John Hambrick is a Work-Based Learning Coordinator at the ESC working with school districts in the Central Ohio region to inspire students and educators through community partnerships and experiences.

Rachel Daniels has been an Adolescent Literacy Consultant at the ESC for the past 16 years. Rachel supports the development of customized professional development for school districts throughout Ohio.

Angela Dicke is the State Coordinator for the Ohio Teacher of the Year program at the State Board of Education. Her vision is to promote teacher recognition statewide and continue to develop the successful cohort model for the Ohio Teacher of the Year program with inclusive connections, advocacy, and leadership opportunities. Her professional background includes teaching, training, educational non-profit programming, and grant management. She resides in Columbus, Ohio with her family.

Angela Ullum is the Chief Academic Officer for Grandview Heights Schools. She has the honor and privilege of leading district-wide initiatives to elevate curriculum standards that are both growth-minded and strategically focused on personalized learning and well-being.

Bella Selph is a recent Worthington-Kilbourne grad and former student of the American Political Thought and Radicalism Class. An animal rights activist, Bella is based in Columbus Ohio. She will be attending Columbus State this fall.

Christina Grady-Watts is a Personalized Learning Specialist at the ESC of Central Ohio. Christina produces "The Conversation" and fills in as host on occasion!

Colin Page McGinnis, by his own admission, hasn’t had a conventional path through school or career. At 24, he assumed the role of CEO of SproutFive (formerly South Side Early Learning), a century-old early childhood nonprofit with a startup mindset working to reimagine early learning. Colin attended The Ohio State University for his Bachelor's in Human Development and Family Science with Research Distinction in Teaching and Learning, The University of Nebraska—Lincoln for his Master's degree in Educational Psychology, Harvard Graduate School of Education, and Harvard Business School for a Certificate in School Management and Leadership, and The Ohio State University for his Doctorate.

Dalen Hill is a dedicated healthcare professional with a passion for the arts, music, and media. While attending The Charles School, Dalen joined Lead the Way, which paved the path for a career in healthcare. With certifications as an STNA, phlebotomist, and medication aide through VIP Medical Academy, Dalen combines hands-on skills with a strong academic foundation. Earning an associate's degree in Cross Disciplinary Studies and Art from Ohio Dominican University in May, Dalen has experience in senior and pediatric care and has worked with OhioHealth and YAMO Media, driven by a commitment to care and creativity.

Meet Tak: once a third-grade reading class escape artist, he spent more time plotting his escape than decoding, The Cat in the Hat. His dreams of the NBA were swiftly derailed during his junior year of high school, thanks to a growth spurt that never happened. However, a move to Mississippi opened his eyes to social struggles, sparking a passion for deep dives into social histories. He found his way back to teaching with a goal to help spur hope in kids and maybe his third grade self. He somehow earned a masters in secondary education, too.

David Strausbaugh has taught for over 30 years in Philadelphia and Columbus. At Worthington Kilbourne High School he has taught US History and American Political Thought and Radicalism, a senior elective class which has been featured on NBC Nightly News, the Columbus Dispatch and recently Columbus Monthly magazine for its unique format and content. Speakers from all over the country have participated in the class.

Elizabeth Cusma is an immigration specialist and the current Site Director at US Together Cleveland, an immigrant and refugee serving organization.

Franki Sibberson is a literacy leader with over 30 years of experience as an elementary classroom teacher in Ohio. Franki served as president of the National Council of Teachers of English. She is the co-author of Classroom Design for Student Agency with Lynsey Burkins published by NCTE and In Community with Readers published by Stenhouse. She currently serves as the Executive Director of SproutFive’s Institute for Professional Learning. Franki provides leadership and consulting to schools and nonprofits.

Gerrie Cotter manages the Comprehensive Case Management and Employment Program for the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services’ Office of Workforce Development. During Cotter’s 11-year career with ODJFS, she also managed OhioMeansJobs.com projects with the Ohio Department of Education and the Ohio Department of Higher Education as well as developed policy agencywide as the former Chief Policy Advisor for the Director’s Office. Cotter has her B.A. in International Studies and French from West Virginia University as well as her J.D. from Loyola University, New Orleans.

Jessie Martin is a Licensed Independent Social Worker with 16 years in the field, with a focus on school social work She is currently the Director of Student Well-Being in Westerville City Schools. She has been a trainer and presenter for therapeutic crisis intervention and trauma-informed care. Jessie assists in the development and implementation of social emotional learning programs as well as supports mental health and school counseling programs. Jessie has a passion for supporting all students with a trauma-informed equity lens.

