Akihiko Takahashi is Associate Professor of Mathematics Education at DePaul University. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and has published over 80 journal articles and book chapters in English and Japanese. He has given over 50 presentations and keynotes at conferences and workshops in 18 countries.

Thomas McDougal is Founder & Executive Director of Lesson Study Alliance in Chicago. He has worked previously as a high school math teacher and as an elementary (grades K-8) mathematics specialist in the Chicago Public Schools. In 2016, he co-authored the paper, "Collaborative Lesson Research: Maximizing the Impact of Lesson Study."

Shelley Friedkin is Senior Research Associate for the Lesson Study Group at Mills College. Her research interests include teachers' learning from practice and practice-based artifacts, and developing school-wide Lesson Study.

Tad Watanabe is Professor of Mathematics Education and an associate chair of the Department of Mathematics at Kennesaw State University. His research interests include teaching and learning of multiplicative concepts and Lesson Study.