Speakers

FRIEDA MCALEAR

Frieda McAlear is the Senior Research Associate, where she brings her skills as a social science researcher and her passion for working with and for marginalized and underrepresented communities, at the Kapor Center. She has nearly a decade of experience managing projects, developing evaluation and research methodology and building nonprofit technology capacity with socially progressive organizations in the Bay Area, Europe and Southern Africa. In 2013, she worked as an evaluator for an HIV/AIDS clinic serving villages in Lesotho and as a Program Coordinator for ZeroDivide in San Francisco in 2014. She holds a Master of Research in Geography from Queen Mary University of London, and a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from Vesalius College in Brussels. She has nearly a decade of experience managing projects, developing evaluation and research methodology and building nonprofit technology capacity with socially progressive organizations in the Bay Area, Europe and Southern Africa.

Twitter: @Friedamca

REBECCA LUEBKER


Rebecca Luebker is a social science chair and 8th grade computer science teacher and an enrolled citizen of the Cherokee Nation. She was an Inaugural Computer Science Teachers Equity Fellow and 2017 Arkansas History Teacher of the Year. Rebecca was approved to teach the first ever high school Native American History course in Arkansas and is currently advocating for Indiginous inclusion in the K-12 curriculum.

Twitter: @luebkermoll

DR. QUINCY BROWN

Quincy Brown is a Senior Director for Innovation Research at AnitaB.org. Previously, she was a Program Director for STEM Education Research at the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and has also served as a Senior Policy Advisor in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP). She is a leader in STEM and Computer Science education and workforce development in PK-20 and has been supporting black women and girls in computing for nearly two decades.

Twitter: @QuincyKBrown

KHALIA BRASWELL

Khalia Braswell is an award-winning technologist, whose personal mission is to make a social change using technology. Khalia graduated from North Carolina State University with a BS in Computer Science. In 2016, she also obtained her Masters in Information Technology with a concentration in Human-Computer Interaction. Khalia is currently a Presidential Future Faculty Fellow at Temple University studying Computer Science with a focus on Education. While in this program, she will extend the work she started as the Founder of INTech Camp for Girls, a non-profit whose mission is to inform and inspire girls to innovate in the technology industry. INTech targets girls in grades 6th - 12th through summer camps and after school programs, which teaches them how to build software solutions, introduces them to women of color in tech, and allows them to explore tech careers at various companies across the Carolina’s.

Website: www.intechcamp.org

Twitter: @KhaliaBraswell

JESS PEACOCK

Jessica Peacock is a 6th grade math teacher in NC. Her skill set includes multicultural education, culturally responsive teaching practices, and math identity development. She is an advocate for communities of color and seeks to build a stronger relationship between families and public schools.

Twitter: @_jesspeacock

TERRANCE BANKS

Terrance Banks is a 15-year educator. He is certified in Mathematics, Physical Education and Instructional Technology. He has a Bachelor’s Degree for Morehouse College and Kennesaw State University in Mathematics and Computer Science. He holds a Masters and Educational Specialist Degree in Western Governors’ and Kennesaw State University, respectively. He has taught all levels of Math Classes including Advanced Placement Statistics and Computer Science. In addition to being an educator, Terrance is also a Football Coach and has spent time as a Head Coach in Football and Track. Terrance is a member of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics and Georgia Council of Teacher of Mathematics.

Twitter: @tbanks1906

DR. TIA MADKINS

Dr. Tia C. Madkins (Ph.D. UC Berkeley) is an assistant professor in STEM Education and the Department of Curriculum and Instruction in the College of Education and a faculty research affiliate with the Population Research Center and the Center for the Study of Race and Democracy at The University of Texas at Austin. Her research focuses on supporting teachers to design inclusive STEAM + computing classrooms and engage equity-focused pedagogies with minoritized students, especially Black girls. After obtaining a bachelor’s degree in biology (Boston University) and a master’s degree in science education (University of Southern California), Dr. Madkins taught PK-8 students in both LAUSD and Oakland USD.

Twitter: @ProfTiaMadkins

DR. SHUCHI GROVER

Dr. Shuchi Grover is a learning scientist and computer science (CS) and STEM education researcher. Her current research is primarily centered on Computational Thinking, CS education, and STEM learning in the PK-14 years— helping and empowering learners to build a strong foundation for STEM literacy. She focuses on the design of curriculum, assessments, tools, and environments that help develop 21st century competencies; as well as social, cultural, cognitive and socio-emotional processes that nurture such development. She has a Ph.D. in Learning Sciences & Technology Design from Stanford University, masters degrees in Education (Harvard University) and Computer Science, and bachelors degrees in Computer Science and Physics.

Twitter: @shuchig

CARLA STRICKLAND

Carla Strickland is the Digital Development Manager at UChicago STEM Education. An experienced mathematics teacher and curriculum developer, she works with elementary teachers to integrate computer science into their existing mathematics instruction. Carla brings an Afro-Caribbean perspective and a passion for equitable, high-quality instruction to her work in education.

Twitter: @CisforCarla

IDIL ABDULKADIR

Idil Abdulkadir (she/her) is a mathematics educator, instructional coach, STEM enthusiast, and 2019 Desmos Fellow. Her philosophy of education can be summed up in three words: classrooms and communities. Idil's work is concerned with the communities we create in STEM classrooms and the communities we bring (or don't bring) into them.

Twitter: @Idil_A_

REGINA SCHAFFER

Regina Schaffer is a Technology Specialist for the Middletown Township SD. She is an advocate for using technology to bridge the gaps that exist for many of our nation’s students. Regina is a co-author of the ISTE Digital Equity series, Closing the Gap. She is the former co-chair of the ISTE Digital Equity PLN and presently part of the leadership team. She has also been on the leadership team of the ISTE’s Computer Science Network PLN for the past three years. She has spoken and presented nationally, is currently a member of the NJ State PLC for Access to technology and STEM careers, and is a recipient of the 2016 National School Board Association's 20 to Watch Award. Regina is vice president of NJ NASEF affiliate’s Garden State Esports team, as well as a 2020 NASEF Fellow. She is also a thought leader for the Future Ready Instructional Coaches Strand.

Twitter: @ReginaSchaffer

CHRIS AVILES

Chris Aviles runs the renown Fair Haven Innovates program at Knollwood middle school in Fair Haven, NJ. His program includes the first middle school esports team in the country. Recently, Chris started a nonprofit called Garden State Esports where he helps schools in NJ and beyond start scholastic esports programs so ALL students can use esports as a platform to grow.

Twitter: @TECHEDUPTEACHER