* Central Valley Project Lead for Woodlake Schools and Central USD
* Working with PLP since August, 2006
* BA in history from UCSB in 1970; MA in Education from CSUF in 1981; MA in Linguistics from CSUF in 1985

Jonica M. Bushman

Prior to working with PLP, Jonica worked as a Middle School Site Administrator at Clovis USD. She has also worked as a Secondary Language Arts Coordinator for Fresno USD and a Teacher Coach and Curriculum Developer for Clovis USD. She is most proud of her 24 years of classroom teaching. Her goal was to make the world more accessible to all through literacy competence, and I believe my classroom efforts accomplished this for many of my wonderful students.

Jonica has been a contributing author to 50 Ways to Develop Strategic Writers, Pearson Merrill Prentice Hall, 2005 and is associated with the California Association of Teachers of English, the National Association of Teachers of English and the San Joaquin Valley Writers Project.

Sandra Carsten

Sandy has served as the President of the Association of California School Administrators during the 2004-’05 school year and was the state president and member of the SCSA State Board for a total of 8 years. Prior to working with PLP, she was the Assistant Superintendent of K-8 education with Fresno USD for nine years.

Sandy has taught elementary school in FUSD for 10 years with a focus on Intermediate grades.  She has also taught adult literacy classes, teacher preparation courses, and provided professional development to K-12 teachers in English Language Arts and Mathematics. She is most proud of her leadership over a seven year period in FUSD for a K-12 Urban Systemic Initiative in science and mathematics education designed to provide equity and opportunity for all students in science and mathematics.

Gary Giannoni

Gary has been the recipient of the Golden Apple Administrator of the Year while at CUSD in 2000 as well as the Fresno-Madera California Music Educator Association Administrator of the Year in 2001. He is most proud of leading two separate schools to California Distinguished School status (Jefferson Elementary/Clovis West High School) and CWHS to National Blue Ribbon status. He is also proud of being responsible for the opening and structuring of Alta Sierra Intermediate School as a new school in CUSD in 1993-94.

Prior to working with PLP, Gary was an Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services with Clovis Unified School District. He has also held positions as a secondary curriculum and instructional administrator, and as a principal for an elementary, intermediate and high school, all at CUSD.

Julia O'Kane

Julia was the recipient of the ACSA Region 9 Superintendent of the Year in 2006. Prior to working with PLP she was the Superintendent, Madera Unified and prior to that, the Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services for Madera. She is most proud of having the opportunity  to develop a culture in Madera Unified which is focused on student achievement and closing the achievement gap.

* Central Valley Project Manager; DAIT manager for Wasco UHSD, Richland USD, Dinuba USD and Cutler-Orosi USD
* Working with PLP since August 1st, 2007
* BA from CSUF in 1973; Teaching Credential from CSUF in 1975; MA from CSUF in 1978

Karen Rowe

Prior to working with PLP, Karen was the Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction for Kings Canyon Unified. She has also served as the Administrator of Curriculum and Instruction for Visalia Unified School District. While there she gained experience working with a more diverse student population and developed district level PLCs to build systems that had positive impact on student achievement for all, and to insure common understandings of the work that needed to be done.

Karen holds the belief that the work she has done and continues to do makes a difference.  Each of the positions that she has held brought with it challenges and opportunities to create systems that impact students and their families in a positive way.

* Heads all Central Valley Projects for PLP
* Working with PLP since January 2007
* PLP Coach for Richland School District
* BA and Masters in Education from California State University, Fresno

Gloria Story

In 2003 and 2004 Gloria was nominated for Top Ten Business Professional Women of the Year.  She was also nominated for Administrator of the Year with Central Unified for the 2002/2003 school year.

Prior to joining PLP Gloria worked as the Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources with Sanger Unified School District. Gloria was also Principal of Liddell Elementary school from 2000-2005. One moment in Gloria's professional experience for which she is proud is seeing Liddell Elementary earn the State Distinguished School Award in 2004.

Mary L. Vaughan

Prior to working with PLP, Mary was the Assistant Superintendent fro Firebaugh Las Deltas and has also worked as the Director of Instructional Services at Fowler Unified and as the Elementary Principal for Fowler Unified. She is a member of SCSA and ASCD.

Mary believes that working with Pivot Learning Partners has been a profound experience. This opportunity has enhanced her professional knowledge around leadership, systems, and coaching . Applying that knowledge to her work with Madera Unified has been one of the most exciting and satisfying professional challenges of her career.