Experienced leaders. Practical guidance. Human-centered support.

Dan De Leon is a retired public school principal and educator with more than 35 years of experience. He has served as a teacher, principal, assistant superintendent, and adjunct professor. He has led elementary, middle, K–8, and high school campuses, including work in Houston ISD. His leadership voice is reflective, practical, story-centered, and deeply human. Dan believes the principal's office is a place where people should be heard, problems should be understood, and decisions should be made with both courage and compassion.

Christopher Wood is currently serving as principal at Foster High School in Lamar Consolidated ISD. He has extensive experience in reading instruction, instructional leadership, teacher coaching, middle school leadership, and high school leadership. Dan has known Chris for 27 years. They first met when Chris was a Reading Specialist in Houston ISD, where he worked with teachers to improve reading instruction. Dan later hired Chris as an assistant principal at Edison Middle School. They later worked together at Chavez High School and again at Sharpstown High School, where Chris served as Dean of Instruction. Chris is an amazing leader: quiet yet charismatic, serious about his work, and gifted with a mischievous nature that makes him even more lovable. He knows instruction deeply and understands how to help teachers improve their practice. His strength is working with teachers to help them engage and interact more effectively with students.

Farhan Shah is currently serving in Houston ISD as a Director for the Chief of Schools. Dan has known Farhan since 2005, when Farhan was an English teacher at Furr High School in Houston ISD. Farhan also taught filmmaking. He later worked in the district professional development office and became one of the most sought-after trainers in the district. Dan hired him as a Teacher Specialist at Chavez High School in 2007. Farhan later became principal at Ripley House Charter School in Houston and returned to HISD as Director of Global Education. He later worked with Dan again as a Teacher Specialist at Sharpstown High School. Farhan is the Swiss army knife of education. He is extremely well read and can connect ideas from across education, art, literature, culture, instruction, and leadership. He can take complex ideas and make them understandable and useful for teachers. He is the ultimate teacher developer. He has keen classroom observation skills and can provide teachers with accurate, specific feedback about strengths and areas for growth. His real gift is having hard conversations with teachers in a way that helps them improve their practice. He is also an artist, filmmaker, and builder.

Juan Gallardo is currently principal at Middle College High School at HCC Fraga in Houston ISD. Dan first met Juan when Juan interviewed for a Spanish teacher position at Chavez High School. Juan first came to the United States as part of a teacher exchange program. Interestingly, one of the first schools where he taught was Sharpstown High School around 1999. Dan hired Juan at Chavez High School and later worked with him again at Sharpstown High School, where Juan served as an assistant principal. Juan is a published author, UDL presenter, musician, and family man. His strengths center on instructional design and helping teachers reach all of their students. He brings an international perspective, creativity, and a deep belief that instruction should be designed so more students can access meaningful learning.