Nancy Frey is a professor of educational leadership at San Diego State University (SDSU) and a teacher leader at Health Sciences High & Middle College. Before joining the university faculty, Frey was a special education teacher in the Broward County (Florida) Public Schools, where she taught students at the elementary and middle school levels. She later worked for the Florida Department of Education on a statewide project for supporting students with disabilities in a general education curriculum. Frey is a recipient of the Christa McAuliffe Award for Excellence in Teacher Education from the American Association of State Colleges and Universities and the Early Career Award from the Literacy Research Association. Her research interests include reading and literacy, assessment, intervention, and curriculum design. She has published many articles and books on literacy and instruction, including Better Learning Through Structured Teaching and How to Reach the Hard to Teach.

Dominique Smith is the chief of educational services and teacher support at Health Sciences High & Middle College, where he also serves as a culture builder and student advocate. He is a co-author of Better Than Carrots or Sticks: Restorative Practices for Positive Classroom Management and Building Equity: Policies and Practices to Empower All Learners. Smith holds a master's degree in social work from the University of Southern California and an EdD in educational leadership from San Diego State University. He received the National School Safety Award from the School Safety Advocacy Council.

Douglas Fisher is a professor of educational leadership at San Diego State University and a teacher leader at Health Sciences High & Middle College. He is a member of the California Reading Hall of Fame and is the recipient of a Celebrate Literacy Award from the International Reading Association, the Farmer Award for Excellence in Writing from the National Council of Teachers of English, and a Christa McAuliffe Award for Excellence in Teacher Education from the American Association of State Colleges and Universities. Fisher has published numerous articles on improving student achievement, and his books include The Purposeful Classroom, Enhancing RTI, and Intentional and Targeted Teaching.