Technology Educator Panel
Digital Youth Discussion Group Conference.
August 26, 2020
Shaina Glass, Program Director of Technology Applications & STEM
Presentation: Technology & Trauma Informed Care
Shaina will discuss how educating yourself, your students, and their parents in STEM and STEM Careers can address our community’s social, emotional, and economic wellbeing now (during a Pandemic) and BEYOND.
Rob Schwartz, Adobe Certified Instructor, Adobe Education Leader~BrainBuffet
Presentation: Curating Creativity in a Digital Age
This workshop will help participants reach deep and learn to find their creative side – and tips and tricks for self-discovery coupled with artistic expression. Learn who you are, and then let your voice be heard.
David Freund, President Evoke Learning
Presentation Title: Cultivating Creativity in a Digital Age
Collaborative relationships are an essential component of success in technology, digital arts and digital design fields. David will discuss key component skill sets in developing these relationships important for youth to navigate success
Arbie Nickerson, Director of Socialization, Education and Employment Foundation (S.E.E.)~Miami, FL
Presentation: Countering Systematic Racism with Technology Education
Arbie will discuss how to counter systematic racism through technology education. By using technology to inspire youth entrepreneurship and professional development. Arbie will also discuss the long-term economic affect technology education for youth will have on our communities.
Denise Mendez, Systems Architect~ Microsoft
Presentation: STEM + Growth Mindset = Future Proof
One of the greatest challenges facing our underserved youth is being future proof and ready. Technology accelerates at such as fast pace that the chasm continues to grow between the people who have access to the latest and greatest and those that are playing catch up. This talk will discuss how access plus instilling a growth mindset can help
Presenters
Shaina Glass is the computer Sciences/STEM Coordinator in Aldine Independent School District, in Houston, Texas. She was awarded Teacher of the Year and advocates for Computational Thinking through her global PLN and has helped hundreds of educators create blended learning experiences throughout all Title One Schools in Aldine ISD. Ms. Glass uses Computer Science, Art and Technology integration to help children express their understanding of concepts within her classroom.
Rob Schwartz is an award-winning teacher with over 20 years’ experience in Technical Training and Education. He is a popular speaker at local, state, and national conferences; and often presents for Adobe on Photoshop, Illustrator, creativity, and teaching strategies. Rob’s focus on helping people find their purpose, gaining industry skills, developing creativity, and solving real-world problems are the secrets to his success.
Rob is an Adobe Certified Instructor, Adobe Education Leader, and won the prestigious Impact Award from Adobe in 2011. Rob was also recognized as the #1 Educator WorldWide in 2010 for the Certiport Adobe Certified Associate Championship. The founder of ACATestPrep.com and Brainbuffet.com, Rob has created these resources to empower other Educators- both sites are dedicated to helping people reach their highest potential and success in creative and technical areas.
Rob lives and works in South Florida
David Freund was a student of Rob’s 10 years ago where he was first introduced to the BrainBuffet Curriculum and website development. Since then, the relationship has come full circle where he now serves as the lead product development manager and VP of sales for Brainbuffet. Leading up to his position with BrainBuffet, he served as the Digital Asset Manager for Wiley Education Services where he learned to implement innovative tools and technologies to streamline learning and make learning fun for students!
Arbie Nikerson, Jr, was brought up in a Christian musical family in South Florida. At age 16, he started Godly People Music and Godly People Radio. He focuses on inspirational music and has proven that secular artists can make hits without compromising themselves morally. He is the Director of Beyond Our Abilities, a division of the Socialization, Education, and Employment Foundation. Currently, Mr. Nikerson works at the Miami-Dade Public Library System as the Library Media Project Instructor; teaching multimedia production to teens throughout Miami-Dade County.
Denise Mendez is a Systems Architect at Microsoft and she is involved in making science fiction real. Ms. Mendez has traveled around the world from China to Brazil, learning the art of communication and cross- cultural dynamics. Ms. Mendez, who holds an Electrical Engineering Degree from The University of Florida, earned an internship with NASA at the Kennedy Space Center building a Mars Mission Prototype, worked at Magic Leap where she helped launch the mixed reality-based Spatial Computing device and now works at Microsoft developing mixed reality platforms. Ms. Mendez, who has presented computer coding initiatives across the United States for young girls and boys, believes that engineers are artists that use molecules, wires, bits and bytes, for creative expression.