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Brief Bio

Wayfinder for Leaders, Teams, and Organizations 

Bryan is a seasoned executive edupreneur with three decades of results in K-12, higher education, non-profit, and for-profit organizations. His expertise equips leaders, teams, and organizations with the knowledge, skills, and dispositions to be ready for any future.

Throughout his career, Bryan has championed belonging, fostered cultures of innovation, and ensured the active participation of multiple team members in change leadership and adoption. As a K-12 practitioner, he has donned various hats, serving as a teacher, principal, and even as the inaugural Chief Quality Officer at the Baldrige Award-winning Iredell-Statesville district. Bryan's visionary leadership extended to the digital realm when he spearheaded groundbreaking transformation efforts as CEO of the North Carolina Virtual School, which still stands as the second largest in the nation.

Furthermore, Bryan has lent his expertise as a leader of solutions practices, operating as a partner and principal at 2Revolutions and rpk GROUP, collaborating with numerous higher education, K-12, and workforce clients across 35 states and nine countries. Over the past three years with Setser Group, he has been instrumental in guiding leaders, teams, and organizations worldwide through the labyrinth of a volatile, uncertain, ambiguous, and complex landscape to and through the global pandemic.

Work experience

Founder & CEO

Setser Group
APril 2020Present

-Leads all strategic aspects of the Setser Group including the P&L outcomes related to firm success, people first practices, contractor management, and client deliverables

-Serves clients as an advisor, strategist, and execution expert for organizations designing and building the future of learning in k-12, higher ed, and workforce development sectors

-Provides DEIB, organizational reform, and change management consultancy to multiple c-suite teams and organizations

-Manages 12 direct reports

PRINCIPAL

RPK GROUP
April 2017APRIL 2020

-Collaborated with senior leadership at rpk GROUP to provide guidance and leadership on client projects, budgets, and project outcomes

-Co-owned the consulting practice in developing sustainable innovation models with universities, education organizations, non-profits, and for-profit ventures

-Responsible for executive coaching, organizational development, and leading the higher education, k-12 practice, and venture portfolios

-Identified and executed new partnerships, opportunities, and markets for rpk GROUP where innovation meets return on investment, impact, and results

-Managed 9 direct reports

Chief Design Officer

Matchbook Learning
February 2016June 2017

-Responsible for coaching and organizational analysis and development of the C-suite along with school principals and leadership teams 

-Launched the company's first accelerator program in Washington, DC and Matchbook's third school in Indianapolis with the Mind Trust Foundation

-Oversaw all school design and support services management  for all direct managed and accelerator sites; sample projects include entrepreneurship high school, badge portfolio, digital artifacts,  PLC design, and community engagement

-Managed four direct reports

Partner

2Revolutions
Apr 2011Feb 2016

-Responsible for strategic vision, leadership, and operations for a national consultancy practice in k-12 and Higher Education 

-Designed and developed state, network, district, and school solutions for future of learning models for over 30+ clients

-Provided internal consultation for blended curriculum design, platform, and digital integration strategies for central team members

-Managed ten direct reports

Chief Executive Officer

North Carolina Virtual
Dec 2007Apr 2011

-Responsible for overall strategic plan and outcomes related to the nation's 2nd largest state virtual school

-Supervised a 31 million dollar state budget, 21 direct reports, and 1030 total staff members

-Accomplished enrollment, satisfaction, and student performance results that exceeded state and national averages in multiple State Board and NCLB target areas

-Managed 31 direct reports

Chief Quality Officer

Iredell Statesville Schools
Jan 2005Dec 2007

-Strategic planning champion for National Malcolm Baldrige Award District

-Lead role for the district through SACS Accreditation Process - first of 30 in the United States to go through the new district process

-Established district as a National Best Practice Site for Staff Development by the APQC

-SAT and High School AYP Course results exceeded state averages

-Managed nine direct reports

Principal

Union County Public Schools
20012005

-Served as a middle school principal and a founding 21st Century High

School Principal

-Met or exceeded district, state, and school improvement goals

-Completed doctoral internship under the Superintendent

-Principal of the Year distinction 

-Manage 55+ direct reports

Education

Completed all doctoral work required as well as a dissertation on The Failing High School: An Examination of the Relationship Between Constructivist Leadership Roles and High School Achievement in North Carolina. Degree earned in 2004. 

