Authors & Advisors

Meet our Academic Writers, Authors, and Advisors for Summit K12

What We Believe

At Summit K12, we believe every student can do well in school if instruction is tailored to their unique learning needs – with the right support, encouragement, all students can achieve and succeed. Our learning programs – whether second language acquisition or Science, provide teachers with the ability to differentiate instruction, monitor progress, and support learners in their journey toward success.

From our founder, John Kresky:

“Our vision is to provide teaching and learning solutions that enable all students to reach their full academic potential in Science, Reading, and Social Studies regardless of where they are on the learning continuum.

In 2015, I started Summit K12 with the vision of creating a company that empowers teachers to differentiate teaching and learning for all Texas students. The success of our school and district partners over the past decade has been a direct result of our partnership model, where we collaborate with Texas teachers, academic writers, and administrators to build easy, efficient, and effective programs.”

Created by Texas Educators for Texas Educators

At Summit K12, we built a world-class Science Editorial and PD Leadership team. These groups include several past TSELA presidents, board members, the former STAT President, the former NSELA President, and dozens of Texas District Science Directors and Coordinators.

Our Dynamic Science courses were built from the ground up for Proclamation 2024 by over 80 Texas K-12 Science Authors and Editors – plus 150 employees who call Texas their home.

Partnering with the Texas Science Community, Top Academic Writers, and Thought Leaders

Today, our media partnerships include TSELA, STAT, TABE, and the Texas School Alliance. We’ve also been fortunate to collaborate with Dr. Okhee Lee. Dr. Lee works to advance research, policy, and practice to promote science and language learning for all students. In our Dynamic Science program, we’ve been honored to work with her – helping to educate and inform your students about the relationship between Science and language.

Please read more about our academic writers, authors, and advisors below.

summit k12 academic writers

Meet The Dynamic Science Team

Summit K12’s groundbreaking Adoption Science Curriculum is designed to revolutionize the way Science is taught in Texas. Stop by our Dynamic Science page to learn more and request a digital trial.

Click the Button to Download the Brochure Below

Science curriculum 2024 Texas state adoption resources

Meet The Dynamic Science Team

Curricula Designed to Standards, Not Just Aligned

Rigorous, standards-aligned curricula have a significant impact on student performance. To ensure our curricula, programs, and content meet the highest standard of quality and support educators in their work to ensure success for all students, we partner with leading educators, authors, and researchers to develop our materials.

Meet Our Award-Winning C2L Authors & Advisors

Editors

Peggy Altoff

Program Author, Social Studies

Peggy Altoff is a past president of NCSS and also recently served as a member of the NCSS Standards Revision Task Force. She is currently the Social Studies Coordinator for Colorado Springs District 11.

Kate Boehm Jerome

Program Author, Science

Kate Boehm Jerome has authored more than 80 science books for children. Her programs have earned three NSTA/CBC Outstanding Science Trade Books Awards and a Teacher’s Choice Award.

Patty Harrison

Program Advisor, Science

Patty is an educational consultant, science coach and editor with over 25 years teaching experience in high school and university chemistry and biology as well as middle school science. She has served as a district coordinator, written and designed science curricula, and prepared and delivered differentiated seminars.

Mary Hawley

Program Author, Instructional Design

A former classroom teacher, Mary Hawley has more than twenty years of experience developing successful K-12 products in language development, literacy, and the content areas.

Sandra Luera

Program Advisor and Author, Science

A retired teacher, Sandra Luera has 35 years of experience teaching hundreds of students that all inspired her in different ways. Luera is a graduate of UTPA with a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education, a minor in Mathematics, and a Bilingual Certification.

Karen Peratt

Program Advisor, Connect to Literacy and Reading

Karen Peratt's career has focused on educational publishing and training, both in the US and overseas, including Time-Life Tokyo, Macmillan New York, and Bank of America. She has a master's degree in Applied Linguistics and has studied at American University of Cairo and Chinese University of Hong Kong.

Authors

Sandra Beauchamp

Program Author, Connect to Literacy

Sandra Beauchamp has been an educator for the past 21 years, and has taught in Michigan, Florida, Utah, and Texas. Beauchamp has taught grades second through fifth, and has been teaching ESL for the past five years.

