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< Back Tom Hakes Director of Growth Tom Hakes is a business professional with a proven track record of success in the for-profit and not-for-profit sectors with extensive experience in sales, donor relationship building, management, public speaking/public relations, international/intercultural relations, and working with at-risk populations.

< Back Kevin Eberle Associate Dr. Eberle is a passionate and driven school educator who has focused on creating a school culture for all to be successful. He has served four Western New York school districts over the past thirty-two years with the last eighteen in the Buffalo Public School District. As building principal, Dr. Eberle's vision has always focused on enriching the school building environment through cooperative initiatives that are conducive to learning and strive towards the highest student performance. He has redesigned schools by empowering faculties to become true educational leaders within their own classrooms. As an organizational leader, Dr. Eberle believes excellent communication and implementing a total team approach in creating a collegial, trusting, caring, and safe atmosphere, is essential for organizational change. He understands that change is inevitable and must continue to be visionaries for effective change. Dr. Eberle received his Doctor of Education from The State University of New York at Buffalo concentrating on Educational Leadership and Policy. With a master’s degree in counseling education, and a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, Dr. Eberle has focused on the social/emotional effects of schools and how to create positive relationships that develop positive learning environments. As Chief Operations Officer for the Buffalo Public Schools, Dr. Eberle was responsible for Facilities management of eight million square feet of school space, Food/nutrition, Transportation, Safety, and Security for 32,000 students. Within these years as COO, he gained a systemic thought process at a macro level of management and developed vital relationships within the business, district, and municipal communities to focus on collaborative efforts to support our educational mission for academic growth. Dr. Eberle’s present vision is to assist school personnel with changing the culture and fabric of schools where students are beginning to perform at a higher level. Creating an inviting and safe school environment is essential for academic success. Building relationships is the essence of success for every student and teacher to create a learning environment that is conducive for all students to be academically proficient. Dr. Eberle has attended many professional development and post-graduate seminars including Harvard University Summer Leadership Institutes. He believes we must continue to be lifelong learners to assist the next generation of educators. Dr. Eberle is presently an adjunct professor at Empire State University focusing on School Leadership and Policy. Dr. Eberle’s foundation for leading people began over forty years ago when he started his professional career in law enforcement. Before entering the field of education, he studied Criminal Justice and was hired as a police officer in Hampton Virginia. Over seven years as an officer, he aspired to be a special weapon and tactical (SWAT) officer along with becoming an instructor in the regional police academy. It was during these years that he developed his teaching, counseling, and leadership skills which were transferable attributes entering the field of education. Dr. Eberle presently advises Technology companies with school safety and solutions throughout the country. He is committed to the continued focus on the correlation between safe schools and academic success. His passion for civic duties is evident in his continued work as a current or past board member with the Buffalo, NY Police Athletic League, OLV Human Services, and the Family Justice Center of Buffalo, NY.

Board Policy Audits One of the primiary responsibilities of a Board of Education is to create and approve policies that govern the district. Our experienced team conducts thorough research and benchmarking to ensure that school districts' policies reflect best practices in the education field. By staying current with emerging trends and innovative approaches, we help school boards create policies that address evolving needs and support the district's goals and vision. This is crucial for school boards as modern policies enhance educational effectiveness, adaptability, and responsiveness to changing student and community needs. Our firm specializes in conducting comprehensive policy audits for schools and districts, ensuring that outdated policies are identified and assessed for relevance and compliance. This is crucial for school boards to do as outdated policies can lead to inconsistencies, legal risks, and ineffective decision-making, hindering a district's ability to provide a safe and equitable learning environment. If retained to conduct your district's policy audit, we offer the following: Policy Analysis: Detailed evaluation of current policies to identify necessary adjustments in line with state-specific regulations. Policy Revision Consultation: Collaborative guidance with school boards to craft clear, concise, and modernized policies that reflect current educational standards and legal mandates. Training & Support: Comprehensive assistance and training for school boards and district staff throughout the policy revision process, ensuring effective implementation and understanding of updated policies. With our support, we believe your district will promote a shared understanding and ownership of the policies, leading to improved compliance, stakeholder engagement, and the successful implementation of district-wide initiatives. Schedule Your FREE Confidential Consultation OUR PROMISE We understand that our clients are not just districts and schools, but ultimately the students that they are designed to serve. As fellow educators, we are committed to acting with integrity, honesty, and transparency. Zeal is unlike any other consulting firm because we guarantee complete and total satisfaction on any service we provide, or we will start over. Learn more about our other services: Financial & HR Optimize your human and fiscal resources at the school and district levels Learn More Special Education & MTSS Identify the strengths and opportunities that will improve your programs Learn More Cyber Security Reduce or eliminate the likelihood of a cyber-attack Learn More Organizational Effectiveness Clarify roles and responsibilities to promote a stronger organization Learn More

