Creativity Playground

Kristen Brooks is #FOREDU. She has held numerous jobs in the Cherokee County School district, Instructional Technology Specialist & Tech Coach, Technology Teacher in a computer lab and an iPad lab plus a Homeroom teacher. She is a veteran teacher of 27 years with the last 17 years specifically in EdTech. She keeps herself busy as an EdTech Consultant. She has stated, “I am very blessed to spend most of my time with students in the classroom encouraging and supporting teachers to become the facilitator of learning.” To learn more about Kristen please follow her on LinkedIn or Twitter @KristenBrooks77

Dr. Monica Burns is an EdTech and Curriculum Consultant, author of EdTech Essentials (ASCD, 2021) and former New York City public school teacher. She works with schools and organizations around the world to support PreK-20 educators with thoughtful technology integration. Monica’s website ClassTechTips.com and Easy EdTech Podcast helps educators place “tasks before apps” by promoting deeper learning with technology.

Morgan Cave is a K - 12 Director of Instructional Technology in a 1:1 district in north Texas. She has 17 years of experience in the world of public education, including 12 years in the elementary classroom, and 5 years of K-12 central-level support. She is passionate about creativity and leveraging technology to design learning that is accessible for all learners. Morgan is an ISTE Certified Educator as well as an Apple Distinguished Educator.

After a decade in Italy as a design consultant and creative director, Rebecca found that the young designers she hired struggled with problem-solving and critical thinking. She returned to the U.S. to study education and built on her BFA in Industrial Design from The European Design Institute in Milan, Italy with a M.A.T. in Art . Her Master's thesis focused on Design Thinking and evaluating and enhancing creativity through the study of design and art, writing the books: The Space: A Guide for Educators and The Space: A Guide for Leaders.

Michael is an award-winning teacher whose work focuses on digital storytelling, media literacy, project-based learning, and social justice. His published work addresses student voice and the intersection of education and social policy, and his podcast and newsletter, Change The Narrative, has found subscribers around the world. He has presented in North America, Asia and Africa on these topics, including SXSW EDU, TCEA, and ISTE. He is an Apple Distinguished Educator, Adobe Education Leader, and National Geographic/Lindblad Expeditions Grosvenor Teacher Fellow. Follow him on Twitter: @cinehead and Instagram: @changing.the.narrative www.michael-hernandez.net

Manuel is an educator, a speaker, and an illustrator. He specializes in sketchnoting, visual thinking, and design thinking. Over the past 18 years, he has keynoted and led workshops at educational conferences like SXSWEdu, ISTE, TCEA, MassCUE, FETC & .EDU. Manuel has illustrated books, publications, and graphics for organizations, publishers and schools. In 2018 Manuel became a Google Innovator at LAX18. You can follow Manuel on Twitter and Instagram at @manuelherrera33.

Leah LaCrosse is an 8th grade science teacher in Huron, Ohio that integrates technology of all kinds throughout her Earth, Physical, and Life Science curriculum. From iPads to drones and robots, learning science through engineering challenges, play, and project based activities is how her students work all year.

Erika Moser is an Elementary Music and Tech Integration Specialist at Chesterbrook Academy Elementary School in West Chester, Pennsylvania - an Apple Distinguished School. Erika has a passion for designing cross-disciplinary learning experiences that allow for both students and teachers to express themselves creatively. As an author and speaker she helps educators empower students to explore ways to engage with technology in a meaningful way. She is an Apple Distinguished Educator, Apple Teacher for (iPad, Mac & Swift Playgrounds) and Apple Learning Coach.

Tim Needles is an art, media and STEAM teacher, the author of STEAM Power: Infusing Art Into Your STEM Curriculum and an artist. An educator for over two decades, Needles has taught AP art, digital media, filmmaking, photography, drawing, screenwriting, animation, game design, 3D printing, coding, animation, and augmented and virtual reality. He has also taught mass communication and emerging media at Five Towns College and Adelphi University. Needles trains teachers and students in edtech, creative and media arts integration curriculum, social-emotional learning, and provides professional development for the Lincoln Public Schools, Brigantine Schools, Cape May Schools, NYSCATE, School Library Journal, StoryCorps, Mid East Suffolk Teacher Center, Suffolk's Edge Teacher Center, Project Presence and Digital Media Academy. He’s an Adobe Education Leader and Master Teacher with the Adobe Youth Voices program, and a frequent conference presenter. Needles is the chair of the NAEA ArtEdTech interest group and an ISTE Community Leader. He’s a NASA Solar System Ambassador, a DEN Star and an Adobe Creative Educator, and is a certified educator for National Geographic, Adobe, Formative, PBS, Discovery, Kami, GoGuardian and Clever. He is the recipient of the 2021 NAEA Eastern Region Art Educator Award, 2019 ISTE Teacher Education Network's Technology In Action Award, 2018 ISTE Arts and Technology PLN Network Creativity Award, 2016 NAEA Art Education Technology Outstanding Teacher Award and the Robert Rauschenberg Power of Art award at The National Gallery of Art. As an artist and writer, Needles’ work has been featured on NPR, in The New York Times and at the Norman Rockwell Museum, Columbus Museum of Art, Photographer’s Forum, French Photo and SVA Gallery. He also writes for McGraw Hill’s The Art of Teaching, School Arts, NYSCATE’s News, TEAE’s Trends and Short and Sweet NYC.

Leon Tynes teaches robotics and computer science at Xavier College Preparatory in Phoenix, Arizona. Leon has secured a number of STEM grants to support his recent efforts such as Infymakers, McCarthey Dressman, and Verizon Innovative Learning. He was also an AP CSP reader for the past four years.

Julie Willcott oversees the development of #AR/#VR/#XR immersive and interactive content for the K12 education market. Her experience includes teaching STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics) at the high school level and sustainability at the college level. She has been recognized as an Apple Distinguished Educator, Class of 2013 for her innovative use of technology and development of open educational resources.

Claudio Zavala Jr. is based out of the DFW area with over 20 years in the education world in capacities as an educator, mentor teacher, edtech trainer, and digital designer. In 2017, he founded I Am Claudius LLC, a creative media consulting company providing workshops and webinars on subjects like video creation and storytelling. Claudio has presented at various conferences including ISTE, SXSWEdu, FETC and TCEA. He has also been featured in Toggle and EdTech Magazine. He was a part of the Adobe Spark Ambassador program for the past two years. Claudio has spent the last 4 years creating tutorials for his YouTube channel.