Experienced and trained in the latest research and best practices of teaching and learning, with a unique understanding of independent schools.
LAUREN BENJAMIN
Lauren has cultivated a thriving career as a multidisciplinary artist and educator for over 20 years. Lauren earned her BFA in painting and photography and holds a Master’s in Education. She is an alum of dance epicenter Jacob’s Pillow and CATDC’s Leadership Fellows. She worked as a supervisor to student teachers at Mills College Graduate School of Education, where she was able to mentor and coach new teachers as well as experienced professionals new to the field of education. Lauren believes in sharing the power of identity development through the lens of the arts and has published her curriculum with Frameline Organization and presented at educational conferences, including conferences held by the Center for the Advancement and Study of International Education (CASIE) and Project Zero of Harvard’s Graduate School of Education. During Lauren's eight-year tenure at Sacred Heart Schools Atherton, she held multiple roles including Dance Program Director and Fine Arts Department Chair. Her most recent position was Assistant Principal of Mission & Culture, where she centered belonging in the school’s adult onboarding and school-wide student programs. In 2023, Lauren joined the CATDC team as the Northern California Director, bringing her extensive experience in education and leadership to facilitate professional growth and collaboration among teachers in the region, and she now works as a CATDC coach and consultant. She identifies as a love practitioner who aims to build community through her teaching practice and leadership.
DR. ROGER BRIDGES
Roger is the Founder of Building Bridges Consulting, where he partners with schools and school leaders to build and nurture inclusive school cultures, elevate belonging, and disrupt behaviors and practices that erode healthy school communities. Dr. Bridges has over 25 years of experience working in schools and community organizations as a counselor/wellness practitioner and senior leader. He coaches educators and school leaders on equity, belonging, and wellness as core drivers of strong school culture and academic success. Roger brings a counseling-informed, relationship-centered approach to coaching, shaped by experience across independent schools, nonprofits, and educational organizations. He supports leaders in navigating complexity, building trust, and aligning values with daily practice. As a coach, Dr. Bridges creates and promotes reflective, grounded engagement spaces that balance empathy with clarity, accountability, and purposeful action. As a former actor and filmmaker, he believes every human encounter is an opportunity for authentic sharing, storytelling, connection, belonging, inspiration, growth and joy.
ELIZABETH DENEVI
Elizabeth directs East Ed, a non-profit dedicated to supporting equity and diversity in schools and community organizations. She is also the co-founder of Teaching While White. She was a classroom teacher for 10 years and served as an administrator for 15 years at several independent PreK-12 schools. As a coach, her role is to help clients gain clarity in the steps they want to pursue to make their practice more equitable. She believes that with time for reflection and critical inquiry, all teachers and leaders can identify what they need to grow and develop their practice. Her role is to listen and to reflect back what she observes and to ask questions from a place of curiosity. She coaches teachers at all grade levels as well as school leaders.
CARLEY DRYDEN
Carley is the founder of Carley Dryden Coaching and Consulting, where she partners with schools to translate equity, leadership, and faculty development goals into lived practice. Carley has deep experience as a senior leader at K-12 schools, serving as a Director of Equity and Inclusion, Dean of Faculty and Staff, and Director of Marketing and Communications, while teaching in Middle and Upper School classrooms. She led institutional efforts around DEIJB, faculty hiring and retention, professional development, culturally responsive curriculum and crisis communications, and launched a K-12 faculty coaching program. As a professional coach, she partners with educators and leaders navigating the day-to-day realities and tensions of their roles. Her clients range from Heads of School implementing equity and inclusion initiatives in complex environments, to academic leaders overseeing instructional coaching, and BIPOC educators aiming to show up authentically in their schools. Carley is approachable, relational and strategic. With her, you’ll get real talk, candor and thoughtful challenge — along with deep respect for the fact that you are the authority of your own experience. Carley holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Southern California, certification from Cornell University, and a master’s of education from Vanderbilt University.
JULIE GALLES
LGBTQ/GENDER INCLUSION SPECIALIST
Julie (she/her) started her career in education over 30 years ago. After earning both a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology and a Master’s Degree in Education from Stanford University, she proceeded to serve as a classroom teacher, a Division Director, Assistant Head, and Head of School at multiple institutions. She co-founded Chrysalis Academy, a school designed for queer, trans, and nonbinary students in Southern California, and Chrysalis Educational Consulting, through which she addresses knowledge and skill gaps around gender identity development and LGBTQ/gender inclusive practices. Julie supports schools and other youth-serving organizations through faculty and staff training, parent education, leadership and affinity group support, and incident management. She has become a sought-out resource for Heads of School and an active presenter and facilitator in educational and related sectors.
MEREDITH HERRERA
Meredith (she/ella) is a highly organized systems thinker and operational strategist with nearly 20 years of diverse experience working with young people and adults. She has a Masters of Education in Human Development focused in School Counseling and is completing her Executive Coaching certification. She is skilled in strategic planning, personnel coaching, communication management, and has served as a senior administrator in several schools. As a consultant, Meredith works with schools and leaders to co-create transformative environments that promote equity, belonging, and community. As a coach, Meredith empowers and supports educators - to achieve goals, operate strategically, enhance managerial skill, navigate thorny issues, and manage overwhelm. She is particularly passionate about helping BIPOC identifying educators thrive in primarily white institutions (PWIs) and believes that access to professional coaching for BIPOC educators by BIPOC educators is critical. Coaching engagements are influenced by data driven practices and equity design and clients can expect meetings to be lively, relevant, and pragmatic.
