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Our GIGWATT Partners

Institute of Play (IoP) create learning experiences rooted in the principles of game design—experiences that simulate real world problems, and require dynamic, well-rounded solutions. They support teachers and other learning leaders in making learning irresistible—creating for students a powerful need to know, and a hunger to learn more. IoP believes in making learning relevant—to the technologies that shape our kids’ lives, the passions that fuel their ambitions, and the demands of life in the 21st century. Check out more information at http://www.instituteofplay.org

Affiliated with NCSU Libraries, the Media and Educational Technology Resource Center (METRC) provides resources and services to facilitate the preparation of professional educators, counselors and administrators at the undergraduate and graduate levels, and to model an exemplary school library media center. Collections and services include books, textbooks, reserves, kits, equipment, technology, and instruction to support these resources. Check out more information at http://ncsucedmetrc.weebly.com

Our FLUX Facilitators

Christy Barham is the Media & Technology Coordinator for Rockingham County Schools. She also teaches Spanish for the NC Virtual Public School. Christy believes in the power of technology to transform teaching and learning and loves to share her experiences with others. Some of her most recent projects include: makerspaces, reading incentive programs, blended learning professional development, badge incentive program, and global collaborative projects in multiple countries including a three year partnership with a teacher in Iran. Follow her @barhamchristy

Paul Cancellieri began his professional life as a marine biologist before realizing a passion for teaching, and becoming a teacher in 2001. Since then, he has earned National Board certification, Teacher of the Year honors, and led professional development experiences (within his school and state-wide as part of a sabbatical working for NCCAT). Paul currently teaches eighth grade science at Rolesville Middle School in Wake County. Follow him @mrscienceteach

Maria Eby has been teaching in Wake elementary schools for the past 7 years. She holds a M. Ed. in Arts Integration/Curriculum Instruction and currently is the Twenty-First Century Instructor for grades K-5 at Bugg Creative Arts and Science A+ Magnet Elementary School. Follow her @21stCenturyBugg

James Frye serves as the District Instructional Technology Facilitator for Newton-Conover City Schools; formerly, he was an English and Journalism Teacher at Newton-Conover High School in Newton, NC. He is a North Carolina Teaching Fellow and has spent time studying education at the Hochschule Magdeburg-Stendal in Germany. James graduated from Michigan State University, where he earned an M.A. in Curriculum, Instruction, and Educational Technology -- he also holds a B.A. in English/Education from Lenoir-Rhyne University in Hickory, where he serves as an Adjunct Professor of Education. In addition to modeling innovative teaching and learning practices through both the classroom and leading various professional learning experiences, he also serves to lead North Carolina educator initiatives collaboratively with other outstanding educators, including #NCed chat on Twitter and Edcamp WNC. He is a member of the North Carolina Digital Leadership Coaches’ Network. James also maintains an active digital PLN on Twitter. Follow him @mrjamesfrye

Greg Garner comes to North Carolina via Texas, working for Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools as an Instructional Technology Facilitator. In July, he will join the team at the Friday Institute as a Research Associate with the Digital Learning Collaborative. His background includes 4 years of classroom teaching and 3 years of technology coaching. He has a passion for empowering others through the innovative use of technology. Follow him @classroom_tech

Gabriel Graña is a first year teacher librarian at Smith Middle School in Chapel Hill, NC. After having taught Language Arts for 6 years, he decided he wanted his reach to be more expansive. Along with a supportive administration and a strong PLC, he's trying to realize his vision for a true learning commons for Smith's library. Follow him @GGrana6 

Keen Gravely has been an IT Coach for 4 years, formerly NRMS Technology Projects Coordinator and district media coordinator, iPad and Apple enthusiast, former computer sales and manager, former New York Times (23 years) newsroom technologist, MBA, MEdTech, novice HoverBoarder and passionate flipped classroom advocate. Follow him @ @keengravely

Josh Griffin has been with Nash-Rocky Mount Schools for nine years serving as a English III and IV teacher, Digital Media teacher, and yearbook advisor before joining a great team of Instructional Technology Coaches with whom he has had the pleasure of working for the past three years. He now serves four schools from K-12 and bounces technology integration ideas off his wife, a Biology teacher at one of those schools. His one and four year old daughters take up most of his time and all of his iPhone photos. Follow him @ITCJGriffin 

Jason King is an 11 year educator whose pedagogical experience includes teaching English, Journalism, Speech & Debate, and Creative Writing. He is NBPTS certified, and holds a Masters in School Administration. As a professional hobby, he enjoys desiging pragmatic professional development and studying school organizational structures. When not wearing his teacher hat, Jason is a professional photographer and budding real estate entreprenuer, philosopher and poet, as well as the father of two amazing children, one a bonafide Autobot and the other a karmic force of nature. Jason is a nebulous, recursive thinker, and enjoys the lightening strike that can only be found through authentic collaboration. His dynamic, engaging style allows him to achieve teaching speeds of 88 minutes per hour, a technique he discovered while experimenting with quantum physics as an interpretive literary lens. Follow him @KingHusky

Da'Quan Love is a Social Studies Instructor, and Teacher Leader for Northampton County Schools. He currently teaches American History, Sociology and Civics & Economics at Northampton County High School. Mr. Love earned his Bachelors of Arts in Political Science with a minor in Leadership Studies from Hampton University. Named a Claes Nobel Educator of Distinction, daily Mr. Love combines rigor, culture and relevance to provide engaging instruction for each student. Mr. Love is driven by his professional mission to become a visionary teacher who engages each student in high quality instruction. Visit his website: www.instructorlove.org Follow him @daquanlove

Daniel O’Keefe, Regional Director for Institute of Play in North Carolina and Lead Learning Designer, is responsible for leading the Institute of Play's work in North Carolina through programs in professional development, school design and support, informal learning, and game design. His focus is on developing North Carolina teachers who take on designer identities and who support these identities in their students. Before beginning his work with Institute of Play, Daniel taught middle school mathematics for eight years.

