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.

Leo Angart is a business consultant, author and trainer. Having worn glasses for more than 25 years he speaks from personal experience. It has now been more than 19 years since he threw away his glasses.

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.

Tim is an Oxford graduate with over 25 years secondary teaching experience, 17 as a head teacher. He served as a primary school governor for 12 years and is now an expert trainer. As a treasurer and council member of the National Association for Primary Education, Tim knows exactly what it takes to be a great school governor and provide the best opportunities across all key stages.

Danielle Bartram is a maths lead practitioner and numeracy coordinator with a genuine passion for her subject. She developed the national campaign #Numeracy4All, regularly presents at events across the country, and is also a member of the UK TES maths panel and of the AQA expert panel. Danielle has designed resources used by thousands of teachers around the world and tweets @missbsresources.

Rubin Battino MS has a private practice in Yellow Springs, Ohio. He is an Adjunct Professor for the Department of Human Services at Wright State University, and has over twenty five years of experience as a facilitator of a support group for people who have life-challenging diseases and for caregivers. He is a Fellow of the National Council for Hypnotherapy (UK), and also a Fellow of two chemistry societies. Other publications by Rubin include: Healing Language. A Guide for Physicians, Dentists, Nurses, Psychologists, Social Workers, and Counselors; Howie and Ruby. Conversations 2000 - 2007;, That's Right, Is it Not? A Play About the Life of Milton H. Erickson, MD, and Using Guided Imagery and Hypnosis in Brief Therapy and Palliative Care.

Click here to listen to Rubin's interview with London School of Clinical Communications and Hypnosis.

Phil Beadle knows a bit about bringing creative projects to fruit. His self-described renaissance dilettantism' is best summed up by Mojo magazine's description of him as a burnished voice soul man and left wing educationalist'. He is the author of ten books on a variety of subjects, including the acclaimed Dancing About Architecture, described in Brain Pickings as a strong, pointed conceptual vision for the nature and origin of creativity'. As songwriter Philip Kane, his work has been described in Uncut magazine as having novelistic range and ambition' and in Mojo as having a rare ability to find romance in the dirt' along with bleakly literate lyricism'. He has won national awards for both teaching and broadcasting, was a columnist for the Guardian newspaper for nine years and has written for every broadsheet newspaper in the UK, as well as the Sydney Morning Herald. Phil is also one of the most experienced, gifted and funniest public speakers in the UK.

Click here to listen in on Phil's podcast with Pivotal Education - How to Teach Literacy'.

Listen to the ABC Conversations with Richard Fidler' broadcast.

ABC Conversations with Richard Fidler Broadcast date: Thursday 19 July 2012

Click here to listen to Phil Beadle's interview with TalkSport - Listen in at approximately 29:09.

John Beasley had a highly successful 25 year teaching career as a head of science and later as a deputy head teacher in a school in challenging circumstances, helping to quickly turn it around. More recently, he has worked as a University PGCE tutor, teacher trainer and science advisor in several schools.  Together with his wife, Jackie Beere OBE, he now works as a consultant and trainer in primary and secondary schools, delivering training on subjects such as The Perfect (Ofsted) Lesson, Coaching for Success and Growth Mindset. John edited Jackie's book, The Perfect Teacher and has contributed to other books in the Perfect' series. This, together with his previous teaching and training experience, led to him writing The Perfect (Ofsted) Science Lesson.

Dr Danie Beaulieu is a psychologist from Montreal, Canada. Her teaching in the field of Impact Therapy and Eye Movement Integration Therapy has deeply influenced the practice of hundreds of thousands of therapists around the world. She has written over 20 books and taught on four continents. She is a much sought after speaker and lecturer at symposia all over the world. Find out some of her tools on Youtube (in French, English and German).

Joe Beech was diagnosed with both dyslexia and dyspraxia at age seven. He is now a qualified physics teacher. Joe won an Outstanding Achievement Award given by the British Dyslexia Association in October 2013 for his work.

Jackie Beere, OBE is an Independent Thinking Associate who worked as a newspaper journalist before embarking on a career in teaching and school leadership. She was awarded an OBE in 2002 for developing innovative learning programmes and is the author of several bestselling books on teaching, learning and coaching. Since 2006, Jackie has been offering training in the latest strategies for learning, developing emotionally intelligent leadership and cultivating a growth mindset.

Click here to see a summary of Jackie's writings in the press - both online and in print.

Sue Beever is a trainer, coach, NLP Master Practitioner and mother. She delivers Happy Kids Happy You (HKHY) training.

Caroline Bentley-Davies is an adviser, consultant and coach for teachers and school leaders. She runs training and observes lessons across the UK and overseas. She has trained thousands of teachers and is the author of many bestselling books, including How to be an Amazing Teacher and How to be an Amazing Middle Leader.

Tim Benton is a trainer and educator whose business clients include M&S and Mercedes-Benz. He works with teachers, school leaders, students, parents or governors across the primary, secondary and further education covering learning skills, confidence building and preparing for life beyond school.

