Webinar - Employee Onboarding: Are You Ready?

Michael Russell is the Founder and Managing Director of Tinker With Purpose, LLC. He spent two years as a professional engineer before transitioning into his true passion, PreK-12 education, where he has served as classroom teacher, department chair, director of studies, STEM coordinator, and principal. Michael is an innovator and systems-thinker committed to helping others realize their full potential. He is adept at developing organizational cultures that value relationships, honesty, creativity, and continual improvement through a ‘growth mindset’. A servant leader and fast-processing problem solver, Michael is comfortable quickly and accurately assessing client needs, developing systems to support change management, and providing insights for navigating complex, ‘wicked’ problems. He earned his Bachelors Degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Rochester, and his Masters Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Cincinnati.

Meredith Monk Ford is the Executive Director of FolioCollaborative and guides the organization’s support for its 140+ member schools. Meredith was an independent school classroom teacher and coach, first at the Bryn Mawr School (her alma mater) and then at McDonogh School, both in Baltimore. At McDonogh, Meredith was also a grade level administrator and chaired a task force to enhance professional growth opportunities for faculty. When McDonogh received a grant from the E.E. Ford Foundation to develop a professional growth and learning process that additional schools could use, FolioCollaborative was created and Meredith transitioned to become Executive Director. Meredith’s passion for school leadership and managing the process of change in educational institutions shows through her Folio management. She visits and meets virtually with Folio members around the country to lead seminars, train administrators and teachers, and facilitate conversations around professional growth, leadership and feedback. Meredith received her BA from the University of Maryland and a master’s degree in Liberal Arts from the Johns Hopkins University. She earned a second master’s degree in School Leadership at the Harvard Graduate School of Education.