Meet the Team

Past: Writer and editor at Scientific American, The Washington Post, Forbes

And: Fellow with the Pahara-Aspen Education Fellows Program; named a “Rock Star” of education; advises several charter schools & the AT&T Aspire edtech accelerator

Asking about: How can we help learners and educators figure out when technology makes a difference and why?

Past: Co-founder of Luckybird Games, still recovering from an aborted attempt to pursue academia in East Asian history

And: Forbes “30 Under 30” in Education in 2014, wannabe golfer, quiet drummer, former video game binger

Asking about: Why do people have such a hard time agreeing to disagree?

Past: Business Manager for EdSurge and Odyssey School. Sales and business development for Citibank, Reuters, and various internet start-ups.

And: San Mateo Union High School District Board Member raising funds; tennis player and baking enthusiast

Asking about: How can we make education more equitable?

Past: Producer and Sales/Sales Leadership Roles at games & niche media companies such as Electronic Arts (pogo.com), Inman News, Total Entertainment Network, and the Pivot Conference.

And: First job after college was working on an ESL Software product; Taught English while studying abroad in Bordeaux, France; Mentor for AT&T Aspire edtech accelerator; fluent in German & French;

Believes: If more Americans studied abroad, we'd see a greater tolerance for cultural differences.

Past: 19 years of experience in events and the hospitality industry, working for the Hilton, Inman New, Tomorrow Project as an executive producer, senior conventions manager and Content & Strategies VP.

And: Loves cutting things up, experimenting, wants to 3-d print just about anything and dreams up things to hack.

Believes: Creating a space for young makers that celebrates tinkering and encourage playfulness.

Past: English Teacher (10th, 11AP, SAT); Tech Leader, and English Dept Chair for Henrico County PS in Virginia; Development and Advancement Associate for Virginia Commonwealth University; Analyst for Polo Ralph Lauren Home

And: Won an Henrico21 Tech Award for Research and Innovation; Former member of Henrico's Technology Advisory; art history enthusiast, music and movie lover, avid reader, and a lifelong fan of the Legend of Zelda.

Asking about: How might the educational system both support innovation and equity?

Past: Project management and marketing for edtech and education non-profits over past 7 years

And: Big on scenic hikes, dystopian novels, and Instagram stalking animal celebrities

Wondering about: Education's role in solving economic issues our country is facing today

Past: 20+ years of Accounting and Bookkeeping experience - First Republic Bank, The Little School, Garnick LLC, SugarSync - in the public, non-profit and private sectors.

And:Is a cycling enthusiast.

Past: Instructional coach with Cooke Center for Learning and Development helping administrators and educators build and strengthen literacy and special education programs in K-8 schools; special education teacher and ELA teacher in Pre-K-8 classrooms across NYC.

And: NYC Teaching Fellow, Worldwide Orphans Foundation Ranger, lover of children’s books and mother of twins

Asking about: How are schools changing to prepare learners to be curious, flexible, resourceful individuals that will be able to adapt to a future we can’t yet imagine?

Past: Editor and writer for The Chronicle of Higher Education for 20 years.

And: Adjunct journalism professor, 2014 Nieman Fellow for journalism at Harvard

Asking about: How the roles of students and professors are changing in the digital age.

Past: Educator (informal and formal) with a knack for organization and streamlining processes. University of Oregon Alumna - Sko Ducks!

And: Youth mentor, lazy cyclist, and avid audiobook/podcast listener.

Wondering about: What can community involvement bring to the table to ensure the success of all students?

Past: Most recently, Michael was an Associate Dean of Students and previously directed experiential education and academic support initiatives, and worked with students with disabilities.

And: He writes nonfiction and fiction around issues of queer identity, culture and place. He is in search of the best pizza in San Francisco.

Wondering about: How can we innovate to meet the diversity of student needs in a more affordable way?

