Arasi has worked in K12 and higher education human resources for over 20 years. Prior to independent consulting, she served as Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources in Durham Public Schools, NC. She became interested in helping school districts recruit and retain the right people in healthy working environments. Arasi is also interested in mindfulness and meditation and during the most stressful times in her career – especially and including during this COVID crisis. She’s interested in helping other busy women take practical steps to improve their overall health and well-being through mindfulness, meditation, and simple breathing techniques and exercises.

Dr. Beverly Emory has 41 years of experience in education and 25 of those as a superintendent in North Carolina and Ohio. She recently served as the NC Deputy State Superintendent and the NC Department of Public Instruction Executive Director of District & School Transformation. She has served as a Teacher, Public Information Officer, Principal and Adjunct Professor. Bev earned her bachelor's and master's degrees from Appalachian State University and her doctorate from Vanderbilt University. Believing in lifelong learning, she is currently studying to earn licensure as a Personal Trainer from the American Council on Exercise.

Lauren Ross grew up playing multiple sports and progressed to being a college athlete at Western Carolina University. While there, Lauren set numerous records and discovered her passion for health and fitness. Upon graduating, Lauren set out to become a personal trainer. She trained under Mr. USA, won 4th place in a bodybuilding competition, taught PE and Music at a small GA school, and, in 2016, opened her own personal training company, Freedom Fitness. With 9 years and over 13,000 hours of personal training under her belt, Lauren has worked with many overworked, stressed, and burnt-out educators. Around 98% of these educators were on anxiety medication and either lowered their dosage or concluded their prescriptions. With Lauren's understanding of proper health and fitness, she knew her work could empower educators physically, mentally, and emotionally. Thus, The Healthy Teacher (THT) was born. THT has been implemented in 13 states and has over 1500 members. Lauren and Raegan enjoy traveling America, highlighting the fundamentals of health and the power of one’s thoughts and words. They recently opened a second business specifically for mental health called Dan McCullough Affirmations, which offers every person the chance to be encouraged and affirmed.

2025 National Principal of the Year