Meet the IU13 PLA Team
The IU13 PLA team values each district’s individuality, and through the Personalized Learning Academy, the PLA team walks alongside districts on their journey toward developing a vision and action plan on how to best meet the needs of their learners. Each of our team members is a professional educator bringing extensive classroom experience, content-area knowledge, and personalized learning expertise to support you. Meet our team:
Dr. Lauren Beal
Lauren believes that all learners deserve quality STEM opportunities. Lauren has taught middle school and high school science in both urban and rural settings, served as a High School Assistant Principal, an IU consultant, and most recently the Supervisor for Curriculum and Instruction at IU13. In her current position, she advocates for both teachers and students by developing and facilitating a variety of professional learning opportunities, supporting curriculum development and revisions, STEM auditing, instructional coaching, student STEM competitions, and creating connections between educators and industry professionals. Lauren holds a M.S. degree in Geology and Astronomy from West Chester University and an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership and Change from Drexel University. She serves on the board of the Pennsylvania Science Teachers Association (PSTA) and was selected as a Pennsylvania STEM Ambassador. Lauren is an avid runner and enjoys the outdoors, reading, and spending time with family.
Dr. Jennifer Bean
Jen has the pleasure of working at IU13 as both a literacy consultant and ELD coordinator. During her educational tenure, Jen has worked in various school-based positions. She has taught at the elementary, middle and high school levels. She has served as a reading specialist, literacy coach and district reading coordinator in both rural and suburban settings. Currently, she enjoys collaborating with teachers and literacy leaders while consulting on literacy and ELD-related topics. Jen is participating as a member of the PA Text Dependent Analysis Cadre and has served on the PA State English Learner Advisory Board. Jen holds a B.S. in Elementary Education from Plattsburgh State University, a M.S. in Reading from Albany State University, and an Ed.D. in School Leadership from Immaculata University. She also holds Elementary, Reading Specialist, and Principal Certifications. In her free time, Jen enjoys spending time with her husband working on home projects and watching her daughter in her athletic adventures.
Kristina Fulton
As a teaching and learning consultant new to IU13, Kristina brings 16 years of experience as a high school mathematics teacher. She also brings instructional coaching and teaching experiences from central Virginia. She is particularly interested in research-based strategies to increase student engagement and thinking in the mathematics classroom. Before joining IU13, Kristina worked collaboratively to develop two new computer science courses and taught one of those courses. She is passionate about making computer science accessible to all students. Kristina holds a B.S. in Mathematics with a concentration in Secondary Education from Shippensburg University, a M.Ed. in Curriculum & Instruction from the University of Virginia, and is close to completing an Ed.S. in Curriculum & Instruction and Instructional Technology at the University of Virginia. She is a National Board Certified Teacher and holds a K-12 Curriculum and Instruction Supervisory Certificate as well as a Mathematics Instructional Coach Certificate. She is a SCRIPT Facilitator, K-8 Pathway Facilitator, and CMU CS Academy Trainer. She serves as a leader for the Susquehanna Valley chapter of Computer Science Teachers Association (CSTA) and the board of Pennsylvania Council of Teachers of Mathematics. In her free time, Kristina enjoys spending time with her family, reading, running marathons, and crafting.
Dr. Kelly Galbraith
As the Program Director of the Teaching and Learning Collaborative, Kelly is fortunate to lead the extraordinary team of experts at IU13 who support educational professionals in various initiatives related to curriculum, instruction, and assessment. Over the course of her 21-year career in public education, Kelly has served in progressive roles including high school English teacher, reading specialist, literacy coach, high school assistant principal, and IU13 supervisor of literacy. Kelly holds a B.A. in English Education from Ithaca College, a M.Ed. in Teaching and Curriculum from The Pennsylvania State University, an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership from Immaculata University, K-12 Reading Specialist and Principal certifications, and a Superintendent Letter of Eligibility. Kelly has earned Pennsylvania Learning Forward’s Professional Developer of the Year Award, and she is a nationally certified Literacy Design Collaborative (LDC) coach. Kelly’s work at the state level has included serving as the regional lead for educator effectiveness, the LDC state lead for the Keystones to Opportunity Grant, and the PA Department of Education’s Career Ready Region 9 Liaison.
