Alex Gibson

York County School of Technology
Teacher
York, Pennsylvania

Alexander K. Gibson is a Mathematics Educator and Esports Coach at York County School of Technology. He brings over 17 years of experience in education, having previously established a computer science pathway and an esports program at an urban high school. Alexander taught AP Computer Science and advocated for the importance of college-level courses in high schools to support student success. He later served as the Director of Secondary Services at Harrisburg University, where he championed dual enrollment and college-in-the-high-school opportunities, facilitated STEM learning programs, and supported workforce development for high school teens. Alexander has also been deeply involved with the Network of Academic and Scholastic Esports Federation (NASEF), serving as a Fellow, Mentor, and Community Leader. In these roles, he has championed the integration of esports in schools, emphasizing its potential to enhance learning during and after class.

Akil O'Connor

Scholastic Esports Research Center
Director 
Trinidad and Tobago

Akil O’Connor is a Director at Scholastic Esports Research Center and a Primary School teacher. He has a bachelor’s degree in Business Management and Education. His Esports career in Trinidad and Tobago began in 2003 as a competitor and he transitioned away from the competitive scene in the early 2010s, where he remained active in the Esports community as an event planner, commentator and consultant. In 2021, Akil was selected to represent his country by the U.S. State Embassy Port of Spain at the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) on Video Games for Steam and Entrepreneurship, where he was given the title of ‘Esports Expert’ for his Esports knowledge. Through the IVLP experience, Akil was introduced to Scholastic Esports, and he is now actively implementing various Scholastic Esports programs in Primary and Secondary schools across Trinidad and Tobago. He has also been featured as a speaker at workshops and events related to esports and education.

Amy Harris

Davis H. Hart Career Center
Teacher
Mexico, Missouri, U.S

Amy Harris has taught CTE Computer Science at Hart Career Center since 2012. Her curriculum includes Unity AR/VR and Video Game Design, dual credit programming, AP CSP, and courses exploring projects in a variety of careers in CS and in esports. She has also hosted robotics and esports day camps for elementary and middle school students. Amy is the board vice-president/treasurer for the Missouri Scholastic Esports Federation. Since 2020, she has developed a number of projects for MOSEF, including the Esports CTE Challenges for competition in esports career pathways and the Star Division for students with learning differences or physical disabilities that affect how they game. Amy also serves as an Advisory Board member for NAECAD and a NASEF Community Leader. She is an experienced presenter on topics in CTE Computer Science and Esports. She was the 2023 NAECAD HS Director of the year.

Ansley Partosa

NASEF /  Rosario Media & Events
Marketing Specialist
San Antonio, Texas, U.S

Ansley Partosa is passionate about connecting esports with education and combines her expertise in digital marketing and social media to make an impact. As the Marketing Specialist for the Network of Academic and Scholastic Esports Federations (NASEF) and United States Esports Federation (USEF.GG), she helps build a diverse scholastic esports audience online. In San Antonio, Texas she is the Head of the Greater Gaming Society, a community group that encourages talent and shares resources for gaming and game development for all individuals. Ansley has hosted various esports tournaments, charity gaming events, and community events to create inclusive environments for all individuals, with an emphasis on women empowerment and LGBTQIA+ inclusivity.

Recognized for her impact in esports and education, Ansley Partosa was a GameHERS Awards 2024 nominee for Community Manager of the Year and serves on the K-12 Voting Committee for the Scholastic Esports Awards. Her work continues to inspire and support students, using esports as a bridge to education and future opportunities.

James Wood

NASEF / WRMSEC
Scholastic Tournament Administrator
Chico, California, U.S

James Wood is the Scholastic Tournament Administrator for NASEF, the Network of Academic and Scholastic Esports Federations where he oversees competitive esports. He is currently in charge of the NASEF x CIF Esports Initiative where he is responsible for hundreds of teams across a variety of esports titles. James has authored numerous esports related courses and facilitated trainings around the world for esports programs in various capacities. He is a former educator who has also co-founded a conference of esports participating schools spanning over 6 states. In his (admittedly limited) free time, James enjoys playing board games with his wife and their two children.

James Fraser-Murison

Queen Mary’s College
Teacher
Camberley, England, United Kingdom

James is the director of his company, Fraser Esports and global esports speaker. Fraser Esports is the first company in the world to run the esports online BTEC, which he helped co-write , whilst his company also provides esports education and consultancy around the world. His mission is to provide esports education to home educated students, create global curriculum and introduce esports education and its benefits to everyone. James is also the education advisor for Esports Insider (ESI) and has been working in esports education for many years and mainstream education for over 22 years at mid to senior level. His other roles have seen him as a National Trainer for Pearson, the co-creator of the first-ever BTEC in esports, and BDM and QM Samurai founder at Queen Mary's College, Basingstoke. James has won multiple awards for his innovation and leadership in education, including the National Award for the BTEC esports qualification, the Ed Tech Innovator Award from the SCFA, and the NASEF Scholastic Fellow. 

