Meet the Professional Learning Team

Our Experienced CPM Math Teachers Provide Quality Learning Events

PL Administrative Staff

Sharon Rendon

Director of Professional Learning

Sharon Rendon - Director of Professional Learning

Sharon Rendon is the Director of Professional Learning for CPM Educational Program. She currently lives in South Dakota. During her teaching career, she has taught both middle and high school courses along with college courses for practicing teachers. In addition, she has served as a math coordinator for a large district and serves on the board of directors for NCSM, Leadership in Math Education.

Misty Nikula

Professional Learning Program Manager

Misty Nikula - Professional Learning Program Manager

Misty Nikula is the Professional Learning Project Manager and lives in Oregon. Misty has taught and/or worked as a writer/editor on all of the Core Connections series courses. She was a middle school math and science teacher for 15 years before joining CPM full time in 2014. When not working, Misty likes to be creative, watch sports, and explore the world.

Regional Professional Learning Coordinators

Mícheál Marsh

RPLC - California

Mícheál Marsh - RPLC - California

Mícheál Marsh is the Regional Professional Learning Coordinator for California. During his teaching career, he taught CPM’s Math 1–3 series, Geometry Connections, Core Connections Geometry, and Core Connections Course 3. Mícheál has taught from CPM since 1993 and was one of the writers/editors of the Second Edition Math 1 (Algebra I) course book. He has been supporting CPM teachers since 1994.

Jenni White

RPLC – Northwest

Jenni White - RPLC - Northwest

Jenni White is the Regional Professional Learning Coordinator for the Northwest region. She has taught at the high school level, with Core Connections Algebra, Core Connections Geometry, Core Connections Algebra 2, Core Connections Integrated II, Core Connections Integrated III, and Statistics. In addition, Jenni has also served as a department head and teacher researcher.

Sara Thompson

RPLC – Southwest & Great Lakes

Sara Thompson - RPLC - Southwest & Great Lakes

Sara Thompson is the Regional Professional Learning Coordinator for the Southwest Region and lives in Arizona. During her 21 years in the middle school classroom in both Wisconsin and Arizona, Sara taught Core Connections Course 3, Core Connections Algebra, and Core Connections Geometry. In addition, she has served as a Math Coach and Interventionist.

Lisa Comfort

RPLC – Great Plains

Lisa Comfort - RPLC - Great Plains

Lisa Comfort is the Regional Professional Learning Coordinator for the Great Plains Region and lives in Minnesota. She began teaching CPM in 1994 using CPM’s Math 1–3 series. During Lisa’s teaching career, she also taught the Connections and Core Connections series to students in a variety of educational settings including public, private, charter, and contract alternative schools.

Gerry Long

RPLC – Southeast, Pilot Liaison

Gerry Long - RPLC - Southeast, Pilot Liaison

Gerry Long is Pilot Liaison for all regions and the Regional Professional Learning Coordinator for the Southeast Region. She currently resides in Mississippi. During her 27-year teaching career, she taught middle and high school math courses, including the Core Connections Algebra 2 course. Before her current role as RPLC, Gerry served as a teacher leader, math coach, and regional coordinator for CPM. Gerry enjoys spending time with family and friends at Mississippi State sporting events.

Jocelyn Dunnack

RPLC – Northeast

Jocelyn Dunnack - RPLC - Northeast

Jocelyn Dunnack is the Regional Professional Learning Coordinator for the Northeast Region. She currently resides in Connecticut. During her teaching career, she has taught Core Connections Courses 1–3. In addition, Jocelyn has worked with children through summer camp for many years.

Contact Your Regional Professional Learning Coordinator (RPLC)

View the map to locate your region’s professional learning coordinator.

