Twig Talk Presenters

Dr. Kimberly Mueller is the Professional Learning Manager for Twig Education. Fifteen years of classroom teaching combined with time as an administrator and educational therapist enables Kimberly to offer proven, real-world solutions for educators. Her experience working with districts as a solutions provider for cutting-edge publishers gives her a toolkit of engaging ideas to create multi-modal, Next Gen learning explorations. She received her Educational Doctorate from California Lutheran University, focusing her research on student motivation in the classroom.

Lisa Larsgaard is an educator, trainer, and most importantly, a parent who has a great passion for the NGSS. Lisa is a national presenter who helps teachers with best practices in Science, while promoting NGSS as the means on which we are all dependent for a happy and healthy future. Creating a generation of diverse, creative, and savvy critical thinking scientists and engineers is Lisa’s goal. Lisa earned a Master’s Degree in English Language Development and has focused her ELD expertise on elementary, high school, and community college instruction. She is currently a Senior Consultant for Twig Education.

Contessa Akintunji is an NGSS STEM Educational Consultant for Twig Education. She worked closely with the state of California in the adoption of the Next Generation Science Standards as an NGSS Early Implementor with WestEd. Her previous roles include K-8 Science Instructional Coach, teaching Elementary General Courses, and Secondary Science in underserved communities. She received her Master’s in Curriculum and Instruction at the University of the Pacific.

Kori is a former classroom teacher with experience in both elementary and middle school. For the past 13 years, she has provided coaching, curriculum expertise, and professional development to districts nationally with an emphasis on improving instructional practice. She holds both a multiple subject and single subject credential as well as a Masters Degree in Curriculum and Instruction. Kori is now working as an NGSS Sales Consultant for Twig Education supporting districts with successful and effective implementation of Twig Science.

Mary is an educational professional with a Master’s Degree in Educational Technology - Instructional Design and over 10 years of Academic Publishing and eLearning experience. Mary has created online courses and digital interactive content as well as teaching Educational Technology to college students in an online environment.