Board of Directors
Dr. Kevin Castner
Served an 11-year tenure as superintendent of Albemarle County, Virginia; and has conducted or assisted with more than 15 superintendent searches in Virginia
Dr. Kevin Castner is currently President, Executive Director and educational planning strategist with Cambridge Strategic Services. He has recently served as an interim superintendent for Shenandoah County and Montgomery County Public Schools. His knowledge of educational issues both in Virginia and across the country is extensive. Selected to serve as a Race to the Top Peer Review panelist for Phase 1 and 2, Dr. Castner reviewed eight states of which four were finalists in this prestigious competition
Dr. Castner received a B.S. from Marquette University, a Master’s in Education Administration and Curriculum from the University of Maryland, and a Doctorate from George Washington University.
Dr. Philip Ehrhardt
Superintendent, Benjamin School District 25; Adjunct Professor at Indiana University, Concordia University, Aurora University
Dr. Philip Ehrhardt has served as a teacher and administrator in education for over 40 years. He was the superintendent of Benjamin School District 25 located in suburban Chicago and retired after 13 years of service. Since 1981, he has served in district administrative leadership roles in suburban and urban settings. He has been an adjunct professor at Indiana University, Concordia University, and Aurora University.
Dr. Ehrhardt received a B.S. and M.S. in School Administration from Indiana State University and Doctorate from Indiana University.
Dr. Mark Friedman
President, BWP & Associates, Ltd.
Retired Superintendent, Libertyville Elementary School District 70, Libertyville, Illinois; and 2009 Illinois Superintendent of the Year
Dr. Mark Friedman has been a partner with BWP since the company’s inception. Prior to that, he was a partner and President of the Bickert Group. In addition, he served as the Superintendent of the Libertyville, Illinois schools for 17 years, was Assistant Superintendent in Lincolnwood, Illinois and a Principal/Director of Instruction in Itasca, Illinois. He was named 2009 Superintendent of the Year for the State of Illinois, and was twice named Superintendent of the Year for Lake County, Illinois. He has consulted with school districts across the United States.
Dr. Friedman received a B.S. from Arizona State University, a Masters in Public Administration from Roosevelt University and a Doctorate from Vanderbilt University.
Mr. Steven Griesbach
Retired Superintendent, Grower School District 62, Willowbrook, Illinois
Steven Griesbach, who has been an associate with BWP since 2013, joined the firm’s Board in 2020. His educational career spans 34 years and includes 11 years as a district level administrator. He was Superintendent of Schools in the award-winning Grower School District 62.
He holds a B.A. from Northwestern University, an M.A from the University of Illinois at Chicago and did Doctoral Work in Education Leadership at the University of Illinois Urbana/Champaign.
Dr. Sheila Harrison-Williams
Retired Superintendent, Hazel Crest School District 152 1/2, Hazel Crest, Illinois; NABSE Superintendent of the Year, 2011; and President of the Illinois Association of School Administrators, 2018-2019.
Dr. Debra A. Hill
Managing Director, BWP & Associates, Ltd.
Retired Superintendent, West Northfield School District 31, Northbrook, Illinois;
Past- President, Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD)
Debra Hill is an experienced educator of 40 plus years serving as a teacher and administrator in multiple capacities including school superintendent. With an international travel background, she maintains connections in a number of community and professional organizations including past President of ASCD and the Illinois affiliate. She has been a partner in the firm since 2008 and the Managing Director since 2014.
Dr. Hill received her Bachelor of Science and Master of Arts in Teaching from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, and her Ph.D. from Loyola University – Chicago.
Dr. Percy Mack
Retired Superintendent, Richland School District One, Columbia, South Carolina; Past Superintendent, Dayton Public Schools, Dayton, Ohio; NABSE Superintendent of the Year, 2006
Dr. Percy Mack is currently the Director of Educational Leadership Program at South Carolina State University. Additionally, he is the CEO and educational planning strategist of Navigational Leadership Systems. His educational career spans 43 years including serving as a teacher, coach, assistant principal, principal and assistant Superintendent in DeKalb County, Georgia.
Dr. Mack received a B.S. from Savannah State College, an M.Ed. from University of Georgia, an Ed.S. and a Ph.D. from Georgia State University.
Dr. Anne Noland
Retired Superintendent, Forest Ridge School District 142, Oak Forest, Illinois; and Principal Mentor, DuPage County Regional Office of Education, Illinois
Anne Noland, who has been an associate with BWP since 2005, joined the firm’s Board in 2013. Her educational career spans 44 years and includes 20 years as a district level administrator. She was Superintendent of Schools in Forest Ridge School District 142 in Oak Forest, Illinois, before retiring and working with DuPage County Regional Office of Education and BWP & Associates. She holds an Ed.D. in School Executive Leadership from the University of Illinois.
Dr. Joseph M. Porto
Retired Superintendent, Avoca School District 37, Wilmette, Illinois
Assistant Clinical Professor in Educational Administration at Northern Illinois University
Dr. Joseph Porto, who has been an associate with BWP since 2011, joined the firm’s Board in 2020. He has served as a teacher and administrator in education for over 30 years. He was Superintendent for Avoca School District 37 in Wilmette, Illinois and Pleasantdale School District 107 in Burr Ridge, Illinois. He was a Clinical Assistant Professor at Northern Illinois University.
Dr. Porto received a B.A. from National College of Education and an M.S. and Doctorate in Educational Administration from Northern Illinois University.
