Education
At Crafted Consulting, we strongly believe that every kid deserves a great life and that great schools contribute significantly to each child’s success. Therefore, our goal is to support educators and leaders in fostering measurably great schools. To this end, we customize professional development based on current research and best practices to meet the needs of your organization, from board room to classroom. Whether working with Trustees, district administrators, school leaders, instructional coaches, or teachers, we seek first to understand your context and needs, before designing workshops that drive growth and improvement. We are different because we listen. Want to share your story? We’d love to chat.
Non-Profit
Non-profit organizations are the backbone of many communities, providing essential services and support for people from all walks of life. Just like any successful organization, a non-profit must establish a compelling why that improves the broader community. That why must in turn drive all aspects of the organization, from staffing, to goals, to culture. Crafted Consulting is comprised of experienced, professional teachers and leaders. We leverage our education and human experience to facilitate retreats, guide planning processes, foster organizational culture, and support leaders. And, once again, we are different because we listen. We’d love to hear your story and design a solution to take your non-profit to the next level.
Mitch Craft
Learning IMPACT Leader Framework
New Leader Coaching
Assessment for Learning
PLC Coaching
Non-Profit Facilitation & Support
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Mitch Craft is an independent education consultant with over 24 years of experience as a high school and college English teacher, assistant principal, principal, and district administrator.
Prior to his work as a consultant, he most recently served as assistant superintendent for Sheridan County School District No. 2 (SCSD2), an award-winning district where he oversaw curriculum, assessment, intervention programs, and professional development. The school Mitch led as principal was recognized as a National Model PLC School, National Distinguished Title I School, and National Blue Ribbon School. During his time as assistant superintendent with SCSD2, the district and its schools earned numerous recognitions from organizations like Niche.com and Bestschools.org, multiple blue ribbons, and a district-wide model PLC designation. In addition, the district’s aggregate test scores topped the state year after year, with schools and students performing at consistently high levels.
Mitch is a National Distinguished Principal and his writing has been published in Principal magazine and English Leadership Quarterly. In addition to his work with Crafted Consulting, Mitch is an associate with Marzano Resources.
Mitch earned his BA in English from the University of Wyoming (UW), MA in English Literature from the University of Sussex in the UK, and his principal credential from UW. Mitch was a UW College of Arts & Sciences Outstanding Graduate and a Rotary International Ambassadorial Scholar. He is an obsessive eater and cook, professional musician, and outdoor adventurer. Mitch’s wife Jules teaches high school science, and his four children—Will, Nora, Henry, and Emmett—are his proudest achievement.
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“Mitch’s expertise in the development, implementation, and evaluation of professional learning communities has been instrumental in growing and refining instructional leadership within the district.”
Vernon Orndorff, Superintendent - Park County School District No. 6 - Cody, Wyoming“Our district has benefited tremendously from the work that Mitch has done with us. He has facilitated our district level leadership team in establishing a strong focus with clear expectations.I believe any school or district would find great value in engaging Mitch's consulting services.”
Matt Davidson, Superintendent - Big Horn County School District No. 1 - Cowley, Wyoming“I always come out of a meeting with Mitch recharged and ready to tackle the school day.”
Mitch Espelend, Principal - Cody High School - Cody, Wyoming“Mitch’s refreshing leadership has shifted the district’s focus toward growth and reflection. His work has moved JCSD#1 toward excellence and helped create a culture of value, accountability, and doing what is best for kids.”
Charles Auzqui, Superintendent - Johnson County School District No. 1 - Buffalo, Wyoming"I truly appreciate the time he invests in our conversations, helping me refine ideas and explore solutions in a way that is both practical and forward-thinking.”
Jacob Gogan, Principal - Cody Middle School - Cody, Wyoming
Breez Daniels
Learning IMPACT Leader Framework
Cultures of Learning
Assessment for Learning
PLC Coaching
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As a seasoned principal, Breez Longwell Daniels has led school turn-around work at both the middle and high school levels. Daniels is an advocate for preparing educational leaders for the work of transforming student learning and staff culture. She believes principals are the crucial factor in building and sustaining highly effective schools.
