The Speakers

Kelly Black is the Academic Dean at Birdville High School and has 13 years of experience in public education. She spent 10 years as a social studies teacher and Student Council advisor before serving as an Instructional Facilitator for three years.

Kelly is passionate about supporting teachers through collaborative PLCs, meaningful data analysis, curriculum alignment, and instructional coaching. She holds bachelor's and master's degrees from TCU and earned her Principal Certification from Lamar University.

Emily Cram worked in public education for 15 years. She worked at Frenship ISD, Lubbock ISD, and Region 17. Her expertise has primarily focused on instructional technology integration in the classroom as well as school improvement. Emily has worked at Eduphoria for six years. She first worked in product development before moving into her current role as an account executive.

Tanna Falcon is a passionate educator, campus leader, and proud Aggie who is living out her childhood dream in education. A graduate of Texas A&M University with a degree in mathematics education, she began her career teaching secondary math in Birdville ISD, quickly turning her love for teaching into a lasting impact in the classroom. After seven years, she stepped into campus leadership and now serves as an Academic Dean, where she has spent the past six years driving results and building strong instructional systems.

Fueled by a competitive spirit and a deep love for data, Tanna is known for turning numbers into action. She thrives in the fast-paced world of TEA accountability, constantly game-planning creative, strategic ways to boost student achievement and support teachers in doing their best work.

When she’s not leading on campus, Tanna is all-in at home with her husband and their four young kids (ages 7, 5, 2, and 1). Life is busy, loud, and full of joy, and she wouldn’t have it any other way! Whether it’s staying active, enjoying music, or cheering on Aggie athletics, the Falcon family is always on the move.

Karina Govea is a Carrollton-Farmers Branch District Testing Specialist with 5 years of experience supporting the assessment & accountability department. She manages data uploads into testing platforms, runs reports, and works closely with the District Testing Coordinator to ensure an accurate and successful testing process each year.

Dr. Christopher Julian is a dedicated educational leader and the Executive Director of Assessment and Accountability for Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD, bringing over 23 years of experience as a teacher, campus principal, and district administrator. He is a passionate advocate for servant leadership and school improvement, with a proven track record of using data-informed instructional processes and innovative problem-solving to enhance student performance and institutional equity. Dr. Julian holds a Doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of North Texas and frequently presents on topics ranging from effective assessment practices to the implementation of robust MTSS frameworks.

With over 30 years of service in education, Dr. Wade Labay brings a unique set of skills and experience to the lead4ward team, serving districts in the areas of leadership and data visualization/analysis. Wade has a passion for helping educators navigate the complex and multifarious challenges of the profession and enjoys serving schools in their improvement efforts.

Before joining the lead4ward team, Wade served in a variety of roles and educational leadership positions as a classroom teacher, school administrator, and educational consultant. Before lead4ward, he was a State Director at Education Service Center Region 13, where he helped lead the development of a web-based curriculum management system for the Texas Education Service Center Curriculum Collaborative, which continues to serve the majority of school districts in Texas.

Jason is the leader of the Learning & Coaching team at Eduphoria and has been an integral part of the training team since 2009. He brings 10+ years of experience from the classroom as a math teacher and as a District Instructional Technologist. As a graduate of Texas A&M, Jason attends football games at Kyle Field whenever possible. He also enjoys fishing, hunting, golf, camping, and researching family history. His family adds to his passion for education in that Michelle, his wife, is a public educator, and their two daughters attend the school district where Jason is a school board member.

Kristopher McDonald has worked in education for 23 years as both a teacher and an administrator. He was a special education resource and self-contained teacher at the elementary and middle school levels in Texas. As the coordinator of instructional technology, he manages and supports multiple district programs, as well as coordinates the Instructional Technology team.

Before joining Eduphoria in 2015, Paige Parker spent 30+ years serving Humble ISD as a language arts teacher, Academic Decathlon coach, and Instructional Technology Specialist. She uses her experience from the classroom and the district level to help teachers and administrators make the best instructional decisions for their students. Paige is a graduate of Texas A&M University with a master’s degree and a Mid-Management Certificate from Stephen F. Austin University. In her free time, she is a movie buff and avid reader.

Meet Dr. Allison—a dynamic educator with a doctorate in Education from Marymount University and a heart for innovation! Her journey began with a Bachelor's in History from LSU, leading her to teaching middle school, where she quickly became a pro at crafting engaging, tech-driven lessons. Leveraging the leadership skills honed during her Master's from Texas A&M, she then rose to become an effective coach and Director of Innovation.

Allison’s true passion shines in empowering educators, helping them unlock their potential to create vibrant, authentic learning spaces. When she’s not transforming classrooms, she’s busy being a loving cat mom to two and dog mom to one, hitting the hiking trails, or enjoying some stand-up comedy.

Armando began his career as an educator at Mission CISD, where he taught technology applications along with speech and video production to middle school students. He was also the UIL Coordinator and assistant director for One-Act Plays. In 2015, he became the Coordinator of Instructional Technology and led the way with several technology initiatives at Mission CISD.

Armando holds a Bachelor’s of Arts degree in Communication-Journalism, and in 2015, he completed his Master of Education in Administration. In his free time, Armando likes to tinker with DIY projects, learn new things, and spend time camping outdoors.

Richard Soliz is the Director of Federal and Special Programs and CTE at Seminole ISD, where he leads accountability systems and data-driven instructional improvement. A former HR Director, Instructional Director, and principal, he focuses on building practical systems that connect classroom practice, walkthrough data, and student outcomes using tools like Eduphoria.

With 17 years of experience in education, Paige has dedicated her career to supporting student success and empowering educators. She spent 10 years in the classroom before transitioning into campus administration, where she served for four years. 

Now, as a Data Solutions Program Coordinator at Region 10, she partners with local education agencies to leverage data-informed strategies that enhance decision-making and improve outcomes. Her passion lies in bridging the gap between data and instruction, ensuring schools have the insights they need to drive meaningful change.