SHELLEY LAWRENCE M.Ed
Shelley is the founder of Schoolhouse Collaborative and an educational consultant in Los Angeles who works with both schools and families. With over 30 years of experience in teaching and school leadership, Shelley assists administrators in creating long range strategic plans, planning and implementing teacher evaluation systems, and structuring and implementing curricular change. Her deep and broad understanding of all areas of the curriculum, best practice pedagogy and social emotional learning assist her in evaluating educational programs and working with school administrators to identify areas of curricular and instructional weakness and plan and implement change. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in History, California Multiple Subject Teaching Credential and M.Ed from UCLA. She is currently completing certification in coaching with the Co-Active Training Institute. When she is not thinking about education and coaching, Shelley enjoys baking sourdough bread, cheering on the Dodgers and UCLA and exercising.
DR. REGINA MCDUFFIE
Regina is an accomplished independent school educator with a distinguished career spanning over two decades. As a visionary leader in the field of education, she has made significant contributions to various educational institutions through her expertise in curriculum design, instructional improvement, and personalized learning. Most recently as Head of School at The Rhoades School and previously as Academic Dean at St. Margaret’s Episcopal School. Regina was instrumental in supporting faculty in designing innovative curricula, creating engaging performance tasks, and developing project-based learning units. Her dedication to improving instruction practice through observation and constructive feedback has contributed significantly to the professional growth of her teachers and staff. Dr. McDuffie holds a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction, is recognized as an Apple Teacher as well as the leader of an Apple Distinguished School for utilizing technology to enhance teaching and learning in innovative ways. She is a certified Habits of Mind trainer and has also been recognized for her expertise in collection, analysis, utilization and reporting of data to inform school improvement and student learning. Regina is a coach and mentor to new and aspiring Heads of School. Her nurturing and supportive approach have empowered educational leaders to excel in their roles and make positive impacts within their schools. She looks forward to continuing to make a positive impact on private school education as a coach and consultant with CATDC.
ERIN NORDLUND
Erin is currently a K-12 Director of Teaching and Learning at Chadwick School. Prior to her current position she was Chadwick's Curriculum Specialist and, before that, the English Department Chair and Interim Dean of Students. Erin has developed, led, and presented on a wide range of school-wide, divisional, and departmental curriculum, instruction, grading and assessment, leadership, and wellness initiatives and programming and has 20 years of teaching experience. Erin holds a Bachelor of Arts in English and a Master of Arts in Teaching from the University of Southern California.
DR. ROCHELLE REODICA
Rochelle is a DEIB consultant and leadership coach who brings over 20 years of experience as an educational leader in both the public and private sectors including the NYC Board of Education, Sylvan Learning Centers in Manhattan, and various independent schools in New York and California. She has served as a Division Head, Director of Learning Services, Middle School Diversity Coordinator, Grade Dean, Human Development instructor, and learning specialist in K-12 schools. Rochelle uses a strengths-based approach and applies deep listening to amplify clients’ strengths while acknowledging their blindspots and growth edges. Her intersectional identities as a woman of color, mother, scholar, and leader influence the equity lens she brings to her coaching practice. Through self-reflection and inquiry, she aims to develop leaders who are culturally responsive and anti-racist. Rochelle is available to coach instructional teams and aspiring, new, and experienced leaders.
JUSTIN RIDDLE
Justin is an educator who works to create learning communities where every person feels seen, heard, valued, and supported in their growth. He currently serves as the 10th Grade Dean/Grade Level Coordinator and Advisory Coordinator at Polytechnic School in Pasadena, where he partners with students, families, faculty, and colleagues to support student-centered learning and social-emotional development. Justin brings broad experience in teaching, counseling, student support, school leadership, and coaching across independent schools and higher education. As a coach, he is especially interested in supporting educators in emerging leadership roles, including department chairs, deans, and grade-level leaders. His coaching approach is grounded in deep listening, thoughtful questioning, trust-building, and reflection. Justin holds a B.S. in Family and Human Development, a master’s degree in Educational Counseling, and in Independent School Leadership.
REBECCA RUSSELL
Rebecca brings over two decades of classroom teaching, integrated curricular design, team facilitation, and a background in vocal performance to her work as an instructional coach. She currently serves as the Director of Teaching & learning at Westside Neighborhood School. Before wading into the world of education, in both public and independent spaces, Rebecca worked as an advertising account executive specializing in Broadway musicals. Her non-traditional path to teaching and diversity of experience grounds her practice in empathy, perspective, and partnership, and allows her to view educational spaces and leadership pathways through a variety of lenses. Deep listening is integral to her teaching and coaching practices, and her professional singing career, and she centers her pedagogy in equity, authentic application, and joy.
MARGOT SCHOU
Margot brings nearly twenty years of experience teaching, leading, and mentoring to her coaching practice. In that time she has guided math departments through strategic curriculum redesigns and coached new and experienced faculty members. Her approach centers active listening and continuous learning. Margot has taught at several independent schools, The Urban School of San Francisco, St. Ann's school in Brooklyn, NY, and she is currently teaching Math at the College Preparatory School in Oakland, CA. She was the head of the math department there for four years before transitioning into a coaching role and consulting with other schools. Margot has degrees from Boston University in both math and math-education as well as a master’s degree through the Klingenstein program at Columbia Teachers College in Private School Leadership. She brings a passion for learning and deep pedagogical expertise to her work as a coach.