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Why Zeal - Dedicated to students, integrity, and excellence. We go beyond districts and schools, ensuring satisfaction with transparency and commitment. Why the name, Zeal? Pronunciation: noun \ zeel \ Definition: To have fervor for a cause; an eager desire; enthusiastic diligence. Zeal Education Group was founded to inspire fresh solutions to education-industry challenges. Our diverse, nationwide team of leaders bring centuries of experience as principals, directors, superintendents, commissioners, professors, authors, and thought leaders. Our team is not only exceptionally qualified to provide the services we offer, but we are zealous about the work we do. We guarantee you will be satisfied with the results, or we will start over. 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.

Community Engagement At Zeal Education Group, we believe that when families and communities are meaningfully engaged, student outcomes improve, school culture strengthens, and trust grows. But authentic engagement requires more than newsletters and back-to-school nights—it demands intentional strategies that meet families where they are and empower them as true partners in the learning process. Our Family and Community Engagement services help schools move from outreach to impact. We provide the tools, training, and strategies needed to build relationships, elevate voices, and create inclusive pathways for collaboration between families, educators, and community partners. Our Approach: Parent Engagement Workshops: We design and deliver dynamic workshops that equip families with the knowledge and confidence to navigate school systems, support their children’s learning, and engage in meaningful conversations with educators. Workshops are tailored to reflect the cultural and linguistic needs of each community. Tailored Communication Plans: Zeal helps schools develop communication strategies that are multilingual, accessible, and culturally relevant. We support districts in crafting messages that resonate with families, using a mix of formats and platforms to ensure every family is informed and included. Student Programming to Support Engagement: To maximize family participation, we offer afterschool programming for students during engagement events. These activities provide academic enrichment and social-emotional learning opportunities—allowing caregivers to attend workshops while their children are engaged in safe, supportive environments. Building Community Partnerships: We help districts strengthen partnerships with local organizations, faith-based groups, and service providers to build a broader network of support for students and families. These partnerships extend the reach of your school and reinforce a shared investment in student success. Partnering with Zeal means creating a culture where families feel welcomed, heard, and empowered—turning engagement into action, and relationships into results. 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, a nd transp arency. 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: Strategic Communications Ensure your most important messages are received Learn More Team Building Bring the best out of your team for optimal performance Learn More Subject Matter PD Contemporize your curriculum and teaching in all content areas Learn More Strategic Planning Develop a one-page plan that is actionable and impactful Learn More

< Back Chris Wester Associate Chris Wester is a 23-year educator with over a decade of school leadership experience including diverse roles within the education sector. These leadership experiences in public and private schools include teaching, athletic direction, program creation, curriculum design, boarding, and international school oversight. Chris has led the Florida Council of Independent Schools accreditation teams, and has served on local Rotary and Chamber of Commerce committees to assist others while promoting schools. In addition, Wester helped lead the Clay County Schools, Florida academy curriculum design resulting in the development of county-wide school specializations for student programming at each school location. As a hands-on, mission-driven leader, Chris has immersed himself in the various departments within schools to ensure quality and to maintain excellence. He has led admissions teams resulting in 50% increases in enrollment, and well as successful school and program marketing campaigns. Through community outreach efforts, Chris has established local, national, and international partnerships with companies which increased financial and program support for schools and children. Throughout his career, Wester has demonstrated improvements in student recruitment, curriculum design, professional development, strategic planning, advancement, and community outreach. He understands that the culture of an organization is a fragile ecosystem that requires healthy leadership to sustain.

< Back Sharon Bradley Associate Sharon Bradley is a national educational speaker and school district director where she has helped shape the district’s approach to social-emotional development and truancy prevention for all students. Throughout her 24 years in education, she has served as director, alternative high school principal, assistant principal, dropout prevention program coordinator, general education teacher, and special education teacher. Sharon Bradley has recently been recognized by Education-First/Rockefeller Foundation and D CEO Magazine for her innovative efforts of decreasing chronic absenteeism. Sharon is the author of attendance reference guides "Chronic Absenteeism: Prevention and Intervention Strategies for Schools, Families and Communities" and “Combating Chronic Absenteeism through Attendance Improvement Plans” . Mrs. Bradley has recently been named a 2024 "Leader to Learn From" by EducationWeek Magazine. In 2023, she was named “Person of the Year” by the International Truancy and Dropout Prevention Association. Sharon Bradley is a graduate of Mississippi State University where she earned her bachelor's degree in Special Education; and master's degree in Educational Administration from Prairie View A&M University.

