Meet Our Board

Dr. Coby Davis, Principal of Archer Learning Center, is a veteran educator with 25 years of experience spanning childhood and adult learning. A former professor and behavior interventionist, he specializes in equipping teachers with the confidence to implement modern instructional techniques. Beyond the classroom, Dr. Davis is a dedicated community advocate, currently serving as President of the Northwest Arkansas NAACP and a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. As a recognized leader in his field, he is a frequent speaker at national conferences on alternative education models, behavior management, and restorative practices.

Dr. Brown has over 25 years of experience in the field of education, with over 22 years of administrative leadership in Maryland, the District of Columbia, and Pennsylvania.  He has devoted considerable effort toward enriching his academic and professional development and currently possesses a Doctor of Education degree (Ed.D.) specializing in Urban Leadership and has completed all but his dissertation for a second Doctor of Education degree (ABD) in Special Education with a focus on emotional behavior.  In addition, Dr. Brown holds a Master of Arts degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice, a Master of Science degree in Adult Education, specializing in administration, a Master of Education degree in Special Education, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology.

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In his recently elected position as President-Elect of the National Alternative Education Association, he will serve as a member of the Executive Board and continue to serve as a member of the association’s Exemplary Practices Committee who provides professional development to schools and educators throughout the nation.  Dr. Brown formerly served as the Region 2 Director providing representation for Virginia, District of Columbia, Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey on this body.

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Dr. Brown is a proud member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. In alignment with this fraternity’s objectives, Dr. Brown continuously promotes honorable achievement in every field of human endeavor. This applies to both educators and the students we serve.  Dr. Brown firmly believes that non-traditional education is rooted in a student-centered approach where the individual traits of educators and students are taken into consideration as we promote effective teaching, learning, and personnel growth. 

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Natalie Stromberg is the Business Development Coordinator at the Davis Catalyst Center where she works with industry partners to find real-world projects for students. Students develop professional skills as they take ownership of their future. Natalie is the project manager directing student projects in Cyber Security, Web Design, Culinary Arts, Drones, Audio, Video, Construction Management, Business and Marketing.

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Previously, Natalie was an Alternative Education Instructor teaching students English, ESL, Senior Seminar, Business, Entrepreneurship, and DECA. Her passion is empowering students to take control of their education and design their futures.  Natalie is the mother of 4 amazing children. She loves traveling with and supporting them in all of their adventures.  Natalie loves humanitarian travel and has served people in Nicaragua, Guatemala, Ecuador, India, and Nepal. She enjoys travel of all kinds and has visited 26 different countries.

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Natalie is excited to be serving on the NAEA board and to work with incredible alternative educators!

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Juan D. Gatica is an Instructional Coach for Triumph Public Charter Schools, where he provides targeted instructional support to teachers in a high school setting. In this role, Mr. Gatica works intentionally to build a strong foundation of support for educators, fostering collaborative instructional practices that enhance student achievement. His focus is on developing cohesive instructional teams that effectively serve underserved and marginalized student populations.

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Throughout his career in Texas public education, Mr. Gatica has served in a wide range of leadership capacities, including Elementary School Principal, Middle School Principal, High School Principal, CTE Director, and Director of At-Risk Programs. His passion for education is rooted in his commitment to students who have been labeled “at-risk” by systems that have historically failed to fully engage them academically. With over 30 years of experience as a secondary administrator, Mr. Gatica has also served as a mentor with both the Texas Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents and the Raise Your Hand Texas Public School Advocacy Group. He is a founding member of the West Texas Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents in Lubbock, Texas.

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In addition to his work in public education, Mr. Gatica is the Chief Executive Officer and Founder of Informative Solutions, a college and career readiness system that provides post-secondary support to rural schools across the country.

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Mr. Gatica studied school leadership at Harvard University as a member of the 2010 Raise Your Hand Texas cohort and earned both a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Education from Texas Tech University. He is also an alumnus of the 2008 Oxford Roundtable at Oxford University in Oxford, England. Mr. Gatica continues to present at the state, national, and international levels, sharing his expertise in leadership, equity, and educational reform.

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Mr. Brian Gee, has the privilege of being the Principal at Goddard Academy, Ember Hope and the Goddard Virtual Program in Goddard, Kansas.  He has been an administrator for 20+ years, that time has been spent in rural, inner-city, and suburban school districts serving as an Assistant Principal, Athletic Director and Principal.  Mr. Gee has also served in numerous leadership roles with the Kansas Association of Secondary School Principals and Kansas Department of Education.

Mr. Brian Gee has a unique passion and drive to develop positive relationships within the school and local community, working with students to become a strong part of a productive society, all while supporting teachers to reach their greatest potential, and fostering a positive school culture while in and out of the classroom.

