Leadership Innovations Team

Heather Knight, Ma. Ed., LIT Co-President

Heather Knight holds an Ma. Ed. in Professional Development and is the Founder and Co-President of Leadership Innovations Team. In this role, she designs and delivers training to meet the unique, advanced training needs of instructional leaders, administrators, coaches and professional learning communities. In conjunction with the development of these programs she has co-authored a Professional Learning Communities Guide and developed and produced extensive tools to facilitate the coaching process and guide collaborative team processes.

Since receiving her Coaching Certification training from the Hudson Institute of Santa Barbara, Heather has spent the last several years coaching professionals and executives including administrators, principals, teachers, and coaches. In addition, she is certified as an Extraordinary Leader Trainer in the Zenger-Folkman leadership series and conducts ongoing leadership workshops throughout the Pacific Northwest.

Heather is an adjunct faculty member of Seattle Pacific University and has been a classroom teacher and elementary school principal. She is a member in good standing with the International Coaching Federation.

Alison Olzendam, Ph.D., LIT Co-President

Dr. Alison Olzendam is a Co-President of the Leadership Innovations Team and was the President and Founder of the Powerful Teaching and Learning Group, which became LIT in January 2009. She currently serves as an adjunct professor at Washington State University, and has been affiliated with the Principal Certification Program for 8 years. Alison has been a trainer for the Washington School Research Center, presenting Seminars at OSPI conferences, and numerous other conferences and is certified as an Extraordinary Leader Trainer in the Zenger-Folkman leadership series. In addition Alison has worked with schools and school districts across the state, providing research and support to raise student achievement. She has been involved in several research projects in the State of Washington.

Alison has been a classroom teacher and principal. She last served as principal at Mead Middle School in Mead, Washington. Mead Middle School received one of the first Gates Foundation grants to schools. Mead Middle was named as one of the “100 Highly Successful Middle Schools” in the United States in 2000. Alison was the recipient of the Milken Award in Education in 1997, is a member of the Josten’s Renaissance Educator Hall of Fame, and a Washington State Exemplary Educator. Her work in promoting tolerance and respect for all cultures and backgrounds earned her an award from the Anti-Defamation League.

Mickey Venn Lahmann, M.Ed.

Mickey Lahmann brings over thirty years of experience as a Washington state educator and leader. She has worked in districts large and small—as a teacher in Tumwater schools and as a principal for the Adna, Olympia and Puyallup School Districts. Mickey also served as Director for K-12 Student Learning in the Puyallup School District. Combined with her early experiences in Washington D.C. with the Institute for Educational Leadership as well as working at the Washington State Legislature, Mickey has a strong understanding of our public education system.

Most recently Mickey served as Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction at the Office of Superintendent of Instruction (OSPI) from 2001-2007. During this period she worked with state leaders, teachers and content specialists to create Grade Level Expectations (GLEs) for our state’s Essential Academic Learning Requirements. Additionally, she facilitated initiatives with the state’s Educational Service Districts to promote common understanding and support for student learning. The K-12 Reading Model, Bias and Fairness Reviews, Instructional Materials Alignments, On-line Grade Level Resources and curriculum-based assessments stand out as some of the many accomplishments by Lahmann’s team. She served as the OSPI representative on boards of the Washington Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (WSASCD) and the Elementary Principals Association of Washington (ESPAW). Literacy, leadership and alignment continue to be her passion and interest.

Joining the Leadership Innovations Team in 2007, Mickey is excited to provide the support needed to deepen school reform efforts with educational leaders and teachers throughout our state and region. A seasoned professional developer, she is a certified Extraordinary Leader trainer and provides coaching services to individuals and districts on their development plans. Her expertise, enthusiasm and leadership in our state further enhance the work of the Leadership Innovations Team.

Freddie Barrett

Freddie’s varied background includes over 20 years in high-tech sales and sales management consistently over achieving aggressive targets while building relationships and delighting customers.

Over the past ten years Freddie has successfully coached and developed leaders at Nokia Networks, T-Mobile, World Vision International, HP, Allianz Life, Janus Funds, and Horizon Airlines.

Freddie holds a Masters degree in Applied Behavioral Science with an emphasis on coaching and consulting in organizations. She has a Bachelors degree in Business Management and is an ICF Master Certified Coach.

Freddie’s passionate work inspires expanded possibilities through working with business leaders to achieve business results while achieving personal growth and creating healthy, vital working relationships.

Janet Steele, M.A., Senior Associate

Janet Steele joined the Leadership Innovations Team in 2006. She has served as an educator and professional development leader for 27 years. As an elementary and multi-age teacher, her classrooms were highly constructivist and focused on the integration of technology and fine art into the instructional environment.

After leaving the classroom, Janet joined the Milken Family Foundation in 1999 as the Milken Educator Network Director, and then as the National Training Director for the Teacher Advancement Program, a national model for school reform.

In 2003, Janet became the Worldwide Program Manager of Primary-Secondary Programs for the Microsoft Corporation. As such she was responsible for program development and expansion of worldwide professional development frameworks under the Partners in Learning Initiative. This included driving the worldwide Innovative Teachers Network, implementing the Microsoft Peer Coaching Program, and working closely with respected author, Professor Michael Fullan, to develop and implement the Learning to Lead Change curriculum focused on the knowledge base required to lead and manage change in a country.

Throughout her career, Janet has presented nationally and internationally on educational issues. Her honors include the Milken Family Foundation National Educator Award, the Christa McAuliffe Washington State Excellence in Education Award, and Phi Kappa Phi Academic Honorary.

Carla Jones, M.A.

