Dr. Paul Semendinger has been an educator for close to thirty years. In that time, he has served with excellence at every level of education from elementary school through the collegiate level. Dr. Semendinger is currently the principal of Hawes Elementary School in Ridgewood, New Jersey — a high performing school recognized for its child-centered approach, outstanding teaching, creativity and innovation. Dr. Semendinger is also a sought-after public speaker on a plethora of subjects including motivating others. A published author, Dr. Semendinger brings energy, a positive approach, a love of life, and happiness to his work each and every day. Dr. Semendinger is also the proud father of three college-age sons who all make him, and his wife Laurie, very very proud!
Dr. Nicolle Karantinos directs academics and innovation for ASU Preparatory Academy, a PreK-12 charter school system that has a track-record of bringing its progressive model into schools to successfully serve students from all geographic locations and socio-economic backgrounds. Nicolle has spoken nationally and served on numerous statewide panels on successful educational STEM models and has written and directed multiple grants. Prior to ASU, Nicolle spearheaded the Advanced STEM Program where 100% of the students realized one-of-a-kind personalized learning plans leveraging Move On When Ready. She serves as a board member for Si Se Puede and education committee member for ASU Women and Philanthropy. Dr. Karantinos received her Ed.D. in Educational Administration and Supervision at ASU and has served as a K-12 curriculum director and an elementary and high school teacher and administrator.
Nancy Ledbetter is the STEM Specialist and Instructional Technology Facilitator at the International School at Gregory, a K-8 language immersion magnet school. She has been in education for 30 years and during that time has taught at the community college, high school, middle school, and elementary school levels. Her degrees include an A.S. in Computer Engineering, a B.S. in Journalism and Political Science, a master’s in Secondary Education, a master’s in STEM K-8, and an Ed.D in STEM K-8. Presentations and workshops she has given include those for social studies, mathematics, instructional technology, and STEM. She has also written articles on STEM published in the Florida Council of Teachers of Mathematics Transformations Journal.
Kimberly Clayton-Code is a professor in the College of Education and Human Services at Northern Kentucky University and Director of the Institute for Talent Development and Gifted Studies. She received the Faculty Excellence in Sustained Outreach and Public Engagement (2010) and the Faculty Excellence in Teaching (2007) awards from Northern Kentucky University. Other activities have included editing and authoring the national award-winning Entrepreneurs in Kentucky and Pathways to Home Ownership curriculum projects. Dr. Clayton-Code has degrees from the University of Louisville (Ph.D.), Northern Kentucky University (M.Ed.), and Purdue University (B.A.).
Juliana Texley is a past president of the National Science Teachers Association and a member of the graduate faculties of Central Michigan University and Lesley University in education and technology. She has taught all of the areas of STEM education for over four decades, from preschool through university. In recent years she has led an effort by NSTA and other organizations to enrich both the market and classroom use of high quality trade books within STEM curricula. She has also led in the development of online curricula for JASON Education and other organizations. She holds a Ph.D. in science education, and a master’s in biology/chemistry. She has been awarded a Presidential Award for Excellence in Science Teaching and is a Fellow and officer of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. She has served on the boards of the National Science Foundation, Biological Sciences Curriculum Study, Young Voices for the Planet and Innovation Collaborative. She is the author of five books on STEM Education for teachers and over 100 articles in science education journals.
