Company Founders

Dr. Harvey Silver
Harvey a former teacher and administrator on the elementary through graduate levels, has served as consultant and trainer for ASCD as well as a host of schools and districts worldwide. Harvey is co-creator of the Learning Style Inventory for Students and author of So Each May Learn and Teaching Styles & Strategies. He is the creator of a movement toward student alignment in a standards-based world.
Contact Dr. Harvey Silver by email

 

Senior Associates

Joyce W. Jackson
is a seasoned and practical teacher with over 30 years of classroom experience. Joyce served as a Kentucky Distinguished Educator and worked with the Kentucky Department of Education's Division of School Improvement to assist low performing schools close achievement gaps and improve teaching and learning. She worked with the Kentucky STAR Teacher Leadership Program as well as Kentucky Leadership Academy for administrators. She worked with the Collaborative for Teaching and Learning where she facilitated as a coach for Accelerated Schools and Different Ways of Knowing, two nationally recognized comprehensive school reform designs. Joyce has extensive background and experience in the model of Effective Schools. She presently serves as a coach, mentor, and facilitator of learning among a network of Thoughtful Educators across the country.
Contact Joyce W. Jackson by email.

Susan C. Morris
a former teacher and founder/director of the University of the Ozarks Learning Assistance Center, is a dynamic teacher and facilitator with over two decades of experience in practical instructional applications of learning styles, brain research, and experiential learning theory.
Contact Susan C. Morris by email.

Victor Klein
Vic is an educator with nearly 40 years of teaching and administrative experience on the PK-12 levels. His experience encompasses building administration on the elementary and middle school levels in both the public and private sectors. Vic has also been a school director for disable students/adults, and has spent four years at the district level in public school. As an administrator, Vic was trained in Thoughtful Education in 1986 and has implemented the model in all the districts in which he has worked. He is the primary instructor for the Northern New Jersey Consortium for Alternate Route Staff, a program through which individuals can attain teaching certification. Vic has been a member of the Silver Strong training staff since 1988. He is currently a principal/staff developer in the Highland Falls/Fort Montgomery, New York Central School District.
Contact Victor Klein by email.

Dr. Daniel Moirao
an instructor for the Cal State TEACH program and former Superintendent, is a pioneer in school reform, alternative scheduling, and learning style theory and instrumentation. Dan has received ASCD’s Distinguished Educator Award and Toast Master International’s Outstanding Speaker Award.
Contact Dr. Daniel Moirao by email.

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Associates

John Brunsting
After 30 years as a mathematics teacher and department chair at Hinsdale Central High School in Hinsdale, Illinois, John's professional passion is mathematics staff development. In addition to designing and leading Thoughtful Classroom mathematics workshops, John also directs Illinois¹ Advanced Placement Institutes and Teachers Teaching with Technology Institutes. John is a frequent presenter on Mathematical Strategies in states from NY to IN to KY, as well as co-authoring the soon to be released Styles-based book for math teachers titled Tools for Mathematical Learning.
Contact John Brunsting by email.

Dr. Tom Dewing
has thirty years of experience teaching students from kindergarten through the college level. Tom is currently the Principal at NCLB Blue Ribbon Winner Dooley Elementary School in Schaumburg, IL, and an instructor at North Central College in Naperville, IL. Tom is well-known for his ability to bring ideas to life in workshops.
Contact Dr. Tom Dewing by email.

Sherry Gibbon
a former teacher and department chair with thirty-four years of classroom experience, is currently a professor working with pre-service teachers at Hobart and William Smith Colleges. A recipient of NYÂ’s Distinguished Educator Award, Sherry was recently elected President of NY State Council for the Social Studies.
Contact Sherry Gibbon by email.

Barbara Heinzman
an energetic and vibrant educator with 34 years of classroom experience, is nationally recognized for her innovative approach to elementary literacy and math as well as for her extensive experience in coaching teachers through the change and implementation process.
Contact Barbara Heinzman by email.

Jody Hoch
With over 30 years experience as a mathematics teacher, district administrator, and math trainer, Jody has been at the forefront of the movement to actively engage diverse learners in rigorous mathematical learning. Currently the K-12 Director of Mathematics in Rush-Henrietta CSD, Canandaigua, NY, Jody is well-known for her ability to help teachers and schools turn current research into powerful practice.
Contact Jody Hoch by email.

Tyrone Olverson
Tyrone is a building level administrator who understands urban education and is currently working on a doctoral degree in Urban Educational Leadership from the University of Cincinnati. He has served as a middle school teacher, elementary and high school administrator. Tyrone's interest is in staff development as a vehicle to promote equality and excellence in a PK-12 setting.
Contact Tyrone Olverson by email.

Dr. Jim Polzin
a former teacher, dean, assistant principal, and retired Assistant Superintendent in Hinsdale, IL. Jim was named NASSP Illinois Assistant Principal of the Year, chaired the NASSP National Committee on the Assistant Principalship, and has presented nationally for NASSP, ASCD, and NSDC.
Contact Dr. Jim Polzin by email.

Dr. Ed Thomas
Currently the President and Senior Math Consultant for Dimension 2000, a math education reform company, as well as a Math Instructor at Kennesaw State University, Ed brings over 30 years of experience as a teacher, curriculum and instruction leader, trainer, and college professor to all his workshops. An expert in research-based strategies, and addressing student diversity, Ed has authored several articles and books, including two Thoughtful Education Press titles: Styles and Strategies for Teaching Middle School Mathematics and Styles and Strategies for Teaching High School Mathematics.
Contact Dr. Ed Thomas by email.

Terry Walsh
Terry retired from Illinois public schools after 32 years of working in two suburban Chicago schools as a math teacher and administrator. He first started working on Thoughtful Education based instruction in his math classes at Hinsdale Central High School in 1989. As an administrator working with the math and science departments, he began to work with teachers and administrators on ways to incorporate Thoughtful Education methods in to their instruction and assessment strategies. Terry has worked closely with teachers in Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, New York, Mane, New Jersey, and New Hampshire. He is also co-authoring the soon to be released Styles-based book for math teachers titled Tools for Mathematical Learning. In addition to his work in Thoughtful Education, Terry was one of the founding editors of the graphing calculator newsletter EightySomething, published by Texas Instruments, Inc. and has worked with mathematics student teachers from Illinois State University since he retired.
Contact Terry Walsh by email.

Dr. Pamela Warrick
Dr. Pamela L. Warrick is a professor in teacher education, an international and national speaker in math education (NCTM, NCSM , SITE and T³) and has taught in Texas, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Illinois, Pennsylvania, and for the Department of Defense in Europe. Her awards include a 1990 State Presidential Excellence in Elementary Mathematics Award, 1991 State Presidential Excellence in Secondary Mathematics Award and 1992 National Presidential Excellence in Secondary Mathematics Award. She is funded by NSF and No Child Left Behind grants to further the advancement of mathematics education for PK–12 students.
Contact Dr. Warrick by email.

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