TCEA Course Developers

TCEA invites you to develop an online, self-paced course for other TCEA members. Below, please find a list of TCEA members who also developed amazing online courses. Course developers are listed in alphabetical order by last name.

James Abela

James has been working in computing since 1998, firstly in the industry and now in education. He started his career working for the Microchip designer ARM. He then entered education and lectured for the American Liberty University before becoming an international schoolteacher where he has taught students aged from 5 to18. His current role is head of Computing in an Apple Distinguished international school in Kuala Lumpur where he has worked for 8 years.

He has presented at a wide range of conferences including BETT, Google Singapore, ISTECCL, 21st century learning and Raspberry Pi events. He is an Apple Distinguished Educator, Google Innovator, MIE Expert 20-23, Raspberry Pi Certified Educator, a fellow of Mirandanet, BETT Asia 2022 Finalist and 21st Century’s Teacher of the year 2014. In addition to his classroom teaching, he has been doing teacher training for Apple in Southeast Asia and authored:

Twitter: @eslweb  | YouTube: @Jamesabela | 📖GoodReads

Course(s): Swift Programming, Scratch, and Python Educator

Dr. Gary Ackerman

Gary Ackerman has been working as a professional in education since 1988. After teaching science and math for 10 years, he transitioned into a career as an educational technology professional working in New England. His responsibilities have included teaching (grade one through graduate school), managing networks and infrastructure in schools and districts, and teaching teachers. Currently, Gary is the Director of Teaching and Learning Innovation at Greenfield Community College in Massachusetts. He has written three books, one focusing on technology in teaching and two focusing on technology management in schools.

 Gary continues to teach as well. He is on the adjunct faculty at multiple colleges, and he teaches a range of computer information system courses. When not working, Gary tends his gardens and watches baseball.

Course: Network Security

Brittany Beaird

The primary course developer is Brittany Beaird. She is a campus learning coordinator at Pleasant Grove Elementary School in Texarkana, Texas.  She has taught for 12 years, with experience in teaching both first and second-grade students.  She has a passion for finding new technology to keep all students engaged in the learning process, as well as teaching her peers how to use technology effectively in the classroom.  In addition to her own campus, she has trained several other educators on new trends in technology.

Brittany presented Seesaw in different presentations at the Elementary Technology Conference in Galveston in 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2020.  She has also trained St. Thomas Aquinas teachers in 2018 on Seesaw.  She presented Seesaw at Texarkana ISD’s conference in 2017, 2018, and 2019 and also at the North East East Texas Leading and Learning Conference in 2017 and 2018.

Course: Seesaw Educator

Lisa Marie Bennett

The primary course developer is Lisa Marie Bennett. She is an Instructional Technology Specialist at Carroll ISD in Southlake, Texas.  She has taught for 20 years, with experience in teaching fourth and fifth grades and technology specials.  She currently supports three campuses that range from kindergarten to eighth grade by assisting them with integrating technology into their classrooms.

Lisa Marie is a Google Certified Educator: Level 2, a Seesaw Ambassador, and an Apple Teacher. In her spare time, she pursues photography and graphic design, hoping to create things that bring a smile and a little glitter to other people’s day. She can be found on most social media platforms.

Twitter: @lisamarietech.

Course: Bitmoji Educator

Elizabeth Benno

Eizabeth Benno has been the Instructional Technology Coordinator for Lovejoy ISD working with primarily PK-6 teachers for the last 12 years. She has been teaching teachers and students for 23 years.  Elizabeth is a Google Certified Educator, a Book Creator Ambassador, a Seesaw Ambassador and Seesaw Certified Educator, a TCEA Certified Remote Learning Educator and an Apple Teacher.  Elizabeth is an also an ISTE Certified Educator.  

Elizabeth recently authored the TCEA Seesaw Content Creator course.  She was named TCEA Instructional Technology Specialist of the Year in 2018. In her free time, she volunteers at her church, loves to read and spend time with her two sons.

