Leadership Team

Kit Marshall, PhD
Dr. Kit Marshall has served as President and CEO of Action Learning Systems since founding the company in 1995. Kit’s visionary work with California’s schools and districts has formed much of the basis for the success of ALS, and she provides critical direction and leadership to the entire company in its work with teachers and administrators at every level. She continues to coach district administrators, provide professional development for effective leadership, and plan reform initiatives based on data analysis and standards implementation.

Kit has decades of successful multi-level experience working at the elementary, middle, and high school levels as a teacher, principal, Program Specialist, Direct Instruction Reading and Math coach, and Director of Professional Development for Sacramento County Office of Education’s multi-county SELPA. She worked as a teacher and principal in elementary, middle, and high schools in the San Juan Unified School District over the course of 20 years.

Kit has designed standards-based administrative coaching and curriculum/assessment programs, as well as successful parent training programs and some of the first fully integrated programs in the state for students with disabilities. She is a published author in standards-based curriculum design and coaching for school reform, and she is known throughout the United States and Canada for her work in the implementation of standards-based schools and districts. Kit received her Ph.D. in Educational Sociology from Stanford University.
kmarshall@actionlearningsystems.com

Gary D. Soto
Gary D. Soto is Action Learning Systems’ Executive Vice President. Gary is an AB75 administrative trainer and K-12 specialist dedicated to ALS’ vision of increasing academic achievement for all students. His dedication to the concept that all students can meet the high expectations set for them drives his efforts. As an Administrative Coach, he trains teams of administrators and teachers in working collaboratively through the integration of research-based instructional strategies.

David Marshall
David Marshall is Action Learning Systems’ COO/CFO. David is responsible for overseeing ALS’ financial, accounting, human resources, and marketing activities. He manages the company’s day-to-day interests, including financial reporting and negotiation of all client and vendor contracts.

Bob Crowe
Bob Crowe is Vice President of Training and Development in Southern California. Bob’s responsibilities include supervision of Instructional Coaches, implementation of ALS trainings and programs and sustaining district-wide partnerships. Bob has worked extensively as an Instructional Coach, Accountability Coach, and AB75 trainer for both K-8 and 6-12 with Action Learning Systems.

Cindy Lenners
Cindy Lenners is Vice President of Training and Development in Northern California. Cindy’s responsibilities include creating district-wide partnerships and supervising the implementation of Action Learning Systems’ Essential Practices of High Performing Schools. She serves as an Instructional Coach, Administrative Coach, AB75 instructor, SAIT lead, and Accountability Coach for elementary, middle, and high schools throughout California.

Cindy has 19 years of experience teaching at the elementary, middle, and high school levels. Her commitment to excellence in education has been evident through her work with the Monterey County Office of Education, the Salinas Union High School District, the Middle School Demonstration Project, and many statewide initiatives. Cindy received both her B.A and M.A. from the University of South Dakota.
clenners@actionlearningsystems.com

Kelly Smith
Kelly Smith is the Vice President of Product Development at Action Learning Systems.  Kelly’s responsibilities consist of leading the design and development of all instructional products, including the development of ALS Benchmark Assessments. In addition to product development, Kelly serves as an Accountability Coach and as a SAIT Coach at ALS partnership schools.

Before joining Action Learning Systems, Kelly served as a classroom teacher for ten years and as an English-Language Arts Curriculum Coordinator for eight years. At the same time, Kelly provided professional development in schools throughout California and Oregon and was a Development Team Member for both the California Assessment Program and the California Learning Assessment System. From 1999 until 2003, Kelly was the Development Team Lead for the Golden State Exam in Reading and Literature.

Vicki Alterwitz
Vicki Alterwitz is Director of Textbook and Intervention Materials Implementation and Publisher Relations. In her role with Action Learning Systems, Vicki collaborates with schools and districts to raise academic achievement for all students by increasing fidelity in implementation of textbooks and intervention materials. She also serves as an approved SAIT/DAIT lead for middle and high schools.

Vicki’s experience focuses on designing and developing professional development and training materials for teachers and administrators to use adopted texts and intervention materials for language arts, mathematics, science, and history/social science. In her roles as a Director and Curriculum Specialist with the Sacramento County Office of Education, Vicki provided professional development for teachers (AB466) in language arts for adopted/approved instructional materials and created content modules for administrative professional development (AB75 Module 1). Vicki received her B.S. from Pennsylvania State University, and she received two M.S. degrees in Education from Southern Connecticut State University.
valterwitz@actionlearningsystems.com

Craig Heimbichner
Craig Heimbichner is Director of SAIT and DAIT (School Assistance and Intervention Teams and District Assistance and Intervention Teams).  Craig’s responsibilities include supervision of the work of Action Learning Systems in raising student achievement through state-regulated programs, including the High Priority Schools Grant Program.

Craig’s experience includes teaching at elementary, middle, and high school levels, including administration in middle and high schools and at the district level.  After serving as a high school principal, Craig was brought into the California Department of Education as a visiting educator to work on the reshaping and formation of SAIT and DAIT at the state level, serving as the coordinator of all Program Improvement audits and as a team lead and state trainer.  In addition, Craig managed the Reading/Language Arts Leadership Office and was State Director for Reading First, working with the legislature to ensure ongoing funding and coordinating statewide efforts to improve reading instruction.  Craig is an approved SAIT/DAIT lead for middle and high schools.