Michael Berman PhD worked as a teacher and a writer. Publications included The Power of Metaphor for Crown House, The Nature of Shamanism and the Shamanic Story for Cambridge Scholars Publishing, Shamanic Journeys through the Caucasus for O-Books, and Journeys Outside Time for Pendraig Publishing, Tales of Power for Lear Books and Shamanic Journeys, Shamanic Stories for O Books. ELT titles included A Multiple Intelligences Road to an ELT Classroom, In a Faraway Land (a resource book for teachers on storytelling), On Business and for Pleasure (a self-study workbook). and ELT Matters (written with Mojca Belak and Wayne Rimmer).

Andrew `Bernie` Bernard is an entrepreneur, a TEDx Speaker, a director of both Innovative Enterprise and National Careers Week, and a Fellow of the Professional Speaking Association. Bernie – as he prefers to be known – has, since 2006, worked with schools, businesses, charities, universities and colleges to help over 150,000 young people bring their future to life through enterprise and careers workshops.

Brin has been working in and around schools for 15 years and has taught at every age range from primary school right up to university masters level.

He began his career as a secondary school teacher, and soon found himself as head of geography at Settle High School & Community College, situated in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales. Following lots of hard work, his department and students received a number of prestigious awards. He also had a role as a development officer at this school, leading fundraising and marketing activities.

His next move was into advisory work in another part of Yorkshire, Barnsley, a town that has suffered from considerable social disadvantage. Here he was a gifted and talented coordinator for a local education authority, arranging high quality teaching, learning and enrichment for young people and overseeing a £1.5 million budget. This was similar to being an advisory teacher for schools, but also involved project management and advocacy work on behalf of gifted and talented pupils.

Brin then became independent when he set up my company Innovation for Education Ltd, of which he is still the director. He now works with hundreds of schools every year in a support capacity as well as leading training courses and writing books and articles for teachers and school leaders. He has chaired several national conferences on education themes and is a regular speaker at high profile events across the country. He recently featured in a series of professional development films for Teachers' TV. He has also been the editor of various professional periodicals, including School Financial Management, which he edited for seven years.

Brin is really proud to be one of the few education consultants whose work has been shortlisted three times in the National Educational Resources Awards. The Teachers' Pocketbooks series, for which he was the co-originator as well as having written six titles in the series, won this prestigious award in 2005.

His twenty-fifth book, on Cost-effective Fundraising in Schools, was published in 2011. His books are widely sold across Europe, North America, Asia and Australasia and his Accelerated Learning Pocketbook has recently been published in the Slovak language.



Creativity and the exciting possibilities of change permeate all of Brin's work. He believes that children and young people are capable of amazing things if we give them the tools and the emotional support they need to reach their potential.

Emmie Bidston is an Associate Fellow of the Oxford Character Project and a Senior Fellow of the Community of Practice of the Human Flourishing Program at Harvard University. Emmie studied economics at the University of Cambridge before working for the UK civil service in a range of areas from education to contingency planning. She is the director of the Wellington Leadership and Coaching Institute. She has also co-founded a charity to help develop young leaders in Africa and runs conferences and coaching and leadership training for adults and young people.

Stephen Bigger PhD began his career as a secondary teacher and from 1981 was a lecturer in education in teacher training institutes, in Scarborough, Oxford and Worcester, ending as head of department and head of research in education.

Over that period he produced three books in collaboration with colleagues, made chapter contributions to others and wrote many articles and book reviews.

Click here to read Stephen Bigger’s blog.

Kristina is both a creative and an intellectual. Her prime motivator is to understand how we as humans manage our existence and express ourselves as a way of making sense of our experience. This deep drive has led her to turn every side of her into a vocational platform.

Kristina has authored critically acclaimed personal development book 101 Days to Make a Change and was nominated in two categories (Non-Fiction and Best Debut Writer) at the 2012 People's Book Prize. She has developed and run training for adults for over 20 years across Europe and the US. She holds a Bachelor of Business Studies, is a certified Life Coach and has numerous other professional qualifications such as Fitness Instructor, Meisner Actor, Music Producer and Film Maker. She divides her time between creative pursuits and learning notably for large organisations such as Deloitte University EMEA. She specialises in leadership development, communication and personal effectiveness and is passionate about human transformation and adult learning. She practices holistic wellness and advocates exercise, healthy living and mindfulness meditation in her courses.

Early in her career, Kristina worked as an actor and has continued as a filmmaker to produce communications and product launch pieces. She has released three albums of original music and created several music videos to support her work. She is a prolific voice over artist working across television, film and corporate media. Kristina is Swedish born and a resident of London, UK since 1998. Her childhood included stints in India and Canada, providing her with an international perspective early on.

With many different roles and abilities Kristina is uniquely positioned to advocate and guide the reader's path away from fragmentation and towards cohesion. She believes that by striving to be your authentic self there is no need to change hats' depending on which circumstance you are in. She believes that with the right support this mindset can be developed and maintained with balance and harmony.

David Birch works for The Philosophy Foundation, an award-winning charity that brings philosophy to schools and the wider community. He is also a teacher of philosophy and religious studies at both Newham Sixth Form College and Kensington Park School.

