In the Spring of 2000, the National Staff Development Council selected 27 educators from around the nation to participate in a special training with the Brande Foundation for the purpose of pursuing becoming coaches to educators. This training was designed to provide the knowledge and skills to support principals, superintendents, and other school leaders. This weekly coaching supported their commitment and skills to lead and manage successfully the challenges of working with diverse student populations, high stakes accountability, and the ever increasing demands of school leadership.

Our group, now known as Coaching for Results, a Non-Profit Corporation, is an alliance of dedicated professional educational leaders from across the United States who are trained in leadership coaching processes, Coaching for Results, is dedicated to providing powerful professional development that supports clients, focus on and sustain the highest level of teaching and learning for all students.

Carolyn G. Bukhair, Ed.D.

Dr. Carolyn Bukhair, Richardson Independent School District Superintendent of Schools, has been an educator for 36 years. She has served the RISD in various positions for 28 years. Her past experience also includes positions held in other school districts, both public and private. Dr. Bukhair believes strongly that her district can continue to be a "lighthouse" school district and, in fact, become the model/beacon for other districts. She believes that a strong coalition of education, civic, business, and parent groups can create partnerships to strengthen and support the schools.

Her educational background, of multiple degrees, reflects the strong commitment she has to her beliefs. Dr. Bukhair has been invited to serve on several distinguished educational boards/councils; Apple Computer Leadership Institute in 2003; Scott Foresman Education Instructional Leadership Council; America Online's Education Advisory Board (one of 12 superintendents); and Texas State Senator Shapiro's Education Advisory Council.

Dr. Bukhair's most recent honors and awards include: the naming of the newest elementary school 'Carolyn G. Bukhair Elementary' by the RISD Board of Trustees; 2001 Council Service Award from the RISD Council of PTAs; "Kids Day America/International" Children's Empowerment Award; 1999 Region 10 Superintendent of the Year award and one of five finalists for the State Superintendent of the Year; Texas Association of School Librarians' 1999 Administrator of the Year; a special Richardson YWCA award for The Outstanding Woman of Achievement, 1996; and the 1996 Hero for Children award at the Tribute to Heroes for Children luncheon from the Child and Family Guidance Centers.

Dr. Bukhair participated in the Master of Executive Excellence Program at Southern Methodist University; and in the Lamar Superintendent Academy, a leadership development program designed for exemplary superintendents. Involvement in community and professional service has been important in Dr. Bukhair's career. She has actively participated on numerous boards and committees. She has also been active through church, school, and PTA functions. Dr. Bukhair and her husband, Ramon, have one daughter, one son, and seven grandchildren.

Annette T. Griffin, Ph.D. - Texas

Annette T. Griffin is superintendent of the Carrollton-Farmers Branch Independent School District. She has served in this capacity since 1997. Prior to coming to C-FB ISD she was superintendent of Duncanville ISD and Carroll ISD in Southlake. In addition, Dr. Griffin has been a teacher appraiser, an elementary principal and the assistant superintendent of instruction for C-FB ISD. She also was an educator in the Richardson ISD and a teacher, principal, consultant and coordinator from 1970 to 1981. She served on the Richardson ISD Board of Trustees from 1985 to 1990.

Dr. Griffin received her Bachelor of Science and Master of Education degrees from Louisiana State University and her doctorate from the University of North Texas.

Committed to kids, Dr. Griffin is the district's biggest cheerleader. She is known as an educator who builds and strengthens parental and community support throughout the district. Both educators and parents know that Dr. Griffin's decisions always focus on how the district can improve student achievement and learning.

She and her husband Allen have two children --- Alana who is a graduate of Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, and Tim who is a student at Baylor University in Waco, Texas.

Shirley M. Hord, Ph. D.

SHIRLEY M. HORD, Ph. D., is Scholar Emerita at the Southwest Educational Development Laboratory in Austin, Texas, where she has led the day-to-day activities and long-term planning for three projects comprising the Strategies for Increasing School Success Program, all of which focus on educational improvement and increased learning success for students. She continues to monitor and support the Leadership For Change networks, Concerns-Based Adoption Model (CBAM) constituencies, and designs and delivers professional development that nurtures school leadership and advances school change. Her current professional passion is the creation and operationalization of professional learning communities in schools and districts.