As a family, Brian and his wife Kasey, enjoy spending time with their 4 wonderful kids (Quentin, Braxton, Brooks and Brynlee) watching sporting events and doing family outdoor activities. He began his Educational Leadership career with a Bachelor’s in Physical Science from Fort Hays State University and his Master’s in School Leadership from Baker University.

Brian is excited to continue his work with the Exemplary Practices Cohort Schools.  His previous educational experiences will enhance an already great organization.

Mr. Brian Tetreault currently serves as the Director of Alternative Learning Programs in the Chariho Regional School District in South County, Rhode Island.  Chariho’s Alternative Learning Academy includes both an alternative learning program and a clinical day program.  It is a comprehensive K-12 alternative school providing individualized instruction, social emotional learning and mental health support for youth who have not reached their full potential in traditional public schools.  An academic focus on interdisciplinary, standards aligned, project based learning and high expectations of his staff to do whatever it takes to help each student find success are the hallmarks of his leadership at The Academy.

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Brian has over 25 years of experience in education, beginning his career as a program manager for a Clinical Day School with locations in Salem, Connecticut and Westerly, Rhode Island.  He has been a special education teacher and dean of students at a traditional high school and was a middle school assistant principal before returning to the alternative education realm.  

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These experiences have shaped him into an accomplished educational leader instilling confidence in his students, staff and fellow school administrators. He graduated from the University of Connecticut and earned a Master of Education degree from Providence College.

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Brian is married with twin boys and is active in the community volunteering on the local Little League board of Directors and coaching various sports for his children.  He loves to travel and spend time on the beach with his family.

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This is the bio for region 2.

Myron Franklin is a spontaneously creative leader who brings new and fresh perspectives that defy conventional approaches to education. He currently serves as the principal of Johnson Learning Center in Nashville, TN, where he advocates for systemic changes to better impact the outcomes for non-traditional students. With nearly two decades in education, Myron has been an administrator in four different states, and his educational experience includes rural, urban, and suburban settings in both public and private schools and traditional and non-traditional educational environments. With a focus on achieving results, he cultivates the strength of a team by empowering each member to perform at their highest level. His drive toward excellence raises the bar and leads to new standards of success.

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A lover of ideas and great thinkers, Myron enjoys reading books and writing poetry. Outside of traditional education, Myron has worked with youth via several poetry organizations to teach, facilitate, and mentor young poets on their path to self-discovery. He has also performed original works of poetry in various venues throughout the southern region, even sharing the stage with The Last Poets, Umar Bin Hassan, Nikki Giovanni, Haki Matabuti, C. Leigh McInnis, and other notable and local artists. According to Myron, poetry played a pivotal role in shaping his life.

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Myron believes the level of greatness a nation attains is in part due to the education level of its populace, which is particularly true of a democratic society, where freedom is a responsibility shared by those equipped to lead. It is Myron’s desire to be the catalyst for change, allowing young people to discover their leadership voice and become confident that they are change agents the world is waiting for.

Dr. Cynthia Freeman Smalls is a dedicated non-traditional educator, currently serving as Assistant Principal at Perry Career Academy within Clayton County Public Schools. With over 19 years of experience in alternative and non-traditional education, she has developed a deep understanding of the unique challenges faced by students in these settings. Dr. Smalls’ career has been marked by a commitment to creating transformative programs that empower students to reach their full potential.

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Dr. Smalls began her tenure at Perry Career Academy as the Lead Counselor and later transitioned into the role of Assistant Principal. She was instrumental in implementing Digital Learning platforms, such as Odysseyware and Edgenuity, both at PCA and district-wide. Her visionary approach also led to the creation of a mentor-mentee model aimed at helping students overcome barriers to graduation, contributing to a consistent increase in the school's graduation rate over the past five years. Under her leadership, Perry Career Academy has become a model for non-traditional education in Georgia.

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In addition to her administrative and counseling roles, Dr. Smalls maintains a private counseling practice, where she works with students, families, and educators. As a Licensed Professional Counselor in multiple states, she offers a holistic perspective on education, blending academic support with attention to students' emotional well-being. This unique insight has been a cornerstone of her approach to alternative education, ensuring that students' mental health and academic needs are met simultaneously.

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Throughout her career, Dr. Smalls has also led school improvement initiatives, created staff professional development programs, and participated in leadership roles at a national level, including being part of the National Alternative Education Association 2024 Inaugural Exemplary Practices Cohort. Her work continues to shape the future of non-traditional education, making her a respected leader in the field.