He has also been featured in Philosophy Now.

Read David's article featured in The Guardian, September 2014.

Gabrielle Blackman-Sheppard worked as a consultant, executive coach and life coach with particular expertise in intercultural communication, and organisational as well as personal effectiveness.

Click here to read Gabrielle Blackman-Sheppard’s blog.

Dr Erik Blair is Senior Lecturer in Higher Education Research and Practice at the University of West London. He has been an educator for over 20 years and has taught in universities in the UK and overseas, and is passionate about enhancing engagement and interaction within the teaching and learning environment.

Richard Bolstad PhD is a certified trainer with the International NLP Association. He has a doctorate in clinical hypnotherapy and is a member of the New Zealand Association of Psychotherapists. He has taught the RESOLVE model to psychotherapists and counsellors around the world. He is a co-author of the acclaimed book, The Structure of Personality.

The NLP Internationally Award was presented to Richard Bolstad at the NLP awards ceremony 2017.

Toria Bono is a classroom teacher who has worked in a variety of educational roles over the past 20 years. Toria is passionate about helping those involved in education to find their voice. She believes that when educators listen to and learn from one another, the young people in our nurseries, schools and colleges benefit from the collective knowledge and wisdom shared.

 

Ginny Bootman is an experienced teacher and SENDCO with responsibility for four primary schools, as well as a regular speaker at national SEND conferences. She is passionate about the impact of relationships within education, particularly for those working with children with additional needs, and is determined to improve understanding of the pivotal role that these relationships play within the school environment.

After working in computers, David Botsford trained in hypnotherapy. In 2000 he trained in stage hypnosis, and performed on television, stage and for private events. In 2003 he produced a series of seven self-hypnosis CD sets and from 2005 trained hypnotherapists in smoking cessation and marketing.

Danièle Bourdais is a French bilingual writer, editor and consultant. She has been working in the UK with educational publishers for nearly 30 years and in this time has co-authored a variety of print and online resources. Danièle has created high profile, award-winning courses for the teaching of French from KS2 to A level.

Steve's background is in education. He taught English for 18 years in Leicestershire High Schools, though is now a full-time writer, storyteller, educational consultant and also a qualified hypnotherapist.

He has also published over twenty educational books, principally in the fields of literacy, creativity, thinking skills and emotional resourcefulness. He has also written fantasy and SF for teenagers, adult and teen horror, romance, mainstream fiction for pre-teens, fiction and non-fiction for younger readers and poetry for all ages. 

Currently Steve is writing articles for Teach Primary magazine on topics related to literacy, creativity and life coaching skills for children.

Helen Boyle has spent the last ten years working in education, leading and implementing innovative teaching and learning initiatives and since 2004 has been the lead teacher at Campion School developing the RSA Opening Minds programme at key stage three.

Martha Boyne is a secondary school science teacher who has recently completed her MA in education. Martha has published research and also writes for the successful Thrive in Teaching blog. She has presented at numerous education events on the subject of how teachers can be supported to incorporate evidence-based practice into their teaching.

Former headmaster Michael Brearley was widely experienced in secondary education, and had a long-standing interest in engaging students more fully in their learning. His applied research at the University of East Anglia focused on teacher behaviour and how it impacted on students' learning; he also examined the role of mediation and the work of Carl Rogers. Michael's later research into emotional intelligence explored its practical application in the education and business sectors, particularly its effect upon performance as a teacher and leader.

Marie-Claire Bretherton trained as a teacher before becoming a head teacher in Lincolnshire, where she led three very different schools to secure improved outcomes for pupils, including in the most challenging of circumstances. She is now Deputy CEO of Waterton Academy Trust.

Denis Bridoux runs NLP and Neuro-semantics courses with applications to coaching and mentoring in France and the UK. He practices life and executive coaching.

Leonie Briggs is a science teacher, STEAM lead, STEM Ambassador, CREST Assessor and Director of Amazelab. With a varied background in STEM – ranging from veterinary and general practice to orthopaedics – she eventually discovered her passion for education and has held various roles as a primary, secondary, post 16 and alternative provision teacher specialising in science and chemistry.

Leonie’s dedication has won her multiple accolades, including ‘Outstanding New STEM Ambassador’ (STEM Inspiration Awards 2022), nominations for the Global Teacher Prize (2021) and the National Teaching Awards (2022), recognition as one of the UK’s Top 100 Female Entrepreneurs (2025) and a Green Growth Awards finalist (2025).

Under her leadership, Amazelab has won UK Enterprise Awards for STEAM Education (2023 & 2024), Start-Up Business of the Year (2022) and STEAM Education Platform of the Year (2025).

Twice a chief education officer – once in Oxfordshire and once in Birmingham, each time for 10 years – and he lead the London Challenge, which Tim Brighouse said he had learned from most of his many mistakes as a teacher, teacher educator and administrator. He believed in the power of teachers and schools to change the world for the better.

