Dr. Barbara R. Blackburn, a Top 30 Global Guru in Education, is the bestselling author of over 30 books and is a sought-after national and international consultant. She was an award-winning professor at Winthrop University and has taught early childhood, elementary, middle, and high school students. Melissa Miles is a middle school language arts teacher. Previously, she was Director of Educational Resources at a school in North Carolina. She has 25 years of classroom teaching experience. She is also twice credentialed as a National Board-Certified teacher, works as a SpringBoard Curriculum consultant to College Board, and is a certified member of the site visitation team for the Schools to Watch award.