Jennifer Lim

XCL World Academy
Educator
Singapore

John Phillips

Berrien RESA
Technology & Innovation Consultant
Watervliet, Michigan, U.S

John Phillips, Technology & Innovation Consultant for Berrien RESA, values the power of technology and innovation in changing learning for all. As a co-founder of SWMI Esports League, project manager of Esports Amplified for the REMC Association, and a sought-after presenter at conferences nationwide, John seeks to share his knowledge and work alongside those who wish to innovate wildly. Having taught everything from Kindergarten to College, John has a vast knowledge-base to put into action to help your organization succeed today!

John Shoemaker

School District of Palm Beach County
Educational Technology Program Specialist
West Palm Beach, Florida, U.S

John Shoemaker is an Educational Strategist, esports Facilitator, Consultant, and Technology Specialist in the nation’s 10th largest school district.  Over his 23-year career, from classroom teacher to district administrator, he has honed a diverse skill set in project management, professional development, and technology integration.  Drawing on his passion for gaming, he now leads the district’s rollout of Scholastic eSports, guiding over sixty-four schools as embrace this dynamic new realm and slowly growing to all 183 schools.  Whether designing interactive trainings or mentoring educators, John embodies servant leadership by empowering others to integrate technology in transformative ways.  His work bridges education and innovation, ensuring students and teachers alike can thrive in a rapidly evolving digital world.  An outspoken advocate for the power of technology to ignite learning, John is dedicated to building a future where every student has the tools to realize their potential especially through Scholastic esports.  He knows how to navigate through very large school systems to get buy-in from all stakeholders and come up with a solid implementation plan.  He won the ISTE 20 to Watch Award in 2024 for his work on Scholastic eSports.

Julius Edwards

Palm Beach Lakes / SSEL
Esports Director/ SSEL VP/ Educator
West Palm Beach, Florida, U.S

Mary Phillips

South Haven Public Schools
Elementary STEM Teacher
Watervliet, Michigan, U.S

Mary is an elementary STEM teacher for South Haven Public Schools. Outside of school, Mary has a wide variety of interests. Mary is a third generation amateur radio operator. She loves to sew, turn wood, shoot wildlife photography, garden, and cook. On her farm in Watervliet, MI, she raises ducks, maintains a prairie habitat restoration, and makes maple syrup. As a teacher, she loves joining her students on their learning adventures and reminding them of their strengths and talents.  

Peter Whitmore

Moreno Valley Unified School District
Coordinator
Murrieta, California, U.S

Peter is married to Sonia and they have three awesome teenage boys: Diego, Henry, and Samuel. He is excited to interface with esports leaders from different countries. Peter is the author of the guide to Build Your District-Level Scholastic Esports Program. Moreno Valley USD's Esports Program specializes in student-run events and has schools divided into four vertical esports cohorts, each with its own theme and career foci. An avid gamer in his youth (Pitfall and Mike Tyson's Punch Out), Peter is delighted to move from the amazing Scholastic Fellow program into the role of Mentor. Game on!

Shoubna Naika-Taylor

North Warwickshire and South Leicestershire College
Esports Course Coordinator
Coventry, England

Shoubna Naika-Taylor is a lecturer in Esports and Esports coordinator at North Warwickshire and South Leicestershire College, UK. She has worked in education for 14 years, lecturing in media, games, and esports and has now started a new journey from scratch at NWSLC. She oversees the esports operations at Nuneaton Nitros and has been a part of creating an inclusive and safe space for young people to participate in esports roles. Her involvement with Esports started in 2019 when she led a team for a 3v3 tournament to the finals and since then, as the provision grew, naturally, so did her involvement with British Esports Federation.  She sees herself as an advocate for Women in Esports and inclusive gaming across the global and uses her online platform to share awareness and celebrate the work of women and marginalised genders in the industry. 

Tyler Hahn

Northwestern Iowa
Library Director
Sioux City, Iowa

Tyler Hahn is a Library Director in Northwestern Iowa and was recently named one of Library Journal 2024's Movers and Shakers. Having previously served as a college librarian and youth services librarian, he brings a wealth of experience to his current role. Tyler is recognized for his dedication to library services, as the midwest representative for the Association for Rural & Small Libraries (ARSL) as well as the Iowa Governor's STEM Council and being recognized as one of the state's "STEM Gems". His research interests focus on leveraging education technology to enhance library services and emphasizing connected learning and collaboration within the libraries and beyond.