Daniels was named Wyoming Elementary/Middle Schools Principal of the Year and National Distinguished Principal in 2017 and Wyoming Secondary Schools Principal of the Year in 2020. Daniels was also named a Rebecca Burnette DuFour scholarship recipient for the Women in Education: Leading Perspectives Institute 2019.
While principal at Hot Springs County High School (2018-2022), Daniels her team celebrated and sustained record ACT and state assessment scores and were named a Model PLC in 2021 and an “Exceeding Expectations” high school by the Wyoming Department of Education in spring of 2022. Daniels also served as principal (2012-2018; 2022-2023) of Thermopolis Middle School (TMS) where she and her team celebrated a Model PLC designation in 2017, with the team continuing to sustain the work of high levels of student achievement. U.S. News and World Report named TMS the #1 Middle School in Wyoming in 2023.
Daniels has 24 years of experience in K-12 education as an elementary teacher, junior high social studies teacher, instructional facilitator, principal, and district administrator. In addition to her work with Crafted Consulting, Daniels is also a Solution Tree Associate.
Articles and Publications by Breez Daniels:
Social Media Influencers and Student Assessment Pushback (2021)
A Covid-19 PLC Case Study (2021)
PLC at Work and Your Small School (2020)
The Old Boss Is Gone, So How Do We Sustain Our PLC Culture? (2020)
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“Breez Daniels is an exceptional educational leader who has truly transformed my approach to instructional leadership. Under her guidance, I have acquired invaluable skills in leading professional development, mastering crucial conversations, adeptly navigating community dynamics, and adopting a forward-thinking mindset.”
Catelyn Deromedi, Principal - Hot Springs County High School - Thermopolis, Wyoming“Breez Daniels is an outstanding professional development leader who focused and motivated our district staff and building administrators' desire for change.”
Ryan Kramer, Superintendent - Goshen County School District No. 1 - Torrington, Wyoming“This workshop was incredible! Really...the strategies and ideas have completely inspired me to continue moving in a much better direction with PLCs. I can't wait to get to work.”
Amy Pfaff - Thomas Jefferson Charter School - Caldwell, Idaho“I loved this workshop. I gained so much knowledge on how to implement collaborative work in our small school. I appreciate learning both things: building a strong culture and raising student achievement. We need both. Thank you!”
Gabrielle Hensyel - Lakeside Middle School - Plummer, Idaho“While Breez is an absolute expert in the field, her ability to share her knowledge and expertise is what really sets her apart. I've been able to ask a multitude of questions, and Breez always has an answer that comes from real world experiences. This ability to relate and share her information really helps me continually learn and become a better leader.”
Darren Luebbe, Principal, Hot Springs Middle School, Wyoming
Doug Hazen
New Superintendent Mentoring
Special Education Topics
Quality Co-Teaching
Professional Relationships
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Dr. Doug Hazen is an experienced educational leader with almost two decades of service in Wyoming and Montana’s public schools. He has served as a high school mathematics teacher, coach, middle school principal, curriculum director, special education director, transportation director, and district superintendent. His top to bottom experience at virtually all levels of a school system provides him with a perspective unique in the field of education.
Most recently, Doug served as superintendent of Big Horn County School District No. 2 in Lovell, Wyoming. During his tenure in the district, he championed innovative practices that expanded student services and strengthened staff development. The district prioritized professional learning by organizing districtwide, staff-led, professional development that empowered educators to lead and learn from one another. He introduced training for educators on the appropriate and ethical integration of artificial intelligence tools, keeping instruction aligned with emerging technologies and best practices.
As a special education director, Doug supported the development of strong co-teaching models and enhanced collaboration between special education and general education staff.
During his time as principal, Doug guided Lovell Middle School to earn a rating of exceeding expectations on the Wyoming School Performance Report. Earlier in his career, he was honored as the district’s Teacher of the Year and was part of the Lovell High School team recognized with a National Blue Ribbon School award.
Doug earned his BA in Mathematics from Carroll University, an MA in Teaching and Learning from Northern State University, and an EdD in Educational Leadership from the University of Wyoming. He is a devoted husband and proud father who values collaboration, honesty, and the power of relationships to transform schools. When not engaged in educational work, Doug enjoys time outdoors, music, food, and supporting his kids’ many activities.
