Our Team of Workshop Leaders
Erik Lindemann
Erik is a fourth-grade teacher at The Quaker Valley School District near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and has been teaching since 1999. He builds opportunities in the classroom by remixing and applying ideas from Cultures of Thinking, Visible Thinking, Agency by Design, and Teaching for Understanding with the goal of building student capacity for optimum growth. Erik served as coach for the online learning course Creating Cultures of Thinking and as a facilitator for the Creating Cultures of Thinking online mini course. He is featured in publications including The Power of Making Thinking Visible by Dr. Ron Ritchhart and Mark Church and The Participatory Creativity Guide for Educators by Edward P. Clapp and Julie Rains. Erik has been a Study Group Leader at The Project Zero Classroom and presented in workshops including Leading a Culture of Thinking Summit, Project Zero Perspectives, Agency by Design-Pittsburgh Conference, and Project Zero Pittsburgh: Summer Institute for Teaching and Learning.
Abby Domingo
Abby has worked with children in all elementary grades as an Instructional Aide, Classroom Teacher, Assistant Principal, Principal and now as the Director of Curriculum and Instruction. Abby taught in the Boston Public Schools but has spent the majority of her career in the Del Mar Union School District. She is extremely proud of the work that we are doing in DMUSD to create an extraordinary school experience and the shifts that we are making in education. This includes creating a culture of thinking. Abby has been fortunate to participate in 10 years of professional learning with Ron Ritchhart as well as attend the Project Zero Summer Institute and participate in their online classes. Abby works hard to apply a culture of thinking principles to her own work as an educator for adult and student learning each and every day.
Kristin Stanton
I am a Coordinator of Curriculum and Instruction for the Del Mar Union School District. I have also previously been a teacher, TOSA, and Principal in Del Mar. My current projects as Coordinator include supporting the modernization of school environments, as well as the implementation of Co-teaching and the Portrait of a Learner district-wide.
Carole Geneix
Carole Geneix-Gutnikoff is Director of Teaching and Learning at Washington International School (WIS), a pre-school to 12th grade International Baccalaureate independent school in Washington, D.C. Prior to that, she taught middle school, high school, and college students in various settings. She fell in love with Project Zero ideas with her first “See, Think, Wonder” thinking routine and has not stopped practicing Project Zero ideas ever since. She presented Project Zero-inspired workshops at national and international conferences, as well as DC museums. At WIS, she uses Project Zero ideas to organize professional learning groups, coordinate the WIS curriculum using the Teaching for Understanding framework, facilitate meaningful discussions about teaching and learning, and develop a culture of feedback and renewal.
Dolph Hardigree
Dolph Hardigree (he/him) has been fascinated and inspired by the power of thinking since his first experience as a participant at the Project Zero Classroom (PZC) institute in Cambridge. Since then, he has continued to be changed and enriched by PZ adventures. As a veteran public educator, Dolph spent the first 12 years of his teaching career in the elementary classroom and the last 18 thinking and learning with high schoolers in the areas of Biology, Anatomy, & Environmental Science, and Theory of Knowledge. When thinking became the visible heartbeat of his classroom, a vibrant new world emerged, and he continues to be amazed by it! Dolph teaches and resides in LaGrange, Georgia, where he was recently privileged to serve as the Troup County School System Teacher of the Year.
Chelsea Kuntz
Chelsea is a third-grade teacher at Del Mar Hills Academy, passionate about creating classrooms where curiosity, critical thinking, and collaboration thrive. I love designing learning experiences that help students think deeply, reflect on their ideas, and take ownership of their learning. Guiding kids to explore new perspectives, solve problems creatively, and grow with confidence is what inspires me every day.
Chelsea Moore
A San Diego native and proud principal of the Pacific Sky School (where the Summit will be held) in the Del Mar Union School District, I believe deeply in creating a culture of thinking that supports meaningful learning for all—children and adults alike.
Andrea Sleet
Mrs. Sleet is in her 31st year as an educator and seventh year as the Principal of Del Mar Hills Academy where she is incredibly proud and honored to be a part of such a caring school culture and community. She has taught in the Del Mar Union School District for over 22 years with experience in third, fourth, and fifth grade. In the classroom, Mrs. Sleet focused on Creating a Culture of Thinking for students and now values leading and collaborating with educators and leaders about this incredible work to help every child thrive. Mrs. Sleet has been engaged in Creating a Culture of Thinking for students and teachers since 2016.