Crystal Hosselton is the Director of Mary Logan High School (MLHS) located on the beautiful campus of John A. Logan College in Carterville, Illinois. Crystal has been the program director for 12 years and served as the program counselor prior to becoming director. MLHS has been offering optional education and supplementary services to 11 high school districts, across four counties, for over 40 years. Mary Logan HS is one of three community college programs in the state offering optional education programming to their high school communities. Crystal is proud and thankful to have such a dedicated and knowledgeable team that is prepared to offer innovative and comprehensive services to their students on a daily basis.

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Crystal began her career as a substance abuse and mental health therapist working with incarcerated youth at the only juvenile Bootcamp in IL. She transitioned into community-based therapy, serving clients from all walks of life. She found her niche however working with clients involved in the criminal justice system and providing treatment to individuals experiencing an arrest while Driving Under the Influence of alcohol or other drugs.

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Crystal has actively served on the IL state association board, Illinois Coalition for Educating At-Risk Youth (ICEARY), for over ten years in the capacities of Regional Representative, President-Elect, President, and her current role as Immediate Past President.

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Crystal is also a proud and active Rotarian belonging to the Carterville Area Rotary Club. She is driven to give back to her community through service work and finds Rotary’s core values of service, fellowship, diversity, leadership, and integrity to align with her core values allowing her to reconnect and serve others on a more personal level. Rotary’s “Service Above Self” motto is something she incorporates into her personal lifestyle as serves her students, families, and community.

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Crystal and her husband Ryan have two daughters, two doodles, and enjoy traveling, St. Louis Cardinals baseball, and visiting their favorite vacation spot, Panama City Beach, FL.

Beth Blatt has been a member of the NAEA for the last 6 years. She has taught for 30 years both at the elementary and middle school levels.  For the past 8 years, she has been serving as the Principal of Heart Mountain Academy & Assistant Principal at Cody High School in Cody, Wyoming where she lives with her husband Tim and sons; Tristan, Tanner and Bode.

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Heart Mountain Academy is an NAEA Exemplary Practices Cohort School, which has helped our staff and school learn and grow to become what is best for students! She believes that alternative schools can open doors of opportunities in student-centered, innovative ways.  Collaborating with colleagues through the NAEA has opened the door for her staff to learn, explore, and grow more than any other professional development. She is passionate about education, servant leadership, and lightbulb moments!

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A daughter, wife, & mother who loves an adventure, outdoors, singing and laughing with family & friends, she is eager to be apart of this amazing organization.

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Diane Kridner-Protzmann is currently the Alternative Education Coordinator at Mira Costa High School in Manhattan Beach, California. After teaching in traditional schools for ten years, Diane earned a Masters in Educational Leadership with an emphasis in equity from San Diego State University and has spent the last three years in alternative education. In her current position, Diane has had the privilege of building a program from scratch: forming an Alternative Education Intensive Support Team, gathering qualitative and quantitative data, reflecting on current practices and using the NAEA Exemplary Practices as a guide.

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Diane would say that she has two firm values when it comes to education: relationships and problem solving. She is passionate about students and families who may not know how or have the resources to advocate for themselves. Believing that values are reflected in culture, Diane can be found kneeling by students to identify the root causes of their school avoidance, collaborating with teachers in trauma informed practices, or meeting with family members to create solid re-entry plans for their students. And, while Diane would not self identify as a “systems thinker”, she has found that much of the educational systems in our country require leaders to think outside the box and refine systems that work to support all students; therefore becoming a systems thinker. We must take what we know isn’t working and find something that works.

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The thing that Diane is most excited about in joining the NAEA as Director of Region 8 is the opportunity to connect alternative schools across the region so they can share their challenges and innovative ways they have overcome those challenges. Diane believes that alternative education campuses don’t have to run like an island - more like little islands connected by bridges.

Kayla Kaiser is an English Department Chair, English and marketing teacher, and DECA advisor at Mountain High School, an alternative high school in Utah. She has over five years of experience in alternative education and is committed to the flexibility, relevance, and strong relationships central to the field.

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In her classroom and leadership roles, Kayla focuses on student engagement, real-world learning, and career-connected education. She integrates literacy, communication, and practical skill-building into her instruction to help students build confidence and agency as they prepare for life beyond high school.

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Beyond her school, Kayla serves as a board member for the Davis Education Association, the local education association representing educators in her district, and is a Policy Ambassador through the Utah Education Association. In this role, she engages in legislative advocacy and policy conversations that impact public education, with a particular focus on alternative education programs and students.

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Kayla has been involved with the National Alternative Education Association for the past five years as a member and presenter at state and national alternative education conferences. Now, as the Region 9 Board Member, she looks forward to continuing to elevate the work of alternative education programs and the students they serve through collaboration, advocacy, and shared leadership.

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