Professional Associates

Dr. Ruth Ash

Ruth Ash is a nationally-known consultant in the areas of education and organizational effectiveness and is a Founding Partner of Education Solutions. Previously, Dr. Ash was Deputy State Superintendent of Education for Alabama and, prior to that, Dean of the School of Education and Professional Studies at Samford University. Read More

Mr. David G. Bauer

David G. Bauer, a highly sought-after speaker on grant seeking, is president of David G. Bauer Associates, Inc., a consulting firm created in 1981 to provide educationally based grant seeking and fund raising seminars and materials. Read More

Mr. Bob Callahan

Bob Callahan has managed his own private technology
consulting practice for 34 years. His practice focuses upon the design and management of enterprise technology infrastructure. Callahan’s design perspective is that of the end user, the consumer of the technology. He knows that technology must be useable in order to be useful. Read More

Dr. Barry Carroll

After 30 years in public education in Alabama and ten years as a superintendent, Dr. Barry Carroll retired as Superintendent of Education in 2011. Dr. Carroll’s career in education consisted of serving as a teacher, Assistant Principal and Coordinator of Athletics, Principal, Director of Secondary Education and Professional Development, and Superintendent of Education. Read More

Dr. Cindy Elsberry

Dr. Elsberry served as Superintendent in both Horry County Schools in South Carolina as well as Talladega County Schools in Alabama. Her work in Horry County has received national acclaim in the following venues Read More

Dr. Phillip Feldman

After earning his Doctor of Education degree from the University of Memphis Dr. Phillip Feldman founded the Reading Center at the University of Tennessee at Martin. As Associate Dean of the College of Education at the University of South Alabama the has worked to develop practice-drive teacher education programs rich in clinical field experiences coupled with high use of emerging instructional technology. Read More

Dr. Meredith Foster Herlong

Dr. Herlong received her doctorate in educational leadership and policy from Vanderbilt University's Peabody College of Education where she was recognized as the 2011 recipient of the Arville V. Wheeler Prize for Excellence in Educational Administration. Dr. Herlong also holds academic degrees from The University of Alabama at Birmingham and Auburn University in addition to Apple Academy Certification from Stanford University and Life Coach Certification from the Life Purpose Institute. Read More

Ms. Drexel Gilbert

Drexel Gilbert spent 29 years informing, motivating and inspiring news viewers as a television anchor and reporter. Today, Drexel shares her communication, motivational and leadership skills as an author, corporate trainer, public speaker and independent video producer. Her practical steps lead her clients to become effective communicators, polished public speakers, motivated managers and confident leader. Read More

Dr. Karl Hamner

Dr. Hamner currently serves the Director of the Office of Evaluation Research and School Improvement for The University of Alabama College of Education. He also serves on the UA Council for Community-Based Partnerships and is Co-Chair of the West Alabama Veteran Action Board. Read More

Dr. Andrea Kent

Andrea M. Kent is the Director of Field Services, and Associate Professor of Literacy Education in the Department of Leadership and Teacher Education, College of Education at the University of South Alabama. Dr. Kent received her B.S. in Elementary and Early Childhood Education, her Master’s in Early Childhood Education, and her Ph.D. in Instructional Design and Development. Read More

Dr. Howard Marc Knoff

Dr. Howard Marc Knoff is President of Project ACHIEVE Incorporated. He is also a national consultant, author, and lecturer, as well as being a Nationally Certified School Psychologist and a Licensed Psychologist. Read More

Dr. Melissa Krull

Dr. Melissa Krull has an extensive background in serving in leadership capacities of a 10,000 student school district for the past 20 years. As superintendent of schools for 10 years, Dr. Krull served as a liaison to the parent and business communities, to higher education, and to the legislative body of government. She was as a member of the Governor’s Trade Mission and has served on the board of directors for several organizations. Read More

Dr. James E. McLean

Dr. McLean has graduate training in statistics, measurement, evaluation, research, and educational psychology coupled with 45 years of experience teaching and researching in these areas. He also has administrative experience as a program chair, area head, director, assistant dean, and dean. He has directed, co-directed, or administered well over 100 research, assessment, and evaluation projects. Read More

Dr. Amy D. McFarland

Dr. McFarland received her Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Washington State University and holds a Master of Arts in teaching and a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from the University of Puget Sound. Dr. McFarland is the Founder and President of Quatsabadi, an organization specializing in the development of partnerships with school systems in need of support to facilitate student success, particularly for Native American youth.  Read More

Mr. Derek Roh

Derek Roh is a former business strategist CIO with a proven record of delivering major value via performance and process improvements in both the public and private sectors. Roh’s successful consulting background combined with his corporate and public education management experience provides a broad spectrum of expertise.Read More

Mr. Franklin Schargel

Mr. Schargel is an internationally recognized speaker, author, and educational consultant. He has presented over 200 workshops for educational, community, and business groups throughout the United States, Europe, Canada, and Latin America. Read More

Mr. Don Stringfellow

Don Stringfellow is currently a member of the Mobile County School Board representing District Two. He has over 40 years of involvement in public education. Don has worked in all levels of the educational community, including elementary, middle, high school, with both urban and rural experiences. Read More

Mr. James W. Williams, Jr.

Jim Williams is Executive Director of the Public Affairs Research Council of Alabama (PARCA), a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization formed in 1988 to provide factual, objective research that will help to improve state and local government in Alabama. Read More