Ross is a designer, researcher, and strategist in the education field working to harness creative development and embodied learning potential of educators and students, alike. His work aims to create equitable, engaging, and aspirational learning environments and to understand the systemic and individual factors that play a role. His 12 years of leadership and innovation in the education field emerges from personal experience in architectural design and 15 years practicing the art of Afro-Brazilian Capoeira. Ross earned his B.A in architecture at Yale University and his Ph.D. in educational leadership at the University of Oregon. He has led large research and development projects, publishing research on creative development, educational change, and arts integrated teaching and learning in numerous journals and book series.

Sharon Marino is a former principal, teacher, and founder of Marigold Educational Coaching and Consulting LLC, where she coaches teachers, principals, and district teams to build systems that foster student success and integrate the arts into education. With over two decades of experience, Sharon supports leaders locally and nationally, providing personalized coaching that strengthens school communities, improves instructional practices, and enhances leadership capacity.  

As a former Philadelphia principal, Sharon led a transformative journey at her school, earning the school recognition for its progress, including a “Highest Three-Year Improvement” distinction. Her leadership secured critical resources such as a “Community School” designation and numerous grants supporting literacy, pandemic recovery, and arts integration.  

A 500-hour certified Yoga Teacher and SEL Facilitator, Sharon integrates wellness and connection into her work, believing in the power of the arts and relationships to inspire growth and innovation in schools and communities.

Nate K. Beard is an Integrated Learning Specialist, drama teacher, and professional development provider, currently building teacher and administration efficacy in arts integration. His work focuses primarily on social and emotional health including skills in communication, collaboration, metacognition, and metaphorical thinking. Built from a background in tragedy-based drama therapy, he has developed and co-developed curriculum and teaching practices that provide opportunities for meaning-making for adolescent students. He has trained over 100 educators in process drama techniques.

Mari Livie has been a teaching artist in Lane County schools since 1999. She creates and teaches arts workshops for schools, city programs, and healthcare facilities. Working with these various organizations brings Mari into contact with a diverse population of blossoming artists and educators. She’s generated arts workshops for children with autism, the elderly, incarcerated youth, homeless youth, alter-abled adults, English language learners, teachers, and war veterans. Mari pursues her own arts practice on days she is not teaching. You can see her work at marilivie.com and hear her work on soundcloud.com/thankyou-einstein.

Dane Ramshaw is a creative educational technologist who blends art and technology to craft engaging educational experiences. At the University of Oregon, he develops innovative educational platforms and teaches educators how to integrate technology into their classrooms. A movie enthusiast (both maker and viewer) and musician (strings or thigh-slapping), Dane also works with AI to enhance learning environments, ensuring they remain accessible and enjoyable. As a former K12 teacher, he infused his classes with creativity and humor, regularly dressing as the Big Bad Wolf, leading the class in singing rousing versions of "Gabardine Mac," and setting flying papier-mâché dresses ablaze (though rarely at the same time).

Jessica is a facilitator of learning experiences that bridge the arts, the natural world, schools, self, and community. Her commitment to engaging learners in authentic creative expression is rooted in her own explorations with visual arts, dance, the natural world and world cultures. She is a certified teacher with fifteen years experience teaching in alternative and traditional school settings. She earned her M.A. in Experiential Education at Prescott College in Prescott, AZ and her B.A., Magna Cum Laude in English/Writing and Fine Arts, at St. Lawrence University in Canton, NY. Nature continues to be her most influential muse and teacher. 

Cindy is a former teacher and retired Principal in the School District of Philadelphia. She also served as a district Director of Curriculum which led her to visit hundreds of Philadelphia classrooms, and to work with teachers and school leaders to impact their teaching and learning. She believes this experience led to her developing a solutions-based approach involving arts-integration to improve student engagement and achievement, while also increasing teacher creativity.

Jordan has worked as a UI/UX designer, documentarian, and creative director. More recently, he decided to return to his first love: making documentaries. Recently, he’s focused on helping non-profits and small business throughout the Pacific Northwest build their brands and tell their stories.