Our Voice Amplified

Leticia Citizen, a 23-year educator, is a Samsung Education Coach interested in technology-enhanced teaching and global connections. As a result, she implements many applications available to teachers to help augment their students’ learning, modernizing traditional classroom methods. Leticia dedicates her life to social justice, teaching through an equity lens, and providing intentional and engaging PD. She is a co-founder of Equity In Action CA and Tech.Teach.Grow, LLC. Leticia is an ambassador and trainer for various digital tools including Nearpod, Wakelet, Newsela, and Flipgrid. She’s Google Certified and an MIE Expert.

People ask Krynica Drake what her dream job is. She will quickly tell them that she is living it! Her current role affords her the opportunity to share innovative resources & tools with students, staff, and district stakeholders. Her passion is to assist others with effectively integrating innovation into their daily lives. Krynica is an Educational Technology Specialist in Atlanta, Georgia. She is a second-generation educator and is currently in her 26th year in education. Krynica is a certified Microsoft Innovative Educator Expert, Fellow & Trainer, Certified Google Trainer, Wakelet Ambassador, and a member of several other technology communities.

Sawsan Jaber, Ph.D., NBCT, is a global educator, presenter, equity strategist, curriculum designer and keynote speaker of 20+ years. She has held a variety of education leadership positions in the U.S. and abroad. She’s currently a high school English teacher and a district equity leader at East Leyden High School in Franklin Park, Illinois. Jaber founded Education Unfiltered Consulting and works with schools nationally and internationally. She completed her doctorate in curriculum and instruction, with a focus on inclusion and belonging for students from marginalized communities. She was awarded the Cook County Teacher of the year in 2023, the Illinois Digital Educators Alliance (IDEA) Teacher of the Year in 2022, and has been nominated as the 2023 Illinois Teacher of the Year and for the ISTE 20 to Watch Award for 2023. She’s a member of the board of directors for the Our Voice Alliance (OVA), which amplifies the voices of teachers of color to create more equity for students of color. She’s also one of the founders of the Arab American Education Network (AAEN) and is an ISTE Community Leader. Jaber is a National Board Certified Teacher and focuses much of her research on engaging students in equity work and advocating for Arab and Muslim students. Among other projects, she is currently working on national and international equity-centered projects with Google and the National Board Association. Jaber is a Pulitzer Teacher fellow and a WAMS fellow. She has been featured at several conferences and on many podcasts, and has written for a host of blogs, journals and newsletters with the goal of helping educators empower students to work toward global equity and justice. Jaber has published several scholarly works and is the co-author of Navigating Precarity in Educational Contexts: Reflection, Pedagogy, and Activism for Change. She’s passionate about her work as an activist scholar and co-conspirator for justice alongside her students. Jaber says her perspective as the daughter of refugees from Deir Yasin, Palestine, influences her work.

Natalia LeMoyne is a Colombian immigrant. An EdTech leader, former educator and Googler. Se has a Master's in Educational Technology and is a member of the Digital Literacy Advisory Committee for the NY State Department of Education.

Valerie Lewis is regarded as an inspirational, skilled and masterful educator. She is proud in tooting her own horn in sharing that “the art and science of teaching comes naturally” and her 23 years of experience in education and impacting lives of youth in and out of the classroom contribute to that. Her ability to support teachers in her administrative role and help design learning experiences around students’ desires and interests is her superpower.

Dr. Toutoule Ntoya is an educator dedicated to helping students achieve by 1) working with teachers in professional development and coaching to implement curricula and 2) working with students directly using learning and motivation strategies.

Brian Smith, a 23 year Ed Tech leader, is the Founder and CCO of 4:14 Media while serving as the Executive Partnership Manager for Nearpod and Flocabulary with the privilege of providing digital culture changing opportunities for educators in Texas and throughout. His passion for digital equity by providing equal access and learning opportunities for all students in a culturally responsive environment gets him up each morning ready to work. He has produced several student and adult podcast, including The Making Learning Addictive Show, The Captain Kindness Show, The Liberated Educator, The Flocast and a few more.

Marcus Derrell Stein, M.Ed., is the Head of Business Development at Kami. He’s passionate about personalizing teacher professional development by embedding humor and joy into instruction. After earning his bachelor's degree in English education from McNeese State University in 2008, Stein worked as a Secondary English teacher. With a talent for edtech integration, Stein started his teacher leadership career by working as a technology professional learning community leader and then a districtwide Promethean Board trainer. After teaching, he worked as a Promethean consultant with AXI Education Solutions He also earned his master’s in educational technology leadership from Nicholls State University.

Alexes M. Terry is an educator, author, and wellness coach. As a daughter of parents who struggled with addiction and incarceration, Alexes uses her testimony to equip educators with the tools necessary to reach and teach all students while living their best lives.

Al Thomas is the CEO and Founder of Educopilot. He has more than 20 years of experience in education as a teacher, principal, district-level director and consultant. He’s passionate about developing and curating unique, innovative solutions that improve learning for all. Al Thomas believes that if we are to prepare students for future success, we must equip them with creative problem-solving skills that harness their talents and abilities.