Deborah Burns has a 44-years background as a K–8 classroom teacher and pull-out program provider, as well as experience with district, regional, and university administrator positions. During her 17 years as a district central office curriculum administrator, Burns worked closely with teacher leaders to redesign the district's curriculum to align with standards. She has authored district-level Response to Intervention, gifted education, English language, and formative assessment systems and designed a blended, standards-based, and continuous progress instruction and assessment system. Her teaching and administrative experience involves all K–8 subject areas, with an emphasis on differentiation, intervention, gifted education, and remediation. She has delivered presentations at international, national, state, and regional conferences and institutes but spends most of her time facilitating district- and school-level professional learning and program redesign sessions and meetings.