Twitter  @elizabethbenno | Email: ebenno@mac.com

Course: Seesaw Content Creator, Book Creator

Gretchen Bernabei

The primary course developer is Gretchen Bernabei. Gretchen has taught middle school and high school for 34 years. After earning her B.A. at Southwest Texas State University, she has devoted her professional life to learning, developing, and sharing best practices, particularly through the National Writing Projects. A sought-after speaker, Gretchen has authored several books:

  • Why We Must Run with Scissors: Voice Lessons in Persuasive Writing (2001, Discover Writing Press);
  • Reviving the Essay: How to Teach Structure Without Formula (2005, Discover Writing Press);
  • Lightning in a Bottle (2003, Trail of Breadcrumbs);
  • Sparklers: High Scoring Test Essays and What We Learn from Them (2007, Trail of Breadcrumbs); The Good Writer’s Guide (2006, Hampton-Brown/National Geographic School Publications);
  • Crunchtime: Lessons to Help Students Blow The Roof Off Writing Tests and Become Better Writers in the Process (2009, Heinemann);
  • The Story of My Thinking: Expository Writing Activities for 13 Teaching Situations (Heinemann, 2012);
  • Fun-Size Academic Writing for Serious Learning (Corwin, 2013); Grammar Keepers (Corwin, 2014),
  • Text Structures from the Masters (Corwin, 2016), Text Structures from Nursery Rhymes (Corwin, 2018), and
  • Text Structures from Fairy Tales (Corwin, 2019).

For her work, NCTE honored her with the James Moffett Award in 2010. Gretchen lives in San Antonio, Texas.

Twitter: @Trail_of_BCs | Website: Trail of Breadcrumbs | Also:  Facebook  Instagram 

Course: Kernel Essays for Reading and Writing

Lisa Cupples

Lisa Cupples is an elementary librarian in Arlington ISD. This school year is Lisa’s 12th in education and her 7th year as a librarian. Lisa began her education career as a fourth grade ELAR ESL teacher and has also taught at the first grade level self-contained. Currently, Lisa services 513 students in PreK through sixth grade. Prior to a career in education, Lisa spent 12 years in media research and uses much of that knowledge today when teaching students research skills.

Twitter: @yourmortonlib 

Course: Teacher-Library Collaboration

Dawn Drisdale

The primary course developer is Dawn Drisdale. Dawn has dedicated her education career to creating engaging learning experiences by combining storytelling, disruptive instructional practices, and integrating innovative technology into rigorous curricula. Through her 12 years in education, she has taught middle school mathematics and science and served as a district instructional specialist for STEM instruction, Career, College, Military Readiness (CCMR), science, and technology integration. Dawn earned her Bachelor of Science in Education from Wayland Baptist University and her Masters of Education in Educational Technology Leadership from Lamar University.

Email: dawndrisdale@gmail.com | Twitter: @MrsDris3

Courses: Effective Math 6-8, Dynamic Instruction with PBL, Understanding and Teaching Gifted Learners

Cindy Garcia

The primary course developer is Cindy Garcia, the district Instructional Specialist for Bilingual/ESL PK-6 Mathematics in Pasadena ISD. This school year is Cindy’s 16th year as an educator. She began her career as a bilingual third grade teacher and later served as an elementary campus math instructional coach. Cindy writes a monthly blog that you can find online at www.TeachingElementaryELs.weebly.com

Twitter:@CindyGarcia

Courses: Effective Math K-2, Effective Math 3-5

Lori Gracey

Lori Gracey currently serves as the executive director of the Texas Computer Education Association (TCEA) and is responsible for training technology directors, administrators, curriculum supervisors, librarians, and teachers across the country. Executive director of TCEA since 2009, Lori was recently named the Texas Society of Association Executives (TSAE) Association Professional of the Year.

Before leading TCEA, Gracey was a technology director, an active TCEA member, and an influential area director, contributing over 13 years on the board. Her leadership has significantly increased TCEA’s revenue, enabling the organization to own its headquarters in Austin, Texas, and expanded its membership to over 65,000 from more than 100 countries.

Under her guidance, TCEA has enhanced its professional learning events and introduced online courses to adapt to the changing needs of educators. Her visionary leadership has included the use of AI-powered tools to enhance TCEA’s offerings.

Read her TCEA TechNotes blog entries.

