and public speaking events, teaches how to recognize and prevent child sexual abuse.

Earl Hipp

Earl Hipp is the author of many books for young people. He has a B.A. in psychology and a master’s degree in psychophysiology. He has worked as a clinical psychotherapist, helping hundreds of people to better understand, cope with, and grow through the challenges in their lives.

Shaun Allison started teaching science in West Sussex, before becoming a head of science. He is currently deputy head teacher at Durrington High School. He leads on CPD and is interested in supporting teachers to grow and develop their classroom practice. He is also a popular speaker.

Click here to read Shaun Allison’s blog.

Richard Allman is a former specialist leader of education (SLE) and senior leadership team member. As a PE specialist he delivered CPD to school leaders, teaching staff and initial teacher training (ITT) students. Richard is passionate about empowering primary school practitioners to integrate purposeful physical activity into classroom pedagogy. 

Mark is a former assistant headteacher, lead teacher for ICT, a successful head of computing (before it was trendy) and a driving force behind one of the UK's most successful iPad 1:1 initiatives. Mark is an influential award-winning blogger, bestselling author and international speaker. Recently recognised as the most influential person in education technology in Europe and the winner of the Education Blog of the Year 2015' in the UK Blog Awards 2015.

Championing the importance of a pedagogy first approach to using technology in the classroom, Mark's book Perfect ICT Every Lesson has topped the Amazon education book chart twice. Mark is also an Independent Thinking Associate and has significantly contributed to many more best-selling books and education publications. With more than 20 years classroom experience and responsible for some of the UK's most innovative and creative teaching practice; Mark is a passionate advocate for developing the modern educator's toolkit. Mark regularily writes about education in the leadership section of the TES. See more here.

Click here to read Mark's article on InnovateMySchool.

Click here to listen in on Mark's podcast with Pivotal Education - How not to waste money on tech'.

Click here to watch a video interview with Mark as part of The Education Foundation's series of Education Britain Conversations.

Click here to read Mark Anderson’s blog.

Twenty eight years of varied experience led Roy Anderson to the innovative and exciting conclusions put forward in his book. Following three years in an industrial laboratory, he taught secondary school children in a disadvantaged community and became involved in remedial teaching. This led to posts at a junior school, a Remedial Reading Centre, and a Reading and Language Service. In retirement, Roy helped even more children with his weekly primary school visits. His methods continue to help children to overcome their learning difficulties.

Judy Apps has spent many years unravelling the secrets of how great leaders inspire others, and now runs open creative programs and coaches leaders in major corporations in voice and communication.

Click here to read Judy Apps' blog.

Jackie Arnold is a former board member of the UK ICF. She is also an associate coach/consultant for Notion & the Leadership Foundation for Higher Education, delivering executive coaching programmes and consulting on building a coaching culture. She uses Clean Language Methodology as a Coach Supervisor and is Ambassador for CSA and The Association Of Coaching Supervisors.

Jackie is a prolific author and has written books on public speaking plus three on coaching & supervision in the workplace. She presents at international conferences on Leadership and Management Coaching & Supervision.

Steve Baker lives in Anglesey, North Wales with his wife Sian. After a long career in education, from which he is semi-retired, he wrote his highly acclaimed non-fiction title, That Behaviour Book, which won book of the year in the Teach Secondary awards in 2023. As a life-long comedy fan, he’s now written his first hilarious novel, Outstanding!.

Before becoming Director of Education for The Olympus Academy Trust, a cross-phase multi-academy trust in north Bristol, Claire Banks was a head teacher for nine years in an inner-city primary school. Throughout her career she has been interested in social and emotional learning and school climate, which has led to her work on leadership culture. Claire now works on curriculum design and school improvement in a system leadership capacity, offering school-to-school support to school trusts. Her passion for succession planning for the profession has led to her coaching and mentoring on aspiring heads and women in leadership programmes. 

Dr Alexia Barrable was born in Greece and had a wild childhood climbing trees and rescuing tortoises. After moving to the UK in her early teens, she went on to study at Oxford and Cambridge, where she qualified as a teacher. Alexia has a PhD in psychology in education and conducts research on the human–nature relationship. She is passionate about spreading the word of the benefits of, and opportunities offered by, nature-based learning.