ABOUT US
DR. KATHY D’ANTONI
PROJECT DIRECTOR
kdantoni@k12.wv.us
(304) 549-5299
Dr. Kathy D’Antoni is the Project Director for the Empowerment Collaborative and has led the design team of the Empowerment Collaborative since its inception. Dr. D’Antoni served as the Associate State Superintendent for Career and Technical Education. She currently serves on the Marshall University Board of Governors and as an innovation consultant for the West Virginia Department of Education. Dr. D’Antoni began her career as a teacher, has led her family’s business, and worked as state director for tech prep and interim president of WV State Community and Technical College. Dr. D’Antoni retired as Associate State Superintendent in 2020. She’s and outstanding athlete and has earned the life master level bridge player designation.
AMY STEWART
DIRECTOR OF FIELD OPERATIONS
amy.r.stewart@k12.wv.us
(304) 203-7755
As the Empowerment Collaborative Director of Field Operations, Amy works directly with school and local teams to implement the Empowerment model and leads professional development and protocol expansion projects for the network of schools. Amy has been working with the Empowerment Collaborative as a design team member, implementation coach, and facilitator since 2018. Amy taught English and Social Studies at a project-based high school in the New Tech Network in North Carolina from 2008-2016. She was then the embedded English teacher at the Wood County Technical Center for 7 years. Amy has also taught college Composition online and in person for several years. Amy has a bachelor’s degree in Secondary English Education, a master’s degree in English Literature, and a master’s of Instructional and Educational Leadership. Amy also is the lead coach of a FIRST Robotics Competition Team and an enthusiastic dog parent and traveler.
DR. KATHLEEN MCNALLY
CEO, NOCTI
kathleen.mcnally@nocti.org
(304) 309-4910
Kathleen has been on the Empowerment Collaborative Design Team since its inception and was instrumental in the ideation, pilot effort, and development of the model since 2019. Kathleen currently serves as the CEO of NOCTI, Inc. Prior to that, she was a consultant through the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB). Kathleen has a particular love of sheep and raises a small herd of them.
JAN JANLON
DIRECTOR, MOUNTAIN STATE ESC
jhanlon@k12.wv.us
(304) 730-3493
Jan has dedicated over thirty years to education as an educator, school administrator, and district-level CTE/Curriculum Director. She currently holds the position of Executive Director for the Mountain State Educational Services Cooperative. Jan’s ability to foster strong partnerships and an extensive network within the educational community drive this project’s goals forward.
TAMMY STOWERS
PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR, MOUNTAIN STATE ESC
tstowers@k12.wv.us
(304) 766-0011
Tammy Stowers facilitates and manages the grant reporting and management for the Empowerment Collaborative and Mountain State ESC. She brings extensive expertise from her role at Mountain State ESC, where she managed over 20 million dollars in federal and state grants.
DR. JENNIFER DALE
IMPLEMENTATION AND SPECIAL EDUCATION EXPERT, K-12 SYSTEMS CHANGE SOLUTIONS, LLC
jdale@k12.wv.us
(443) 896-3859
Dr. Jennifer Dale is the co-founder of K-12 Systems Change Solutions, LLC, whose focus is on the use of implementation science to improve outcomes in schools. She will support the leadership team in implementing the Empowerment Collaborative model using the principles of implementation science. She also has served as the coordinator for instruction in special education in an LEA in Maryland, supervising special education teachers, conducting evaluations, professional development, and coaching. Jennifer lives in Delaware with her husband, her two kids, and her rescue pup Rocket.
PAT GRAY
STATE SYSTEMS LIAISON, WV SYSTEMS COACH
jpgray1107@gmail.com
(304) 640-4913
James P. Gray is president of the Fayette County Board of Education and is serving in his 4th term for the citizens of Fayette County as a Board of Education member. He is currently serving as the President-Elect for the WV School Board Association and recently completed a six-year appointment by the State Board of Education on the WV Commission for Professional Teaching Standards. He is a retired Associate Director from AT&T with 30-plus years of corporate experience and holds a master’s degree in management with a Project Management Professional credit. He and his wife, Meredith, have four children and four grandchildren. Pat is a life-long learner and believes all students have the chance to grow and succeed if given the right support and direction.
BARRY CRIST
ADMINISTRATIVE AND LEADERSHIP SUPPORT
bcrist@k12.wv.us
(304) 575-8828
Barry Crist works directly with Empowerment Collaborative schools to identify and overcome challenges, especially at the administrative and implementation level. Barry managers a consulting business providing educational consulting services throughout the state of West Virginia. He also serves on the governing boards of Rainelle Medical Center and Bridge Valley Community and Technical College. Crist began his educational career as a special education teacher in 1986 and has served the educational system for 24 years. He has a bachelor of Science in Industrial Arts, a master’s degree in Special Education, and master’s degree in Administration. Crist served as Coordinator of Career and Technical programs for Fayette County and was administrator of Fayette Institute of Technology. Barry is a member of the Ansted Lions Club and is an avid outdoorsman. He and his wife, Kim, enjoy spending time with family and grandkids.
DR. KATHY D’ANTONI
PROJECT DIRECTOR
kdantoni@k12.wv.us
(304) 549-5299
Dr. Kathy D’Antoni is the Project Director for the Empowerment Collaborative and has led the design team of the Empowerment Collaborative since its inception. Dr. D’Antoni served as the Associate State Superintendent for Career and Technical Education. She currently serves on the Marshall University Board of Governors and as an innovation consultant for the West Virginia Department of Education. Dr. D’Antoni began her career as a teacher, has led her family’s business, and worked as state director for tech prep and interim president of WV State Community and Technical College. Dr. D’Antoni retired as Associate State Superintendent in 2020. She’s and outstanding athlete and has earned the life master level bridge player designation.
AMY STEWART
DIRECTOR OF FIELD OPERATIONS
amy.r.stewart@k12.wv.us
(304) 203-7755
As the Empowerment Collaborative Director of Field Operations, Amy works directly with school and local teams to implement the Empowerment model and leads professional development and protocol expansion projects for the network of schools. Amy has been working with the Empowerment Collaborative as a design team member, implementation coach, and facilitator since 2018. Amy taught English and Social Studies at a project-based high school in the New Tech Network in North Carolina from 2008-2016. She was then the embedded English teacher at the Wood County Technical Center for 7 years. Amy has also taught college Composition online and in person for several years. Amy has a bachelor’s degree in Secondary English Education, a master’s degree in English Literature, and a master’s of Instructional and Educational Leadership. Amy also is the lead coach of a FIRST Robotics Competition Team and an enthusiastic dog parent and traveler.
DR. KATHLEEN MCNALLY
CEO, NOCTI
kathleen.mcnally@nocti.org
(304) 309-4910
Kathleen has been on the Empowerment Collaborative Design Team since its inception and was instrumental in the ideation, pilot effort, and development of the model since 2019. Kathleen currently serves as the CEO of NOCTI, Inc. Prior to that, she was a consultant through the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB). Kathleen has a particular love of sheep and raises a small herd of them.