CALIFORNIA, Region 1 – Mícheál Marsh

NORTHWEST, Region 2 – Jenni White

SOUTHWEST, Region 3 – Sara Thompson

GREAT PLAINS, Region 4 – Lisa Comfort

GREAT LAKES, Region 5 – Sara Thompson

SOUTHEAST, Region 6 – Gerry Long

NORTHEAST, Region 7 – Jocelyn Dunnack

INTERNATIONAL IMPLEMENTATION MENTOR – Susan Hoffmier

Adam Varnes

Professional Learning Specialist

Adam Varnes - Professional Learning Specialist

Adam is a Professional Learning Specialist from Southern California. He spent seven years teaching high school mathematics. During his teaching career, he taught Core Connections Algebra and Integrated 1–3. He enjoys spending time with his wife and three children.

Ashley Boyd

Professional Learning Specialist

Ashley Boyd - Professional Learning Specialist

Ashley Boyd is a Professional Learning Specialist from Mississippi, part of the Southeast Region. She started her career as an elementary teacher before moving to middle school, where she developed a love (and understanding) for mathematics. During her time in the classroom, she taught Core Connections Courses 1–3. She has been part of the CPM Professional Learning team since 2020.

Astrida Lizins

Professional Learning Specialist

Astrida Lizins - Professional Learning Specialist

Astrida Lizins is a Professional Learning Specialist from Pennsylvania in the Northeast Region. She has taught 7th grade, 8th grade, Algebra, Geometry, Algebra 2, Precalculus, and Statistics using CPM. Astrida has been supporting CPM teachers since 2003.

Brent McClain

Professional Learning Faculty

Brent McClain - Professional Learning Faculty

Brent McClain is a Professional Learning Faculty member from Oregon, in the northwest region. He has taught all levels of 7th grade through community college in his 34 years in education. He has taught the CPM courses of Algebra, Geometry, Algebra 2, Core Connections Integrated I and II, and Calculus. Brent was the 1996 PAEMST Awardee for Oregon and has been supporting CPM teachers since 2016.

Bri Ruiz

Professional Learning Specialist

Bri Ruiz - Professional Learning Specialist

Brianna Ruiz is a Professional Learning Specialist from California. During her teaching career, she has taught Core Connections Integrated I and Calculus. She enjoys cooking, spending time with her family, and being outdoors.

Bridget Gunn

Professional Learning Specialist

Bridget Gunn - Professional Learning Specialist

Bridget Gunn is a Professional Learning Specialist from California. During her teaching career, she taught Core Connections Courses 2 and 3 in Washington state. She joined CPM in 2023 after her move to California. Bridget enjoys hiking, backcountry skiing, and spending time with her husband and cats.

Cheryl Tucker

Implementation Support Specialist

Cheryl Tucker - Implementation Support Specialist

Cheryl Tucker is an Implementation Support Specialist from Minnesota in the Great Plains Region. She began teaching CPM using the Math 1–3 series. She also taught the Connections and Core Connections series to students in a variety of educational settings. Her work with CPM includes supporting teachers as a Teacher Leader for Implementation and as a coach, both in-person and virtually.

Chris Haley

Professional Learning Faculty

Chris Haley - Professional Learning Faculty

Chris Haley is a member of the Professional Learning faculty from Boise, Idaho, part of the Northwest Region. Chris retired in 2022 after teaching Junior High mathematics for 36 years, 34 of those at the same school. During this time, Chris taught Integrated 1 and Integrated 2. She also served as the math department chair and as a mentor for new teachers.

Christine Mitchell

Middle School Classroom Teacher

Christine Mitchell - Middle School Classroom Teacher

Christine Mitchell is a Middle School Classroom Teacher from California who also serves as a Classroom Teacher Specialist. During her teaching career, she has worked with Foundations to Algebra Course 1, Core Connections Course 1, and Inspiring Connections Course 1. She has taught students of varying abilities through collaboration, intervention, and in regular education mathematics classrooms. In addition, she filled other roles in her district including Middle School Instructional Coach and Math Department Chair.