As founder of Innate Leaders – and as a psychological coach, management consultant, and writer – Joe Britto has worked with a wide range of entrepreneurs and leadership teams across the non-profit, public, and private sectors. His grounding in experiential learning, along with his studies in literary theory and psychological coaching, has allowed him to create a unique methodology that has successfully facilitated sustainable results.

Click here to read Joe Britto’s blog.

Matt Bromley is an education writer and advisor with over twenty years’ experience in teaching and leadership including as a secondary school headteacher, FE college vice principal, and multi-academy trust director. Matt is a journalist, public speaker, ITT lecturer, and school improvement advisor. He also remains a practising teacher, working in secondary, FE and HE settings. Matt writes for various magazines, is the author of numerous best-selling books on education, and co-hosts the award-winning SecEd podcast.

Shaun Brookhouse is an award winning hypnotherapist and trainer (in both in the UK and US). He earned Graduateship (First Degree Equivalent) in Counselling and Hypnotherapy, a Masters Degree in Education Studies (Researching the development of training in Hypnotherapy 1971-1998) and Doctorates in Clinical Hypnotherapy and Education & Health Services, a CertEd (Teaching Credential) which the assessment was based in part on the course he designed in clinical hypnosis and Licenciateship in Training and Development. It should be noted that Shaun Brookhouse's Doctoral Qualifications are academic and professional, they are NOT medical qualifications.

Shaun is a Certified Instructor with the National Guild of Hypnotists, the oldest and largest hypnotherapy society in the world. Shaun is also the past Chairman of the National Council for Hypnotherapy. Additionally, he is a UKCP Registered Hypno-Psychotherapist and an NLP Master Trainer. He is the Director of Brookhouse Hypnotherapy Ltd, Principal of The Washington School of Clinical and Advanced Hypnosis, and Director of Education of the UK Academy of Therapeutic Arts and Sciences



He has received several Fellowships and awards for his contributions to the hypnotherapy profession worldwide.

Terri is a passionate lifelong learner and teacher. She is a coach, leader, teacher, a mother and grandmother, a published writer an artist. She has worked as a successful acting head teacher for the past year and before that she worked for four years as a Vice Principal (teaching and learning) at an academy in Norfolk. The leadership and management of the academy have been described as Good' under her leadership.

Terri became an Advanced Skills Teacher in 1999, working with leadership teams and staff to share ideas and current thinking in learning. She was nominated for the National Teaching Awards for five consecutive years running. She creates a wonderful rapport and relationships with both staff and students. She truly puts them first and seeks out the coaching conversations that are needed to improve learning. She is compassionate, respectful and challenging - being beside someone and sticking to that. Helping them to find the best of themselves.

Terri was fundamental to developing the Student commission for an academy in Norfolk, which involved the students talking about learning; a serious group with real aims. It began as a small group of 7 and has grown to over 70 and continues to expand with eager students keen to take a serious role in learning. She introduced Independent Learning Projects into an academy, from their first Big Project to a whole academy Community Day which included work with primaries, secondary's, and further education.

Terri enjoys travelling to support teachers in other remote areas and has been responsible for twinning schools in Nepal with the UK. She is currently studying Strategic Intervention' coaching and is about to embark on Clarity Coaching' training from September. Skills that she is only too willing to share within the educational sector and further afield.

Terri is also a Master Practitioner and Certified Trainer of Neuro Linguistic Programming.

David Brown is a psychotherapist and administrator of Hampshire Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy. He was an EFL teacher for many years and was Principal of the International Language Academy in Bournemouth from 1990 to 2001. He has degrees in Psychology and Linguistics and diplomas in TEFL counselling and psychotherapy. He regularly leads psychospiritual workshops (www.thesixinterventions.webs.com).

A Professor in Education at Durham University, Chris Brown is seeking to drive forward the use of professional learning networks to promote the collaborative learning of teachers. Chris also has a long-standing interest in how research evidence can and should, but often doesn't, aid the development of education policy and practice.

Fran Burgess, past director of The Northern School of NLP, has nearly 30 years' experience within the world of NLP. During this time she has learnt from the major international teachers and her learning has taken her far and wide. A BSc graduate of St Andrews' University, with a background in vocational training, she has pioneered understanding and new approaches within the field of Modelling and its teaching, culminating in the publication of The Bumper Bundle Book of Modellingand its Companion Workbook. She has been a UKCP registered NLPt Psychotherapist and Board Member of NLPtCA. She was a founder member of The Professional Guild of NLP, and has been a regular contributor to the NLP Conference for nearly 20 years. She is now co-director of fORGE,a training company providing Psychotherapy Diploma training, specialising in Neurolinguistic Therapeutic Modelling.

Garry Burnett has been an English teacher, advisor and advanced skills teacher (AST) and a lead practitioner and head of department for over 35 years. He has written and lectured extensively on teaching and learning, creativity and parenting all around the world.

Now focused on his own original creative writing, he is currently engaged in producing Turn and Face the Strange, the hit show about the Hull-born musician Mick Ronson, and the screenplay Moonage Daydream, telling the story of David Bowie and Mick's musical collaboration. .

