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< Back Joseph Micheller Senior Associate Dr. Joseph S. Micheller joins the Zeal Education Group from Cleveland Schools having served as the Executive Director: New School Development for the past 8 years. He passionately worked with CMSD staff and community partners to design, launch and support new and innovative school models (15 high schools and 16 K-8’s). Prior to coming to CMSD, Joe served as Superintendent, Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources, and Director of Educational Services in Ohio districts. Joe began his career as a middle school social studies teacher with the East Cleveland City School District. Dr. Micheller’s work has focused on district wide transformation of learning and teaching. He has authored, co-authored and directed funded grant initiatives exceeding $10 million, including CMSD’s $6,000,000 Opportunity by Design awards from the Carnegie Corporation of NY. Dr. Micheller has an extensive background in educational leadership including participation in the Executive Leadership Program for Educators (EXEL), a collaboration between the Harvard Business School, Graduate School of Education and the Kennedy School of Government; the Leadership and the New Technologies Institute at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, and the Ohio Leadership Institute conducted by the Center for Creative Leadership. His earned degrees include a BA in History, M.ED and an Ed.S. in Educational Administration from Cleveland State University, along with the Doctor of Education degree from the University of Akron. Dr. Micheller has authored articles and presented nationally and internationally on meaningful change and the leadership needed to make change meaningful. For the past 10 years he has also developed and taught graduate courses in educational leadership and the effects of technology in Education. Dr. Micheller was the recipient of John Carroll University’s Distinguished Educator award in 2012, and Cleveland State University College of Education’s 2009 Alumni Special Achievement award.

< 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 April Lewis Associate Dr. April Lewis retired in August 2024 as Executive Director of the Department of School Safety for Baltimore County Public Schools (BCPS), ending 44 years of full-time service in education. Her responsibilities included developing and managing a comprehensive safety plan; responding to emergencies; coordinating active assailant training; implementing safety and security technology; providing safety-related professional learning for staff; collecting, reporting, and analyzing safety related data; and writing and managing grants. Before joining BCPS, April served for over 32 years with Baltimore City Public Schools where she began her career as a health education teacher. As director of Safe and Supportive Schools, she secured millions of dollars in grants to procure resources for safety and student support initiatives. Interagency collaboration is among April’s strengths. She garnered the respect of agency partners while serving as chair, co-chair, or a member of numerous committees and workgroups. She also worked across departments and divisions in BCPS to secure collaboration on safety and security initiatives. April is passionate about building organizational capacity through mentoring and coaching staff, particularly women. She has been honored with gubernatorial, mayoral, senatorial, county executive, and county council citations and awards from the National Association of School Resource Officers and the Maryland Center for School Safety. April has a bachelor’s degree in School and Community Health from Towson University, a master’s degree in Adult Education: Supervision and Administration from Coppin University, and a doctorate in Educational Leadership from the American College of Education. She is a member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc., serves on the Integrity Institute board, is an active member of her church, and is a consultant to Access411 based in Pennsylvania.

< Back Scott Cascone Senior Associate Dr. J. Scott Cascone has spent more than twenty-five years serving students in both private and public education. His career began as a volunteer English teacher with World Teach Costa Rica, an experience that shaped his lifelong belief in the power of learning to transform lives. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in International Affairs from The George Washington University, with minors in English and Latin American Studies, as well as a Master’s in Teaching (Second Language Acquisition) from Fairleigh Dickinson University and a Doctorate in Education from Seton Hall University. Dr. Cascone has served as a teacher of Spanish and ESL, athletic coach, assistant principal, principal, and later as director of personnel, curriculum, and superintendent of schools. Across each role, he has remained focused on building systems that support both student success and educator growth. His doctoral research examined parental involvement among culturally and linguistically diverse families, reinforcing his commitment to inclusive and equitable education. Known for his thoughtful approach to leadership, Dr. Cascone’s work centers on strategic planning, curriculum design, adult learning, and the development of collaborative school cultures.

< Back Rafael Mercado Associate Rafael Mercado brings over 30 years of multifaceted experiences to the field of education. His evolution from a Mathematics teacher at the middle and high school levels with a Bachelor of Science, a Masters in Mathematics Education and a Masters in Leadership from the State University of NY at Buffalo to Adjunct Professor at Buffalo State University has afforded him the opportunity to hone his educational and leadership skills and to use them to influence the next generation of educational leaders. Rafael's commitment to ensuring that Science Technology, Arts and Mathematics (STEM/STEAM) can practically be incorporated into the daily lives of students and carried with them as they enter their chosen fields shaped how he prepared student aspirating to become teachers to excel in the classroom, to strategically use data to support outcomes and to expand consideration of career options, including the trades, for students, specifically urban and at risk youth (alternative education.) Rafael led his teacher teams to strategically use data to influence and drive classroom instruction. Data that informs institutional outcomes needs to be promulgated at all levels and most critically integrated into the practices of the organization. As a school administrator, Rafael’s work was instrumental and led to a significant increase in passing rate (33%-65%) on the NYS mathematic assessment (Algebra I) in several schools for which he was responsible. Rafael continues his commitment to systemic growth in the field of education by serving on the Board of Director of Hispanics for Equity and Representation in Education (HERE) and as a member of the Multilingual Education Advisory Committee (MEAC). Through these roles, he advocates for best practices and strives to address the diverse needs of students. Rafael is confident that enriching the leadership capacities of current and future leaders will lead to desired organizational outcomes. He is committed to bringing his expertise, dedication and advocacy to this important endeavor.

