Jim Thomas is a master facilitator and coach who works with school districts teachers, and community members in the areas of strategic planning, growing Professional Learning Communities, and leadership development. He is former Coordinator for Visual and Performing Arts at the Orange County Department of Education and creator of the Arts Advantage Initiative. Jim has facilitated strategic arts plans in twenty-one school districts. Each tailored plan includes a set of district goals, action steps, outcomes, fiscal implications, and timeline for implementation. Jim has a K-8 teaching background including self-contained classroom, performing arts specialist, and program manager for a K-8 magnet arts school. He is also a former director of The California Arts Project. Jim was a co-author of the California Visual and Performing Arts Framework and Content Standards.

Sandy Seufert works in the Los Angeles Area and beyond as a consultant conducting strategic planning and group facilitation. Her work with the LA County Arts Ed Collective has included working with the ICEF Public Schools and the Whittier Union High School District. The skills and knowledge applied to her coaching role are the culmination of over 25 years of work that includes special education teaching/support, teaching artist training, curriculum development, program management, teaching artist residencies, and professional development for both classroom teachers and teaching artists. In the past, she has worked for a wide variety of arts and education organizations including P.S. ARTS, Dramatic Results, Turnaround Arts: California, The Armory Center for the Arts, The Music Center, Los Angeles Opera, The Da Camera Society, and Los Angeles Unified School District. Sandy has also served on multiple grant panels, arts non-profit boards and committees, and holds a genuine commitment to add value to the field. Sandy also doubles as a professional cellist, playing with the Culver City Symphony for 20 years, and as a fiddler and composer performing Scandinavian folk music for cultural events and dances.