For over ten years, Mark Burns has developed a proven track record in developing teaching and leadership in education. He has co-authored two bestselling books in this field – Engaging Learners and Teaching Backwards – and, more recently, has worked with FTSE 100 retailers and third sector organisations too.

Through his work, Mark has developed a deep understanding of learning design and how to overcome the barriers to learning in organisations – which is the focus of his award-winning co-authored book The Learning Imperative. He is passionate about supporting the development of performance through effective learning, hence his company’s name: Plus One Learning.

Mark’s work has been recognised with a Gold award in the People Development Programme of the Year – Public Sector category at the prestigious Learning Performance Institute Learning Awards 2021. He also won the CPD category in the Teach Secondary Awards 2020.

Click here to read Mark Burns' blog.

John Burton, EdD LPC holds a Doctorate in Human Development Counseling from Vanderbilt University as well as a Masters in Clinical Psychology. He is licensed as a Professional Counselor, Counselor Supervisor and holds certificates as a NLP Master, Clinical Hypnotherapist, and Reiki Master. He currently maintains his own counseling practice with over 30 years of professional experience. He also conducts regular workshops in the U.S. for The Sacred Sequence and Clinical Hypnotherapy. Dr. Burton co-authored one book and was sole author for two other books published by Crown House.

Bradley Busch is a chartered psychologist and director of InnerDrive. He graduated from Loughborough University with distinction and went on to work with Premiership and international footballers from England, Scotland, Wales and Japan. Outside of football, he has worked with elite athletes, helping GB athletes win medals at the London 2012 and Rio 2016 Games. As well as writing regularly for The Guardian, he is a leading expert on how psychological research can best help students, teachers, athletes and businesses think and perform better.

Click here to view a feature of Release Your Inner Drive' in The Daily Mail.

Click here to listen to Bradley Busch on the BBC Radio 2 Chris Evans show.

Click here to read Bradley Busch’s blog.

Dr Richard Bustin teaches Geography and leads the department at Lancing College, where he is responsible for staff development and teacher training. Richard’s research on curriculum has resulted in multiple publications, invitations to speak at education conferences and work with trainee teachers around the world.

Oliver Button is Deputy Headteacher at Albany school in Enfield and formerly he was Assistant Headteacher at Villiers High School.

Donald C Brown, BSc, MD, CCFP, FCFP, ABFP, is an approved consultant in Medical Hypnosis by the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis. Dr. Brown was Founding Director, Department of Family Medicine, Dalhousie University Medical School. He is licensed to practise family medicine and medical hypnosis therapy in Nova Scotia, Canada. Dr. Brown is currently involved in full-time private practice as a consultant in medical hypnosis.

Martin C. Clader, MA, CSQW, managed child protection and domestic abuse services in the City of Salford before he established Calder Training and Consultancy to further develop front-line assessment frameworks and practice.

Jon Carlson, Psy.D., Ed.D. ABPP was a Distinguished Professor of Adlerian Psychology at Adler University, Chicago, Illinois and a psychologist with the Wellness Clinic in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. Jon authored over 60 books in many areas including psychotherapy, family therapy, marital enrichment, consultation, loneliness and Adlerian psychology. He also produced over 300 videos featuring the world's best therapists.

Becky Carlzon is an optimistic primary school teacher who specialises in the Learning Power Approach (LPA). She has adapted the LPA successfully while teaching students of all ages in the UK, Argentina, and Thailand over the last twelve years. Becky's practice is underpinned by the design principles outlined in Powering Up Children. Through staying connected with LPA schools and fellow practitioners, Becky is at the forefront of LPA practice across the globe. Her latest thoughts, reflections, and findings can be found on her website and blog: www.learningpowerkids.com.

Mariette Castellino is a coach, team coach and facilitator in the public, private and voluntary sectors. She has an MA in Management Learning and is one of the pioneers of the application of Clean Language and Symbolic Modelling in organisations. She co-developed The Five-Minute Coach and is currently using it to facilitate new thinking in businesses as well as all kinds of communities.

Stephen Chapman is the Managing Director of Dragonfly Training Ltd and has delivered CPD at hundreds of schools in the UK and internationally. Formerly an innovative history teacher, Stephen has a proven track record of success in schools in London, Nairobi and The Bahamas.

As with so much in life a book is a fantastic start but if you want to take things further then it's probably best to experience it for yourself. Improving Classroom Performance has been delivered as a training day to hundreds of schools.

Each of the three authors can deliver this training day, and you can be sure that it will conform to the Dragonfly promise of being totally practical, and delivered in a hands-on and entertaining manner.

To book this course as an in school training session please contact Stephen Chapman, MD Dragonfly Training at info@dragonfly-training.co.uk or visit www.dragonfly-training.co.uk for further references. You may even like to call him on +44 (0) 29 2071 1787.

Pete Chapman, a Lincolnshire farm boy had dreams of making it big and became British Bodybuilding Champion in 1991. After breaking his drug dependency and body obsession, he studied yoga, nutrition, philosophy and many other healing arts and this led to his own radio fitness show. He has run a gym, trained professional athletes and has worked with youth groups to develop drug rehab and wellness programmes. Now living and working in the US, Pete mentors and trains teenagers to be healthy and successful.