Brian Cantrell

Program Author, Connect to Literacy

Brian Cantrell has worked in elementary to adult education for 21 years. His love for adventure and cultural experiences took him to South Korea, where he lived and taught for over three years. Cantrell currently teaches ESL in an elementary school.

Audry Elizondo

Program Author, Science

Audry Zelene Elizondo-Reyna has taught middle school science in PSJA ISD for 13 years. During this time she has worked as a teacher, collaborative learning leader, instructional coach, and lead curriculum writer.

Susan Galvan

Program Author, Science

Susan Galvan is currently a science consultant in Texas. She previously worked as a Science Curriculum Specialist and high school science teacher with Brownsville ISD in Texas for a combined thirty years.

Janie Leal

Program Author, Science

Janie Leal graduated with a bachelor's degree in Biology and Health Education, a Master's degree in Education with an emphasis in Science, and has been an educator for 21 years. She is currently an 8th grade Science teacher and Science department lead.

Guadalupe Lopez

Program Author, Connect to Literacy and Reading

Guadalupe Lopez is an ESL teacher with decades of experience as a writer of educational materials, supporting learners of English, English language arts, and Spanish as a world language.

Annette Johns Lubbe

Program Author, Connect to Literacy and Reading

Annette Johns Lubbe graduated from California State University, Bakersfield with a degree in Liberal Arts and later received a masters in Curriculum and Instruction. She has taught for 27 years in California and Texas. For the past 13 years, she has been an ESL educator supporting EL students.

Gail Sones

Program Author, Science

Gail Sones’s teaching career includes serving students in middle school science, high school Biology, and Marine Science classes. As a national educational consultant, she has created and delivered professional development as well as coached in-service teachers to facilitate best practices.

Shagit Thakkar

Program Author, Science

Shagit Thakkar has more than fifteen years of experience in digital content development in K-12 Science and Math. He is passionate about impacting student learning and developing robust content for the end user. He received his B.A. in Biochemistry at Baylor University.

Advisors

Scott Baker, Ph.D.

Scott K. Baker is the Associate Director of the Center on Teaching and Learning at the University of Oregon and the Director of Pacific Institutes for Research in Eugene, Oregon. His research interests include students with learning disabilities, instruction and assessment with English language learners, and translating research to practice.

Betty Ansin Smallwood, Ph.D.

Betty Ansin Smallwood manages Professional Services at the Center for Applied Linguistics in Washington, DC., where she oversees and delivers professional development and technical assistance projects for educators of ELLs nationwide.

Carla C. Johnson, Ed.D.

Carla C. Johnson is a past president of the National Middle Level Science Teacher’s Association and a former NSTA Council Member. She is currently an associate professor of science education and Director of the Furthering Urban STEMM Innovation, Outreach and New Research (FUSION) Center at the University of Cincinnati.

Gail L. Thompson, Ph.D.

Gail L. Thompson is a professor of education at Claremont Graduate University and has appeared on National Public Radio and PBS television’s Tony Brown’s Journal. Her publications include Through Ebony Eyes: What Teachers Need to Know but are Afraid to Ask About African American Students.

Margit McGuire, Ph.D.

Margit McGuire is a past president of NCSS and former member of its Board of Directors. She currently serves as Director of Teacher Education in the Master in Teaching program at Seattle University. Her expertise includes curriculum development and social studies education.

Emma Violand-Sánchez, Ed.D.

Emma Violand-Sánchez retired as Supervisor of the Arlington Public Schools (VA) English for Speakers of Other Languages/ High Intensity Language Training Office. During her time in Arlington, Dr. Violand-Sánchez led the development and implementation of a comprehensive program for ELLs that is now cited as a national model.

Donna Ogle, Ed.D.

Donna Ogle is a professor in the Reading and Language Department of the National Louis University. Her primary areas of interest are reading strategies and the process of instructional change in schools. The K-W-L strategy that she developed is widely used across North America

What Educators are Saying about Summit K12

Thank you for your wonderful training and tailor made approach to our training. Excellent hands-on training. You all are a great team. ~ Director, Edcouch-Elsa ISD (TX)

The Summit K12 personnel are amazing. They are highly motivated and a phone call away, ready to answer any question. ~ ESL Specialist, McAdams/Kranz J.H., Dickinson ISD (TX)