Danielle Boggs

Professional Learning Specialist

Danielle Boggs - Professional Learning Specialist

Danielle Boggs is a Professional Learning Specialist from Illinois, in the Great Lakes Region. She has been with CPM since 2020 and has taught Core Connections Course 2, Core Connections Course 3, and Core Connections Algebra for 7th and 8th grade. She is also a National Board Certified Teacher and served as a Coordinator of Teaching & Learning for 6th through 12th grade in her former district. She has been supporting CPM teachers since 2012. She is a great resource regarding middle school, SBG, or utilizing CPM with AVID.

Erin Kenney

Professional Learning Faculty

Erin Kenney - Professional Learning Faculty

Erin Kenney is a member of the Professional Learning Faculty from Kentucky and teaches math for Jefferson County Public Schools. She teaches students with learning and behavioral disabilities in both resource and co-teaching settings. She has taught Core Connections Algebra for many years and has more recently started teaching Core Connections Geometry and Core Connections Algebra 2. She is a National Board Certified Teacher as an Exceptional Needs Specialist.

Erin Schneider

Implementation Support Specialist

Erin Schneider - Implementation Support Specialist

Erin Schneider is an Implementation Support Specialist from Louisville, KY. During her 31-year teaching career with Jefferson County Public Schools, Erin has taught Algebra, Geometry, and Algebra 2 from both CPM’s Connections Series and Core Connections High School series. Erin was directly involved in the JCPS implementation of CPM as a district resource teacher before returning to the classroom. She previously served as a CPM teacher leader and regional coordinator for KY. Erin is a 2017 PAEMST Awardee and a member of CPAM, NCSM, NCTM, and its local affiliates.

Jamie Bernath

Middle School Math Teacher

Jamie Bernath - Middle School Math Teacher

Jamie Bernath teaches middle school math in Wisconsin. Throughout the years, she has taught Core Connections Course 1, Core Connections Course 2, Making Connections, and Inspirations & Ideas. She wears many hats as a math coach, 7th grade math teacher, and 7th and 8th grade math interventionist. She is very passionate about inspiring all students to love math!

Jeremiah Morgan

Professional Learning Faculty

Jeremiah Morgan - Professional Learning Faculty

Jeremiah Morgan lives in Minnesota, in the Great Plains Region. During his teaching career, he taught both Core Connections Algebra and Core Connections Course 3. Prior to this series, he used the Making Connections series for many years. Jeremiah was a science teacher before finding his love of teaching mathematics to middle school students.

Jessie Thiel

Professional Learning Specialist

Jessie Thiel - Professional Learning Specialist

Jessie Thiel is a Professional Learning Specialist from Wisconsin, in the Great Lakes Region. During her teaching career, she taught Core Connections Algebra, Geometry, and Algebra 2. In addition, her school roles included math interventionist and co-teacher for support of CPM curriculum and creation of STEM learning opportunities through FIRST Robotics (FRC Team 4786). Jessie enjoys sharing her love of mathematics and STEM with people of all ages.

Joel Miller

Professional Learning Specialist

Joel Miller - Professional Learning Specialist

Joel Miller is a Professional Learning Specialist from Salt Lake City, Utah in the Southwest Region. During his teaching career, he has taught the CPM high school curriculum Core Connections Algebra, Geometry, and Algebra 2, as well as Core Connections Integrated 1, 2, and 3. In addition, Joel has served as a Math Coach and Support Specialist.

John Hayes

Professional Learning Specialist

John Hayes - Professional Learning Specialist

John Hayes is a Professional Learning Specialist from Wisconsin. For eight years, he taught CPM at the high school level, teaching CPM courses Core Connections Course 3, Core Connections Algebra, Core Connections Algebra 2, Precalculus, and Calculus. John is a National Board Certified Master Educator and a 2015 PAEMST Awardee for the State of Wisconsin. He was also a contributing author on CPM’s Third Edition Calculus and Statistics.

Kathy Williams

Professional Learning Faculty

Kathy Williams - Professional Learning Faculty

Kathy Williams is a retired teacher from Kentucky, part of the Great Lakes region. During her teaching career, she worked with both the Connections and Core Connections series of middle school courses. She has taught students of varying abilities through collaboration, intervention, and in regular education mathematics classrooms in a large, urban district. In addition, she filled other leadership roles in her district. Kathy enjoys spending time with her husband, sons, and grandchildren, as well as her two cats.

