We are educators. This is personal.

Best Questers was not born in a boardroom. It was born in classrooms, in recovery rooms, in faculty lounges, and in the deep conviction that the people who shape children deserve to be truly

equipped and deeply supported.

Meet the Team

Dr. Donita Grissom

Chief Executive Officer

Dr. Donita Grissom’s earliest dream was not the stars — it was the classroom. With a chalkboard in hand and a well-worn dictionary, she set up shop with dolls and pets as her students. That passion grew into a career marked by expertise, service, and an unwavering belief in the power of hope. With a Ph.D. in TESOL from the University of Central Florida and degrees from Southeast Missouri State University and the University of Florida, Donita has dedicated her career to teacher training, multilingual education, and cultural proficiency. Her research on Snyder’s Hope Theory has made her a sought-after keynote speaker, hope specialist, life coach, and English Specialist for the U.S. State Department. As a professor and mentor, she trains future leaders and inspires educators worldwide to create meaningful, lasting change. She is also a devoted mother and grammy— the living proof that significance and joy are not mutually exclusive.

Debbie Simões

President

Debbie Simoes was born to teach. Then a brain injury threatened to take it away — along with her sense of purpose, her confidence, and her path forward. What happened next became the foundation of Best Questers. She didn’t just recover. She rebuilt — earning two M.Ed. degrees, navigating roles as a teacher, principal, and director of a university lab school, and spending every day since proving that the educator you were meant to be doesn’t disappear. It waits. Inspired by John Maxwell and Zig Ziglar, Debbie is a Maxwell Leadership Certified Speaker, Trainer, and Coach, a Nationally Certified Trainer with the Center for Teacher Effectiveness, and a certified life and business coach. She founded Best Questers in 2021 with a single mission: to help teachers and leaders love stepping into their greatness together every day. When she is not out Best-Questing, Debbie enjoys her South Florida garden with Mr. Fabulous (her husband), their yellow lab Buddy, and the fab four felines

Dr. Viki Kelchner

Vice-President

Dr. Viki Kelchner brings 25+ years of experience in mental health and wellness, and trauma-informed care to the Best Questers team. A licensed counselor and supervisor, National Certified Counselor, and Certified School Counselor, Viki has spent her career at the intersection of well-being and education — supporting youth, families, underserved populations, educators, and communities. She is an Associate Professor at James Madison University, where she develops curricula, and trains and supervises future counselors. She is passionate about inclusion, resilience, and making sure no educator feels like they are doing this work alone. Committed to making a lasting impact, she pours her heart into every initiative, believing every step toward supporting people moves us all closer to a more compassionate world. She is a wife and proud mom of 3 incredible children and too many pets to count, balancing her endeavors with gratitude!

Why Choose Best Questers

Who We Are

Mission

At Best Questers, we believe in the transformative power of valuing people and adding value to their lives. We impact the world by sparking possibility, inspiring growth, and prompting action that creates a ripple effect of excellence and joy.

Vision

Our vision is to create joyful, thriving communities where all people feel deeply valued, authentically connected, and powerfully empowered to live up to their highest potential. Through driving meaningful transformation, we foster success, significance, and lasting change that resonates on a profound level.

Core Values

Love
We lead with care, compassion, and a genuine belief in every person’s potential.

Honor
We respect each voice, story, and journey with integrity and dignity.

Purpose

We stay grounded in meaningful work that makes a lasting impact.

Hope
We believe in possibilities and empower others to see a path forward.

Connection
We build strong, authentic relationships that inspire belonging and growth.

Flourishing
We create environments where individuals and communities can truly thrive.

Fun
We celebrate joy, energy, and the power of learning together.

Voices

Our personalized support empowers educators and students to grow, thrive, and create meaningful impact.

“Finally, someone is speaking with the voice of an educator in such a way that the reader will know the authors "get me". Get a copy for yourself and several of your colleagues down the hall .”