Kelly Perales
kelly.perales@midwestpbis.org

Kelly is the Co-Executive Director of the Midwest PBIS Network, and a Partner at the USDOE Center on PBIS. As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Kelly has worked as both a school employed and community employed clinician and administrator. As part of the Center on PBIS, Kelly has provided training, technical assistance, and coaching for school leaders and community mental health providers at the state, regional, and local level. In addition, has led both state and district level implementers in the Interconnected Systems Framework, focusing on the integration of mental health and PBIS. 

Kelly is the Co-Project Director for an Education Innovation and Research (EIR) Grant -  ISF-SHINE (School Health and Interventions for Nurturing Excellence); the Co-Principal Investigator for an Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services Model Demonstration Grant - Project EPIC (Enhancing Family-School-Community Partnerships through an Interconnected Systems Framework Collaboration); the lead implementation partner for an Institute for Education Sciences (IES) Randomized Controlled Trial - Improving social, emotional, behavioral, and academic functioning of elementary school students through the Interconnected Systems Framework; and the lead implementation partner for a Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute funded project - Project Thrive.  

Brian Meyer
brian.meyer@midwestpbis.org 

Brian is Co-Executive Director of the Midwest PBIS Network, and a Partner at the USDOE Center on PBIS. Brian leads curricular development for Integrated Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (IMTSS), Classroom Management, Bullying Prevention, and is implementing model demonstrations of the Interconnected Systems Framework (ISF).  At the Center on PBIS, Brian coordinates Technical Assistance to designated State Education Agencies, the National Leadership Forum, the workgroup on Juvenile Justice Programs and Alternative School settings, and the Center’s internal evaluation support. 

Current projects include principal investigator of ISF-SHINE (School Health and Interventions for Nurturing Excellence) – a mid-phase research grant funded by the Education Innovation and Research (EIR) office at the US Department of Education and implemented through the Lake County #34 Regional Office of Education (IL) in partnership with WestEd and the University of Illinois–Chicago. 

Jennifer Jeffrey-Pearsall
jennifer.jeffreypearsall@midwestpbis.org
jjpearsall@midatlanticpbis.org 

Jenn is an Associate Director with the Midwest PBIS Network, Maryland coordinator for the Mid-Atlantic PBIS Network – PBIS Maryland, coordinator for Maryland DDA PBS (Developmental Disabilities Administration), and an implementation partner with the University of Minnesota’s Institute on Community Integration for Positive Supports Minnesota.  Jenn brings over 25 years of experience guiding statewide capacity with departments of education, human services, and juvenile justice; facilitating work with districts and comprehensive schools; supporting efforts in approved private-day schools and youth residential programming; and working with adults supporting community-based organizations.  Her work is lifespan-focused, and prioritizes a public health and ecological approach to conceptualizing how environments can be organized to enhance the social, emotional, behavioral, and mental health well-being of students, adults, families, and staff.  

Katie Pohlman
katie.pohlman@midwestpbis.org 

Katie serves as a Technical Assistance Director at the Midwest PBIS Network and is the Principal Investigator for the Project EPIC Model Demonstration Grant, funded by the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services. Project EPIC focuses on enhancing family-school-community partnerships through the Interconnected Systems Framework (ISF).

Drawing on her background in both community and school social work, Katie is driven by a commitment to equity and the development of efficient, high-impact systems. Her expertise lies in advanced tiers implementation and  facilitating the integration of school and mental health systems by strengthening the core features of PBIS. In her current role, she provides strategic support to sites as they implement the ISF, ensuring that all students have access to the tiered supports necessary for long-term success.

Juan Lira
juan.lira@midwestpbis.org 

Juan is a Technical Assistance Coordinator at Midwest PBIS Network. Juan has worked in education for over 20 years. His experience has been centered in large urban and suburban school districts, though he began teaching in Merida, Yucatan, Mexico and Sal Rei, Boa Vista, Cape Verde. Juan has experience in implementing PBIS as a teacher, assistant principal, and principal. He brings a school-based practitioner’s lens to the table, along with the knowledge he has gained through experience of initiating and installing PBIS in schools. Juan’s work to improve student outcomes and make schools equitable places for all has led him to recognize and prioritize mental health, social emotional, and behavioral well-being in schools and school systems.  

Jennifer Norton
jennifer.norton@midwestpbis.org

Jennifer is a Project Coordinator at Midwest PBIS Network. As an art educator in public education and afterschool programming for over a decade, Jennifer brings a teaching and design background to her role of Project Coordinator. Her eye for design, detail, and appreciation of good organization help the team to think in more efficient ways. Jennifer loves all things Recognition, and is inspired by thousands of schools being recognized for their PBIS implementation efforts.

Molly English

molly.english@midwestpbis.org

Molly is the Training and Communications Project Coordinator at the Midwest PBIS Network. She brings extensive experience in educational advocacy and community outreach, having previously worked with the Association of Texas Professional Educators, and organized support systems for unhoused youth and adults in Austin, Texas. Molly’s background in direct community service and professional associations fuels her passion for PBIS and its ability to transform environments for students and staff alike. In her current role, she manages the logistics for the Network’s trainings and events to provide educators with the resources needed to implement effective PBIS systems within their communities.