Leading educators, supporting and working with children are Mrs. Sleet's passions. At Del Mar Hills, we are focused on educating the whole child, igniting their genius and empowering our children to be decision makers and problem solvers. We focus making sure each child feels valued, seen, and heard. Mrs. Sleet's focus is for each child to love learning and look forward to coming to school every day.
Randy Grillo
Randy Grillo has been principal at Mandela International Magnet School since 2019. A 7-12 International Baccalaureate School that is part of Santa Fe Public Schools, Mandela has had a partnership with Harvard Project Zero and the team of Ron Ritchhart and Mark Church since 2014. Randy credits the staff's intentional focus on creating a culture of thinking to its high success rates on multiple metrics with both the New Mexico Public Education Department and the International Baccalaureate. When not living the life as a principal, Randy may be out hiking in the Sangre de Cristos with his wife and two boys, watching middle school sporting events, or reading thought provoking literature in English or Spanish.
Georgina Ardalan
Georgina Ardalan is an early childhood educator in DC Public Schools. She draws on her first career in architecture to create a nurturing, collaborative environment that encourages a culture of thinking—where both teachers and children question, reflect, and listen. Georgina serves as a Study Group Leader at the Project Zero Classroom and facilitates Harvard Graduate School of Education’s online course Let’s Play. She has presented at conferences including the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), Project Zero Perspectives, the National Network of Schools in Partnership, and Children Are Citizens. She is also a member of the leadership committee for the Washington International School Summer Institute for Teachers (WISSIT). Georgina lives on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, with her husband, Alex; their 15-year-old son, Henry; and three cats—Churro, Rio, and Paulo. When she’s not playing pickleball, she can be found on the soccer field cheering Henry on.
Kristen Kullberg
Kristen Kullberg is the Design and Making Initiatives Coordinator for grades 6-12 at Washington International School. Previously, she taught middle school language arts and was the arts integration instructional coach at Sacred Heart School in DC. Kristen has excitedly explored Project Zero practices as an active member of DC-Project Zero and through her involvement in projects such as JusticexDesign, Making Across the Curriculum, Children Are Citizens, and the DC-Area Playful Schools Network. She has presented at various PZ Perspectives conferences, where she often facilitates professional learning groups and shares her own classroom practices centered on student thinking and understanding. She is also a member of the WISIT leadership team.
Erika Lusky
Erika Lusky is an experienced educator and instructional coach with 30 years of adventure in K-post secondary general and special education. Erika has a knack for designing professional learning experiences that transform and inspire. She is actively involved as a study group leader and mini-course facilitator at the Project Zero Classroom. She co-instructs the online course Creating Cultures of Thinking and facilitates many other Project Zero courses online.
As the co-creator of Enbrighten® Dinner Table Discussions, Erika helps students develop skills in interdependent dialogue, social awareness, thinking, and understanding, turning conversations into moments of learning and connection. For over a decade, Enbrighten® has transformed classrooms worldwide. At its core is a simple yet powerful idea: every student deserves to feel seen, heard, and valued.
Jessie Gac
Jessie Gac (pronounced “gots”) has been a secondary mathematics teacher and IB Diploma coordinator at Mandela International Magent School since 2018. She has long been involved in developing students’ thinking dispositions and intellectual virtues as she develops a culture of thinking in her classroom. In her spare time, she enjoys triathlon training, music for church, and hanging out with her dogs.
Jessica Curry
Jessica Curry is a recognized 4th-grade teacher in the Juneau School District, specifically at Harborview Elementary known for her hands-on, nature-based, and place-based teaching, earning her accolades like the 2025 Discovery Award for inspiring students in outdoor education.
Gwenna Corvez
Gwenna is currently a 3rd and 4th grade teacher. She has been teaching elementary grades (K-6) in the Juneau School District in Alaska since 2009. For the past ten years Gwenna has been part of the Artful Teaching program there, working with many teaching artists and thinkers, including Mark Church. This has inspired a lot of adventurous and creative teaching over the years. Gwenna was excited to attend the Project Zero Classroom with her co-facilitator Jessica Curry during the summer of 2024. She loves being outside hiking, skiing, sailing, and especially sea kayaking. She enjoys trying out new things and listening to others talk about their passions. She loves reading aloud to her kids, laughing, and daydreaming.
Dr. Gerald D. Smith Jr
Gerald D. Smith Jr. is an Education Specialist with the Smithsonian Institution and former principal at St. Thomas More Catholic Academy. A former science and math educator for grades 4-12, Gerald has worked at various schools focused on developing differentiated instruction through phenomenon- and project-based learning. While teaching at Bishop McNamara High School, Gerald became familiar with Project Zero ideas and worked alongside colleagues to integrate teaching for understanding practices and visible thinking into the school's culture. As a principal, Gerald is working to promote agency in both educators and students in order to develop strong citizens willing and ready to make the world more just and humane. He has participated in the Making Across the Curriculum, JusticexDesign, and the DC-Area Playful Schools Network initiatives.