Kim Malin
Teaching & Assessing Standards
Quality Assessments
Instructional Design
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Decades of highly successful experience as a classroom teacher, instructional coach, volleyball coach, and varsity referee guide Kim Malin’s work with teachers and teams. A true practitioner who has walked the walk, Kim supports classroom teachers in the design and delivery of high quality units, instruction, and assessment.
Leading with her signature humor-driven approach, Kim forges quick connections with her clients. She draws the best out of teachers by fostering trust, providing clear direction for growth, and modeling truly outstanding teaching practices in her work with adults.
Kim’s 33 years in the classroom spanned both high school and middle school, with instruction centered on both English Language Arts and Social Studies. She spent the bulk of her career as an English teacher at Sheridan Junior High School (SJHS), a National Model PLC School, National Distinguished Title I School, and National Blue Ribbon School. Students learning in Kim’s classroom and across her grade level team ranked at the top of Wyoming state test results for years running. As the school played host to numerous site visits from curious educators over the years, Kim’s classroom and PLC became a showcase for the type of quality work that drove the school’s success.
As an instructional coach, Kim mentored new teachers, ensuring that they learned management and instructional skills essential for success in the field. This experience informs her work as a consultant with teachers of all experience levels.
In the athletics realm, Kim is a highly decorated coach and official. She led her volleyball teams to numerous top three finishes and earned accolades as state 3A Coach of the Year, North All-Star Coach, All-Star Referee, and State Official of the Year.
Kim earned her undergraduate degree in education from Eastern Montana College and a Masters in Curriculum and Instruction from Lesley College.
If you truly want to engage teachers and teams in quality, standards-driven development of units, instruction, and assessments, look no further than Kim Malin.
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“This was the best workshop I’ve ever attended in 35 years of teaching.”
Tim McGee, Teacher - Worland High School - Worland, Wyoming
Emmy Hergert
Mathematics
Assessment for Learning
Instructional Cycles
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With experience teaching and coaching across elementary and middle levels, Emmy Hergert is an expert in curriculum design, assessment, and delivering impactful lessons. She is a specialist in mathematics, with the skill set to lead teams across diverse content areas.
Emmy is dedicated to improving student outcomes by guiding both individual teachers and teams of educators toward greater success.
Driven by a collaborative approach and extensive modeling, Emmy helps educators create clear objectives to support well-rounded student achievement and tailor instruction and intervention to meet the needs of diverse learners. She also supports teachers and teams as they implement best practices in assessment, data collection, and reteaching.
Emmy is National Board Certified and was selected as a Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics
and Science Teaching (PAEMST) winner in 2023. Emmy’s writing has been published in AllThingsPLC magazine and the Journal for the Education of the Gifted. She has presented at the National Association of Gifted Children Conference. Emmy earned a B.A. in elementary education and an M.S. in natural sciences with an emphasis in middle level mathematics from the University of Wyoming.Partner with Emmy to enhance teacher and team effectiveness. With practical, inspiring solutions, Emmy empowers educators to refocus on what matters most: quality teaching that makes a lasting impact on students' lives.
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“Emmy was an outstanding presenter! She had high levels of energy and enthusiasm throughout the training. I walked away with real and innovative tools that I can use in my classroom to increase clarity and student achievement. I used her practice ideas, assessment tools and clarity pieces the next day in class! Emmy has a robust knowledge of sound teaching practices, mathematical content and fostering student relationships.”
Erin Estes, Teacher - Goshen County School District No. 1 - Torrington, Wyoming“I appreciated a new, fresh look at making sure kids and their learning are the focus! I appreciate the templates for organizing my work across four separate preps.”
Darcia Boche, Teacher - Goshen County School District No. 1 - Torrington, Wyoming
Our approach is different. We listen first.
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Listening
We listen first to understand the local context of teams, schools, and districts.
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Clarity
We work with clients to set clear objectives and check in on them regularly.
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Rationale
We lead with why by providing research and theory to support our approaches.
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Products
We design workshops where educators produce applicable content relevant to their jobs.
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Relevance
We connect learning experiences to the real work of teachers and leaders.
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Sustainablility
We build long-term relationships with clients and provide sustained support and follow up.