In-Spire

Jordan Benn is a learning & well-being consultant, mindfulness educator, and coach who partners with schools, non-profits, and mission-driven organizations to support emotional well-being and resilience. His work has included collaborations with Oakland Unified School District, Palm Beach County schools, and youth-serving startups across the country. Jordan is especially passionate about translating abstract topics like mindfulness and emotional regulation into practical, inclusive tools that youth and educators can use in their everyday lives.

Playful Fact:
I have a deep love for music. I have nearly 200 vinyl records and CDs and am actively growing my collection!

Courtney Lewallen Forte teaches English at Catawba Valley Community College and collects creative projects the way some people collect stamps. She’s a writer, editor, animal rights advocate, environmentalist, homeschool mom, comic creator, and game designer who loves helping people discover new ways to learn, grow, and connect. If there’s a conversation happening about books, climate, creativity, or social change, she’s probably joining in.

Playful fact: 

Courtney plays the ukulele, is vegan, and recently rediscovered a love for tarot.

Kayla Lambright is an educator, leadership coach, and community builder who is passionate about helping people step into their fullest potential. She currently supports and develops early-career teachers across Massachusetts while also teaching future health professionals as an adjunct instructor. Kayla believes that joy, play, and genuine human connection are essential ingredients for both learning and wellbeing, and she is always looking for ways to bring a little more whimsy, heart, and humanity into the spaces she leads.

Playful Fact: I firmly believe karaoke, dance, deep conversations, and good food can solve at least 90% of life’s problems. Oh yeah, and I am a cat mama of 3.

Jay Breslow is the Education Program Manager at Western States Center, where he works to strengthen democratic institutions. Jay directs the Community Creativity Collective (3C), a family and community engagement initiative that connects the content knowledge of the community with the pedagogical skill of teachers to generate more creative teaching and learning. All of that is balanced (or unbalanced) by his wonderful home life that includes a 10 year marriage, an 8 year old son, a 6 year old daughter, an 11 year old dog and a 100 year old house.

Playful fact: Jay has been a white water rafting guide for 20 years and his favorite place to be is in a small rubber raft hurtling towards a moderately sized waterfall. 

Dr. Miranda Ming is an educator, author, and community advocate committed to cultivating joy and wellness through education. As the Executive Director of Momentum Academy in St. Louis and co-owner of KM Educational Design, she builds empowering partnerships that support students and families. With a deep belief in the limitless potential of today’s learners, Dr. Ming uses literacy, poetry, coalition-building, and storytelling to help transform lives and communities.

Playful Fact: I am in love with joy AND my high school sweetheart, have visited Jamaica so many times that the island might just start calling me a local, and believe that happiness is contagious!

Crystalyn Thomas-Davis is an education consultant who specializes in improving literacy outcomes and instructional strategies in K-12 and post-secondary settings. With a Master of Arts in Teaching degree from Johns Hopkins University and nearly 15 years of national and international teaching experience, her commitment to the holistic development of students and educators is evident to all who meet her. In addition to being a National Board-certified teacher (NBCT) and a Fulbright scholar, Ms. Davis also serves as an adjunct professor at a local university.  There, she helps prepare pre-service teachers for success in the classroom.

Playful Fact: I love to decorate my home.  I used a cake pan and painter’s tape to help create an intricate wall design in my living room. 

Dr. Shalia Moore-Hayes is the founder and lead school psychologist of Aplomb Consulting and Education Solutions, LLC. With a career rooted in education, psychology, and leadership, Dr. Shalia is committed to advancing youth emotional well-being and driving community-centered organizational change. She is also a proud wife, mother of five, and grandmother.

Playful Fact: Dr. Shalia loves singing karaoke and roller skating—and has even done both at the same time!

Ronni Moore, an educator from Indianapolis, lives with her husband and four children. She began teaching science in a high school for adults and now teaches at the school she once attended. Ronni is creating a program where students pursue meaningful work alongside professionals. She believes learning should connect students to purpose and community.

Playful Fact: My favorite way to get around town is on my Vespa!

I’ve never colored between the lines! With over 6 years across global organizations, I’m a generalist who designs learning experiences that are as engaging as they are impactful. I build training programs, architect soft-skills curricula, and turn data into stories, not just to measure outcomes, but to spark real, lasting change. Whether working with children or adults, I lead with empathy, curiosity and purpose.

Playful Fact: In the past three years, I have hosted over 100 creative gatherings, from Squid Freeze and Summerlympics to Fall Magic Mysticals. If there’s a theme, a costume, or a competitive snack challenge involved, I’m probably already planning the next one.

Aliyah Daley is the founder of Daley Balance, an organization that supports homeschooling families through holistic education and hands-on, garden-based learning programs. She is a certified School Garden Educator with a masters in elementary education and a passion for nurturing both children and their communities. Through Daley Balance, Aliyah creates hands-on experiences that nurture the mind, body, and spirit, supporting homeschooling families through joyful, meaningful learning. She is committed to inspiring children to grow through curiosity, creativity, and care for the earth

Playful fact: Dancing is my selfcare, I absolutely love to dance.

Swing Set Institute Founder

FOL Foundation Founder

Imagination Lab Founder