William A. Sommers, Ph.D. of Austin, Texas, is currently the Director of Leadership & Organizational Development for Manor ISD. He has been a principal for over 30 years, university professor, and independent consultant. He is currently a Senior Fellow for the Urban Leadership Academy at the University of Minnesota. He was on the Board of Trustees for five years and Past-President for the National Staff Development Council.Bill is the former Executive Director for Secondary Curriculum and Professional Learning for Minneapolis Public Schools. Since 1990, he is an associate trainer for the Center for Cognitive Coaching based in Denver, Colorado. He has been a program director for an adolescent chemical dependency treatment center and on the board of a halfway house for 20 years.

Bill has co-authored six books, Living on a Tightrope: A Survival Handbook for Principals, Becoming a Successful Principal: How to Ride the Wave of Change Without Drowning, Reflective Practice to Improve Schools, a Trainer’s Companion, Energizing Staff Development Using Video Clips and Leading Professional Learning Communities.

In addition to writing many articles regarding coaching, assessment, and reflective thinking he also does training in poverty, leadership, organizational development, conflict management, brain research, and classroom management. From 1970-present he has been in K-12 education as a teacher and principal in urban, suburban, and rural schools. Bill also has served as an adjunct faculty member at Hamline University, the University of St. Thomas, St. Mary’s University, the Union Institute, and Capella University.