Toni Rice is an experienced Direct Instruction (DI) trainer, coach, and Implementation Manager with 36 years of experience as an elementary classroom teacher. She has taught a wide variety of grade levels and over 20 different DI levels. She has been honored as the Director of Outstanding After-School Programs for the State of Kansas (2006-2007) and received the Teacher of the Year award for USD #428 (2010-2011).

She began teaching at Park School in Great Bend, Kansas the same year DI was introduced (in 2002), and became a coach the following year after exhibiting keen leadership skills. During her 4th year at Park School, Ms. Rice became the school’s Building Coordinator, holding the position for seven years. She was responsible for building-wide in-service presentations, and the initial training of all new teachers, along with data analysis and continued coaching.

Toni holds a Bachelor’s degree in Education from Kansas State University and has continued her training with graduate studies at Ft. Hays State University, Loyola University, and the University of Oregon. She has worked as a NIFDI trainer for more than two decades and has trained teachers in Georgia, South Carolina, Nebraska, Texas, and Kansas. She currently works with schools in Texas as an Implementation Manager for NIFDI.