Leslie Hazle Bussey (@hazlebussey) is CEO and Executive Director at the Georgia Leadership Institute for School Improvement, a non-profit organization driven by our mission to Uplift school leaders > Transform mindsets and action > Create vibrant cultures of innovation > Build excellent and equitable schools. Each year GLISI directly serves over 2,000 educators in 50+ districts, who in turn pour into over 800,000 students in Georgia and beyond. She is responsible for crafting overall strategic direction, cultivating district and philanthropic partners, motivating a talented staff of expert coaches and adult learning facilitators, and overseeing product and service innovations to grow school and district leaders who transform culture, schools, and student lives. Over her 11+ years at GLISI, Leslie has served as Director of Research & Policy, then Chief of Staff, then Deputy Director before serving as Executive Director.

In her work, she draws on her experience as a middle grades teacher and researcher to pursue her passions as a designer of powerful learning experiences for adults, as a student of how adults develop social and emotional competencies, and as a champion for leaders in education, the most noble profession.

Leslie has a bachelor’s degree in English Literature from the University of Washington, a master’s in Educational Media and Technology from Boston University, and a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership from Saint Louis University.

Aaryn Schmuhl (@aschmuhl) began his career teaching and coaching middle school in McDonough, GA. He helped open Luella Elementary School in 2005 as its assistant principal and served as principal of Luella Middle School from 2005-2011. He accepted the position of Asst. Superintendent for Learning and Leadership Services in Henry County in 2011 and has led the district’s 2020 Vision for Personalized Learning in 50 schools. The district was reorganized in 2017 and he served as the Chief Leadership Officer. In February 2019, Mr. Schmuhl joined GLISI as the VPPDI. Mr. Schmuhl holds a BS in History & Secondary Education from Vanderbilt University, M Ed. Leadership from Harvard University, and an Ed.D in Learning and Leadership in Organizations from Vanderbilt University. He lives in Hoschton, Georgia with his wife, Stacey and 13 year old son, Jackson.

Dr. McGiboney is the Executive Director of Government and Education Programs at Sharecare, an international healthcare support system, and is the former Deputy State Superintendent at the Georgia Department of Education. He has over 30 years of experience as a teacher, school psychologist, and administrator including work in all levels of public education. Currently, he works with many organizations, including schools, colleges and universities, healthcare facilities, businesses, and others on workplace climate and employee well-being.

He has served on several committees as an appointee of the Governor’s Office on topics including children’s mental health, literacy, dyslexia, foster children, safety, substance abuse, trauma, school leadership, and accreditation. He also serves by appointment on the Georgia Supreme Court’s Justice for Children Committee; Children in Need of Services Advisory Committee; Carter Center School-Based Behavioral Health Advisory Committee; Board of Directors of the Georgia Council on Alcohol and Drugs; Get Georgia Reading Campaign Cabinet, Behavioral Health Reform Commission, and others. He is also a Subject Matter Expert and Master Trainer on school climate, safety, and health security for the United States Department of Education.

Dr. McGiboney has over 30 professional publications and is the author of eight books, including books on workplace climate and employee well-being, mental health, leadership, crisis management, and emergency planning. Also, Dr. McGiboney authored two inspirational books: Leading Us Out of Darkness and Daily Wisdom and Inspiration, and a book of poetry, Timberline of the Mind.

Dr. McGiboney has been interviewed by CNN, NBC, CBS, ABC, Time magazine, and regional and local media outlets. Also, he has been quoted in the international press, including Le Devoir, Listin Diario, El Diaro, Japan Press, and Mato Grosso. He is the recipient of several awards, including NAACP Educator of the Year; the National Association of School Psychologists National Friend of Children Award; Georgia School Counselors Advocate of the Year Award; Georgia Association of School Nurses Hero Award (twice); National Alliance on Mental Illness Community Service Award; United States Environmental Protection Agency Health Hero Award, and others. He was inducted into the Georgia Board of Regents Hall of Fame for his career-long efforts on behalf of children. Recently, he received the Outstanding Leadership Award from the Georgia Association of Positive Behavior Supports (GaPBS) and the award will henceforth be named in his honor as the annual GaPBS Dr. Garry McGiboney Outstanding Leadership Award.