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< Back Ryan Foor Associate Dr. Ryan Foor’s experience spans the K-12, higher education, and state education agency spaces. Since 2017, Ryan has worked closely with an elected state board of education and chief state school officer, advising on state education policy, board structure and governance. Foor is a Professional Registered Parliamentarian, and relates this knowledge to practical application for decision-making in the education space. Ryan is a dynamic facilitator, leading groups large and small to consensus through collaborative, iterative processes, while introducing challenging questions that honor participants’ knowledge. In his role with a Midwestern state education agency, Ryan has worked to foster key stakeholder relationships with the governor’s office, state legislators, local school administrators, education-focused professional associations, and congressional staff. He recognizes the importance of engaging multiple voices in idea-generating and decision-making processes. Ryan started his career as a high school agriculture teacher and through this experience, worked closely with a number of student organizations at the local, state, and national levels providing leadership development experiences for hundreds of student leaders. Ryan has also worked at two large state land-grant universities where he prepared teachers, taught communication courses, conducted research, and worked with academic program assessment at the university-level. Foor earned his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees at The Ohio State University, and B.S. degree at Iowa State University.

Board Governance Training Boards and their executive leaders, such as Superintendents, inherently fulfill distinct yet pivotal roles within an organization. The hallmark of truly successful and impactful organizations lies in their ability to perceive the Board and Superintendent not as isolated entities but as integral components of a cohesive "leadership team." By fostering collaboration, mutual respect, and clear communication, these organizations harness the collective expertise and vision of both entities to drive strategic growth and operational excellence. Recognizing the nuances and complexities of Board-Superintendent dynamics, our expertise enables us to guide organizations, irrespective of their current relationship status, toward establishing a robust framework for success and clarity. Through strategic alignment, tailored strategies, and collaborative facilitation, we empower Boards and Superintendents to transcend traditional boundaries, leverage their unique strengths, and work synergistically toward achieving shared goals and objectives. By cultivating a harmonious and strategic partnership, organizations can navigate challenges more effectively, capitalize on opportunities, and cultivate a culture of trust, transparency, and transformative leadership. Effective conversations surrounding board governance are most impactful when facilitated by individuals who command credibility with both the superintendent and Board of Education members. Our team uniquely embodies this dual perspective, comprising seasoned school executives and experienced Board of Education chairs, ensuring a nuanced and balanced approach to governance dynamics. Drawing upon our wealth of experience, we excel in establishing leadership and behavioral norms, fortifying existing positive relationships, or resolving challenges related to trust, performance, or role clarity. Our specialized expertise encompasses: Role Clarity: Defining and delineating clear roles and responsibilities for both the superintendent and Board members. Expectation Alignment: Calibrating expectations among stakeholders to foster mutual understanding and collaboration. Evaluation Frameworks: Designing comprehensive and cohesive evaluation tools for superintendent performance assessment. Conflict Resolution: Facilitating constructive dialogue and mediation to address and resolve governance-related conflicts effectively. Board Development: Orchestrating impactful retreats and team-building experiences to enhance cohesion, collaboration, and strategic alignment among Board members. By leveraging our multifaceted expertise and collaborative approach, we empower educational institutions to navigate complex governance challenges, cultivate productive relationships, and drive organizational excellence and student success. 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: Superintendent Searches Attract the most ideal candidates for those key positions Learn More Team Building Bring the best out of your team for optimal performance Learn More Strategic Planning Develop a one-page plan that is actionable and impactful Learn More Leadership Coaching Bespoke coaching for all levels of leadership Learn More

