Our team
Meet the Roots Behind Bayou Education Partners
Rooted in Purpose. Committed to Learning.
Where it all began
First Official Business Dinner
Every big idea starts somewhere — and Bayou Education Partners Group started over dinner, big dreams, and a whole lot of planning!
This photo captures one of our very first business meetings, when Dr. Kelly Pizani and Dr. Brandie Wolsefer began turning years of experience, shared vision, and passion for education into something real.
"Sometimes the best business plans begin with good food, great conversation, and two educators saying, 'Let's do this!'"
Dr. Brandie Wolsefer
Co-Founder & Managing Partner
Dr. Brandie Wolsefer is an educator, researcher, and district program leader with more than 20 years of experience spanning K–12 education, special education, literacy, behavior systems, program implementation, educational leadership, and data-informed decision-making. She specializes in behavior intervention systems, special education programming, literacy development, educator training, program evaluation, and organizational improvement. Her work focuses on helping educational organizations translate research into practical systems that improve outcomes for students, educators, and school leaders.
She earned a Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership and Technology from Southeastern Louisiana University, graduating with a 4.0 GPA. She also holds a Master of Business Administration in Innovation and Technology and a Master of Arts in Teaching in Special Education and Early Childhood Intervention.
Her professional credentials include certifications in Educational Leadership, Educational Diagnostician, Early Intervention (Birth–5), Mild/Moderate Special Education, Elementary Education, and PreK–3 Education. Additional credentials include Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, Project Management, Advanced Data Analytics, and AI Ethics and Responsible Innovation.
Dr. Wolsefer currently leads district-wide initiatives focused on behavior support, educator training, compliance, and program implementation. She is the author of the peer-reviewed publication Comparing Academic Outcomes for Students with Exceptionalities: Inclusion vs. Resource Classrooms in Southeast Louisiana and the author of Beyond Compliance: Rethinking Seclusion and Restraint in Special Education.
Dr. Kelly Pizani
Co-Founder & Managing Partner
Dr. Kelly Pizani is an education consultant, researcher, and assessment leader with more than 26 years of experience across K–12 instruction, large-scale assessment, literacy, and educator development. She specializes in ELA and social studies assessment design, curriculum alignment, educator training, and systems-level improvement.
She earned a Doctor of Education in Reading, Literacy, and Assessment from Walden University, where her research examined how elementary teachers support struggling readers within social studies instruction. She also holds a Master's degree in Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment and a Bachelor's degree in Elementary and Special Education. Her professional credentials include National Board Certification, LETRS, Pre-K CLASS evaluation, and Critical Career Skills in Generative AI Foundations.
Dr. Pizani has led major assessment initiatives, including passage and item development, item bank analysis, accessibility reviews, and psychometric data interpretation for statewide ELA programs. At Pearson, she directed development for computer-adaptive and linear assessments, managed cross-functional teams, and implemented process improvements that increased item development output by 40% and achieved a 99% educator acceptance rate.
Dr. Pizani's work centers on translating research, assessment data, and instructional best practices into practical strategies that elevate teaching quality and improve outcomes for students and educators.