Sarah Rose
I am a 4th grade teacher, serving students and families within Del Mar Union's Sycamore Ridge School. My aim is to support every child in uncovering their personal genius while developing their unique role as a socially responsible global citizen. To achieve this, I believe that respect, empathy, and curiosity must be the foundation for all student learning. The classroom should reflect a culture that values rich core content, equitable and relevant learning opportunities, personal voice, collaboration, and agency; it should be a place where individual strengths and perspectives are celebrated, and exploration and innovation are passionately pursued.
Audrey Schengel
I am a dedicated educator with 28 years of experience. I graduated from Purdue University with a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education and continued my studies to earn a Master of Arts in Elementary Curriculum and Instruction at San Diego State University. I began my teaching career in San Diego Unified School District where I taught for 7 years. In 2005, I became a teacher in Del Mar Union and I’m very proud to currently be in my 21st year with the district. I am passionate about making connections with my students to provide them with an optimal learning experience!
Maria Parker
I am the principal at a K-6 school called Sage Canyon. This is my fourth year at the school and I love the community that I serve. Over the last several years, our staff has committed to making our school a place where learning is at the core and student thinking is visible, valued, and ever-evolving. I firmly hold the mindset that if a school is to be a culture of thinking for students, it must be a culture of thinking for the adults.Through the implementation of new systems and structures, our staff has taken an active role in their own learning journeys in service of students, one another, and the collective. Our learning is not done and we continue to focus on inquiry, making discoveries, and growing individually and together.
Kathy Zabinski
Kathy is a passionate, enthusiastic and curious educator who is dedicated to empowering all members of learning communities to thrive. The mindset that for classrooms to be cultures of thinking for students, schools must be cultures of thinking for teachers has been a defining principle in her work as a professional educator, leader, instructional coach and consultant for the past 30 years. Kathy has worked in international schools around the world as well as her home community in Colorado. No matter where she is, it is a truth that everyone can relate to the feeling of having too much to do and not having enough time to do it. With colleagues, she has explored the role of time in deep learning and quality of life. She is eager to share her learning and to collaborate with participants to envision strategies they can use to maximize the cultural forces of time, interaction and opportunities for deep learning.
Deanne Goya
Deanne has been involved in the early childhood community for almost 30 years, serving most recently in the Office of the Governor Executive Office on Early Learning, promoting and implementing high quality preschool programs. Her early childhood education background also includes work in both the private sector and Head Start program as early childhood educator and program manager. She received her Baccalaureate of Science degree in Human Development with an emphasis on early childhood development and education from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa.
Caitlin Kryss
Caitlin Kryss is currently an Early Learning Specialist and Instructional Coach with the Hawaiʻi State Public Charter School Commission. She brings more than a decade of experience in early childhood education and care in Hawaiʻi. Prior to her current position, she was a preschool teacher at a private preschool in Puna, and then at a public charter school. She holds dual bachelor's degrees from the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo, a Masterʻs in Early Childhood Education from Northcentral University, and educational certificates from the Harvard Graduate School of Education and the University of Massachusetts Boston.
Pūhala Kamalamalama
Aloha mai kakou! 'O Pūhala Kamalamalama ko'u inoa. No Hilo mai au. I have been blessed to work in the ECE field for the past 15 years for the Institute for Native Pacific Education and Culture also known as INPEACE as an Aide, Site Coordinator, Island Coordinator and Mentor Coach. Received my Associates in ECE from Hawaii Community College, BA in Social Sciences in ECE from UH West Oahu, and Masters of Education, Curriculum and Instruction in ECE from Liberty University. Born and raised on a 20 acre farm, my parents Howard and Charlene Pe'a blessed me with strong work ethics and values which have helped me thrive both personally and professionally. As the Early Learning Instructional Coach, I look forward to building pilina with kumu and keiki. Mahalo nui.
Kamahaʻo Kaai
Kamahaʻo Kaai is an Early Learning Coach with the Hawaiʻi State Public Charter School Commission. From Nānākuli, Kamaha‘o a mother of two, is passionate about perpetuating the Hawaiian language and sharing her knowledge from a native Hawaiian perspective. As a product of the Charter School movement, she is committed to giving back to the students and educators of Hawaiʻi through her role as an Early Learning Coach.