< Back Prakash Nair, AIA Strategic Partner Prakash Nair is a futurist, a visionary architect and the Founding President & CEO of Education Design International (EDI). Prakash established EDI as an umbrella organization that brings together the best school architecture with research-driven innovations in a number of other industries including education, environmental science, neurology, psychology and child development. Prior to starting EDI, Prakash served for 16 years as the Founding President & CEO of Fielding Nair International – a Company he helped build into one of the world’s leading change agents in school design with consultations in 52 countries on six continents. He is the recipient of many international awards including the A4LE MacConnell Award, the highest honor worldwide for school design. He has written extensively in leading international journals about school design. He is the author of three books including the new landmark publication, Learning by Design: Live | Play | Engage | Create , The Language of School Design now in it’s 3rd edition, and Blueprint for Tomorrow: Redesigning Schools for Student-Centered Learning published by the Harvard Education Press. Prakash served as an instructor for Harvard X “Leaders of Learning ”, an online course which lets you explore and understand your own theories of learning and leadership. Led by Harvard’s Dr. Richard Elmore, Leaders of Learning helps identify and develop educators’ personal theory of learning, and explore how it fits into the shifting landscape of learning. In 2020, Leaders of Learning had over 159,000 registrants worldwide. Prior to co-founding Fielding Nair International, Prakash worked for 10 years as Director of Operations for a multibillion-dollar school construction program for New York City. Prakash Serves as a Managing Principal on several projects scattered around the world. He has served as a school planning and design consultant, presenter and/or keynote speaker for clients in Australia (five states), Belgium, Brunei, Canada, Cayman Islands, Costa Rica, Denmark, Finland, Germany, India (six states), Indonesia, Israel, Malaysia, Mexico, Oman, New Zealand, Puerto Rico, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, Thailand, The Netherlands, Turkey, U.A.E., U.K. the United States (23 states) and Venezuela. By staying current with the research as well as national and international social, economic and cultural trends, Prakash is able to bring best practice thinking from many disciplines and fields to bear on education-related problems and projects. This approach has helped education clients save millions of dollars while still achieving or exceeding their schedule and quality expectations. He is widely considered to be the world’s leading authority on Innovative School Design. He lectures frequently, conducts various Webinars for educators and design professionals and authors a blog on school design. He is a regular keynote speaker at international events and has delivered a TedX talk. Prakash’s signature talent lies in his ability to communicate his passion for a new approach to education across the globe. He forges strong partnerships with local firms, helps client communities visualize their future, builds consensus for uniquely tailored solutions, and helps execute them successfully.

< Back Priya Darbari Senior Associate Priya Darbari brings over 25 years of diverse experience in education, from Montessori teaching to leadership roles as assistant principal, principal, director, and assistant superintendent before becoming Superintendent. Darbari has successfully implemented programs for underserved students, developed a NASA internship for high school seniors, and introduced innovative initiatives like Project Lead the Way (PLTW) and renowned literacy programs. Priya’s efforts have focused on fostering positive school climates, designing state-of-the-art classrooms, and strengthening English Learner programs. As Superintendent, she has spearheaded early literacy initiatives and is leading her district through strategic planning, ensuring a clear vision for student success. She continues to drive meaningful change by fostering innovation, closing achievement gaps, and ensuring equitable education for all students.

