About bby Publications

Dr. Denise Knight is a veteran educator with 32 years of experience having taught numerous grade levels in PK-12, Talented and Gifted education, served as a District-wide Director of Federal Programs and Elementary Curriculum, and as an Elementary Principal. Her background and areas of emphasis include early childhood, elementary, and gifted education, arts integration, instructional leadership, curriculum and instruction, federal programs, data analysis, school improvement, grant writing, and professional development. Dr. Knight has served as a consultant and presenter in many venues at an international, national, regional, and local level. She currently serves as Director of bby Publications at The University of West Alabama, Director of Project REP: Rethinking Rural Educator Preparation Programs (a USDE Teacher Quality Partnership Grant), and as an Associate Professor of Instructional Leadership at the master’s, specialist’s, and doctoral levels. She resides in Meridian, MS with her husband, Joey, who is also a veteran educator. They have two daughters, two grandchildren, and two fur-babies.

Teresa Partridge joined the bby team as Business Manager in June 2011, bringing with her 28 years of accounting, human resources and business management experience in both the public and private sector. Partridge earned her Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting from the University of West Alabama in 1982. A native of Cuba, Alabama, she lived and worked in five different states ranging from the Rocky Mountains to the Atlantic Coast before coming back home to Sumter County and UWA. Partridge's wide range of accounting and business management experience includes Fortune 500 companies such as Capsugel Pfizer and Dean Foods, as well as thriving municipalities such as Charleston, S.C., Commissioners of Public Works. She and her husband, Kent, have one daughter, Courtney, a 1st grade teacher in Leeds, Alabama and their precious fur-baby, Maggie.

Kay Lucas is the Professional Development Coordinator for bby Publications at the University of West Alabama. She works with elementary schools within different school districts across the United States identifying their specific math needs along with providing training sessions for teachers. Kay is a graduate from the University of West Alabama with a degree in Integrated Marketing Communications. She also develops different marketing strategies through videos, the website, graphics and social media. Kay works closely with the bby team to expand their marketing abilities across the United States. Kay resides in Greensboro, AL with her husband Trevor. They have one son, Braylen, whom they love dearly.

Jennifer Synold is passionate about helping kids and teachers experience success, make connections, and see the beauty in mathematics. Jennifer has been teaching workshops for bby Publications for 20 years and has used all of bby's materials in her own classroom. She has helped to edit many of their publications, has taught workshops for all of bby's curriculum components, and has consulted with school districts across the country. Synold has taught grades 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8. In Monrovia, CA, she was a math coach for her school site, a district math coach, chair for the district's K-12 mathematics committee, helped develop the district's K-8 math curriculum plan, and was a district math workshop leader. Synold received her bachelor's degree in anthropology from Amherst College in Amherst, MA, followed by a Professional Clear Multiple Subject Teaching Credential from Dominican University in San Rafael, CA. She has taught in northern and southern California as well as in Memphis, TN. Jennifer is currently teaching in Azusa, CA. She lives in Monrovia, CA, with her husband, Tim. They have two daughters.

Mike has over 30 years of classroom experience teaching in Grades K-6. After three years of development, he helped establish North Clackamas School District's first choice school based on Howard Gardner's “multiple intelligence” work in Milwaukie, Oregon. He has been associated with bby Publications for the past 25 years and has used many of their materials in the classroom. He has a master's degree in curriculum and supervision and has been a professional development workshop instructor since 1986. He continues to work in classrooms helping teachers see how much they can change the world of mathematics for their own students. Mike and his wife, Meredyth, have three adult children and live in Milwaukie, Oregon.

Pat has been an elementary teacher for 32 years and an instructor of adults in mathematics and language arts for over 25. He has taught all grades, kindergarten to sixth grade, and his favorites are 2nd grade to 4th grade. Pat received his bachelor's degree in Sociology from Westmont College in Santa Barbara, CA. He continued his studies in elementary education at Portland State University and later earned his Master's degree in Educational Leadership from the University of Portland. Pat, along with 4 colleagues, developed the first choice school, Sojourner in the North Clackamas SD in Milwaukie, OR. Sojourner focused on the whole child supported by Howard Garner's theory of Multiple Intelligences. We all have these intelligences and it's exciting to be a part of developing them in others, “thus I love teaching.” Pat, originally from Honolulu, Hawaii, now resides in Oregon City, OR. His wife, Liz, is also an elementary school teacher. They both love working with kids and enjoy sharing teaching stories. They are very proud of their three beautiful daughters, Johannah, Rachel, and Alicia.

Debby is a veteran in educational consulting, having provided professional development and consulting services nationwide for The Math Learning Center, Head-Pollett Consultants and now bby Publications at UWA. Head began her career in education as an elementary teacher in the Shelby County, Kentucky Public Schools, where she taught for 20 years. Twelve of those years included team-teaching with her eventual business partner, Libby Pollett. In 1994, Head and Pollett founded Head-Pollett Consultants and bby Publications, where each served as authors and teaching consultants. Together the “bby gals” have co-authored/created in excess of 60 mathematics resources for elementary teachers. Head holds a master's degree in Elementary Education from Eastern Kentucky University and a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education from the University of Kentucky. She resides in Shelbyville, KY with her husband Randy.

