About Us
John Whalen
Co-Founder of Edtomorrow & Author of Classroom Circles
John J. Whalen is a leading Restorative Practices pioneer in both theory and application. He has trained thousands of teachers, staff, and students throughout the United States. He is an innovator in professional development and training. John has spoken at numerous national education conferences including ASCD Empower, ASCD Leadership Conference, the ESEA Conference, National Association of Community and Restorative Justice Conference, the Music City SEL Conference, and the Texas Association of Secondary School Principals Conference.
John is the author of the book Classroom Circles (Second Edition): A Toolkit for Building Relationships and Strengthening School Communities.
John was the building principal of a 4th-8th grade building in Upstate New York for three years. He spent 15 years in the classroom teaching both 2nd-grade and 6th-grade mathematics. He also spent over three years as a district Restorative Practices Coordinator leading implementation in over ten primary and secondary schools.
John resides in Conklin, NY, with his wife and two daughters. He enjoys hiking, skiing, and camping. He is a graduate of SUNY Geneseo and Binghamton University.
Sarah Nunn
CEO of Edtomorrow & Head of Operations
Sarah Nunn is an educator, restorative practitioner, presenter and coach. She wholeheartedly believes in the power of authentic relationships and connection. Over the past 7 years, she has trained and coached a vast array of educational leaders, parents, and students, nationally and internationally on Restorative Practices. Sarah is committed to being a voice of change in education and disrupting the school to prison pipeline.
Sarah brings her experience leading two renowned educational consulting companies as the Chief Operating Officer where she served as the "go-to" person for global operations, internal systems and personnel, and ensuring high quality service for districts and schools she served.
Sarah also brings a wide array of elementary classroom experience from her time teaching in Texas. Sarah holds a B.A. in Special Education from UTPB and a M.A. in Special Education focused on Autism Spectrum Disorders. She brings her experience and perspective as an educator to all of her work, which includes working with educational organizations across the globe to embed restorative practices into their existing systems.
Sarah recently moved to NC from TX with her husband Tony and 2 year old daughter, Nova. Sarah enjoys trying new foods, traveling, reading, and visiting her family in Massachusetts.
Doug Overton
Co-Founder of Edtomorrow & Creator of the First Five
Doug Overton is a leading expert in the work of Restorative Practices, facilitating more than two thousand circles and training more than two hundred campuses nationwide. Leading, teaching, and consulting at all levels of education in rural and urban districts, he has diversified experience that qualifies him for work in any campus environment.
Doug is the creator of The First Five which was established in 2020. This dynamic resource gives teachers daily tools for building connection, self-care, empathy for others, and the development of character. The First Five is being used in all 50 states and over 100 countries.
As an educator, he has received several prestigious awards including First Class Teacher, Campus Teacher of the Year, and District Teacher of the Year. As a district leader, Doug has built entire Restorative/SEL structures applied district-wide by training teachers, developing teams, and creating content.
He has been an assistant professor, a DEI facilitator, an at-risk specialist, a community-schools coordinator, and a traveling consultant. Doug is now living in Upstate NY with his wife and enjoys cheering on his Alma Mater, the University of Tennessee.
Denise “Circlemamma” Holliday
Restorative Coach & Client Relations Specialist
Denise “Circlemamma” Holliday is a true powerhouse in the realm of education. Her ability to own a room, the sheer presence she exudes, the impactful words she chooses, and the way she genuinely listens and uplifts everyone she engages with – is simply unmatched.
Denise joins the Edtomorrow team with a wealth of knowledge and experiences from the hundreds of schools and districts she has trained and coached throughout the nation. Her commitment is evident in the time spent in real classrooms, working side by side with teachers and students to seamlessly integrate restorative practices into the very fabric of their buildings. She enjoys collaborating with district leaders and school boards to reimagine the educational experience of students and support for teachers through Restorative Practices.
Denise has over 20 years of experience in education. She worked as a co-trainer for Restorative Trainings offered by TEA and the University of Texas. She was a former restorative coordinator for Manor ISD’s DAEP campus where she used circles to counsel at-risk youth and proactively intervene in crisis situations. She works hard to gain trust from students, staff, families, and communities that she supports. In the realm of restorative, we move at the speed of trust, and Denise truly takes the time to meet every individual where they are at.
Denise is also intentional about continuing to do the work with her own family and community. Denise has led many family circles as well as partnered with Travis County to create a process and provide resources for the transition of formerly incarnated men and women to be successful in the community as they reenter.
Denise lives and breathes this work and we know her experience, expertise, and infectious spirit will continue to leave a lasting impact on schools and districts she works with every day.
Alan Krenek
Lead Presenter & Restorative Practitioner
Alan Krenek is a seasoned educator with an extensive background spanning 17 years in public education. His experience as a special education teacher, behavior specialist, and 7th grade assistant principal affords him a multifaceted understanding of the school day, viewing it through the distinct perspectives of both a classroom teacher and a campus leader.
As a special education teacher, Alan focused on supporting students with behavioral and emotional challenges. Alan's enthusiasm for supporting students, coupled with his steadfast advocacy, ensured students’ voices were heard and their needs were met. This commitment fostered a classroom culture characterized by inclusivity, support, and success.