Courses: ChatGPT for Educators

Miguel Guhlin

Transforming teaching, learning and leadership through the strategic application of technology has been Miguel Guhlin’s motto. An edublogger, you can read his work online at blog.tcea.org, mguhlin.org, and mglead.org/mglead2.org.

Areas of interest flow from his experiences as a district technology administrator, regional education specialist, and classroom educator in bilingual/ESL situations. Those include: 1) Accelerating Professional Learning; 2) Blogging and Podcasting; 3) Crafting a Social Media Presence; 4) Managing Technology Operations; and 5) Combining evidence-based instruction and digital tools.

In September, 2018, he earned his ISTE Certified Educator status–the first Texan and Panamanian to do so. He is also a recipient of the ISTE Making IT Happen Award, a Google Certified Innovator, Administrator, Trainer, and a Microsoft Certified Master Trainer and Expert. Miguel blogs at Around the Corner and for TCEA’s TechNotes Blog. He is a member of TCEA.org, TEC-SIG, ISTE.org.

Visit his ePortfolio online at http://mguhlin.net

Courses Developed:

  • Assessment-Based Feedback
  • Chromebook Educator
  • Data Guardian: CyberSecurity for Educators
  • Evidence-Based Teaching
  • Google Certified Educator Level 1
  • Google Certified Educator Level 2
  • Google Certified Trainer,
  • Google Classroom
  • Remote Learning Tools
  • Schoology Educator
  • Screencasting for Educators
  • Strategies That Work: Part 1
  • Strategies That Work: Part 2
  • Virtual World Builder

Co-developer on these courses and/or certifications:

  • Campus Technology Specialist (CTS) Certification
  • ChatGPT for Educators
  • IT/Tech Director Certification
  • Jigsawing the micro:bit
  • Remote Learning Educator Certification
  • Teacher Preparation (under development)

Terri Harkey

Terri Harkey has Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Texas Tech University, a Master’s degree in Library Science from TWU and her Principal Certification from Lamar University.  Terri is a former band director, an Instructional Technology Coach and is currently elementary librarian at Furr Elementary in Prosper ISD.  She was a Finalist for the TCEA Library Media Specialist of the year in 2015. She is an ISTE Certified Educator and is currently serving as the Texas Bluebonnet Award Coordinator. She is a Certified Book Creator Author and Book Creator Ambassador. In her spare time she loves reading, sharing reading with others and all things technology.

Twitter: @tharkey | Email: terharkey@gmail.com

Course: Book Creator

Lauren Hawkins

The primary course developer is Lauren Hawkins. She has been in education for 10 years teaching both secondary mathematics and instructional technology. Her experience in math extends from English as a Second Language (ESL) up to Advanced Placement (AP). She is a 2017 PAEMST State Finalist, a 2014 Texas Instruments STEM Innovator Recipient, and a Google for Education Certified Trainer.

Lauren sees technology as a way to encourage all types of learners to have a voice and a choice in the classroom. She believes that technology provides opportunities to extend student thinking beyond the four walls of a classroom, but also can address gaps in learning where needed. It can allow students to showcase mastery in more than one medium while encouraging students to utilize their creative strengths.

Twitter: @edtechhawk

Courses: Effective Math 9-12, Google Sheets

Karen Kahan

Karen is a retired educator who enjoys building online courses to support teaching and learning. You may know Karen from when she worked at the Texas Education Agency (TEA). At TEA, Karen directed the technology applications curriculum, implemented educational technology programs, and provided school library and other online resources for the state.

After retiring from TEA, she joined the Texas Center for Educator Excellence at Education Service Center, Region 18 as the manager for online learning. That is where she began designing and building online courses, training materials, videos, and other resources.

Karen taught mathematics at the junior high, and she has tutored high school students in mathematics. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education-Mathematics and a Master’s degree in Curriculum & Instruction-Instructional Technology from The University of Texas at Austin.