< Back Thomas Dillon Associate Lt. Tom Dillon is a decorated law enforcement officer, a renowned school security consultant, and a former public school Director of Safety and Security where he oversaw the development of safety and security plans, and conducted vulnerability assessments that conform to the All Hazard Plan that was instituted as a result of the Sandy Hook tragedy. Over the previous 25 years, Tom served as a Police Officer and various other law enforcement roles. This included the regional SWAT Team for approximately five years where he was promoted to the rank of Detective. As a Detective, Tom was a founding member of the Mid-State Narcotics Task Force, and a member of a regional Major Crime Unit before being promoted to the rank of Sergeant. As a Sergeant, Tom was assigned as a Patrol Shift Supervisor. After approximately five years as a Sergeant, Tom was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant and assigned as the Commander of the Detective Division where he directly supervised seven detectives. At the same time, Tom was placed in command of the Mid-State Narcotics Task Force and the Capitol Region Emergency Services Task Force Search & Rescue Dive Team. Both task forces placed Tom in command of numerous police officers for Hartford CT area police departments. Tom remained the Detective Division commander until his retirement from the Wethersfield Police Department in September 2010. As a member of the Wethersfield Police Department, Tom received numerous commendations for his investigative abilities and numerous self-initiated felony investigations. These self-initiated investigations resulted in the arrests and conviction of numerous individuals for major felonies such as homicide, bank robbery, large-scale bank frauds, narcotic violations and burglary. Through the use of confidential informants for twenty years, Tom solved dozens of felony cases not only for Wethersfield PD but for other Hartford area Police Departments where no suspect existed. During Tom’s 25-year career with the Wethersfield Police Department, Tom has been awarded numerous commendations from the FBI and DEA for his work in narcotics enforcement and bank robbery. Tom was also elected as the Town of Wethersfield Public Safety Officer of the Year, and the Wethersfield Police Department’s Medal of Merit on three occasions and the police department’s Medal of Valor.

< Back Scott Lindsey Associate Dr. Scott D. Lindsey serves as the Assistant Superintendent of a small northeastern district with an enrollment of 2500 students. In his current role, Scott oversees federal programs, student services (registration and residency), medical programs and school nurses, career and technical education implementation, home schooling, homelessness and unaccompanied youth, student information system, state data reporting processes and facilitator of the Diversity Equity and Inclusion Leadership team in his district. Dr. Lindsey is an innovative leader who has established systems and processes that allow for programs to run more efficiently and effectively while minimizing stress on staff and colleagues. Scott has held a variety of leadership roles at including Director of Student Services, Director of Alternative Education for Disruptive Youth, Positive Behavior Intervention and Supports Coordinator, Districtwide Suicide Prevention Officer, and Advanced Placement Coordinator while serving as a High School Assistant Principal. While serving in these roles, Dr. Lindsey became well-versed in the Baldrige Theory that implements systematic change and processes to allow for a school district, building or organization to function using simple systems and processes for effective transition to new leadership. Dr. Lindsey believes with effective systems management, passion for educating children, and looking to put the right people in the right positions schools and school districts can flourish in today’s society.