After 20 years in a middle school classroom in Nash-Rocky Mount Schools, the technology brought Ivey Powell out of the Math classroom where numbers and equations ruled to a new day of excitement. With a Masters in Instructional Technology under my belt, Ivey has been an Instructional Technology Coach with Nash Rocky Mount Schools where he serves five schools from K-12 for the past 3 years. With two guinea pigs at home, technology trials are part of this fathers mix! Follow him @CoachIveyPowell 

Allison Reid is an English teacher and Instructional Coach who is fired up about empowering students to reach their full potential by leveraging technology in the classroom for creativity, collaboration, critical thinking and communication. Allison served as the Wake County Public School System's 2014-15 Teacher of the Year, and she is a graduate of both UNC- Greensboro (Bachelors) and NC State University (Masters). She will represent Wake County as an ambassabor to Singapore and Malaysia this summer with the Center for International Understanding, and has spent time this year interacting with policy makers in NC as an education consultant. Allison serves on the board for the WakeEd Partnership, and was a member of the Strategic Planning team for Wake County Schools this year as they carved out their five-year vision and strategic plan. She has been a facilitator at NCTIES and several Boot Camps here at the Friday Institute; in addition, she has served as a chat moderator for #NCED focusing on teachable moments, and is on the Human Capacity Advisory for the NCDPI which is focused on NC Digital Competencies. She has worked in the Winston-Salem/Forsyth and Wake County Public School Systems and is licensed in Theatre Arts, English and Instructional Technology. Follow her @MrsAReid 

Andrea Gambino-Rhodes resides in Raleigh, NC and received her Bachelor’s Degree in Middle Grades Education with a certification in Language Arts and Social Studies at North Carolina State University in 2008. She completed her Master’s of Education in Curriculum and Instruction with a specialization in New Literacies and Global Learning. She has previously taught 7th Grade Language Arts/Social Studies at Centennial Campus Magnet Middle School for six years and is approaching her second year teaching Honors English III and Honors Civics & Economics at Wake STEM Early College High School. She is also teaching American History I in a blended learning environment for North Carolina Virtual Public School in the Occupational Course of Study Department. She is extremely passionate about professional development for educators in secondary education particularly in the area of technology, new literacies, and international teaching/learning opportunities. Follow her @andrea_gambino

Bethany V. Smith is the Director of METRC: Media and Education Technology Resource Center for the College of Education at NC State University in Raleigh, NC. Bethany began her career as a High School Teacher in Technology Education and after spending a few years in the private sector returned to the College of Education where she has been since 2003. Her passion is to assist current and future educators integrate technology effectively in their classroom. As Director of METRC, Bethany facilitates workshops in the college, teaches an undergraduate class on on technology integration as well as works with faculty and staff on their teaching practices. She also travels the state and country giving presentations and facilitating workshops on various educational technology topics. 

Kitt Starnes lives in Wilmington, NC. She received her Bachelor's in Political Science and Spanish teacher education with a minor in Italian Studies from North Carolina State University in 2007. She began her Master's of Education in Digital Learning and Teaching last August online through NC State and will graduate in December. She has taught Spanish the last seven years and has been fortunate enough to teach all grades K-12. While Kitt is a Spanish teacher, she is also fluent Italian because she was an AFS exchange student to Italy in 2002-2003. She now teaches Spanish I and II to tenth graders at Isaac Bear Early College in Wilmington ten months of the year and is an avid beach-bum the other two months!  Follow her @KittStarnes 

Rebecca Stokes started in the elementary classroom in 2008 and found that technology and infusing it into her classroom was a true passion . Recently she  moved into a IT Coach position in  Nash-Rocky Mount Public Schools and is working toward her IT Masters. Rebecca regularly shares her passion of technology integration with other teachers across the district. Follow her @rebeccastokes87

Roxann Sykes is in her 10th year as an educator. She spent 8 years in the classroom where she earned her National Board Certification, led professional development, and coordinated an after-school enrichment program. Last year she earned her Masters in School Administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill through the NC Principals Fellows Program and is currently the Assistant Principal at Washington Gifted and Talented Magnet Elementary. Follow her @GTWizards1

Chris Tuttell has been an educator for 15 years serving as a classroom teacher, School Library Media Coordinator and most recently as the Instructional Technology Facilitator at Washington GT Magnet Elementary in Raleigh, NC. She considers herself an educational change agent and a cultivator of curiosity who seeks to liberate learners and change the learning landscape. Follow her @tuttelltweets 

Just FUN!