Completed all requisite coursework, internship, and service requirements entailed in the Certificate for Advanced Study Program at UNCC. Degree earned in 2004.

MAED

Winthrop University
Aug 1998Aug 2000

Completed all masters course requirements, an internship, and thesis project work related to educational leadership. Degree earned in 2000.

BS

East Carolina University
Aug 1989Dec 1993

Completed an English degree, writing specialization, and teaching credential for secondary education. Degree earned in 1993.

Specialized Skills

Leadership for equity and excellence

Executive Coaching

AI and Digital Transformation

Strategic Planning

Digital DEIB+

Blended, personalized, and competency-based learning

Philanthropy

Design thinking

Entrepreneurship 

Project and Product Development + Management

Coaching and Evaluation

Organizational Management

Curriculum Development

Business Models

FIELD BuILDING AND KEY DISTINCTIONS

ECU Education Hall of Fame Inductee 2024

TalentWell - Board of Advisors

Global Voice - Board Chairman

Next Generation Learning Challenges Advisory Board

East Carolina University - business and education advisory board

High Point University - leadership academy advisory board for principal development

Akilah Institute - Global Advisory Council

NC Public School Forum - Advisory Member

Los Angles Children's Hospital - National Advisory Council Member

Gratitude Network - Advisor/Mentor

Legends Charter Schools - Board member

NC Connections Academy - Past Board Chairman

Digital Learning Council

NC E-learning Commission

NC Technology Commission

NC Education Cloud Team

NC Race to the Top Team

State Virtual Leaders Alliance

INACOL State Lead

Baldrige Examiner

Published Author

ERDI Consultant 

BLE Consultant

Gates Foundation Advisor

NASDSE Advisor

Principal of the Year

NC State Adjunct Professor

Keeping Pace Report Contributor

Speaker Samples - Education Week, DODEA (Italy, Japan, and Germany) SXSW, INACOL, ISTE, ASU+GSV, and BLPL

Crucial Conversations Trainer

National English Teacher Award

Presenter Samples - Blackboard Europe, Virtual Schools Symposium, IT/ISEC, AERA, ASCD, ISTE, and Multiple State DOEs

Jack McCall Award - UNC Chapel Hill

Credentials

Certified Executive Coach

Certified Organizational Development Coach

Certified Leadership Coach

North Carolina Superintendent's Certification

South Carolina Superintendent's Certification

Baldrige Examiner Credential

Certified in Facilitative Leadership

North Carolina Principal Certification

North Carolina Teaching Certificate

Principal's Executive Program

Principal as Technology Leader Credential

Certified Technology Trainer 

National Reviewer US Office of Special Education

Apple Executive Academy

DEI Certificate - 228

DEI Certificate - University of South Florida

References

Lisa Clarke - Principal - rpk GROUP - lclarke@rpkgroup.com - 410-913-8169

-former c-suite partner at rpk GROUP

Adam Rubin - Partner - 2Revolutions -adam@2revolutions.com-973-309-3287

-former supervisor and c-suite partner at 2Revolutions

JB Buxton - President - Durham Technical Community College - buxtonj@durhamtech.edu - 919-605-6430

-former supervisor at the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction

Susan Allred - Former Associate Commissioner of Education in Kentucky - susanallred@att.net  - 828-712-0423

-former supervisor at Iredell-Statesville Schools

Elwood Robinson - Chancellor - Winston-Salem State University - robinsonel@wssu.edu - 919-604-0947

-long time colleague, collaborator, and client in innovation and equity work

Joe Ableidinger, Executive Director, SparkNC joe@sparknc.org -919-271-9252

-current Executive Team as a service client for the past two years