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 Verdel Jones Associate Verdel A. Jones is a dedicated educator with over 30 years of experience in K-12 public education. In addition to her role as an educator, she is a business owner, experienced talk show host, and author. She is the author of the essential guide, The Parent Agent: How to Represent Your Child and Get Them Into the College of Their Choice . Her deep understanding of the college selection process, current educational trends, and the social and emotional challenges students face establishes her as a leading expert in her field. Verdel also co-founded the Black Authors Festival in Sag Harbor, leading the first two years of planning and execution to create a platform celebrating influential Black authors and the power of storytelling. While she is no longer actively involved with the festival, her commitment to advancing literacy and amplifying diverse voices within the Black community remains strong. In addition, Verdel serves as an advisor for The Horace & Amy Hagedorn Covid-19 Education Equity Relief Fund, which provides resources for intensive academic summer programs aimed at addressing the educational and emotional gaps exacerbated by the pandemic. This $1 million (per year) fund has positively impacted communities across Long Island over the past three years. She is also a member of the Molloy University ELA Advisory Board and the Gold Coast Book Fair Advisory Committee, further showcasing her dedication to educational and literary advancement. Verdel holds a bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of Massachusetts at Boston, a master's in secondary education from Hofstra University, and a master's in educational leadership from Long Island University.

< Back Chris Malone Senior Associate Christopher Malone has been an educator for over 25 years. Prior to his retirement, he served as the Superintendent of Tewksbury Public Schools and Assistant Superintendent of the Revere Public Schools, both in Massachusetts. He also served the Revere schools as a Middle School Principal, a Dean of Students at the High School, and a Student Services Specialist, and the Beverly, MA Public Schools as an Assistant Principal at Beverly High School. His work in three school districts and in differing administrative roles has strengthened his understanding of complex educational matters such as budgeting and state mandated testing. Before his work with Massachusetts K-12 public schools, Malone spent three years working with the Mentor Shelter in Somerville through the Massachusetts Department of Youth Services, and five years as a Captain in the United States Army. He received a Bachelor of Science in Crime, Law and Delinquency from Suffolk University, a Master of Education from the University of Massachusetts Lowell, and a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study in Educational Leadership from Salem State University.

< Back Molly Ness Associate Dr. Molly Ness is a former classroom teacher, a reading researcher, and a teacher educator. She holds a doctorate in reading education from the University of Virginia, and she spent 16 years as an associate professor at Fordham University. She previously directed the University of Virginia’s McGuffey Reading Clinic. With five books and numerous peer-reviewed articles, her research focuses on reading comprehension, teachers’ instructional decisions, and dyslexia. Dr. Ness serves on the Board of Directors for the International Literacy Association, and is a founding member of the New York chapter of the Reading League. She currently serves as an adjunct professor for Brooklyn College’s Advanced Certification in the Science of Reading. She also serves on the New York City Mayor’s literacy advisory council.

< 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 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 Ed Pietrzak Associate Ed Pietrzak is a multifaceted STEM educator, data and innovation specialist, and achievement coach who has a passion for teaching, instructional coaching, and magic. Since receiving his Master’s Degree in Entrepreneurship Education from the University of Pennsylvania, Ed has created and delivered numerous engaging and impactful professional development workshops for school districts. His work with data analysis in the classroom, along with assessment building and reassessment practices earned him the title of Teacher of the Year. With a background in education and years of experience in the field, Ed has honed his skills as both a teacher and an instructional coach, helping students and fellow educators achieve their full potential. Beyond the classroom, Ed is also an accomplished magician, captivating audiences with impressive illusions and sleight of hand. His love for magic extends beyond just entertainment, as he incorporates the art of magic into his classroom and professional development sessions, using it as a tool to engage and inspire his students and educators. Ed was selected by the State of NJ Department of Education to train as an achievement instructional coach, through which he has helped countless teachers improve their classroom management, increase student engagement, build standards-aligned assessments, and overall enhance their effectiveness as educators. Through thoughtful analysis, he is able to innovate in creative ways and provide solutions to outdated systems. Ed is known for his ability to connect with his peers and provide valuable feedback and support, all while making the process enjoyable and fun. With a passion for both education and magic, Ed is truly a unique and dynamic individual, constantly pushing the boundaries of what's possible in both fields. Whether in the classroom or on stage, he is always striving to amaze and inspire those around him.