Biographies

John Antonetti Bachelor of Science, Biology Master of Education, Gifted Education Master of Education, Curriculum and Instruction John Antonetti is former Director of K-12 Curriculum in the Sheridan School District in Arkansas. Once described by Larry Lezotte as a "teacher's teacher,” John is an advocate of experiential education and recognizes that all learners learn best when they work together to solve real world problems in safe, cooperative environments. As founding director of the Northwest Arkansas Therapeutic Ropes Association, Mr. Antonetti used an experiential approach to work with students, teachers, and community and business leaders to develop leadership skills in an outdoor adventure setting. He brings this same experiential focus to his work with individual schools and districts. Mr. Antonetti has had the great fortune to teach at all grade levels. He has taught kindergarten, elementary, middle and high school. John served as supervisor of gifted programs in the 18 districts of the Northwest Arkansas Education Service Cooperative before moving to Sheridan, Arkansas. John has been a lead developer and trainer in the process of classroom walk-throughs, a system for improving curriculum and instruction. He provides schools and districts with on-site instructional analysis and follow-up support through workshops, coaching and classroom demonstration models. Mr. Antonetti has worked with three districts that won the nationally-recognized Broad Prize for Urban Education. In Garden Grove, California and Aldine, Texas, his work focused on developing systemic writing programs, power standards and district assessments. Other on-site work has included student engagement, rigor and relevance, and high-yield best practices. In addition to large, urban districts such as Cobb County, Georgia and Clark County, Nevada, John has partnered with teachers in smaller districts to bring about improved student achievement. While hands-on work in schools is his passion, John is also a highly-sought keynote speaker. His humor and parables are recognized by teachers, administrators, and parents as relevant examples of the power of teachers. Antonetti is the author of the book, Writing as a Measure and Model of Thinking.

Dr. Jim Garver Bachelor of Science, Communication Master of Science, Education Doctor of Philosophy, Educational Leadership Dr. Jim Garver has experience at all levels of public education - from teacher to associate superintendent, kindergarten through high school, in small schools and large. As an educational leader, he has guided schools and districts through the implementation of best practices and school-wide reform, the development of standards-based curriculum, and the improvement of climate and culture. Student achievement has increased in every school and district in which Jim has held a leadership position. Jim served as Director of Curriculum and Instruction in Phoenix's Alhambra School District, nationally recognized for its high achievement in spite of high poverty and a large percentage of English language learners. Jim was also Associate Superintendent in the rapidly-growing Deer Valley Unified School District in suburban Phoenix, a school system of over 36,000 students. He has been chosen by Indiana's governor and Arizona's state superintendent for state committees, chaired the Greater Phoenix Educational Management Council's curriculum organization, and is an adjunct faculty member at Northern Arizona University. Jim is a highly-regarded national speaker and consultant. He works with schools across the country, sharing expertise on classroom walk-throughs, authentic student engagement, Bloom's taxonomy, and the development of educational objectives. At the district level, Jim provides assistance with strategic planning, community relations, conflict resolution, and team-building. Jim also assists schools and districts with No Child Left Behind (NCLB) compliance, including the provision of alternative governance services. Jim’s book, The 10 Secrets to Higher Student Achievement, serves as a blueprint for school improvement in several states. A second book, currently in development, focuses on enhanced coaching skills for educational leaders. In 2006, Jim Garver and John Antonetti formed Colleagues on Call, an educational consulting company dedicated to providing customized, research-based professional development to schools and districts across North America.