Rachael Haverstick
As an elementary consultant with IU13, Rachael supports educators in learning and implementing innovative and research-based instructional practices to address the diverse needs of the students they serve. Prior to joining IU13 in 2016, Rachael worked as an elementary classroom teacher, reading specialist, and instructional coach in both urban and suburban schools. In addition to working with elementary educators, she also supports computer science, Classroom Diagnostic Tools (CDTs), Teacher in the Workplace, rotational model, implementing instructional technologies, and curriculum development. Rachael holds a B.S. in Elementary Education from West Chester University, a M.S. in Educational Leadership and K-12 Principal Certificate from University of Scranton, and certification as a Reading Specialist. Rachael is currently pursuing her Instructional Technology Specialist Certificate at Drexel University; she is an Apple Teacher & Trainer, CMU CS Academy Trainer, Google CS First Facilitator, LETRS Classic Facilitator, and BrainPop Certified Educator. Outside of work she enjoys traveling, cycling, and trying new cuisines with her husband and their three daughters.
Tim Leister
Since joining IU13 in 2021, Tim serves as an Instructional Technology Specialist while facilitating the IU’s Instructional Media Services (IMS) program. Prior to joining the Instructional Technology team at IU13, Tim was the Instructional Technology Coach and Coordinator at Eastern Lancaster County School District for 13 years after being in the high school science classroom for over 10 years. Tim has many years of experience facilitating a wide variety of face-to-face, blended and virtual professional development sessions. He was a member of the district teams that initiated the district’s virtual online academy, implemented their 1:1 student computer program, the PA Hybrid Learning Institute initiative, and the move towards a personalized learning program. Tim graduated from the Pennsylvania State University with B.S. in both Secondary Science Education and Earth Sciences. He earned his M.Ed. from Penn State University in Instructional Systems, with an emphasis in Leadership in Technology Integration. He later earned a certification in eLearning which has fostered his interest in the development of quality online learning experiences. Outside of work, Tim enjoys time with his wife and daughters. He searches out every possible opportunity to be outdoors and play golf.
Keith Royer
Keith joined the Instructional Technology team at IU13 in 2021. Prior to joining IU13, Keith spent 14 years as a classroom teacher in Manheim Township and Donegal School Districts, followed by 6 years as a K-12 Academic and Technology Integration Coach at Annville-Cleona School District. He now serves as an Instructional Technology Specialist coordinating the Instructional Media Services (IMS) and providing professional learning and consultation services in the use of instructional technologies, eSports, and blended/hybrid/1:1/personalized learning strategies. Keith graduated from Millersville University with a BSed in Early Childhood and Elementary Education and completed his MSed in Learning Technologies and Media Systems (LTMS) and Instructional Technology Specialist Certification at Harrisburg University.
Nicole Wilkinson
Nicole recently joined our team as a Teaching and Learning Consultant in STEM. She has over 12 years of classroom experience in middle and high school classrooms teaching a full range of science topics. While in the classroom, Nicole won her district’s Innovative Teacher of the Year award by creatively engaging students in science and technology. In her current position, she advocates for both teachers and students by developing and facilitating a variety of STEM professional learning opportunities, supporting science curriculum development, instructional coaching, and creating connections between educators and industry professionals. Nicole is a Level 2 Google Certified Educator. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry and General Science Education, and Master of Science in STEM Education, and is currently pursuing a Supervisory Certificate in Curriculum and Instruction. In her free time, she loves spending time with her husband doing remodeling projects and watching her children swim.
Ken Zimmerman
Ken joined the IU13 Instructional Technology team in 2013 as an Instructional Technology Specialist coordinating the Instructional Media Services (IMS) program after serving as a HS Spanish Teacher, World Languages Department Facilitator, and Technology Integration Coach in a local district. Ken now serves as the Associate Program Director of Educational Technology & Innovation, providing professional learning and consultation services in the use of instructional technologies and blended/online/hybrid/personalized learning strategies. Ken graduated from Millersville University with a BSed in Spanish Education with certification PK-12. He completed his MSed in Curriculum and Instruction with a Focus in Technology at Capella University. He received his Instructional Technology Specialist Certification at Harrisburg University and his PK-12 Principal Certification at Penn State University. Ken is a Schoology Ambassador, Apple Teacher/Trainer, Discovery Education Network Star/Ambassador, ISTE Community Leader, and a BrainPOP Certified Educator. Ken is currently on COSN’s Driving K12 Innovation Advisory Board and serves as President for the PA Instructional Media Services (PAIMS) via the Pennsylvania Association of Intermediate Units (PAIU), and President of the PA Educational Technology Conference & Expo (PETE&C).