< Back Christopher Nagy Senior Associate Dr. Christopher Nagy is a thought leader, educational futurist, and content creator with accomplishments across various leadership roles. For the past 10 years, Chris has served as the superintendent of schools in a high-performing school district in the Northeast. Beyond his work in K-12 schools, Chris teaches masters and doctoral-level courses on Innovation and Technology Integration, Strategic Marketing with Social Media and Branding, Educational Leadership, Diversity, and Multicultural Perspectives and Policy. He is also the author of a book, numerous articles, and a blog. Chris serves on the Board of Directors for one of the largest chambers of commerce in New Jersey where he is dedicated to building education and business partnerships, technology integration, leadership capacity, and support for diversity, equity and inclusion. Dr. Nagy has also served on the NJ State Board of Education Board of Examiners where he led the legal committee and served as a coach and mentor to many aspiring educators and administrators. As a lifelong learner, Chris earned his doctoral degree in administration and leadership from Widener University as well as Masters degrees in Educational Leadership and Theology respectively from Lehigh University and the St. Thomas Aquinas University in Rome, Italy. As an undergraduate, Chris earned degrees in Philosophy and Theology from St. John Lateran University in Rome, Italy, and he is also certified in Applied Positive Psychology from the Flourishing Center in New York City. Dr. Nagy was recently recognized as the Emerging Leader of the Year by the Burlington County Times and Burlington County Regional Chamber of Commerce, and received the Voice of Business Award for Personal Excellence. His district was recognized by the New Jersey Department of Education as a Lighthouse District for Equity.

< Back Lee Weber Senior Associate Lee Weber is an experienced education leader and consultant with more than 30 years in education and two decades in administration. She most recently served as Assistant Superintendent for Instruction in the Suffern Central School District for over a decade and as Acting Superintendent from 2019 to 2021. Lee specializes in helping districts and organizations navigate change, develop strategic plans, and build leadership capacity. Her work includes executive and leadership coaching, guiding leaders to identify their strengths, align vision with practice, and move initiatives forward with clarity and confidence. Known for facilitating inclusive, two-way communication and authentic engagement with students, staff, families, board members, and community stakeholders, Lee creates the conditions for trust, collaboration, and lasting results. As a district leader, she spearheaded initiatives in Artificial Intelligence in education—including the development of Guidelines for Student Use of AI—as well as implementation of the Computer Science and Digital Fluency Standards, project-based learning, bilingual and dual-language programs, literacy instruction aligned with the Science of Reading, instructional coaching models, and expanded use of data for assessment and decision-making. She credits her success to a collaborative approach, empowering educators and leaders to take bold risks and embed new practices meaningfully in instruction. Earlier in her career, Lee earned National Board Certification as a math teacher and later served as a K–12 Mathematics Administrator before moving into central office leadership. Her background allows her to work seamlessly across classroom, school, and district levels, helping teams connect vision with implementation. Lee holds a B.A. in Mathematics from the University of Rochester, an M.A. in Math Education from Teachers College, Columbia University, and a Certificate of Advanced Study in Educational Administration from Mercy College. As a consultant, she partners with districts, schools, and organizations to support professional development, AI integration, curriculum and assessment design, leadership coaching, and long-range strategic planning.

< Back Robert Tremblay Senior Associate With more than 25 years of school and district leadership experience, Dr. Robert A. Tremblay is currently Superintendent of the Framingham Public Schools in Framingham, Massachusetts. Locally, Dr. Tremblay works with aspiring principals and superintendents to build leadership skills and family and community engagement strategies through courses, workshops, and coaching sessions. In addition to his professional responsibilities as Superintendent of Schools in an urban community outside of Boston, Dr. Tremblay has served as an Adjunct Professor and Supervisor of Practicum Experiences at American International College and as a University Supervisor in the Educational Leadership Licensure Program at Boston University. He served as a panelist at various Massachusetts venues speaking on Measuring and Improving Student Engagement and School Climate, Building Leadership Capacity, and Effective Implementation of Educator Evaluation Models. Internationally, Dr. Tremblay was a guest presenter on the Structure of the American Education System at the Administrative Summit in Beijing, China in 2014 and has participated in numerous international school accreditation visits in Honduras, the Dominican Republic, Qatar, and China. Using his doctoral research on the political competence of school leaders, Dr. Tremblay teaches graduate-level courses on Collaborative Leadership and Organizational Change and has worked with educational leadership cohorts in Thailand, Costa Rica, Panama, Bahrain, Germany, and Italy. His passion lies with coaching individuals and small cohorts of leaders on how to navigate the complex and often politically charged landscapes in communities to help to prioritize educational agendas.