Laila Nur

Professional Learning Faculty

Laila Nur - Professional Learning Faculty

Laila Nur is a member of the Professional Learning Faculty from Detroit, Michigan and currently residing in California. During her teaching career, she has taught Core Connections Geometry, Core Connections Algebra 2, and Core Connections Course 2 and 3 at the 7th grade level. In addition, she is a Mastery Learning & Grading Coach for the Los Angeles Unified School District.

Laura Bain

Professional Learning Specialist

Laura Bain - Professional Learning Specialist

Laura Bain is a Professional Learning Specialist in the Great Plains Region. During her teaching career, she has taught Core Connections Course 1, Core Connections Algebra, and Core Connections Geometry. In addition, Laura has been supporting CPM teachers since 2015.

Lisa Amick

Professional Learning Faculty

Lisa Amick - Professional Learning Faculty

Lisa Amick has been with CPM since 2015, and is faculty on both the Professional Learning and Research teams. She resides in Kentucky where she serves as an Associate Professor in the STEM Education Department at the University of Kentucky. During her ten years in the K–12 classroom, she taught Core Connections Course 1 and 2 at the 6th grade level. Lisa is passionate about best practice teaching strategies being utilized in mathematics classrooms, especially in intervention courses.

Madison Schafer

Classroom Teacher Specialist

Madison Schafer - Classroom Teacher Specialist

Madison Schafer is a 7th grade math and ELA teacher from Columbus, Ohio who currently serves as a Classroom Teacher Specialist. During her teaching career, she has worked with Core Connections Courses 2 and 3, as well as Inspiring Connections Course 2 when she served as an IC2 field test teacher. She is passionate about seeing students grow into both better people and stronger mathematicians.

Marcus Blakeney

Professional Learning Faculty

Marcus Blakeney - Professional Learning Faculty

Marcus Blakeney is a member of CPM’s Professional Learning Faculty and a high school math teacher from Louisville, Kentucky, part of the Great Plains region. He currently teaches Core Connections Algebra 2 and AP Statistics (using the CPM Statistics curriculum). Previously, he taught Core Connections Algebra and Geometry. He is a National Board Certified Teacher as of December 2019 and has been supporting CPM teachers since 2016.

Marjorie Kucich

Classroom Teacher Specialist

Marjorie Kucich - Classroom Teacher Specialist

Marjorie Kucich has been teaching for 30 years in Chico, California. During this time, she has taught grades 6 through 8, using many different versions of CPM. Inspiring Connections is by far her favorite version of the CPM curriculum. She joined the CPM family in the summer of 2023 to help support this new curriculum as a Classroom Teacher Specialist.

Mark Jones

Professional Learning Faculty

Mark Jones - Professional Learning Faculty

Mark Jones is a recently retired classroom teacher from Connecticut. He serves as a member of CPM’s Professional Learning Faculty. During his teaching career, Mark worked with Core Connections Course 2, Course 3, and Algebra. In addition, Mark was a Math Curriculum Leader in his district.

Nicole Goerges

Implementation Support Specialist

Nicole Goerges - Implementation Support Specialist

Nicole Goerges is an Implementation Support Specialist from Victoria, Minnesota. During her teaching career, she taught for 12 years at the middle school level, teaching CPM courses Core Connections Course 2, Course 3, and Algebra. Nicole has a passion for math education, equity, and inclusion, and she has been supporting CPM teachers since 2012.

Pam Chavez

Professional Learning Faculty

Pam Chavez - Professional Learning Faculty

Pam Chavez is a member of the Professional Learning Faculty from Colorado, in the Southwest Region. During her 29 years in the junior high school classroom in Colorado, Pam taught Algebra Connections and Making Connections. In addition, she also served as a Math Coach and Interventionist.