Jill Snyder is Metro Parks Visitor Engagement Manager, overseeing reservations, marketing, education and events. Jill has been a part of the Metro Parks team for over 20 years, leading programs, coordinating events, working in nature centers, and overseeing the education program for the park district. Along the way, Jill assisted with marketing, media requests and worked on monthly "Wander Wonder with Jill" videos highlighting the amazing features of Metro Parks. Jill grew up exploring the outdoors and loves running, hiking and sharing the park system with her family.

Jonathan Juravich is the art teacher at Liberty Tree Elementary School with the Olentangy Local Schools outside of Columbus, Ohio. In his 19th year of teaching, he also serves as a leader of School Culture and Environment. He is the 2018 Ohio Teacher of the Year and was one of four finalists for 2018 National Teacher of the Year. He currently serves as the founding president of the Ohio Chapter of the National Network of State Teachers of the Year (OH-NNSTOY). Jonathan’s personal and professional focus is on the importance of Social and Emotional Learning in our daily lives. This is the topic of his presentations, including his TED Talk “How Do We Teach Empathy,” his limited series podcast "The Art of SEL," and his Emmy award winning digital drawing program "Drawing with Mr. J."

Lisa Floyd-Jefferson’s 31 years of experience as a Black Educator, include serving in a multitude of capacities that all helped to mold her Leadership style. She has served as Parent, Volunteer, Paraprofessional, Substitute Teacher, Classroom Teacher, Teacher Leader, National Board-Certified Teacher, Assistant Principal, Central Office Administrator, Curriculum Specialist, Instructional Coach and now Deeper Learning Specialist. In her current role, she applies her years of experience towards a variety of efforts designed to positively impact curriculum, instruction, and leadership throughout both the district and the state.

Opal M. Brant is a talent strategist with over a decade of experience in workforce development, consulting, and training. As the Emerging Talent Manager at One Columbus, Opal focuses on the K-12 talent pipeline efforts around Central Ohio.

Schyvonne Ross has nearly 20 years of experience in education and is currently an administrator with Reynoldsburg City Schools. Schyvonne has a passion for diversity, equity, and inclusion and is currently the Chairperson for the Board’s Citizens Advisory Committee on Equity and Inclusion as well as a Co-Lead of Digital Promise’s Inclusive Innovation Equity Team. During the summer of 2022, Schyvonne was honored with receiving the inaugural George J. Stebout Juneteenth Legacy Award for her contributions to the Reynoldsburg community in the areas of diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Shea Kaltmann is the Director of Kitchen of Life, a non-profit organization based in Columbus, Ohio, dedicated to building resilience and fostering social-emotional skills for youth through culinary arts. Born in Columbus, Shea attended school in Columbus, Chicago, New York, and Los Angeles before returning to Columbus in March 2020. Additionally, Shea serves on the Education and Data and Research Action Teams for the Franklin County Suicide Prevention Coalition.

Susan Nolan’s path to education was not linear. She chose to leave her own stifling, traditional high school experience early, consequently because such a conventional environment only really served to further develop her natural sense of recalcitrance. At 17, Susan began traveling many parts of the world singing and dancing professionally and has also made a living as a personal trainer and in sales. At 30, she decided summers and weekends off would be great, so she earned her teaching credential. Turns out, she has a true passion for working with young people, building authentic connections with them, and helping them see and embrace their own self-worth and noble pursuits.

Tami Cole-Santa is in her 17th year with Westerville City Schools and currently serves as the Executive Director of Student Services. In this role, she helps lead and support K-12 school counselors, school social workers/clinicians, nursing services, educational equity department as well as facilitates programming and initiatives falling under these umbrellas. Tami has a passion for leading mental health awareness, decreasing stigma and helping people throughout the district and community understand the importance of equitable practices and trauma informed resilience focused approach to learning and life.

Meet our guest, Trevor Horn. He's not your typical culinary expert. Trevor, currently the Farm Director at the Mid Ohio Food Collective, began his journey working in kitchens for 13 years and earning a degree from Le Cordon Bleu Culinary Academy. In 2018, Trevor took on a new role at Reynoldsburg High School (in Central Ohio), where he created the first Slow Food High School Chapter in the nation. He transformed unused tennis courts into a thriving Urban Farm, and the school's Garden Club evolved into a CTE Agriculture and Food Science Pathway, empowering students to become community food advocates. Trevor's work earned him The Boyd W. Bowden Garden Impact Award in 2019, and he secured a grant for his students to support biodiversity. In 2020, he received the Grow Next Gen Teacher Leader of the Year award for integrating agriculture into an urban school setting. In the summer of 2023, Trevor began serving as the Farm Director for the Mid-Ohio Food Collective.