The Professional Learning Team

We provide professional learning for staff members across the district by strategically collaborating with functional teams to craft and curate opportunities that move the district forward and help Team IPS learn & grow.

• Andrea Snouffer - Executive Director of Professional Learning Strategy

• Dr. Chris Berry - Staff Transition Coordinator

• John Chambers - Professional Learning Strategist

• Katie Knutson - Staff Development & Integration Strategist

• Mayetta Martel - Digital Learning & Instruction Coordinator

• Valerie Summerlot - Leadership & Career Progression Strategist

Andrea Snouffer has dedicated the past ten years to serving the students, families, and remarkable staff of Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS), having serendipitously entered the field of education after nearly a decade in healthcare. Throughout her time at IPS, she has taken on various roles within different teams, providing her with a distinctive insight into district processes, systems, and staff experiences. With a Master’s degree in Organizational Psychology, Andrea is passionate about continuous improvement, staff development, and solving complex challenges. In 2018, the Professional Learning Team was established to focus on these very goals!

This small yet powerful Professional Learning Team is a strong advocate for ongoing learning and improvement, acting as the essential thread that connects all aspects of IPS. Through strategic collaboration, they ensure that staff at every level have the knowledge, tools, resources, and confidence needed to positively impact students and the wider IPS community.

When Andrea isn't creating positive change by initiating new projects, she enjoys being silly and having fun with her husband Jeff, and wrangling their three dogs - Roxy, Pepper, and Marty.

John Chambers is a Professional Learning Strategist with IPS. He joined the district’s Professional Learning Team in 2020 and manages logistics for districtwide and sub-group PD, the district’s Learning Management System, a professional development series for Central Service teams, and performance evaluations. 

John was previously a special education teacher and had more than 20 years of experience in marketing/communications, journalism and nonprofit sectors before transitioning to education. 

He is passionate about the “story” behind professional learning to create ongoing growth and meaningful change.

Katie is a proud Hoosier and former Michigander who proudly does the hand when asked where she is from. A graduate of Indiana University Bloomington, she earned a Bachelor's degree in Secondary Education Social Studies. 

Before joining IPS, Katie worked with the Boys and Girls Club of Bloomington, where she honed her skills in youth development—and learned that kids can be both incredibly insightful and totally unpredictable (mostly the latter).

Katie kicked off her career teaching middle school at the iconic Crispus Attucks Medical Magnet High School, where she survived seven years of middle schoolers’ questions, awkward moments, and somehow still loved it. Her path then took her to the Central Office at Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS), where she started as the Teacher Preparation Coordinator, making sure future teachers were ready to take on the classroom. She quickly climbed the ranks to Senior Coordinator of Talent Development, where she now focuses on training and supporting new teachers. Basically, she’s the person you thank when you survive your first year of teaching.

When she’s not shaping the future of education, Katie is a proud aunt and a cat mom to Fran, who probably rules the household.

Valerie has dedicated 15 years to the field of education, with the past four years serving as the Senior Manager of Professional Learning at Indianapolis Public Schools. In this role, she’s all about setting educators up for success—whether it’s creating professional development opportunities or crafting onboarding systems that help new hires hit the ground running from day one.

Before stepping into leadership, Valerie sparked creativity and curiosity as an Art Educator, working with both elementary and high school students. But her talents don’t stop at the classroom door. Outside of education, she is heavily involved in the sport of jump rope, where she trains judges globally and has developed an online training platform to prepare officials for local, national, and international competitions. This adventure into training judges inspired her interest in Adult Learning Theory, which now fuels her mission to create meaningful learning experiences for educators.

With her knack for blending creativity, strategy, and a touch of fun, Valerie continues to champion initiatives that uplift educators, empower students, and leave a lasting impact on the education community.

Mayetta Martel is a Secondary English and Special Education teacher by trade who has spent more than 10 years in classrooms from Pre-K through 12th. They have bachelor’s degrees in education, English and Communication, a master’s in special education with a specialization in autism spectrum disorders and is currently pursuing a master’s in Mental Health Counseling. They have taught in Portland, Oregon, the Bronx, New York, rural Arizona and at Providence Cristo Rey in Indianapolis before finding their home at Indianapolis Public Schools. They taught Language and Literature at CFI2 and Thomas Carr Howe Middle School before being welcomed on to the professional learning team as the Digital Learning and Instruction Coordinator. In their spare time they love traveling to watch Dodger’s baseball and exploring with their son, James and 13 nieces and nephews.