Our Senior Management Team has extensive expertise in education, sales and marketing, corporate finance, law and business.  They have worked in the public, private and non-profit sectors, bringing a unique understanding of education and business, and a keen appreciation of the opportunities and challenges facing schools and communities.      
 
William Cassell, Founder & CEO started The Learning Together Company in 2001 because he was passionate about helping children transform their lives through good educational instruction.  He is involved in the business and non-profit communities of North Carolina. He established the North Carolina International Commission to create comprehensive strategic partnerships for the state; he led the North Carolina/Israel Cooperation Committee, bringing together leaders from universities, government, the arts, the business community, and high-tech research and development.  He serves on the board of the Development Foundation of the North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching, the University of North Carolina at Greensboro Board of Visitors, the Bryan School of Business and Economics Business Advisory Board and the board of the Ruth Z. Fleishman Foundation. He has a BA from Duke University and JD from Tulane University. 

Julie Rae Smith, Vice President of District Development, has dedicated her 30-year career as an educator to the children of Colorado, serving in three different school districts as a teacher, staff developer, principal, and most recently, as Executive Director of Elementary Schools for the Cherry Creek School District. She helped to establish the Principal Preparation Licensure program for the University of Colorado at Denver and was an adjunct professor in the program for six years. She has a Doctorate from the University of Colorado at Denver in Leadership and Innovation, and a Masters from the University of Northern Colorado in Gifted and Talented Education.

Amy Rouse Werner, Director of Training, has more than 13 years of experience as a teacher, reading resource specialist, professional development trainer and presenter at national educational conferences. Her field of expertise, and passion, is helping elementary school children who are reading below grade level find pleasure and academic success as readers. Amy taught third grade and in multi-age classrooms in Durham City Schools, NC, which gave her an appreciation of the power of cooperative learning. She has seven years of experience as a professional development trainer for reading curricula, with extensive expertise in supporting schools as they implement new initiatives, including family literacy and ELL programs. Amy has a BS in Education from Salisbury State, MD.    

Margie Loud Zeno, Senior Educational Consultant, has devoted 30 years to the children of Louisiana. During her career as an educator, she has been a speech therapist, Chapter 1 director, principal and executive director of Human Resources and Community Programs Management for Jefferson Parish Schools. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in speech pathology from Southern University, a Master of Education degree from Loyola University and has done post-graduate work at Xavier University. She is a founding member of the Jefferson Alliance of Educators. Margie is active as a board member of many community organizations, currently serving as president of the board of the Girl Scouts Council of Southeast Louisiana. 

Our senior management team and all of the Learning Together staff look forward to working with you to raise student achievement by the power of 2!