Be Future Ready

Denise Pontrelli has dedicated her life to bettering educational opportunities for all students. She is a veteran educator and before joining SitelogIQ as Learning, Innovation and Design Director, served in the role of Superintendent for the Stillwater Area Public Schools. She has over three decades of leadership experience as a Superintendent, Assistant Superintendent, Principal, Coordinator for Curriculum, Professional Development, and Gifted Services, Classroom Teacher, and Coach.

Denise is a proven instructional leader who is focused on improving learning opportunities for all students. She has a passion for supporting organizations in the areas of learning and innovation, organizational development, adaptive strategic planning, creating equitable systems, human-centered design, community, business and faith-based partnerships, and leadership development.

A lifelong learner, Denise’s recent professional development includes collaboration on the HOPE (Helping Others Pursue Education) Webinar series, Human-Centered Design at Stanford Design School, and Storytelling for Influence through IDEO.

Dr. Lee Pritzl, former Superintendent and educator for over 28 years serves as Educational Strategist for School IQ. He holds a Doctorate of Organizational Leadership from Edgewood College. Lee is also certified in school safety as a Certified Protection Professional, or CPP.

His extensive work with school board development, advancing district leadership, and district strategic/visionary planning as President of Elevatedperformance4U provides a unique value when working with our client partners because Lee has effectively navigated a variety of issues and challenges during his career. Coupled with his successful school board development work, Dr. Pritzl coaches several superintendents and supports them through unprecedented times.

Dr. Sarena Shivers has been an educator for nearly 30 years. She has served as an Elementary Teacher, Elementary Assistant Principal, Elementary Principal, Director of Curriculum, Director of School Services, Transportation Director, Assistant Superintendent of Achievement, and spent five years as the Superintendent of Redford Union School District No. 1, in Southeast, Michigan. In July 2020, Dr. Shivers became the Deputy Executive Director for the state’s superintendent association, Michigan Association of Superintendents and Administrators.

Sarena received her bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Morgan State University, master’s in Administration and Supervision from Ball State University and Doctorate in Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis from Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana.

Dr. Shivers’ key areas of expertise and professional accomplishments are; curriculum and instruction, program development and alignment, program evaluation and opening innovative and award-winning secondary school programs (alternative high schools, early college, and honors programs). She has steep knowledge of teaching and learning and has led key initiatives in the areas of school change, adolescent literacy, writing, mathematics, STEM, cutting edge instructional technology (augmented reality and artificial intelligence) and school leadership. For over a decade, Dr. Shivers has led work regionally and across the state of Michigan in cultural relevancy, cultural proficiency, equity, social justice and diversity in education.

In addition, Dr. Shivers has been an external reviewer for AdvancED national accreditation institution, a national consultant for The College Board in their College Readiness Division, a “Data Teams” trainer, and trained to be a restorative practices facilitator. Finally, Dr. Shivers teachers doctoral level course work at Madonna University. She has also been a guest lecturer at Eastern Michigan University since 2005 teaching a pre-service teaching course on assessment/evaluation and currently a graduate level courses in culturally responsive teaching.

In September 2014, Dr. Shivers received the S.L. Roberson Community Leadership Award, the highest award the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office bestows on a civilian. She was chosen for the honor because of her work in helping to develop and train over 4,000 staff in active shooter/threat procedures known as A.L.I.C.E.

In 2017, Dr. Shivers taught in the professional learning series overseas at the University of Science and Technology in Beijing, China. Dr. Shivers currently serves as a regular contributor, partner and/or consultant for Hanover Research, The Futures Institute, The Flying Classroom, National Superintendent’s Advisory Council and HWC Executive Leadership Institute Leadership.

In 2018, Dr. Shivers received the Redford Community Foundation Service Award and in 2019, Dr. Shivers was named to Michigan’s Crain Notable Women in Educational Leadership. Sarena is the mother of four and currently resides in Ypsilanti, Michigan.

Prior to his career in education, Dr. Stephen Peters received a full scholarship and was a basketball star at Hampton University. Peters was inducted into the Colleton County Basketball Hall of Fame in January 2016 and continues to follow sports faithfully. Upon his graduation from Hampton, he went into teaching, and after demonstrating an ability to transform the classroom and school environment into one of success and achievement in even the most challenging circumstances, he rose up to become one of the most respected educators and school turnaround experts in the U.S. Equity, Diversity and Inclusion are at the forefront of his vast experiences in education and the non-profit world. Most of his experiences include working in underserved communities and providing opportunities for access and equity.

Stephen has been a Classroom Teacher, Assistant Principal, Principal, Director of Secondary Education, and Superintendent of Schools. He has served on panels as an education expert with former U.S. Secretary of Education, Dr. Rod Paige in Washington, D.C. He is also the author of several award winning and best-selling books including Do You Know Enough About Me to Teach Me and Teaching to Capture and Inspire all Learners.

Peters is the former Superintendent of Laurens County School District 55 (LCSD 55), Laurens SC. The county is an underrepresented community. During his four-year tenure as Superintendent, college scholarship funds received by graduating seniors increased by more than $14 million. LCSD 55 was named a 2018 National School District of Distinction under the leadership of Peters, an honor awarded to school districts that are exemplary models of how schools and school systems work. More recently the high school has been named the 2019 “National Tomorrow’s Tech School of the Year” by Tomorrow’s Tech Magazine.

Currently, Stephen is the CEO and President of the Peters Group, an education consulting company that is dedicated to creating and sustaining success in schools and districts by supporting educators. Key areas include: leadership, social justice, equity, diversity and inclusion. He is also founder of a national mentoring program that builds soft skills, STEM, literacy and leadership skills. The Gentleman’s and Ladies Club, which cultivates success in at-risk students through mentoring and self-empowerment, has been featured on The Oprah Winfrey Show as well as America, America. Peters was featured in the BBC documentary, “An American High School” in 2016. “An American High School” was just named “Best Documentary of 2016” in London and began airing on the National Geographic channel in the U.S. in October 2017. Dr. Peters is an advocate for literacy and also served as President of the Board of Directors for the International Literacy Association (2020-2021). He is co-author of One., A process for Every One and Everyone.