Technology Audits Now more than ever, technology is an integral aspect of curricula and instruction. Zeal Education Group has experts who can help your district to develop a technology plan that will ensure your IT infrastructure is future-ready and that you have access to the best solutions for your school or district's needs. No matter how large or small the project, our team can help. In the rapidly evolving educational landscape, integrating technology is essential for fostering enriched learning environments and administrative efficiency. We offer technical expertise, guiding schools and districts in crafting forward-thinking technology strategies tailored to their distinct needs. Our seasoned team of superintendents and technology directors appreciate the intricacies of educational technology, ensuring institutions are equipped with innovative tools for effective teaching, streamlined administrative processes, and equitable resource access. Our tailored approach includes: Comprehensive needs assessment: Evaluate your school or district's current technological capabilities and pinpoint areas for improvement. Strategic technology roadmap: Align technology plans with your school or district's educational aspirations and objectives. Infrastructure design and implementation: Create scalable and adaptable solutions supporting future growth. Vendor and solution evaluation: Guide selection based on performance, reliability, and cost-effectiveness. Professional development: Empower educators with skills and knowledge to integrate technology effectively. Ongoing support and maintenance: Ensure uninterrupted functionality of technology systems and solutions. With Zeal Education Group's holistic approach, educational entities can confidently navigate technology complexities, fostering improved outcomes and equipping students for success in our digital age. Schedule Your FREE Confidential Consultation OUR PROMISE We understand that our clients are not just districts and schools, but ultimately the students that they are designed to serve. As fellow educators, we are committed to acting with integrity, honesty, and transparency. Zeal is unlike any other consulting firm because we guarantee complete and total satisfaction on any service we provide, or we will start over. Learn more about our other services: Behavior Intervention Learn More Safety & Security Ensure your staff and students are safe and secure Learn More Financial & HR Optimize your human and fiscal resources at the school and district levels Learn More Cyber Security Reduce or eliminate the likelihood of a cyber-attack Learn More Organizational Effectiveness Clarify roles and responsibilities to promote a stronger organization Learn More

< Back David Miyashiro Senior Associate Dr. David Miyashiro is a forward-thinking education leader skilled at creating and sustaining a culture of trust and innovation with a 25-year career successfully modernizing learning approaches, education models, and school district capabilities in Southern California. As a digital pioneer, he has navigated districts into the hi-tech era, delivering numerous innovation “firsts,” for which he has garnered professional honors. Those include Superintendent of the Year, Acceptance into the League of Innovative Schools (Digital Promise, and K-12 Dive’s 2022 District of the Year . Districts under his leadership have also won awards, such as the California School Boards Association’s Golden Bell Award, the National School Boards Association’s Magna Award for Digital Learning, and the California Distinguished Schools Award. Dr. Miyashiro has a Doctorate in Educational Leadership and Policy from UCLA, his Master’s in Education Technology and Curriculum from Grand Canyon University, and Bachelor’s from Cal State Long Beach.

< Back Andrea Cruz Associate Andrea Cruz, Ed.D., is a seasoned administrative executive with over 25 years of leadership experience in K–12 public education and educator preparation. Throughout her career, she has championed strategic initiatives in human resources, administrative operations, and leadership development across multiple Texas school districts and education service centers. Dr. Cruz has served in key roles including Assistant Superintendent of Administrative Services, Executive Director of Human Resources, and Director of Educator Preparation Programs. Her work has supported critical functions such as staff recruitment and retention, certification and compliance, strategic planning, family and community engagement, and systems-level problem-solving. Andrea supports school districts and educational organizations through consulting, training, and coaching services. She leads customized professional development aligned to organizational goals and facilitates retreats and strategic planning sessions that build team clarity, capacity, and alignment. Her approach is practical, relationship-centered, and grounded in her extensive experience in school and district leadership. Andrea holds a Doctorate and Master’s in Educational Leadership from Texas A&M University–Kingsville and a Bachelor of Science from Southwest Texas State University. A published researcher and experienced mentor, she remains committed to helping others grow through thoughtful leadership, strategic action, and sustained support.

