The PDI Team

The Professional Development Institute has been in business for over 25 years and has trained more than 275,000 teachers across the globe. We provide quality and convenient online courses to K-12 teachers. PDI courses focus on the most relevant topics in education and provide practical strategies that can be implemented in the classroom immediately. Every PDI online education course is approved for post-baccalaureate (at the graduate-level) credit through the University of California San Diego (UCSD) Division of Extended Studies. UCSD is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC), which is one of six regional associations that accredit public and private colleges and universities in the United States.

All PDI online courses are either developed or edited by the PDI Founder and President, Connie Ryan. Connie has a Master of Arts degree in Curriculum and Instruction as well as many years of experience as a teacher, trainer, author, and online instructor.

Meet the other talented members of the PDI team!

Caryn Chavez

PDI's Vice President of Marketing and Outreach, Caryn Chavez, M.S., designs and manages all PDI marketing and outreach campaigns. Caryn has a Master of Science degree in Instructional Design and Technology and has been with PDI for eighteen years.

Jenna Nakamura

PDI's Director, Jenna Nakamura, M.S., manages the administration of all registrations and courses as well as supervises and coordinates all office operations. Jenna also supervises all PDI instructors. Jenna has been with PDI for over eight years. Jenna has a Master of Science degree in Instructional Design and Technology.

Kristin LeBeau

PDI's Director of Content Development, Kristin LeBeau, M.A., manages the content of all PDI courses, edits course content, and manages a team of authors. Kristin also leads the PDI Submission Review Committee. Kristin has over twelve years of classroom teaching experience, a Master of Arts in Teaching, and has been with PDI for over eight years.

Thuong Tran

PDI's Educational Technology Author and Manager, Thuong Tran, M.S., writes and updates all technology course content. Thuong also does all course programming for our learning management system. Thuong has a Master of Science degree in Instructional Design and Technology. Thuong has been with PDI for over six years.

Samantha Lundberg

PDI's Content Development Specialist, Samantha Lundberg, M.A., writes and updates all special education and social-emotional learning course content. Samantha has a Master of Arts degree in Special Education with an emphasis in Applied Behavior Analysis. Sam has been with PDI for over four years.

Madison Goodman

PDI's Registrar and Student Services Manager, Madison Goodman, B.A., manages PDI participant completion paperwork and makes sure credit forms are submitted to the university in a timely manner. Madison also manages all student services provided by PDI and as the liaison to UCSD. Madison has been with PDI for over two years.

Shannon Philips

PDI's Program Specialist, Shannon Philips, B.A., handles all incoming registrations and sends out course access instructions and information to all PDI participants. Shannon also coordinates and facilitates customer relations.

Lindsey Maranto

PDI's Program Specialist, Lindsey Maranto, M.S., handles all incoming registrations and sends out course access instructions and information to all PDI participants. Lindsey also teaches the PDI paraprofessional course. Lindsey has a Master of Science degree in Education with an emphasis in Early Childhood Education.

Sydney Pham

PDI's E-Marketing Manager, Sydney Pham, M.S., manages PDI's marketing initiatives and participant outreach, as well as designs and implements our e-mail messages. Sydney has a Master of Science in Marketing with a concentration in Digital Marketing. Sydney has been with PDI for over four years.

Adri Davis

PDI's Marketing Coordinator, Adri Davis, B.A., manages PDI's social media outreach and SMS program as well as designs graphics for use at PDI's website, e-mail campaigns, and print marketing materials. Adri has been with PDI for over two years.