Courses: Brain-Based Learning, Canva Educator, Jigsaw Method

Amy Marquez

Amy Marquez is the Library Innovation Strategist at Pharr San Juan Alamo ISD. In this role, under the direction of the director of library services, she provides coaching and support for more than 40 librarians in her district. She has spent a total of 22 years as an educator, working first as an elementary teacher, then a middle school ELA/ ESL teacher, and as a school librarian for 14 of those years. She earned her MLS in Library Science at Sam Houston State University.

Marquez is a Google Certified Trainer and the first Google Certified Coach in the Rio Grande Valley. She led her campus through weekly Tech Tuesday training sessions and has been integral at the district level by working with the curriculum writing team to update the high school curriculum with technology integration best practices. She is passionate about impactful technology integration and building a lifelong love of learning and literacy. She is the 2022 TCEA Librarian Media Specialist of the Year and the 2023 Regional Secondary Teacher of the Year.

Twitter: @SoTxLibrarian

Course: Creative Response to Literature

Brian Martinez

Welcome! I want to personally thank you for taking the time to join my course. I am Brian Martinez and I am here to guide you on the development of your streaming skills. OBS has become a daily part of my life over the past school year as I teach my students in a blended learning environment. I’ve spent 10 years in the secondary mathematics classroom building my pedagogy and learning new technologies. In that time, I have acquired a Master Technology Teacher certification, a Master’s in Ed Tech from UTB, and I am currently working on my Ed.D. in Mathematics Education through UTRGV.

I always knew that online learning would be the future of education, but I never expected it to come so fast. I believe the future of education lies in leveraging technological tools that enhance an educator’s ability to connect with students and reach them at their level. From Area 1 down in South Texas, welcome, and I hope you have as much fun learning and exploring as I have had using OBS in the classroom.

Course: Advanced Streaming with OBS Studio

Misti Mead

The primary course developer is Misti Mead, the Director of Special Services in Deer Park ISD. Misti is starting her 25th year in education. She started her career as a special education teacher and taught in grades 3-8. During the years as a special education teacher Misti taught resource classes in all content areas, provided content mastery support, served as a co-teacher, provided pull-out services, and worked with life skills students.

Then as Misti began moving into a leadership capacity, she served the campus as a Response to Intervention specialist for two years and then became an assistant principal. She served in the assistant principal role for one year at Deepwater Elementary and three years at Bonnette Junior High in Deer Park ISD. She transitioned back to the Special Education Department as the Secondary Coordinator for Special Services for eight years, and is wrapping up her first complete year as the Director of Special Services.

Course: Special Needs Educator

Lisa Monthie

Currently, she serves as an Engagement Manager for Hāpara in Waco, Texas. This is Lisa’s 18th year in education, with experience in teaching secondary English Language Arts and Reading. 

Lisa credits her successes to her supportive and loving family. Her three children (William, Jackson, and Emma), parents (Debbie and Bob), sister (Amanda), and best friends (Rick and Kari) have encouraged her to continue following her passion for education technology.

Connect with Lisa on Twitter

Course: Blended Learning

Farrah Nobles

Farrah Nobles is the primary course developer. Currently, she is a Communication Design student at Texas State University in San Marcos. As an artist of both physical and digital mediums, Farrah is committed to creating art that brings joy and contemplation to those around her.

Farrah has only just begun her journey with TCEA, as the Adobe Photoshop course is her first step into the world of education.

When not creating, Farrah can usually be found doing yoga with her two cats, Ronnie and Malibu or making salmon with her partner, James.

Course: Adobe Photoshop

Peggy Reimers

Peggy with my friend’s LARGE Mini-fig!

With a passion for technology and a creative hands-on approach, Peggy shares 26 years of elementary teaching and educational technology experience through her interactive professional development for educators. She earned her M.S. in Educational Technology from Lesley University and her B.S. in Elementary Education from the University of Montana – Billings.

Peggy is a LEGO Education Ambassador.

Peggy has provided professional development for educators with a hands-on approach, sound pedagogy, and a great sense of fun. She has trained teachers on several LEGO robotic platforms since December 2007. As you can see I have been training on LEGO products for several years. Platforms include SPIKE Essential, SPIKE Prime, EV3, NXT, the original WeDo, and WeDo 2.0.The engineering design process for the elementary and micro:bits are other STEAM activities I enjoy giving sessions on. Peggy is also a Google for Education Certified Trainer (2010).