Organizational Effectiveness Audits Identifying areas for improvement within an organization can be challenging for internal leaders immersed in daily operations. Our team offers an unbiased evaluation, providing a fresh perspective to pinpoint inefficiencies or outdated practices. We then deliver clear, practical solutions tailored to your organization's unique needs and goals. By leveraging our objective insights and expertise, you can implement impactful changes that drive growth, efficiency, and long-term success, ensuring alignment with your mission and staying competitive in today's dynamic landscape. Renowned author and MIT professor, Peter Senge, has delved deeply into the concept of "systems thinking," famously asserting that systems are "perfectly designed to achieve the outcomes they produce." At Zeal Education Group, we harness this systemic perspective to meticulously assess various facets of your organization, offering strategic insights and recommendations aimed at catalyzing sustainable growth and enhancement. Our approach is both adaptable and tailored to align with your unique needs and budgetary parameters. Key components of our organizational effectiveness audit encompass: Leadership Collaboration: Engaging in comprehensive consultations with leadership to evaluate and understand organizational practices thoroughly. Stakeholder Engagement: Collaborating with stakeholders to gain profound insights and ensure a holistic understanding of the organizational landscape. High-Impact Recommendations: Delivering actionable recommendations focused on high-leverage strategies to drive impactful outcomes. Empower your leadership team to adopt a broader perspective and gain invaluable insights into your organization's intricacies. Allow our seasoned professionals at Zeal Education Group to guide your journey towards systemic excellence and sustained success. 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 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 Chronic Absenteeism Increase student attendance and engagement Learn More Board Policy Still have policies from the 80's? We can help! Learn More

< Back Tracy Edwards Associate Dr. Tracy Edwards has 17 years of experience in public education in Connecticut and holds certification in Elementary Education (K-6), Special Education (PK-12), Intermediate Administration and Supervision, and Superintendent of Schools. She began her career as an elementary special education teacher before serving as an elementary assistant principal and interim principal. For the last ten years, she has served in district-level positions overseeing special education and related services programs and staff, 504 accommodation plans, social-emotional learning, wellness, safe school climate, homebound services, and transition programming. Dr. Edwards is passionate about helping all students reach their full potential and focused her dissertation research on the impact of teacher mindset in improving academic outcomes for students with disabilities. Dr. Edwards earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Connecticut in History and Political Science and her Master of Professional Studies degree in Elementary and Special Education from Manhattanville College. She also earned a 6th-year degree in Educational Leadership from the University of Connecticut and a Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership from Sacred Heart University.

< Back Eric Becoats Senior Associate Dr. Eric J. Becoats brings to the table a unique blend of skills that encompass leadership in K-12 education on the instructional and operational level. His journey is distinguished by a proven track of turning low performing schools around, implementing effective strategic plans which yield results, building high performing teams, and School Board governance. Becoats has held several roles where he has provided guidance and oversight of all school-based operations in K-12 districts in Maryland, North Carolina, Illinois and Pennsylvania. His knowledge of turnaround models obtained through the RELAY School of Education proved beneficial in guiding some of the lowest performing schools into improvement within three years. Becoats has developed and facilitated professional development programs for school-based leaders and central office senior leaders that incorporated research based best practices. As a lifelong learner, Becoats earned a BS degree from Lincoln University (PA), Master’s Degree from Johns Hopkins University, and a Doctorate Degree from The University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Becoats has obtained certifications in project management, school turnaround, and as a DISC practitioner.