Helping Boards find the right candidate. "A successful superintendent, an effective Board, and a thriving district need more than just a firm that brings you candidates." Search Process Superintendent Personas Leadership Profile Search Timeline Schedule Your FREE Confidential Consultation Most Search Firms Will: Listen to understand the leadership needs of the Board, staff, and community Develop a clear, compelling posting that reflects the qualities you desire in a leader Leverage a national network to attract top-tier candidates Facilitate a structured, criteria-based interview and selection process for the Board Most Firms Stop Here. Our Search Service Goes Further to Include: 1. Deep Stakeholder Engagement : Zeal doesn’t just check the box—we engage with purpose. Our experienced team meets in person with your community and uses tools like ThoughtExchange to gather real-time, inclusive input from all stakeholders. We meet people where they are, honor their values, and ensure the community’s voice shapes the search—building trust and clarity around the kind of leader your district truly needs. 2. Superintendent Personas that Fit : While superintendents are expected to be experts across many areas of education, the reality is that each leader brings unique strengths. Zeal has identified six Superintendent Personas that bring a candidate’s skills and dispositions into focus: We work closely with Boards to identify the leadership profile that best aligns with their district’s culture and needs—then recruit candidates who are not only strong on paper, but the right fit in practice. 3. Leadership Support Beyond the Hire : At Zeal, we know a successful superintendent starts with a strong, trust-based relationship with the Board. We facilitate your first retreat—grounded in insights from our community engagement process—to build alignment, trust, and a cohesive leadership team. We also develop a personalized Entry Plan and provide 12 months of leadership coaching to ensure your new leader is supported, connected, and ready to thrive. The Community Builder The Visionary Change Agent The Instructional Leader The Operational Strategist The Student Champion The Crisis Manager Our search process is clear, comprehensive, and rooted in transparency, ensuring every step—from stakeholder engagement to candidate evaluation—is thoughtfully executed. We provide weekly updates to keep the board and community informed and aligned throughout the entire process. Schedule Your FREE Confidential Consultation Superintendent personas help the board align candidates with district needs and community priorities. They offer a clear lens for making a strategic, informed selection about the candidate you need at this time. Schedule Your FREE Confidential Consultation The leadership profile serves as both a beacon and a filter—attracting candidates who align with the district’s vision while helping the board evaluate each applicant’s fit with community priorities. It ensures a values-based, mission-aligned approach to identifying the right leader. Schedule Your FREE Confidential Consultation We reverse-engineer our timeline from the preferred start date so that your superintendent will begin on time. We are clear about what responsibilities belong to Zeal alone, the Board alone, and what tasks we do together. Schedule Your FREE Confidential Consultation

< Back Curtis Cain Senior Associate Dr. Cain holds a doctorate and a Master of Science in Educational Administration from Iowa State University and a Bachelor of Science in Social Science Education from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. While at Iowa State, he was named a George Washington Carver Doctoral Fellow and awarded the Jordan Larsen Outstanding Dissertation in Educational Administration Award. In 2009, he was honored as the Iowa State University Outstanding Young Professional Award by the College of Human Sciences, and in 2023, he was named recipient of the school's Virgil S. Lagomarcino Laureate Award for distinguished achievement in the field of education. Dr. Cain is a nationally certified superintendent who was named the 2022 Missouri Association of School Administrators (MASA) Superintendent of the Year, one of four finalists for the American School Superintendents Association (AASA) National Superintendent of the Year, and the AASA National Superintendent of the Year. In 2016, he was named the MASA New Superintendent of the Year for the St. Louis region. Dr. Cain is also a certified lead auditor with Curriculum Management Systems Incorporated (CMSi) and has served on audits across 11 states and in the nation of Bermuda. He has also served as president and past president of MASA. Dr. Cain has served as a member of Phi Delta Kappa (PDK) and the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD) Emerging Leader programs. In 2018, he completed the AASA National Superintendent Certification Program. In 2024 he was selected to be one of thirty founding members of the AASA/PDK Network of Distinguished Educators. Nationally, he also serves on the PDK Advisory Board. Dr. Cain serves on the Kansas/Missouri Superintendent Leadership Forum Advisory Board, the Missouri Executive Leadership Forum, the Missouri State High School Activities Association Constitutional Committee and the Missouri United School Insurance Council Board of Directors. He also volunteers locally on the Chesterfield Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and serves on the Chesterfield Chamber of Commerce, Eureka Chamber of Commerce, Fenton Chamber of Commerce, West St. Louis County Chamber of Commerce, and the West St. Louis County Government Affairs and Transportation Committee. Dr. Cain also serves as a member of Progress 64 West and the Rotary Club of West St. Louis County.

