You're Invited to Wayfinder's Winter Summit: Charting Purpose, Pathways, and Progress

Education Leader and Founder of The Noegenesis Group

Dr. Davis is a visionary education leader and founder of The Noegenesis Group, a think tank dedicated to advancing equity and excellence in education. As the first Black superintendent of Richland School District Two, he transformed systems and inspired leaders nationwide. Today, he serves as Senior Advisor at Digital Promise and Superintendent-in-Residence at the University of South Carolina, shaping the next generation of educational innovators. Recognized by Education Week as a Leader to Learn From, Dr. Davis continues to champion bold solutions that close opportunity gaps and build thriving learning communities.

Senior Director, Teaching and Learning at Fusion Education Group

Joie Laykoff is a Senior Director at Fusion Education Group, where she advances highly personalized, whole-student learning across 80 campuses and an online program. With an M.A. in Special Education, she leads the development of instructional pedagogy,  learning resources, and professional development that integrate personalization into daily practice. A certified Transformational Coach and UCLA Mindfulness Facilitator, Joie supports ed leaders in building self-awareness and confidence. She has written for ATD, appeared on podcasts, and presented at education conferences, and is committed to fostering meaningful student engagement and educator growth.

Director of Social Emotional Learning and Mental Health at Fusion Education Group

Amber Larson is a Director at Fusion Education Group, where she supports holistic, personalized learning that strengthens student outcomes and campus community. Partnering with the Teaching and Learning team, she helps educators design programming that fosters belonging, culture, and well-being across group and independent learning spaces. Amber has been with Fusion since 2015, serving in roles including Teacher/Mentor, Department Head, Assistant Director, and Head of School. A former public educator, she holds National Board Certification, an M.A. in teaching from the University of Washington, and a bachelor’s degree in History and European Studies.

Deputy Superintendent of Academics, School Leadership, and Partnership Services at San Antonio ISD

Dr. Bird is Deputy Superintendent for the San Antonio Independent School District. A career public educator with over 23 years of experience, he has served in senior academic leadership roles across major districts including Houston ISD, Los Angeles Unified, Pasadena Unified, the School District of Philadelphia, and Portland Public Schools. Dr. Bird began his career as a high school English teacher and has held roles as a literacy coach, principal, principal supervisor, and chief academic officer. He holds a bachelor’s degree in English, a master’s in secondary education, and a doctorate in curriculum and instruction from the University of Houston.

Senior Director, Learning and Development at Wayfinder

With 15+ years in education, Quinae specializes in transforming classrooms, coaching educators, and designing experiences that unite academic rigor with belonging and purpose. As Director of L+D at Wayfinder, Quinae helps students cultivate future-ready skills. Previously, as Senior Brand Ambassador at Nearpod, she empowered educators globally to build engaging, connected classrooms. Quinae is a proud Southside Atlanta native and Miles College alumna, and her teaching journey began with Teach For America, where she championed equity and student voice. Beyond work, she mentors girls through Rhosebuds, serves her faith community, and leads STEAM initiatives with the National Council of Negro Women.

Manager, Learning and Development at Wayfinder

Mark Williams is an elementary educator, mindfulness teacher, and lifelong learner dedicated to creating equitable, empathetic spaces where children feel safe to explore and grow. Through his teaching, storytelling, music, gardening, and mindfulness, he supports students’ social, emotional, and academic development. Mark has worked with children across classrooms, afterschool programs, outdoor education settings, and community spaces, including international service experiences. He holds an M.Ed. in Mindfulness Education from Antioch University New England and a B.A. in Elementary Education from Wheaton College, and remains committed to helping students cultivate kindness, curiosity, and well-being.