Renee Prillaman began her career as a classroom teacher which cemented her love of experiential learning and building just and caring classroom cultures. Seeing teaching as a calling and an act of creating social justice, Renee spent her career focused on supporting and developing teachers and those who supervise and lead teachers. Her current work as a coach and consultant is centered on how we can be effective and sustain ourselves as teachers and leaders at a time when the art and science of teaching and learning is more demanding than ever.

Renee holds a Ph.D in curriculum and instruction and instructional supervision from UNC-Chapel Hill and coaching certifications in neuro-linguistic programming and Satir Global Coaching. Renee served as a clinical professor in education and child development at Meredith College, UNC-Chapel Hill, and Duke University. For 23 years, she was a Carolina Friends School teacher, head of middle school, assistant head for teaching and learning, and acting and interim head of school.

Mike Hanas is the founder: coach/consultant of Furthering Leadership. He previously led San Francisco Friends School from 2016-2022 after 16 years at Carolina Friends School, three as upper school head and 13 as head of school. Mike earned his bachelor’s in classics from the College of the Holy Cross, where he was elected Phi Beta Kappa, and his master’s degree in education administration, planning, and social policy from Harvard University. Mike has also taught Latin, Greek, and humanities, served as a college counselor and assistant director of admissions, and coached basketball, football, and lacrosse. He currently serves on the board of trustees for the Friends Council on Education and the board of advisors for the Warren B. Rudman Center for Justice, Leadership, and Public Service. Mike completed the Berkeley Executive Coaching Institute at UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business and serves as a certified executive coach for leaders and leadership teams across the country.