Graham Chatterley was a school leader who has since led training for thousands of educators across the North of England. He believes that adults play a pivotal role in the behaviour of students and that a culture of teaching children behaviour, rather than managing it, is key.

An experienced school leader and principal examiner, Michael Chiles has been teaching for over 15 years. He has delivered training both nationally and internationally, supporting teachers in their approaches to implementing effective assessment and feedback practices. Currently a Vice Principal, he writes blogs at GeogHod, sits on the Chartered College of Teaching Council and enjoys walking in the British countryside with his Border Collie. He is also the author of CRAFT and The Feedback Pendulum.

Dr Richard Churches has been an advanced skills teacher, a senior manager in challenging inner-city schools, a government adviser, an education consultant and the lead adviser for education reform and evidence-based practice at Education Development Trust. He has led many major policy initiatives in England and across the world, and is currently programme director for the DfE Future Teaching Scholars programme. His doctoral research was experimental and explored areas of charismatic leadership associated with altered states of consciousness.

Clinical trials' approach to research to see what works best for students. You can read Dr Richard Churches full article from Education Development Trust here.

Gemma Clark is an experienced primary teacher based in Scotland. She is dedicated to student and teacher wellbeing and creating innovative ways to inspire a love for learning. Gemma also holds a degree in psychology, teaches yoga, mindfulness, and meditation and manages a teacher wellbeing group.

Guy Claxton is a cognitive scientist specialising in the expandability of human intelligence ' bodily and intuitive as well as intellectual ' and the roles schools play in either growing or stunting these capacities. A prolific author, his practical programmes for teachers are influencing children's lives in Ireland, Spain, Poland, Dubai, South Africa, Malaysia, Indonesia, Australia, New Zealand, Argentina, and Brazil, as well as across the UK.

Robert Cleary has been the head teacher of Sandringham Primary School for nine years. Robert strives to ensure that school improvement work is underpinned by educational research, and in recent years he has built partnerships with organisations such as Whole Education, National Literacy Trust, London Teachers' Reading Group, and Maths No Problem. This approach has helped develop pedagogical understanding and create a professional, shared language about how children learn.

Emily Clementsis a subject leader for Key Stage 3 science and is also the science subject tutor for the South Downs SCITT. Emily has an MA in education and is interested in supporting teachers in using evidence to inform their practice. She shares her insights and experience regularly in the Thrive in Teaching blog.

Peter Clutterbuck was a prolific author of educational texts for many years. As a practising and wholly committed classroom teacher, he was able to collect tried and tested activities and create and trial interesting new exercises that have proved to be not only educationally successful but also eagerly anticipated and enjoyed by both students and teachers. Peter's books are practical and user-friendly. The activities challenge students and generate an enthusiastic desire for learning.

Tait Coles is a teacher, Vice Principal in a Bradford Academy and an educational speaker. He is a classroom maverick and a respected radical of modern teaching.

Previously, Tait has been Assistant Head Teacher at a comprehensive school in Leeds and was Head of Science in one of the many challenging schools in Bradford.

Tait is the creator of Punk Learning; a manifesto that challenges the orthodoxy and complacency of teaching and allows students to be central to a critical educational culture where they learn how to become individuals and social agents rather than merely disengaged spectators who have their part to play' in the Neoliberal ideology of modern schooling.

Click here to listen in on Tait's podcast with Pivotal Education - Punk Learning'.

Click here to read Tait Coles’ blog.

 

Peter Cook leads Human Dynamics and The Academy of Rock, a creativity and innovation consultancy with an enviable network of associates around the world. We facilitate strategy, creativity, innovation and change through bespoke consultancy, masterclasses, keynotes, training, coaching and mentoring. Author and contributor to 11 books, acclaimed by Professors Charles Handy, Adrian Furnham, Harvey Goldsmith CBE and Tom Peters. Peter appears on BBC TV, Radio, Bloomberg TV, The FT, Independent et al. with his ideas. He won a prize for his work on leadership from Sir Richard Branson, is a writer for Virgin.com and works with Ted Coine's Open For Business speaker network. Peter has followed three concurrent passions over 30 years: science; business and music:

· Leading innovative Pharmaceutical Product Research and Development teams to bring multi-million dollar life saving drugs safely to the market, including the first treatments for AIDS, Herpes and the development of Human Insulin.

· Trouble-shooting businesses and starting up factories around the world in critical conditions where failure could hurt the enterprise considerably.

Click here to read Peter Cooks blog.

· Internal business, organisation development and change consultancy to introduce long-term change to business units and increase their innovation and creativity levels.

· Writing and tutoring for Business Schools at MBA level for blue chip companies around the world.

· Writing and performing music and speaking around the world on the parallels between business and the arts. Peter interviews a wide range of world-class musicians in this role including people connected with Prince, Eric Clapton, Ozzy Osbourne, Deep Purple, Bob Marley, Yes, AC / DC, Meatloaf and The Who.

