Gabe Hackett is the director of the PLC Center with FIRST Educational Resources. He is the former principal of Annandale Middle School in Annandale, Minnesota. He also spent 10 years as the principal of Little Mountain Elementary in Monticello, MN. Gabe and his teams have helped to develop Observable Impact tools and structures currently used by many schools across the United States and around the globe. Gabe is passionate about using the Observable Impact tools and protocols to strengthen collaborative teams by connecting action to impact. He enjoys working with schools across the United States to develop strong collaborative teams and finally answer the question, “What instructional strategies really work in our classrooms?” He is the co-author of Building PLCs from the Ground Up Laminated Guide. Gabe lives in South Haven, MN with his wife (Heidi) and two kids (Griffin and MarLee). 

Ashley Farrington began his career as a first- and third-grade teacher before moving into leadership roles at both the elementary and middle school levels. He is currently in his sixth year as Principal of Birchview Elementary School and was named the 2025 Minnesota National Distinguished Principal.

Under Farrington’s leadership, Birchview has experienced significant gains in reading achievement, driven by a strong focus on instructional leadership and the development of highly effective Professional Learning Communities (PLCs). By centering PLC work on student data, aligned instructional practices, and collective teacher efficacy, he has helped build systems that ensure every student receives high-quality, responsive reading instruction. This collaborative approach has strengthened staff capacity and directly contributed to improved literacy outcomes schoolwide.

Farrington also serves as President of the Minnesota Elementary School Principals’ Association (MESPA), where he collaborates with school leaders across the state to advance best practices in leadership and instruction. Grounded in his classroom experience, he is passionate about fostering safe, inclusive, and positive learning environments where both students and educators thrive.

He is also a proud husband to Hilary and father to Lamont (8) and Layana (5).