Rich is the Cornelius Vanderbilt Distinguished Professor of Education and Professor of Education in the Department of Teaching, and Learning at Peabody College of Vanderbilt University. Dr. Milner's research examines practices and policies that support teacher effectiveness in uran schools. Professor Milner is President-Elect of the American Educational Research Association, the largest educational research organization in the world. Professor Milner's work has appeared in numerous journals, and he has published seven books. His most recent are: Start where you are but don't stay there: Understanding diversity, opportunity gaps, and teaching in today's classrooms (Harvard Education Press) and Rac(e)ing to class: Confronting poverty and race in schools and classrooms (Harvard Education Press)

Dr. Eric Toshalis is the author of the award winning book, Make Me! Understanding and Engaging Student Resistance in School (2015), and is co-author of the widely-used text, Understanding Youth: Adolescent Development for Educators (2006), both published by Harvard Education Press. He is the lead author and editor of the current " Detracking for Equity" series at KnowledgeWorks.org, and is the lead author of the "Motivation, Engagement and Student Voice" white paper and its series linked professional development curricula at STudentsAtTheCenterHub.com. Dr. Toshalis now serves as Senior Director of Strategic Initiatives at KnowledgeWorks where he has lead the Student-Centered Learning Research Collaborative, the REMIQS project, and the Students at the Center Distinguished Fellowship.