Sunday Mainstage: Inspire

Megan DuVarney Forbes is a historian and middle school teacher in Southern California. She received her master’s degree in U.S. history from California State University, Fullerton, where she specialized in Caribbean civil rights history. Forbes is a frequent presenter on teaching social justice through history and literature. She creates history content for teachers on her blog “Too Cool for Middle School,” and shares what she’s reading, teaching and learning on her YouTube channel of the same name. Forbes is releasing a book on influential people in U.S. history for students soon.

Quentin J. Lee, Ed.D., has worked for the Talladega County School system in Alabama for 15 years as a band director, assistant principal and now principal of Childersburg High School where he’s focused on promoting the power of relationships between students and schools. Lee is known for creating videos to engage with the communities he serves, including three videos dealing with COVID-19. His video featuring the MC Hammer hit "U Can't Touch This" garnered over 6 million views on YouTube and led to interviews on “Fox and Friends,” “Good Morning America,” “The Today Show” and CNN. During the pandemic, Lee also hosted "Kicking It With Dr. Lee," virtual sessions during which he provided information to his students, played games and offered ACT prep. Lee is a member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Incorporated and is affiliated with the Council for Leadership in Alabama Schools (CLAS), the Alabama Education Association (AEA), the Dynamic Learning Project for Administrators, the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) and Our Voice Academy. He’s also a Central Alabama 40 Under 40 inaugural class member, received the Go Be Great Award from Varsity Brands International, and was named the Alabama Alliance of Black School Educators Principal of the Year for 2020. Lee has a bachelor’s degree from Alabama A&M University, a master’s from Samford University, an educational specialist degree from Jacksonville State University and a doctoral degree in educational leadership from Samford University.

2020 has been the year of #TheREALCareerUpgrade for Brandie Wright. With over 22 years in the technology industry, Wright left her thriving career as a district technology coordinator to become a middle school teacher. Her passion for learning and natural risk-taking mindset during the pandemic created a perfect storm of opportunity to model for students how to harness your superpower. Wright has gained an expert understanding of dynamic learning and transformation. She’s committed to discovery, process improvement and innovation. As an inquisitive, persistent and innovative educator, Wright strives to connect others with the skills, information and resources required to achieve their personal and professional developmental goals. Building relationships and making connections is at the core of her work. All of these qualities are now being refined by the fire of virtual learning, middle school mayhem and professional growth overload. While at Newport News Public Schools, in partnership with other district personnel, Wright created and facilitated training events for district technology coaches, secretaries, food service staff and custodians. She has worked extensively with career and technical education teachers and specialists to craft authentic internship programs to support student career readiness. She recently worked with student tech leaders at a STEM-focused magnet high school to refurbish computers for their local community. She’s passionate about amplifying the voices of female educators and educators of color in the edtech field, and developing her portfolio and collaborating with leaders and experienced change-makers.