Peter has an MBA, is a Chartered Chemist, FCIPD and an NLP Old Master. He is also an accomplished rock, pop and jazz musician, having performed alongside Bernie Tormé, John Otway, Wilko Johnson, Patti Russo, Meatloaf's long-term singing partner and songstress with Queen and Cher. Peter's keynotes and masterclasses can be accompanied by a roster of class A rock stars and session musicians.

Peter Cook Extras

FREE BOOK ' Punk Rock People Management - A no-nonsense guide to hiring, inspiring and firing staff.

Available free with copies of Sex, Leadership and Rock'n'Roll by contacting the author In Punk Rock People Management. I have stripped down HR to the bare essentials for busy people and those who are sick of HR jargon getting in the way of running a business. In the punk spirit, each chapter is very short, so you can read one in less time than it takes to pogo to a Sex Pistols or Linkin Park song! Punk Rock PM is organised using the classic Life, Sex and Death HR cycle', in other words Hiring, Inspiring and Firing. To whet your appetite, chapter titles include:

- Selection - Shall I stay or shall I go?

- Engagement - Pretty vacant

- Conflict - Who killed Bambi?

If you have to get things done with people and can't get no satisfaction from an HR textbook, try Punk Rock PM for a refreshing difference.

Lynne Cooper is an accredited coach and coaching supervisor who works with individuals, teams and organisations to transform performance. Lynne is one of the pioneers of the application of Clean Language in organisations to achieve sustainable change. She is Managing Partner of Change Perspectives Partnership and the former UK Vice Chair at the Association for Coaching.Lynne co-developed the Five-Minute Coach, a tool for busy managers to create improved results and trains leaders and coaches in Five-Minute Coach skills. She is also the author of Business NLP for Dummies.

Andy Cope is the author of the famous Spy Dog books, a trainer and keynote speaker. He is an expert in positive psychology and happiness, which led him to develop The Art of Being Brilliant. This is delivered in various forms as workshops for businesses, conferences, teachers and teenagers. It has also informed the thinking behind his brilliant books.

Click here to listen in on Andy's podcast with Pivotal Education - 'Being Brilliant!'.

Ellie Costello joined Square Peg as Director in 2020, having experienced life as the parent of children with underlying needs which impacted their ability to access and ‘fit’ the education system. She now runs the organisation, as well as working as an Expert By Experience with local authority and health teams in her home county of Warwickshire.

 

James Cowart is a psychologist with a special interest in providing cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) to people suffering with anxiety disorders. He has a PhD in Applied Behaviour Analysis and is a member of the American Psychological Association. He specialises in problem-solving formats in family and couples therapy, as well as cognitive behavioural and interpersonal approaches to treat depression and anxiety.

Click here to read James Cowart's article - Why is anxiety increasing among our young people?'

Four big skills for coping with stress and anxiety in business and in life'.

Click here to listen to James' podcast with LCCH International.

Sue Cowley is a writer, presenter and teacher trainer, and the author of more than 25 books on education, including How to Survive your First Year in Teaching. Her international bestseller, Getting the Buggers to Behave, is a fixture on university lists, and has been translated into ten different languages. After training as an early years teacher, Sue taught English and drama in secondary schools in the UK and overseas, and she also worked as a supply teacher. She now spends her time writing educational books and articles and is a columnist for Teach Nursery, Teach Primary and Nursery World magazines. Sue works internationally as a teacher trainer, as well as volunteering in primary classrooms and helping to run her local preschool.

Click here to listen in on Sue's podcast with Pivotal Education 'How to fix education'.

Click here to read Sue's article in TeachTalks magazine 'Learning: Beyond the Walls' (p.20).

Click here to read Sue's article in TES 'What evidence does Amanda Speilman have to suggest nurseries don't teach nursery rhymes'.

Click here to read Sue Cowley’s blog.

Dawn Cox has been teaching RE for 20 years and is currently a head of department in Essex. She has held many other roles in and out of RE, including advanced skills teaching and senior leadership roles, and also runs a local RE network. Dawn regularly presents at national and international conferences, including researchED and specialist events such as Strictly RE.

Click here to read Dawn Cox’s blog.

Having taught English for 23 years, Bob Cox is now an independent education consultant, writer and teacher coach who works nationally and internationally to support outstanding learning. Bob also delivers keynotes for national associations, multi-academy trusts and local authorities, as more schools integrate Opening Doors' strategies into their curriculum design.

Listen to Bob Cox talk about his Opening Doors series of books with Toria Bono from Tiny Voice Talks here.

James Crane went to school in Cyprus before moving back to the UK to study Sports Coaching and Physical Education at University. He is now Assistant Headteacher at Durrington High School and Deputy Director at Durrington Research School. James is a keen sportsman having competed in tennis, swimming and athletics at regional levels, and has also represented England Colleges at an international level in football.

Leah Crawford has 15 years’ experience as a local authority English inspector and adviser, working across both the primary and secondary phases, and now leads Thinktalk education consultancy. She is a tutor for King’s College London’s Let’s Think in English cognitive acceleration programme, is on the Wildern Partnership SCITT leadership team and is delivering the new NPQ in Leading Literacy.  She has spent her career in education championing equitable and inclusive dialogic teaching and learning.