Libby is a retired elementary educator from Shelbyville, KY As an elementary teacher, Pollett was the recipient of the Golden Apple Award, which was the school district's Teacher of the Year. Pollett was a co-founder of Head-Pollett Consultants and bby Publications which is now bby Publications at The University of West Alabama. Pollett earned her bachelor's degree in elementary education and psychology from Queens College, in Charlotte, N.C. She attended Spaulding University in Louisville, where she earned her master's degree, in addition to earning her Rank I from Georgetown College, both in elementary education. Pollett has done additional graduate work in mathematics at Portland State University in Portland, OR. She has been a presenter at the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics national conference. Libby resides in Shelbyville, KY with her husband, Hubie.

Charlene is from Shelbyville, Kentucky. She received her Bachelor's in Elementary Education from Western Kentucky University and her Master's of Education from University of Louisville. She taught second and third grade in Trimble County, KY for eight years. She retired from Oldham County, KY after teaching first through fourth grades for nineteen years. She taught multiage, multi-ability classrooms, keeping her students for three years in a row. She taught workshops around the state, training teachers. Charlene was selected as Teacher of the Year for Centerfield Elementary twice and was one of three finalists for the Kentucky Teacher of the Year award.

Charlene has presented at the Kentucky Conference for Mathematics, Alabama Council of Teachers of Mathematics, The Homeschool Association in Atlanta, Georgia, The Making Connections Conference, and The Mega Conference for Alabama State Department of Education.

Charlene lives in Simpsonville, Kentucky and has 3 grown children.

Rose Ellen Dunn spent 32 years as an elementary classroom teacher, working for Clovis Municipal Schools (CMS) in New Mexico. She also taught professional development workshops for CMS and served on many district committees including Mathematics Curriculum Revision committees. Since her retirement, she has worked as a PreK teacher, K-5 Curriculum Coach, and as a Middle School teacher. She loves to visit other Early Childhood Education centers to share her enthusiasm for mathematics with the children and their teachers. Rose Ellen earned her Master's Degree and Bachelor's Degree from Eastern New Mexico University in Portales, NM. Rose Ellen grew up in the Clovis, NM area, married, and raised her family there. She continues living in Clovis with her husband, Lenis.

Mrs. Jamie Morphis is a resident of Meridian, Mississippi. She and her husband James are the proud parents of three children: Bo, Hank, and Phoebe. Presently Jamie serves as assistant headmaster and counselor at Russell Christian Academy in Meridian. While serving in this capacity, Jamie is also studying at Bob Jones University pursuing her Master's Degree in Educational Leadership. She is on track to complete this degree in December of this year. As part of the administrative team at RCA, Jamie has diligently focused on providing RCA students with greater growth and learning opportunities. During her time in this role, she has worked to increase the rigor of the honors curriculum, expand student scholarship opportunities, provide seniors with dual enrollment classes, and strengthen the dyslexia program. Jamie is passionate about each of these endeavors. In addition, she has worked with area community members to expand RCA's after school opportunities to include art, karate, and music lessons.

Jamie has been a part of the ministry of Russell Christian Academy for ten years. Prior to assuming her place on RCA's administrative team, Jamie served for six years at RCA as a high school math teacher. During this time, she was selected twice as RCA's Star teacher. Jamie is a strong, outspoken advocate of the mission of Russell Christian Academy and has an intense desire to see each student at RCA achieve his/her God-given intellectual and spiritual potential while growing in a personal relationship with Christ as Lord and Savior.

Phil White has taught 4th through 8th grades for 20 years in Visalia, California. He was a Mentor Teacher, Math Department Chairman, and curriculum advisor during his 12 years in Middle School education. He was chosen as a Cluster Leader for the Math Matters Project, an NSF Math Grant program in California. He conducted staff development, classroom observations and demonstration lessons, and provided cognitive coaching for K-8 teachers. Mr. White served as the Math Curriculum Specialist for the Tulare City School District. It was here that he met and worked closely with Libby Pollett and Debby Head. Upon his retirement, bby Publications asked him to serve as a consultant. He also teaches Math Curriculum and Instruction courses for Interns with the local county office of education. He and his wife, Sandy, live in Visalia. They have two children, Mike and Jen, and four grandchildren.

Meet Ryan Phelps! She is one of our newest team members at bby. Ryan teaches intermediate grade levels at Cahawba Christian Academy in central Alabama. Ryan attended a bby Professional Development course a few summers ago and has loved using bby resources ever since! She incorporates bby into her classroom daily and loves to see the fellow teachers do the same. Ryan is currently attending the University of West Alabama in pursuit of a more advanced degree. Ryan has been married for ten years to her husband, TJ. They have two precious children together, Lucy and Jack. When Ryan is not catching up on the latest trends in the world of education or chasing her two kids around, you can find her curled up with a good book!