Driven by a passion for supporting both students and parents, Alan immediately recognized the tremendous power of Restorative Practices when introduced to it as a behavior specialist. While serving as a behavior specialist and an administrator, Alan put those practices into action as an alternative method to managing conflict and fostering positive relationships within classrooms and school communities.
Today, Alan stands as an energetic and engaging national presenter and consultant, specializing in Restorative Practices. His engaging seminars empower participants with practical insights and actionable strategies. Alan’s dedication to empowering educators and promoting student well-being continues to leave a lasting impact on schools across the nation, driving positive change within the field of education.
College Professor & Campus Culture Specialist
Lenny Grozier
Lenny Grozier is a professor and human behavior/education consultant. She has been an educator for 27 years and her teaching experience ranges from preschool to college. Lenny is dedicated to creating and maintaining safe and positive communities for learning. The foundation of her practice is to honor the unique attributes of each individual and design play-based learning experiences that are meaningful as well as enjoyable. In the last half decade, she has strategically implemented restorative practice techniques within the classroom.
Lenny is committed to coaching educators to consistently build positive relationships with students in easy-to-implement and authentic ways. She also specializes in teaching techniques to practice self-care and purposeful reflection in an effort to support optimal mental and physical health. Throughout her career, Lenny has truly enjoyed guiding others in seeing the power and potential they each possess to achieve their goals.
Lenny has coached thousands of teachers, paraprofessionals and administrators throughout the country. She has also presented at several national conferences for organizations such as the National Association for the Education of Young Children.
Lenny received her Bachelor’s Degree from Binghamton University and her Master’s Degree from The College of Saint Rose. Her post-graduate work in Literacy was completed at Adelphi University.
Lenny lives in Upstate New York with her husband, two children, and yellow Labrador retriever. She loves spending time with her family, traveling, reading, advocating for play and learning new things every day.
Peter Stewart
Current Principal & Campus Culture Specialist
Peter Stewart is a Restorative Practices Practitioner who has 32 years of experience as a Principal, Director of Special Education and Teacher in urban and rural school districts. He has provided PD in
Building and Sustaining Relationships with Students and Families at Binghamton University and BT BOCES. He is currently finishing up a book “The Principal’s Playbook” and has provided training to new and aspiring Principal’s at SUNY Cortland.
Peter is currently serving as Principal at Horace Mann School and working closely with community agencies implementing Restorative Practices and providing training in Diversity and Equity. He lives in Binghamton NY with his wife and has 5 kids and loves the NY Yankees.
Megan Harrington
School Counselor & Campus Culture Specialist
Megan Harrington is an exceptional school counselor at Harpursville Jr/Sr High, known for her unwavering dedication to fostering a positive campus culture.
As a Campus Culture Specialist at Edtomorrow, she brings her passion for fostering positive environments to empower students and create a harmonious campus culture.
Megan resides in Upstate NY with her loving husband Matt and their three wonderful children.
Breanna Potenza
Elementary Teacher & Campus Culture Specialist
Breanna is currently a teacher in a multi-age classroom with first and second graders at Harpursville Elementary School. She enjoys starting the day with students using the First Five and Classroom Circles.
Breanna also coaches volleyball where she has been able to implement some of the restorative practices through a coaching lens as well!
Breanna lives in Upstate NY and has a 2-year-old daughter who keeps her on her toes every second of everyday!
Cortney Whalen
Social Media Manager
Cortney brings a wealth of expertise in content creation, reputation management, analytics, and digital campaigns to the Edtomorrow team.
As an award-winning digital marketing expert, she has successfully managed hundreds of social media accounts and produced and directed both radio and television advertisements.
With 20 years of experience as a classroom teacher, Cortney has dedicated 17 years to teaching Kindergarten and Pre-K, and this year, she has embraced a new challenge by teaching 4th and 5th grades at an elementary school in upstate New York. Outside the classroom, she enjoys traveling, supporting her daughters as a stage and cheer mom, and spending time with her Australian Shepherd, Harrison (Harry).
Tony Nunn
Lead Videographer
Tony Nunn is a videographer and photographer based in Dallas, Texas. Tony has worked with several large companies, award-winning artists, and school districts to bring each of their unique visions to life and showcase the amazing work they do.
Tony enjoys spending much of his free time researching the latest gear and tricks in the film industry. When he is not filming, editing, or researching, Tony enjoys kayaking, playing basketball, and spending time with his wife and 1 year old daughter, Nova.
Dr. Kacie Overton
Content Editor
Kacie is an exceptional individual with a diverse range of accomplishments. She has established herself as a proficient chief editor for the First Five, providing outside perspective and ensuring high quality resources for our audience. Additionally, she has a doctorate in physical therapy and works with older adults in both long term care and short term rehab.
Kacie also coaches travel volleyball in Upstate NY, with the amazing opportunity of mentoring 13-14 year old girls in her community. In her leisure time, she enjoys hiking and exploring NY and the surrounding regions alongside her husband.