< Back Jack Zamary Senior Associate Dr. Jack Zamary’s passion for learning drives him both personally and professionally. As a career educator with 35 years of service in some of Connecticut’s highest performing districts, he has a wealth of knowledge and experience in leading educational communities to reach their highest aspirations. The universality of learning has been a fascination of Jack’s for many years. He believes that best practice is embraced and sustained when it is modeled and owned by all practitioners in the district. To this end, his doctoral research studied authentic teacher practice through Kim Marshall's mini-observation model and explored the kinds of feedback that teachers found most beneficial in bringing about changes to their practice. Outcomes from this research have been utilized by numerous districts as well as the Northeastern Educational Research Association and also published by the National Association of Elementary Principals. As an adjunct professor at the University of Connecticut, Jack has dedicated his current efforts toward one of the most important aspects of high quality instruction, namely teacher preparation. As a professor and staff trainer, he has a long history of providing highly engaging and relevant sessions for adult learners. In addition to his work at higher education, he has provided national and regional presentations for the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD), New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC), National Association for Music Education (NAfME), as well as numerous sessions at the state, district and school levels. Jack earned his undergraduate and masters degrees from the University of Connecticut and his doctoral degree from Southern Connecticut State University.

< Back Stephanie Bell Associate Dr. Stephanie Bell has been an educator for almost 30 years having taught both general and special education students throughout grades PS-5. She has also held administrative positions in both public and private institutions for the past 11 years, where she currently serves as an Elementary Principal in a high-performing district in Westchester County, New York. Stephanie is a published author on topics such as project-based learning and diversity and is a sought after speaker and presenter at regional and national conferences. She is also an adjunct professor of education, teaching courses in early childhood, literacy and reading disorders. Dr. Bell earned a dual masters degree in elementary and special education from Manhattanville college and a doctorate in Instructional Leadership from Western Connecticut State University.