Pam Lindemer

Professional Learning Specialist

Pam Lindemer - Professional Learning Specialist

Pam Lindemer is a Professional Learning Specialist from Michigan, in the Great Lakes Region. During her teaching career, she taught Core Connections Algebra, Core Connections Geometry, Core Connections Algebra 2, and Statistics. Pam also served as an AP Statistics Reader for six years. She enjoys spending time with family and being outdoors.

Rhonda Pierre

Professional Learning Specialist

Rhonda Pierre - Professional Learning Specialist

Rhonda Pierre is a Professional Learning Specialist from Indiana, part of the Great Lakes Region. During her teaching career, she taught both middle school and high school. She has taught Core Connections Algebra and Algebra 2.

Rob Last

Professional Learning Faculty

Rob Last - Professional Learning Faculty

Rob Last is a member of the Professional Learning Faculty and currently a high school math teacher from Wisconsin, in the Great Lakes Region. He is in his 10th year of teaching. During his teaching career he has taught Core Connections Algebra, Core Connections Geometry, and Precalculus Third Edition. Rob is an avid consumer of coffee and his favorite destination is Aldi.

Sara McKittrick

Classroom Teacher Specialist

Sara McKittrick - Classroom Teacher Specialist

Sara McKittrick is an educator in the state of Wisconsin while also being a member of the Professional Learning Team as a Classroom Teacher Specialist for CPM Educational Program. During her career, Sara has been a teacher of Core Connections 1 and 2 and Inspiring Connections 2 and 3. She feels honored to work with and challenge all students in all settings. In addition to her role as a teacher, Sara has worked as an Instructional Coach. Connecting with others, and inspiring them to see themselves as learners and mathematicians, is something that Sara is passionate about.

Susan Hoffmier

Professional Learning Faculty

Susan Hoffmier - Professional Learning Faculty

Susan Hoffmier is a member of the Professional Learning Faculty and also provides support for international schools. She began teaching CPM in 1991 at a public California middle school and spent her last two professional years teaching CPM at Hong Kong International School. During her 37 years of teaching, she has taught all three generations of CPM from Math 1, Making Connections, and Core Connections for 6th grade through 8th grade Geometry.

Theresa Reilly

Professional Learning Faculty

Theresa Reilly - Professional Learning Faculty

Theresa Reilly is a member of the Professional Learning Faculty from Kentucky, in the Great Lakes region. During her teaching career, she taught Core Connections Course 3, Algebra, and Geometry. In addition to working with teachers, she enjoys taking nature walks.

Victoria Holt

Professional Learning Faculty

Victoria Holt - Professional Learning Faculty

Victoria Holt is a member of the Professional Learning Faculty from Ohio in the Great Lakes Region. She currently is a Math & Science Instructional Specialist for grades 6–12 in her school district. Victoria entered this role with 13 years of classroom experience. During her time in the classroom, she has taught 7th grade, 8th grade, and Algebra 1 using the Core Connections series. Victoria has a passion for teaching and has been supporting CPM teachers since 2015.

Zac Spencer

Classroom Teacher Specialist

Zac Spencer - Classroom Teacher Specialist

Zac Spencer is a Classroom Teacher Specialist and high school math teacher from Michigan, part of the Great Lakes Region. He is in his 12th year of teaching. During his teaching career, he has taught Integrated Math 1, Integrated Math 2, Integrated Math 3, and AP Calculus AB. Zac enjoys spending as much time as possible with his wife and three children.

Meet Our Support Staff

Anna Poehlmann

Professional Development Manager, Event Planning Coordinator

Anna Poehlmann - Professional Development Manager, Event Planning Coordinator

Anna Poehlmann is the Administrative Assistant/Event Coordinator from California. Previously, she worked in the technology department and helped implement CPM’s eBooks. She currently still helps out with the eBooks and also supports the Professional Learning team.

Rebecca Meeker

Administrative Assistant to the Director of Professional Learning

Rebecca Meeker - Administrative Assistant to the Director of Professional Learning

Rebecca Meeker is the Administrative Assistant from Tennessee. She has coached swimming for 15 years.