Ariana Meehan
First Five Lead Content Coordinator
Ariana is a 4th grade teacher who's always had a passion for being creative. She uses the First Five daily in her classroom, while managing and creating First Five content outside of the classroom.
Ariana graduated from The University of Central Missouri in 2021 with a Bachelors in Elementary Education, and will graduate with a Masters Degree in Curriculum and Instruction in Spring of 2024. At work, she creates the yearbook, runs the assemblies, is the co-team lead for her grade level of 7 teachers, is on the state testing committee, and her school's behavior intervention team.
Ariana lives in the Kansas City area. Outside of work, Ariana loves to travel, scrapbook, cook, go to concerts, and spend time with friends.
Jill Coleman
Restorative Coordinator & Campus Culture Specialist
Jill has been an educator for twenty+ years. She is currently a teacher on special assignment supporting Binghamton City Schools with implementing their Code of Conduct, analyzing and disaggerating discipline data to drive social emotional structures and supports, including tiered restorative interventions and progressive consequences.
Jill supports East Middle School's alternative education program with restorative interventions and social emotional learning. Jill also uses a restorative approach while coaching varsity girls flag football, section champions for two consecutive years.
Jill lives in Binghamton with her husband, daughter and three dogs. She spends much of her free time outdoors hiking, trail running and gardening. .
Dan Kosick
School Social Worker & Campus Culture Specialist
Dan Kosick is a Licensed Master Social Worker who is heading into his 18th year as a middle school social worker in the Susquehanna Valley School District. Prior to becoming a school social worker Dan was a long term substitute teacher in multiple educational settings including an alternative school. Dan also worked 5 years in the Binghamton City School District under a federal grant supporting at risk youth and first generational college bound students. In addition to being a social worker, Dan is an outdoor enthusiast, has coached boys and girls lacrosse, swimming and alpine ski racing. Dan is also proud to be a childhood cancer survivor, above knee amputee, Wish Kid, Paralympian, girl dad and volunteer.
Leslie Carter
First Five Content Creator
Leslie Carter is an instructional facilitator passionate about helping teachers reach their full potential. With a heart for education and a knack for creative design, she creates engaging First Five content that foster meaningful connections between teachers and students.
When she’s not supporting educators, Leslie enjoys spending time with her husband and three daughters, as well as her beloved cats, Chip and Queso. Whether she’s designing, mentoring, or making memories with her family, Leslie is always finding ways to inspire and uplift those around her.
Emma Tichenor
First Five Content Creator
Emma is an elementary librarian from Topeka, KS, with seven years of classroom experience. She is passionate about building meaningful relationships with her students and loves incorporating the First Fives into her lessons to foster connection and engagement.
In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family and her two Dalmatians, Dotty and Dash. As a content creator, Emma loves bringing her personality to life through her graphics and creating resources she’s excited to use with her own students.
Alexis DeRitis
First Five Content Creator
Alexis DeRitis is a passionate educator whose experience ranges from teaching elementary students to adults. She holds a master’s degree in educational technology from SUNY Oneonta. Her strong knowledge base in this area has allowed her to lead workshops and assume an adjunct instructor position where she trains educators on effective technology integration practices.
First introduced to the concept of classroom circles by her former administrator, John Whalen, Alexis has adopted this approach as a cornerstone of her daily fifth-grade classroom routine. Now, as a member of the Edtomorrow team, she is blending her classroom knowledge and tech-savvy skills to positively impact students through digital content creation.
Alexis currently resides in Upstate New York with her fiancé and their pets. Although her work passions largely consume her time, she enjoys unwinding with yoga, traveling, and spending time with family or friends.
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Emily Maker
First Five Content Creator
Emily is a passionate educator who loves helping students access their potential in order to thrive. She taught Third Grade for five years in Pittsburgh, PA, and she currently works to provide feedback for students and teachers continuing their learning journey. One of her favorite parts about being a content creator for the First Five is that she can help teachers find what works best to connect with their unique classrooms.
Emily also is a mentor at a middle school youth group in her community, so she has to stay "up" on all her slang. Emily secretly loves dad jokes and puns, too. When she's not teaching or creating content, Emily enjoys spending time with her family, hiking outside with their toddler, playing disc golf, and exploring other cultures.
Lilly Hartman
First Five Content Creator
Lilly Hartman is a dedicated 4th-grade teacher who brings creativity and enthusiasm to her classroom every day. A proud Swiftie, she loves incorporating innovative and engaging lessons that inspire her students to learn and grow.
When she’s not in the classroom, Lilly enjoys traveling to new places, staying active through workouts, and cherishing time with her family. As a member of the First Five team, she finds joy in helping teachers and students start their days on a positive note, creating a welcoming and encouraging environment for all..
Maggie Miller
First Five Content Creator
Maggie is a 4th grade teacher in the Kansas City area, currently in her second year of teaching. She graduated from the University of Missouri (Go Tigers!) in 2023 and is working on completing her Masters in Curriculum and Instruction.
In addition to teaching, she loves to read, embroider, spend time with friends, family, and of course, her dog! She absolutely loves teaching and creating materials to make learning meaningful and fun for students!
Willie Wimbrey
Campus Culture Specialist