Carla is an Associate Clinical Professor at Washington State University and has been teaching classes in the department as well as serving as the Clinical Coordinator. She received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Elementary Education/Communication Disorders from WSU and her Master of Arts degree from WSU in Communication Disorders. Carla holds the Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech-Language Hearing Association and school credentials as a special educator and speech-language pathologist.

Carla has been a speech language pathologist in the public schools and worked on several Federal Model Demonstration Projects. She has been at WSU for 15 years and continues to provide direct service to children with disabilities in the WSU Clinic and Head Start.

Lisa Holmes, M.Ed.

Lisa Holmes comes to the Leadership Innovations Team with a diverse background in public education, technology, grant writing as well as medical research. She has been in public education for twenty four years and has championed many issues facing rural and remote schools. She has served on a variety of committees both locally as well as state wide. Lisa was a member of the Smart Tools Task Force and later as a Smart Tools instructor in Washington State. Ms. Holmes was appointed by Governor Gary Locke to his state-wide task force working on online learning. At this time, Lisa continues to participate as a board member for the Digital Learning Commons for Washington State. She has also served as a past president of the Washington Association of Secondary School Principals. Ms. Holmes has also served as a K-12 principal.

Lisa is co-author of Net Savvy: Information Literacy, 1st Ed. She has also been a contributing author for teaching materials on other technology issues as well as Gifted Education. She has been a keynote and conference speaker at the local, state and national level. Most recently, Lisa was appointed to the K20 advisory board for Internet2.

Bruce Burpee

Bruce Burpee joined the Leadership Innovations Team in 2007. He has served as a school administrator for 31 years, with experience as an elementary principal, curriculum director and assistant superintendent. Bruce has presented nationally through Phi Delta Kappa, and is a licensed Curriculum Management Auditor. He has been a School Improvement Coach through ESD 189, and has worked as a consultant in underperforming schools in California.

His honors include an Award for Professional Excellence from Woodring College of Education, Western Washington University, and Regional Distinguished Principal from Elementary School Principal’s Association of Washington.

Doug Nelson

Douglas M. Nelson, Ed.D. is a life-long educator and builder of people. His 38-year distinguished career has been highlighted by his ability to lead people toward extraordinary results even in the most difficult of times. He has held leadership positions at several levels of school districts including 19 years as superintendent of two school districts – Pullman, Washington with 2200 students and 300 employees and Bend-La Pine, Bend, Oregon with 16,000 students and 1700 employees. Dr. Nelson has guided individuals in all phases of careers and at all levels of school districts.

Dr. Nelson brings a unique blend of skills and experiences to coaching individuals and schools. People who have worked with Dr. Nelson know that he is focused on their best interests and knows how to bring out the best in them. While serious in his work, his optimism and light touch put people at ease. He is tireless in his efforts for people and continually seeks to find ways for people to succeed.

Dr. Nelson is not only a keen listener and skilled communicator, but is adept at helping in the development of plans that will benefit both individuals and organizations. Part of his skill is to be a warm-demander who holds people accountable to what they have committed.

Working with Dr. Nelson will be an enriching experience that can be life-changing and can form the basis for continued growth and excitement in a person’s or organization’s life.

Kris Lindeblad, M.A.

Kris brings to educators many years of highly successful teaching experience in math. She is the recipient of three prestigious awards: The Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics Education, the Washington Award for Excellence in Teaching (Christa McAuliffe Award) and Distinguished Teacher for the Spokane School District.

What makes Kris unique is her outstanding ability to work with adults. Her presentations are exciting, and thought provoking. Teachers learn skills that are immediately applicable in their math classrooms. The feedback she receives from educators is very positive. Teachers leave with activities, strategies, lessons, and research that can be used immediately in classrooms.

Kris also provides workshops for administrators, principals and central office personnel. For those leaders without a math background Kris provides the knowledge for them to successfully lead efforts to raise math achievement.

Joy Lansdowne, M. Ed

Having worked in the field of education for 32 years, Joy brings experiences as a teacher, principal, curriculum and staff development director, special education director, gifted/talented director, consultant, adjunct professor, and coach to her present work. Her passion for building the capacity of teachers and administrators brought her to join the Leadership Innovations Team as a Senior Associate in 2008. Having worked in small and large school districts, Joy has a wealth of experience in creating professional learning environments that focus on rigor, relevance and relationships. Having been recognized as an Extraordinary Leader through the Zenger/ Folkman 360 Assessment, Joy possesses the skills and experience to move a school from good to great to extraordinary.

She is a member of the following professional organizations: Association of Washington School Principals, Association of Elementary School Principals, Association of Supervision and Curriculum Development, Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, and Association of Educators of the Talented and Gifted.

Joy received her BS in Education from Ft. Hays Kansas State University and her M. Ed in Learning Resources from Western Washington University. She is an adjunct professor for Seattle Pacific University. Throughout her career, Joy has been a trainer of a variety of programs and approaches including: Cooperative Learning, Teacher Effectiveness and Student Achievement (TESA), Education for Social Justice, and First Steps Literacy. As a life-long learner, Joy is excited to use her coaching skills to support and enhance the skills of teachers and administrators. She has training in Critical Friends, Cognitive Coaching, and Powerful Teaching and Learning coaching models.

Joy was instrumental in bringing the Giraffe Heroes Project to Glenwood Elementary where students participated in school-wide service learning projects that demonstrated courage and compassion in making a difference in their community and beyond. Several of the projects were highlighted in the June/July 2006, Child, magazine. Joy has received recognition for her involvement in the communities she has worked in through business/school partnerships and participation as a board member in several organizations.