For our Fundamentals Conference, the OER Project team sought out innovative educators focused on foundational instructional practices that apply to social studies, but that can also be applied across disciplines. We’re thrilled to host this outstanding group of speakers. Check out the Agenda for details on the conference itinerary!
Educator, School of Phnom Penh; Huynh Consulting, LLC
Tan Huynh (@TanKHuynh) is a secondary school teacher specializing in English language acquisition, and an author, podcaster, and consultant. He has taught students from fifth to tenth grade in domestic public, private, and charter schools, but the bulk of his experience has been in international schools. He also taught social studies and spends much of his time co-planning and co-teaching. Tan is trained in sheltered instruction, WIDA, culturally responsive instruction, the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Program, and the Collaborative Instructional Cycle. Tan shares his application of research-based strategies on his blog, podcast, and online courses with the hopes of celebrating teachers who answer the calling to serve multilingual learners. He holds a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction specializing in language acquisition. You can learn more about his work at TanKHuynh.com.
Educator, Central New Mexico Community College
Natalie Martinez, PhD (K’awaika-meh, Laguna Pueblo), is a professional educator. She was a principal and teacher at her Pueblo Nation, and taught middle schoolers and high schoolers at other schools in New Mexico. Dr. Martinez’s collaborations on Indigenous-centered curriculum projects include: Indigenous Wisdom; Indigenous New Mexico; the curriculum guide for An Indigenous Peoples' History of the United States for Young People; and the teacher guide for Indigenous Ingenuity. Her chapters appear in Luminous Literacies and The Yazzie Case: Interrogating the Yazzie/Martinez Lawsuit. She has written for and delivered a podcast interview for the International Journal for Adolescent and Adult Literacy. Additionally, her teacher professional development work with OER Project is available online. Dr. Martinez most recently completed a visiting lecturer appointment at the University of New Mexico and is currently full-time faculty at Central NM Community College in the School of Education, where she works with preservice teachers. Her research focuses are education for Indigenous youth, professional curriculum development, and education policy.
Instructional Coach, Bloomfield Hills Schools, Michigan, USA
Erika Lusky’s (@erika_lusky) career spans 29 years in special education, during which she worked to empower disenfranchised learners to shape their own identities and capabilities. As an instructional coach at Bloomfield Hills Schools, she leads professional development initiatives in diverse settings, collaborating with educators and administrators to cultivate deep thinking, foster innovation, and encourage creativity. Erika is a workshop presenter and study group leader for the Project Zero Classroom, and co-instructs the acclaimed online course Creating Cultures of Thinking. A co-creator of Enbrighten® framework, her commitment to teaching and learning has garnered recognition, including the John Pino Excellence in Education Award, and features in publications such Ron Ritchhart’s Creating Cultures of Thinking, Arina Bokas’s Building Powerful Learning Environments, Mark Church and Ron Ritchhart’s The Power of Making Thinking Visible, and in Kids Standard and Creative Teaching and Learning magazines.
Instructional Innovation Program Consultant, Rochester Community Schools, Michigan, USA
Julie Rains (@jj_rains) is an instructional innovation program consultant at Rochester Community Schools, a public school district in Rochester Hills, a suburb of Detroit, Michigan. Over the past 15 years, she has had the opportunity to work with a diverse range of students in grades K–12 (as well as adult learners) and has experience in a wide range of educational disciplines. Julie is committed to continually improving the field of education as a faculty member at the Project Zero Classroom Summer Institute at the Harvard Graduate School of Education; Project Zero online coach and instructor; and instructional designer. A maker at heart, she is always looking for the next object to transform into something new, which comes in especially handy as she and her husband try to keep their twin boys busy around their old farmhouse.
Educator/Editor, OER Project
Molly Sinnott has been a part of the OER Project since 2019. She leads the development of the Climate Project, a climate course centered on evidence and data literacy to build the next generation of informed optimists. Molly collaborates with education, climate change, and edtech professionals to create curriculum and assessments centered on student agency. Molly was previously a classroom reading and writing teacher in Seattle, specializing in supporting students in executive-function skills development. She has taught middle and high school students and focuses on creating and expanding access to inclusive content that builds critical thinking skills in all students.
Teacher, NYC Department of Education
Adam Esrig teaches World History (Origins) and Big History Project at the High School of Telecommunication Arts and Technology in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn. He also piloted Climate Project materials in 2023. Prior to teaching, he worked in the non-profit sector with the Posse Foundation and American Jewish World Service. Adam holds a BA in Political Science from SUNY New Paltz (2006) and an MA in International Affairs from the New School University (2010).
Senior Engagement Manager, OER Project
Ebony McKiver is the senior engagement manager for OER Project overseeing the outreach, community, marketing, professional development, and event programs. She previously served as the social studies education specialist for the Nebraska Department of Education and has close to 25 years of experience initially as a social studies educator in Cleveland, Baltimore, and Omaha. As a former curriculum writer and department head, the scope of Ebony’s work includes developing and leading professional development, providing content expertise, and guiding school districts through the instructional materials selection process. Ebony brings a strong commitment to uplifting non-dominant populations and is intentional in her work to curate and promote high-quality instructional materials that emphasize inquiry and diversity.