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    Executive Leadership

    Executive Leadership

    Cindy Hollar, Chief Executive Officer
    Cindy Hollar is the Chief Executive Officer of Training and Education in the Twenty First Century (TE21, Inc.). In 1999, Ms. Hollar co-founded TE21 after leaving the corporate world to begin a quality training and education company that would have a positive impact on the lives of struggling families. Her work with the Governor’s Youth Council in South Carolina on solutions for juvenile crime prevention led to the concept of combining business training tools and educational products to help families gain job and literacy skills. Inspired by her own daughter’s success overcoming reading difficulties, Ms. Hollar refocused the direction of the company to specialize in providing high-quality software programs and professional development to help schools improve the educational experience and outcomes for all students.  

    Early in her professional career, Ms. Hollar worked as an elementary school teacher before making the shift to business at IBM, where she held a number of senior roles in corporate training, sales, and sales management. In addition to 13 years at IBM, Ms. Hollar was the Vice President of Product Development for The Martin Corporation, an educational software development company. Ms. Hollar has a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education. 

    Dr. Carl Harris, President
    Dr. Carl E. Harris is the former Deputy Assistant Secretary for the U.S. Department of Education. Previously, he was Superintendent of Durham Public Schools, the 8th largest district in North Carolina, and Franklin County Schools, NC.  In 2012, Dr. Harris was honored with the Distinguished Alumni Award from North Carolina State University for his contributions to education in North Carolina and nationally.  He was selected as a member of the inaugural Broad Urban Superintendents Academy, a prestigious experience that is recognized for training education leaders of some of the largest school districts in the country.  His fellow superintendents named him to lead their regional network and selected him as Central Carolina Regional Superintendent of the Year.  Dr. Harris holds Advanced Certification for School Administrators and has a doctorate in Education Administration from North Carolina State.  Among his many honors are the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, North Carolina’s Highest Civilian Award, the University Council for Educational Administration Educational Leadership Award, and the National Association of Gifted Children Educator Award.

    Lou Ann Little, Chief Financial Officer
    Chief Financial Officer for CASE ASSESSMENTS who also has served in that capacity for TE21, Inc. for the past 12 years. Little has an extensive background in finance and over 25 years of experience as a CPA specializing in small business and non‐profit entities, including staff accountant with Thiem, Jackson and Pace, CPAs PA, and Financial Controller and Treasurer of East Cooper Baptist Church.  She has also owned an accounting and financial management business. 


    Emily Duplantis, Senior Vice-President of Professional Development
    Emily Duplantis has been a member of the TE21 team for more than 7 years.
    She has served as the Director of Training for five years.  Prior to joining TE21, Emily taught at an urban middle school and high school in Pennsylvania.  Emily has a Bachelor's Degree in Business, Computer and Information Technology and a Master's Degree in Business/Workforce Development, both from Indiana University of Pennsylvania.  Emily understands the value of quality training and support.  Her training team prides themselves in high quality and effective training.  They love working with administrators, teachers and students to help mold a positive educational experience for all.
    Contact Emily Duplantis at 843-834-2290 or emilyduplantis@te21.com  

    Nancy Hester, Senior Vice President of CASE ASSESSMENTS
    Nancy Hester has years of experience as a successful principal and district administrator.  Nancy was a top-level administrator for Durham Public Schools (DPS) in Durham, North Carolina for nine years.  She served as Associate Superintendent, Chief Information Officer, Executive Director for Public Affairs and Executive Director of Staff Development after years as a classroom teacher and a principal. Nancy’s leadership as a middle school principal was recognized with Principal of the Year honors for DPS and regional runner-up.  She also has served as a middle school consultant for curriculum design and has mentored numerous teachers, assistant principals and new principals.
    Contact Nancy Hester at 919-226-0362 or nancyhester@te21.com

    David Sneed, Senior Vice President of Research and Development
    David Sneed is recognized for his innovation in using data to improve schools.  As the Assistant Superintendent for Research, Development and Accountability for Durham Public Schools, David structured a local assessment department that developed a K-12 formative benchmark assessment program and a Department of Research and Grants in just a five-year period.  Under his leadership, comprehensive Data Profiles and Scorecards for 50 K-12 schools were instituted to give teachers, parents and school leaders a complete picture of local schools.  Prior to being named Assistant Superintendent, David led a Middle School Reform effort as the Executive Director of Middle Schools, including a comprehensive curriculum alignment for these schools.  He was principal of an elementary school that consistently made High Growth under the NC ABCs accountability program.
    Contact David Sneed at 919-226-0363 or davidsneed@te21.com  

    Jonathan Isgett, Vice President of Accountability
    Considered an expert in scaling benchmark assessments, Jonathan was Senior Director of Data Management for Durham Public Schools prior to joining CASE ASSESSMENTS.  In that role he developed Scorecards, a comprehensive reporting mechanism for schools, and presented many workshops for principals on analyzing diagnostic data.  He also developed programming for scoring local assessments.
    Contact Jonathan Isgett at 919-226-0368 or jonathanisgett@te21.com

      
    Gena Overbey, Vice President of State Assessments
    Gena is a veteran middle school specialist and most recently was Senior Director of Local Assessments for Durham Public Schools.  She holds National Board Certification in Communication Skills for Young Adolescents and AIG certification.  Gena also has been a director of the NC Schools Attuned program and facilitator for 1400 educators in a state initiative with eight regional training sites.  She has supervised middle grades interns and been an instructor at UNC-Chapel Hill. The NC Middle School Association recognized her middle school teaching with Team of the Year honors.
    Contact Gena Overbey at 919-226-0367 or genaoverbey@te21.com