Peggy is, first and foremost, a certified robotics enthusiast. As a public school teacher, she was lucky to fall into a computer literacy and robotics teaching position on a 5th/6th grade campus with Bastrop ISD.

Peggy also wrote her first TCEA Arena problem set for the 2022-2023 school year – Go, Go Cargo! I am looking forward to mapping out a second Arena problem for 2023-24.

Tisha Poncio

Tisha Poncio, Technologies/Instructional Design, has served in education for the last 21 years. She has led students in the classroom teaching English, Web Design, Graphic Design, Business Computers, Programming, and Broadcast Journalism and coached educators and administrators as a digital learning specialist K-12.

She is a Google Certified Trainer and was named a finalist in 2018 for Instructional Technology Specialist of the Year by TCEA. She has presented at numerous educational technology conferences across the nation and in her home state of Texas speaking about student leadership, student autonomy, digital citizenship for all ages, and meaningful technology integration.

She currently serves as Wakelet’s Digital Learning Specialist.

Twitter: @TxTechChick 

Course: Wakelet Educator

Sharon Rigsby

With 28 years of classroom experience on her résumé, Sharon spent the first two-thirds of her career in middle school science and art classrooms. For the last ten years, she’s managed the Beaumont ISD planetarium, bringing the night sky to life for students of all ages (PreK – high school.) Her extensive experience in both art and science classrooms makes her uniquely qualified and incredibly passionate about STEAM initiatives.

Sharon stays active in the teaching community through programs like the BISD Inquiry Institute Team and Area 5 Mini CAST Steering Committee, Summer STEM and STEAM camps, and presenting teacher workshops at the Conference for the Advancement of Science Teachers and the Space Exploration Educators Conference.

She has three daughters, two cats, and a dog, and enjoys nature walks with her husband. Sharon stops often to journal and draw what she sees.

Course: STEAM Educator

Janelle Safford

The primary course developer is Janelle Safford. She has been in education for 25 years and is currently an Innovative Learning Design Specialist for Sulphur Springs ISD in Sulphur Springs, Texas. After being in the classroom for 22 years, she became a Campus Technology Specialist, and then went on to serve as an Instructional Technology Coordinator at the district level. She currently works with six different PreK-5th grade campuses in her ILDS position in Sulphur Springs.  She has an M.Ed. in Digital Learning and Leading from Lamar University, is an MIE Expert, Seesaw Certified Educator, Apple Teacher, Level 2 Google Educator, Flipgrid Ambassador, Peardeck Coach,  and a Certified BrainPOP Educator.

Janelle often presents at TCEA events, including the TCEA Elementary Technology Conference and the TCEA convention. Her school duties involve meeting with teachers, planning technology integration lessons, modeling lessons, advising on district instructional technology initiatives, and delivering training sessions.

 “My primary passion lies in helping students take ownership of the learning process. This involves a shift in thinking from the traditional teaching approach where teachers make all the decisions and direct students in their learning to more of a learning designer and facilitator.”

Courses: Microsoft 365

Destiny Wagner

The course developer is Destiny Wagner, a Yoga Alliance certified RYT-200 yoga teacher. Destiny has over 20 years experience in education as a physics teacher and an instructional technology coach. She branched out to start her own company, Defend Your Destiny, in 2019 to help others gain confidence and live a more well-balanced life through reality-based self defense, moving meditation, and yoga.

Learn more at www.defendyourdestiny.com 

Facebook and Instagram: @defendyourdestiny | Twitter: @defendurdestiny.

Course: Cultivating Calm

Jenifer Wells

Hi, I am Jenifer Wells and I love everything related to educational technology. I get really excited about empowering teachers and students to use digital tools to enhance their learning in all subject areas.  

I have spent the last 23 years in the field of Texas public education. I have enjoyed being a special education paraprofessional during college, teaching kinder and first grade for 10 years, and spent the last eight years as a campus technology teacher.

My true mission with technology is simple: Give confidence to everyone in how to use technology tools to express their thoughts and ideas.

Course: Elementary Technology