Past: Editor and Marketer for K-12 and Higher & Adult Education at Jossey-Bass, a Wiley imprint

And: Poet

Thinking about: How can we make public education equitable and exceptional?

Past: Teacher Resident with the Teachers Guild out of IDEO, 10 year Art Educator in SFUSD, Peace Corps Education Volunteer, Bolivia, Designer and Art Director with Anderson & Lembke Advertising

And: Co-founder Beyond Borders Storytelling, artist, and always seeking that elusive San Francisco sun

Believes that: Changes in education will come from inside school communities from the ground up.

Past: Editor of eSchool News; education editor at THE Journal and SmartBrief.

And: Consultant for CUE, California's ISTE affiliate. Moderated sessions or spoken at FETC, ISTE, CoSN and other professional development events.

Wondering about: Is it really still easier to move a graveyard than change a school?

Past: Technology editor and reporter at EdScoop; wrote about digital learning for Inside Higher Ed. Other bylines in HuffPost and The Columbus Dispatch.

And: Runner, yoga practitioner and lover of all things outdoors. Prefers podcasts to music. Believes jalapeños belong on everything.

Wondering about: How can we help educators parse the transient classroom technology from the truly transformational?

Past: Instructional Designer - Philips, Apple, Google, Facebook, Uber; Curriculum Specialist - Pearson, Houghton Mifflin; Montessori Teacher.

And: School Board Member since 2010, loves to travel off-the beaten path, photography, volunteering in the community, quiet moments.

Wondering about: How to connect dots and reduce inefficiencies.

Past: Curriculum designer at IXL, civic innovation researcher at New America, college instructor at Brooklyn College, researcher at Ithaka.

And: PhD labor historian; mom to two daughters; lover of palindromes, public transit and Earl Grey tea with milk.

Wondering about: Teaching is incredibly hard work and educators deserve respect, support and a seat at the decision-making table.

Past: Spent 11 years in the classroom as a high school Spanish teacher in the Bronx, NY and Richmond, VA before moving to San Francisco to become the Community Manager at music streaming service 8tracks. After a stint as contributing writer for various editorial projects, joined EdSurge as Digital Content Project Manager in 2019

And: Committed to finding new ways to combine fitness and philanthropy.

Past: Spent time teaching in East Texas before moving to Denver, Colorado to pursue a Master's in Educational Leadership and Administration. Joined the EdSurge team in 2018 as a Social Media Contractor.

And: I'm passionate about global education and continuing my journey to understand and learn about education around the world.

Wondering about: What would education look like if it became more culturally, ethically and historically charged?

Past: 15 years of broad integrated marketing experience in various industries, including technology, healthcare and nonprofit. I was part of a team that won best educational video for a livestreamed colonoscopy.

And: I’m an Orange County native and co-founder of #LatinaGeeks, a nonprofit that supports adult continuing education through tech-related workshops and community events. I’m also an avid baseball fan, which once led to scoring an Ultimate Fan grand prize from the Angels.

Believes that: Affordable, skills-based training is the future of education.

Past: Business reporter for Las Vegas Review-Journal, Gaston Gazette, Tampa Bay Business Journal

And: Proud University of Florida alumni. Go Gators!

Asking about: Edtech investment and financing

Past: Researcher on youth and politics at the Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism at USC, Community Manager at Connected Camps, and Program Associate at the National Writing Project

And: Published author and Ph.D. in Sociology. Enjoys crocheting and unironically watching Antiques Roadshow.

Believes that: Students and teachers are among the most important, innovative, and radical agents of change.

Past: Director of Ecomm at Undefeated Inc. and USC Film/Interactive Media MA

And: Weekend game developer, product designer, and Simpsons fan

Believes in: Learning by doing

Past: Reporter for U.S. News & World Report, The Chronicle of Higher Education and The Chronicle of Philanthropy

And: Also pens prose about history and food

Seeking: True tales to tell that combine evidence with human interest