Communications Development Institute

About Us

CDI came into being as a result of requests from school districts who were successful using our SchoolMessenger notification product, but needed help understanding how best to leverage the service. Those districts also wanted to make sure that usage guidelines were being consistently applied throughout the district. Participants have confirmed that experience-based guidelines and insight on these larger scope issues are what make the difference between just fulfilling a task and achieving success.

CDI facilitators and workshop leaders include former school administrators, professional development specialists and communications experts with decades of combined experience. The information they bring to CDI workshop participants is at once analytical and practical, both strategic and tactical. The success and efficacy of the content has been proven over their long experience and in many disparate school districts and environments.

Featured Professional Development Specialists

Amy Spence

Professional Development Specialist

Amy Spence has been an active training specialist for some of the nation's leading companies. She graduated summa cum laude from Baylor University with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing-Management. She also minored in Information Systems. Ms. Spence has served in a wide variety of industries and has gained key experience in the implementation of technology and policy. Since 2001 she has been focused specifically on the education industry. Her work in the education industry has given her a great understanding of the needs of educators and administrators. With two sons in college and one in high school she also has a personal understanding of the importance of good communication between school and home.

Ms. Spence is a highly rated trainer, and is committed to success in all instructional settings.

Dr. Gary Stebbins

Professor, San Jose State University

Dr. Stebbins received his doctorate from the Fielding Institute where his research was focused on school leadership and the important skills needed by building principals. He also holds master's degrees from San Jose State University in School Administration and the College of Notre Dame in Outdoor Education. Dr. Stebbins received his Bachelor's of Science from Humboldt State, where three of his grown children are also graduates. Dr. Stebbins has served as a principal and teacher, where he was recognized for creating an environment that supports the emotional, social and academic development of his students and staff. A creative and nurturing philosophy of connections has been a theme in all of Dr. Stebbins' instructional settings.

Dr. Stebbins is a Professor at San Jose State University with over 34 years experience as an educator and administrator.

Herb Kranze

Educator

Herb Kranze has a unique blend of experience in the instructional area of education, the administrative area of education and the business world. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Education with a major in History, as well as a Master of Education in Reading - both from the University of Missouri in St. Louis. Mr. Kranze has served as a teacher, curriculum coordinator and trainer at various schools and companies in Missouri. Throughout his career his consistent ability to teach and train has been crucial to his success in education.

Mr. Kranze's experience in staff development makes him a key trainer who understands the need for successful implementation of any initiative.

Dr. James Monk

Retired Superintendent, Educational Consultant

Having completed a twenty three year career in public education, the last seventeen as a Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Monk has a rich and varying background to share with his audience. A Fulbright Scholar, at age 45 he left the Superintendency and joined Apple Computer Corporation as a technology consultant for eight years providing innovative leadership advice to schools throughout New England . Later he worked with several leading educational software companies fostering improved usage of technology to enhance instructional programs in classrooms nationwide. More recently Dr. Monk spent two years at Dell Computer Corporation providing technical expertise to schools in the northeast. Dr. Monk also speaks at seminars nationwide about safe schools.

In 2000, Dr. Monk assumed the role of Senior Director of Security Consulting for SafeSchool Solutions, a nationwide school security firm providing expertise to schools nationwide in the areas of safety and security.

Kim M. Sanders

Professional Development Specialist

Kim M. Sanders is a professional development specialist, educational consultant, writer, and counselor with nearly 25 years experience building the capacity of educators across the country. Ms. Sanders has impacted over 4,000 teachers of grades Pre-K to Adult Ed in developing instructional strategies and programs that enhance student achievement, parental and community involvement, and professional empowerment for teachers. She has masters degrees in both counseling and education and uses her communication and facilitation skills to present workshops that contain real-world experiences and practical application. Kim's interactive, hands-on presentations display her talent, enthusiasm, and passion for training.

Sandy Ballard

Curriculum and Professional Development Director

Sandy Ballard has worked in education for more than 30 years as a teacher, mental health counselor, psychometrician, curriculum designer, and national educational consultant for Optical Data Corporation and SRA/McGraw-Hill. Currently, as Curriculum and Professional Development Director, she provides consultation and staff development services for the K-12 educational market in the mid-Atlantic region.

Ms. Ballard holds a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education from the College of William and Mary and a Master of Arts in Education from the University of Mississippi. She is Co-Founder of West End Media, Inc., three-time winner of the "Outstanding Vendor Supporting Quality Education" Award.