Safety & Security Audits In a 2024 article, The Washington Post reported that more than 383,000 students have experienced gun violence at school since the Columbine High School massacre in 1999. Data from a national database shows a dramatic increase in school shootings since the Sandy Hook tragedy in 2012, with over 1,800 incidents recorded between 2012 and 2024. Even students not directly impacted by school violence often attend classes in fear. A Pew Research Center study found that 57% of American teenagers worry about the possibility of a shooting occurring at their school. These alarming statistics underscore the urgent need for school districts to implement comprehensive safety measures to protect students and staff. Our team consists of experienced school leaders with military and law enforcement backgrounds, uniquely equipping them to address these critical security challenges. As superintendents conducting comprehensive audits with the support of highly trained law enforcement personnel, our unique perspective stems from firsthand experience leading educational institutions. This direct involvement allows us to approach audits with a practical understanding of school dynamics, challenges, and needs. Leveraging this deep-rooted insight, we tailor actionable strategies that prioritize safety, efficiency, and institutional excellence. Our superintendent-centric approach ensures a nuanced, stakeholder-informed audit that addresses real-world complexities, enabling schools and districts to proactively enhance their security and operational frameworks effectively. Our comprehensive audits can be structured to include any or all of the following: Safety Plan Audit: Conduct a comprehensive review of your school or district's existing safety measures. Facility Assessment: Perform on-site evaluations of each school and building to identify strengths and areas for improvement. Stakeholder Engagement: Facilitate individual interviews and focus groups with key personnel to pinpoint vulnerabilities. Infrastructure Review: Scrutinize surveillance camera placements, signage, and align with architectural blueprints for optimal security. Cost Analysis & Recommendations: Provide a detailed cost breakdown and prioritize actionable strategies to enhance safety protocols. Confidential Reporting: Deliver a comprehensive, confidential report designed to fortify campus safety and security. Ongoing Support: Extend continuous support and consultation to ensure sustained security enhancements. Our dedicated team is prepared to execute a thorough audit of your school or district, prioritizing the safety and well-being of students and staff. The confidential report we provide will offer actionable and cost-effective recommendations, instilling unparalleled peace of mind within your school community. 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 Financial & HR Optimize your human and fiscal resources at the school and district levels Learn More Technology Modernize your infrastructure to future standards 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 Mark Pompano Associate Mark Pompano currently serves as the Director of Security for the Newtown Public Schools in Newton, CT. The tragedy at Sandy Hook that toop place in 2012 affected Mark on both a professional and personal level, as the School’s Principal, Dawn Hotchsprung, was his longtime hometown friend and high school classmate. As a result of the Sandy Hook tragedy, Mark now supervises a staff of 20 school security officers whose primary mission is to ensure the safety and well-being of children, students, faculty, and staff members throughout the Newtown School District. Prior to his position in Newtown, Mr. Pompano has served in various law enforcement roles on both coasts of the United States. Mark was a key member of the Statewide Narcotics Task Force (SNTF) where he served as an undercover operative and narcotics investigator. During his 3 year assignment to SNTF, Mark also served as an undercover operative with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Upon the successful completion of his assignment with SNTF, Mark returned to the Naugatuck Police Department where he worked as a Detective, Youth Officer, Patrol Officer, and quickly promoted to the rank of Sergeant, where he performed the duties and responsibilities of Shift Supervisor. As a member of the Los Angels Police Deptartment, Central Division, Mark’s preliminary investigation and his discovery of crucial evidence at a gruesome downtown LA murder scene led to the subsequent identification, arrest, and conviction of Chester Turner, who remains to this day, LA’s most prolific serial killer. It also led to the release of a man who was wrongly convicted and imprisoned for a murder actually committed by Chester Turner. During his time with the LAPD, Mark worked with many different divisions and specialized units. Mark was later promoted to the rank of Sergeant, where he served as a Field Supervisor, Assistant Watch Commander, Officer-in-Charge of the Pacific Division Career Criminal Detail, Internal Affairs Investigator, Internal Affairs Advocate, Consent Decree Coordinator, and as Officer-in-Charge of the Pacific Division Senior Lead/Community Relations Office.

< Back Michael Barcadepone Senior Associate Dr. Michael J. Barcadepone is a career educator with over 25 years’ experience serving as a teacher, assistant principal, principal, and current superintendent. He is a visionary leader in the field of education, with experience in transforming spaces into hubs of innovation and engagement. With a passion for creating dynamic learning environments, Dr. Barcadepone has spearheaded the development of cutting-edge school designs that integrate student input, advanced technology, and collaborative spaces. Dr. Barcadepone blends a background in construction with a vision for 21st Century classrooms, enabling school districts and construction professionals to speak a common language. Central to Dr. Barcadepone's leadership philosophy is his belief in empowering students as co-creators of their educational experience. Under their guidance, student-led advisory panels have played a pivotal role in shaping curriculum enhancements, extracurricular offerings, and campus improvements. This inclusive approach has fostered a culture of shared ownership and pride among students, staff, and the school community. Dr. Barcadepone’s trailblazing efforts have garnered national recognition, including from DA (District Administration). An advocate for reimagining K-12 education, Dr. Barcadepone continues to inspire others to dream bigger for the future of learning. Dr. Barcadepone earned a doctorate from Seton Hall University in Educational Leadership. In addition, he holds two Master’s Degrees with a focus on mathematics, science, and technology.

< Back Ebony Lanford-Brown Associate Ebony Langford-Brown is a seasoned education executive with over three decades of leadership experience in curriculum development, school improvement, and strategic program implementation. With a passion for fostering student success and empowering leaders, Ebony has directed impactful initiatives across school systems, enhancing academic outcomes for over 60,000 students. She is an expert in leadership development, budget management, and culturally responsive education, with a proven ability to drive systemic change through data-driven decision-making and cross-functional collaboration. As the executive director of curriculum, instruction, and assessment in a large suburban public school system in Maryland, she provided supervision and oversight for the development and implementation of Pre-K – 12 curriculum. Her former positions include administrative director of elementary schools, director of instruction and achievement, school principal, and elementary teacher. Ebony holds a B.S. in elementary education from the University of Maryland—College Park, an M.A. in sociology and education from the Teacher’s College at Columbia University, and is pursuing her doctoral degree at Bowie State University. Known as a transformational leader, she is committed to creating equitable, innovative, and sustainable educational solutions.