< Back Steven Adamowski Senior Associate Steven Adamowski is a nationally recognized school reformer, innovation leader, and equity champion with a track record of improving education opportunities and outcomes for students over 40 years in education leadership, research, and teaching. As Superintendent of Schools, he led the turnaround of the Cincinnati, Ohio, public schools, the redesign of Hartford, Connecticut'sportfolio of schools, and the education recovery of Norwalk, CT, to become the highest-performing city school district in the State during his tenure. Following his success in Hartford, Adamowski was named Special Master by the Connecticut State Board of Education to carry out state supervision of the New London and Windham, Connecticut school districts. He has been involved in the design, creation, and support of numerous high-performing schools, including small high schools. He held the position of Senior Fellow at the American Institutes for Research (AIR) in Washington, DC, where he assisted urban school districts to improve their effectiveness. He also served as Associate Secretary of Education in Delaware, where he played a key role in that state's early education reform efforts, including the development of content standards, state assessments, and accountability, and where he oversaw the development of the first state resource center devoted to facilitating experiential science education. Dr. Adamowski earned graduate degrees from Trinity College, Hartford, and the Harvard Graduate School of Education. He holds a Ph.D. in educational leadership from St. Louis University. He has taught as a visiting or clinical professor at the University of Missouri, the University of Cincinnati, and the George Washington University School of Education and Human Development. For the past ten years, he has served as an instructor and mentor to aspiring Superintendents at the University of Connecticut, Neag School of Education's Executive Leadership Program (ELP), where he teaches the Data-Driven Leadership for District Improvement course.

< Back Kimberly Organek Associate Kimberly Organek is celebrating 25 years as a distinguished educator. She began her career as an elementary teacher, eventually moving into middle school as a teacher, assistant principal and principal. Kimberly has experience in both large urban and small rural districts. As an administrator, she has successfully led schools out of turnaround status in a year or less. In the last eight years, she moved to the district office as a Director of Elementary Curriculum & Professional Learning, Executive Director of Curriculum & Professional Learning and currently as Assistant Superintendent. She has a passion for school improvement and leadership coaching, having coached and mentored administrators and teacher leaders. Being a working mom, she has a keen understanding of the demands placed on female leaders and the need for personal and professional balance. Kimberly received the Teacher of excellence Award and the Charles Marston Scholarship for doctoral studies. She has been a board member of NH NELMS and is a current member of NHSAA/ASAA and ASCD Kimberly earned a BFA in Musical Theatre, a M.Ed. in Curriculum & Instruction from Boston College, a CAGS in Educational Leadership from the University of New Hampshire, and is currently working on her EdD in Curriculum & Instruction with a focus on Innovation at the University of Virginia.

< Back Ian Saltzman Senior Associate Dr. Ian Saltzman is a career educator with over 35 years experience serving public education. Currently he is superintendent of Everett Public Schools in Everett, Washington. Before joining Everett in 2019, he served for 30 years in the Palm Beach County School District in Florida where he was a teacher, principal, and superintendent. Ian’s passion is serving students from all backgrounds to learn and achieve results in all academia with a focus on special education and multilingual learning. Documented student achievement is evident throughout his career and is his highest priority, which has also earned him multiple Principal of the Year awards. Beyond his work in schools, Ian currently serves on Chiefs for Change, as well as the board of directors of Washington Alliance for Better Schools, YMCA Snohomish County, and United Way of Snohomish County. In 2020 he was named as one of 24 superintendents nationwide as an NSPRA Superintendent to Watch. Saltzman holds a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in Special Education from Florida State University, a Specialist’s Degree and Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Nova Southeastern University.

< Back Maria Suttmeier Senior Associate Dr. Maria Lagana Suttmeier has been a public educator in New York for over 30 years. She served as the Superintendent of Schools of the Hudson City School District for a decade. Prior to this leadership appointment, she served as the Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction and was a Building Administrator for Hudson’s Middle School. Besides her leadership experience, she has served in elementary classrooms and has experience managing entitlement grants along with competitive grants such as Title V, McKinney-Vento, 21 st Century Afterschool and My Brother’s Keeper. Maria received her doctorate from The Sage Colleges Esteves School of Education and is a graduate of the College of St. Rose with a BS degree in Elementary Education and an MS degree in Reading. During her tenure as an educator, Maria co-founded a not-for-profit, Investments in Youth, the popular Hudson Children’s Book Festival and The Bridge alternative high school. She was one of the early founders of the Greater Hudson Promise Neighborhood, served as Chairperson of the CASDA Executive Committee, Chairperson of Questar’s Academics Program Subcommittee and served on the Boards of Dollars for Scholars and the Columbia Economic Development Corporation. Maria continues to contribute to the field of education through her dedicated service as an Executive Coach for school leaders and doctoral candidates and remains passionate about developing and improving school cultures.