Click here to read Leah Crawford’s blog.

Mark Creasy is an Independent Thinking Associate and experienced primary school teacher. His contemporary and down-to-earth style of teaching has allowed him to view learning as a tool, not a rule, to ensure that his pupils are given the right to an education that suits their needs and maximises their potential for future success. Mark is also the author of Unhomework, which challenges the orthodoxies about work outside the classroom.

Read Mark's article featured in The Guardian on Tuesday April 1st 2014.

Click here to listen to Mark discussing The Great Homework Debate' on the Pivotal Podcast (from 4.30mins).

Cathy Cross trained in theatre design and has spent over 20 years working in community theatre and education. Over the last few years Cathy has combined the breadth of her experience to inform her role as a change maker, creativity consultant and professional den maker!

Dr Andrew Curran is a practising paediatric neurologist and neurobiologist who is also committed to using his extraordinary knowledge of the workings of the human brain to make a difference in the educational experience of all young people. He has been involved with Manchester University's Department of Education, developing research ideas looking at the use of emotional literacy in our classrooms. More recently he has conducted work exploring the processing of reward in the human brain. He believes passionately in the importance of understanding the individual, connecting with them emotionally and leading them into self directed learning. His book, the Little Book of Big Stuff about the Brain (published by Crown House Publishing) is recognised as one of the leading books about understanding brain based learning and the importance of emotional literacy in our classrooms and in our lives. His latest book, Get Off the Sofa is a general health book aimed at anyone from 5 ' 85 who wants to understand their health more. He is a talented and internationally recognised presenter both to live audiences and on television where he was a main presenter on BBC3's Make My Body Younger. He is an associate of Independent Thinking Ltd.

Chris Curtis is an English teacher and head of department with over a decade's experience in education. Chris is forever reflecting on which aspects of his teaching work best for his students and, as an avid reader and blogger, is a big believer in sharing practical ways to tackle difficult problems in the classroom.

Click here to read Chris Curtis' blog.

Dr David George was formerly Associate Director of Nene College (now the University of Northampton) and before that Dean of The Faculty of Science. He was Founder President of the National Association For Able Children and was a member of the Executive Committee of The World Council of Gifted and Talented Children. He is a consultant to the British Council and UNESCO. He has lectured both nationally and internationally on the education of the gifted and talented. He is the author of Young, Gifted and Bored; The Challenge of The Able Child; Gifted Education; Enrichment Activities for Able Children; and Making The Most of Your Abilities.

He claims to be a teacher first and foremost having taught in three schools and has a wide experience of teacher education in Liverpool and Northampton. His enthusiasm and devotion to teaching is reflected in all his courses.

David is also a keen sportsman and ran for his county and the RAF. He was Chairman of Managers at St Andrews Hospital for five years and continues as a manager. He was President of His Rotary Club and was made an Honorary Commander at RAF Croughton (USAF) in recognition of his service to the community.

Stephanie Davies is recognised as one of the UK's leading voices in the psychology of laughter and humour. She has over ten years' experience of developing interventions that have been applied in a wide variety of settings dealing with complex public and mental health issues and building teams in high profile organisations. She is an award-winning stand up comedian who has worked with world-renowned Dr Patch Adams exploring the relationship between health, humour, community and the arts.

Read The Independent's article featuring Stephanie's Laughology.

Laugh your way to the top - an article by The Positive.

Have you heard the one about the laughter workout? - an article from the Daily Express.

Laughology: A little funny business - an article from The Independent.

Click here to read Stephanie's blog post on the World of Learning 2020 website.

Andrew has a background in language teaching and a degree in Philosophy and Social Anthropology, the combination of which have sparked his passionate curiosity into the part that language plays in the development of thinking. Having joined The Philosophy Foundation in 2009, Andrew quickly invested in their ethos, striving to encourage young people to think philosophically.

Read this article featuring Thoughtings on The Guardian Teacher Network.

Debra Kiddtaught for 23 years in primary, secondary and higher education settings. She is the author of three previous books - Teaching: Notes from the Front Line, Becoming Mobius and Uncharted Territories - and believes more than anything else that 'the secret to great teaching is to make it matter'. Debra has a doctorate in education and co-founded and organised Northern Rocks, one of the largest annual teaching and learning conferences in the UK.

View Debra's profile in Schools Week, October 2014.

Click here to listen in on Debra's podcast with Pivotal Education on 'teaching, learning and politics'.

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

A highly experienced communication expert, Karen Dempster is co-founder of Fit2Communicate, a Fellow of the Institute of Internal Communications and a certified DISC personality profile practitioner. She is passionate about raising the standard of communication in all schools in order to support better student outcomes. Prior to 2015, Karen spent 20 years in marketing and communication roles. She is also a professional photographer and lives in Surrey with her husband, son and collection of pets.

Click here to read Karen Dempster’s blog.

Lucas Derks has worked as a psychotherapist and coach for twenty years, focusing on social cognition and relational issues.