Behavior Intervention Audits At Zeal Education Group, we understand that student behavior is a form of communication—and often a reflection of unmet needs, unclear expectations, or systemic gaps. Schools that proactively address behavior through supportive, data-driven approaches see stronger relationships, improved learning conditions, and reduced disciplinary incidents. Our Behavior Intervention services are designed to help schools shift from reactive discipline to restorative, equitable, and strategic approaches. We guide school teams in understanding behavior trends, strengthening systems, and equipping staff with the tools to respond consistently and compassionately. Our Approach: School-Wide Behavior Assessment & Data Analysis: We begin with a detailed review of behavior-related data—referrals, suspensions, attendance, and classroom disruptions—to uncover root causes, identify patterns, and highlight where systems may be breaking down. This analysis sets the foundation for targeted improvement. PBIS Strategy Design & Implementation: Zeal partners with school teams to design and implement Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) that are clear, consistent, and tailored to your unique school culture. We help define behavioral expectations, build systems for reinforcement, and ensure alignment across classrooms and grade levels. Restorative Practices & Staff Training: Beyond behavior management, we focus on relationship-building and conflict resolution. Our team provides professional development in restorative practices, trauma-informed approaches, and de-escalation strategies—ensuring staff are prepared to support students with empathy and effectiveness. Customized Interventions & MTSS Alignment: We work within your Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) to develop layered interventions for students who need additional support. This may include mentoring programs, behavior plans, or wraparound services—all informed by data and rooted in student dignity. With Zeal as your partner, your school or district can move toward a culture of consistency, connection, and accountability—where every student feels seen, supported, and empowered to thrive. Schedule Your FREE Confidential Consultation OUR PROMISE We understand that our clients are not just districts and schools, but ultimately the students that they are designed to serve. As fellow educators, we are committed to acting with integrity, honesty, and transparency. Zeal is unlike any other consulting firm because we guarantee complete and total satisfaction on any service we provide, or we will start over. Learn more about our other services: Fine Arts Increase engagement and participation Learn More Special Education & MTSS Identify the strengths and opportunities that will improve your programs Learn More Organizational Effectiveness Clarify roles and responsibilities to promote a stronger organization Learn More Chronic Absenteeism Increase student attendance and engagement Learn More

< Back Anita Foor Associate Anita Foor earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Nebraska – Lincoln in Agricultural Leadership, Education, and Communication. She polished her learning by earning a master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Concordia University Nebraska and is also a certified practitioner of the following people development assessment tools: DISC, Motivators, E-IQ2, Hartman Value Profile, and HireSense. Through leadership experiences as the state president for the Nebraska FFA Association and as a regional vice president in the National FFA Organization, internships, and her teaching experience, Anita came to intimately know her inner drive to develop people to achieve greatness. After teaching middle and high school students about agriculture and leadership, Anita became employed with a state department of education as a Career Field Specialist. In this role, she developed and facilitated leadership and career-based programs and conferences for students who were members of HOSA | Future Health Professionals, Educators Rising, SkillsUSA, and FFA. She also led her CTE state colleagues in providing professional development to CTE teachers, school counselors, and student organization local advisors. After investing in education through the state agency, Anita served as the Sr. Manager of Curriculum and Instruction for a growing national student organization. She wrote thousands of hours of employability skill curriculum that was used during on-site student and teacher conference, online synchronous professional development sessions and conferences, and in four one-of-a-kind project-based e-learning courses in which participants could earn industry-validated credentials. She also contributed to the development of hundreds of e-module storyboards to engage learners in growing their employability skills. In 2022, Anita established Development412, LLC where she works daily to empower people to achieve efficacious impact in their vocations. She works with individuals and teams associated with schools, non-profits, and small businesses through one-on-one coaching, strategic planning, curriculum mapping and writing, and the development of experiences, resources and other facilitated experiences that allow people to engage in meaningful learning. She holds adjunct faculty status at three universities where she teaches pre-service teachers a variety of teacher preparation courses. Through Development412, Anita aims to equip people to understand their personal interests, gifts and assets, and to commit themselves to the purpose of building a better world by contributing to and serving others through their vocations. Anita understands and deeply appreciates that all people have much to offer those around them and is impassioned by the work of investing in individuals who will, as a result, better fulfill their roles on teams, in communities, in relationships – in all of their personal vocations. It is especially an honor when Anita gets to focus on working with leadership teams and educators who have significant impact on students.