Meet the 2021 - 2022 Scholastic Mentors

​Hello everyone, David here, been working on Scholastic Esports for a couple years now starting as educational linking director for Anáhuac Esports in the way developing next to Giselle James and Dr. Igor Rubio Prepa League México an open Esports league supported by education programs and courses, with a background in traditional sports management this whole adventure was unexpected to say the least, but this days it’s the best community I could be a part of, passing from ice rinks and football teams to education wasn’t easy but with the help of everybody around anyone can become great as long as you maintain students first, nowadays our focus is helping educators start with scholastic Esports and generate conferences and courses for them to have a crash course as well as keeping students engaged in the league with new games and more friendly formats; as a mentor ill be always open to anyone who may need help or just a chat, just remember English is not my first language.

"I chose to become a NASEF Scholastic Mentor because I wanted to help educators and students but sometimes you need a guide and all the best ones where here, from administrators to traditional educators everyone with their own stories, experiences and visions of scholastic Esports all willing to help and share, once I started I couldn’t back down, now im even striving to become a more traditional educator, and I would recommend everyone with the idea of helping others in mind to come join us."

"My favorite games are Hades, even with work and everything going on that game just takes all my attention, the art, the history and difficulty make it a fantastic experience for anyone that loves gaming, if i could i would make everybody around play it; my all time favorite has to be Mass Effect 2 the idea of taking your crew to save the galaxy has no equal; now when it comes to educational games, Minecraft will laways be the sand box for everyone and trailmakers is a tool for learning advanced stuff with a bunch of pieces to create what you want."

​I'm a maths teacher who's keen on the use of technology in maths lessons. I do a little programming, mostly Python. I play a lot of computer games, mostly Guild Wars at the minute. I really enjoyed my time as a Fellow in 2020, and am very much looking forward to my role as a Mentor in 2021.

"I chose to become a NASEF Scholastic Mentor because contributing to a supportive community around esports is an enjoyable and rewarding experience."

"My favorite game is Guild Wars 2."

​National award-winning Director of Learning and esports teacher with a demonstrated history of working in the education management industry. Skilled in team leadership and man-management, coaching, organisational development and strategy. Strong educational professional who believes in growth mindset approaches and hard work. Proud to have helped create the first-ever BTEC in esports, speaker at World Education Week, the Festival of Education and contributed to the book ‘Esports in Education’ (due to be published in late 2021). May 2021 will see the UK’s first-ever sixth form esports floor open based on grants and funding of 300K which I helped raise and will personally oversee the build of.

"I chose to become a NASEF Scholastic Mentor because I want to give back as much support and guidance as I received on the programme in order to help push the importance of esports in education."

"My favorite game is Fallout 3."

​I am an educator with the School District of the City of York. I have been teaching in urban education for 14 years, and have been teaching Geometry, AP CS-A, and AP CSP, and now Exploration in Game Design. Throughout my tenure at William Penn Senior High School, I have fostered a love of Ed Tech and Gaming To Learn! Additionally running our eSports Program and Video Game Club, to give the youth a place to connect and compete. These passions led me to become a 2020 PA STEM Ambassador and currently a 2020-2021 NASEF Fellow. My second job is as an Adjunct Physical Science Professor and York College of Pennsylvania where I have taught Calculus 1 for the past 5 years, and worked as a Mathematics Instructor with the YCCOSP Program for the past 7 years.

"I chose to become a NASEF Scholastic Mentor because I wanted to help continue to build a space for all students to belong and learn."

"My favorite game is World of Warcraft."

Bradford Harris serves as the public sector Educator Strategist for the SHI Company. His role empowers him to design STEM, digital learning spaces, and academic/scholastic esports for grades K12 and higher education. He also provides professional development, curriculum design, and training for successful implementation for all three categories as well. His previous role in his last district as Coordinator of Digital Innovation empowered school leaders to apply different digital initiatives to insure success of all educators and students. He is very passionate about education and learning on a consistent basis. His passion for game based learning and gamification for students, teachers, and administrators has developed into esports in schools. Bradford’s primary focus in scholastic/academic esports is aligning curriculum or learning strategies from the esports industry to state/national standards such as music, theater and health. He also wants to promote diversity, equity and inclusion to all students especially students of color to the esports ecosystem. He also serves as the Director of Learning for the non profit organization TEXSEF; Texas Scholastic Esports Federation. You can follow him on Twitter @edtechtinker.

"I chose to become a NASEF Scholastic Mentor because I would love to coach and and provide guidance to others who are starting or developing their programs in their organizations or school districts."

"My favorite game right now is Knockout City because of how diverse the game is and the cross platform capability. It's a game that everyone can play weather that be a in the video game space or in the outside world."

Garikai Kajau is a Technology and Automotive teacher at General Smuts High School in Vereeniging South Africa. He strongly believes that Esports helps to prepare learners for the future job market. Moreover he strongly believes that Esports helps to improve learner performance in STEM subjects.

"I chose to become a NASEF Scholastic Mentor because I believe that sometimes we cannot prepare a future for our learners but we can prepare our learners for the future. In promoting Esports, I believe I will be helping in preparing our learners for the future world of work."

"My favorite games is Minecraft because it gives a chance to build many things thus opening my horizon."

Greetings from North Texas! My name is Lindy Meiser and I am the Director of Curriculum and Instruction for eSports Texoma, based in the tiny towns of Pottsboro and Denison. EST is a non-profit born of my NASEF Fellowship and my need to bring esports where I felt it truly had the most value; at risk and incarcerated youth. An engineer by trade, STEM appeals to me naturally and I love developing curriculum to teach these young people life, job/trade, and social skills and presenting it to any state or federal organization I can. What could possibly be more encouraging to someone who thinks they have no future than finding out that they really can be whoever they want? And it all starts with a game, a goal, and a project. eSports Texoma is currently expanding to include a mobile science lab and library to go with our massive array of gaming, learning, coding, and manufacturing options. If I can change just one of their lives for the better, then everything has been worth it. It’s been a long road and I see no end in sight…only a vast horizon of knowledge and opportunity with some of the greatest kids you could ever imagine by my side.

"I chose to become a NASEF Scholastic Mentor to spread creativity in the world of endless educational possibilities gaming holds."

"My favorite game is Pokémon. Can I choose just one? Absolutely not and no one can make me. Not sorry. ;)"

She is currently working on the video game called “TanTam” for mobile and PC from her own studio the-BIGkey. And since 2015 she founded the initiative “creador STREAM” that brings best practices in software development and techniques to young creators, reducing the profesional gap. She has more than 4 years of experience developing commercial video games for brand activation or international organizations and in 2020 was her first year as a Mentor of esports clubs of the American spaces and Benjamin Franklin Library in collaboration with NASEF for Mexico City.

"I chose to become a NASEF Scholastic Mentor because I agree with the type of experiences that it seeks to lead young people in finding their own interests and developing according to them. Also in the possibility of creating discipline and strengthening their skills for activities that they like, although they represent a challenge, in addition to favoring environments of coordinated years and significant affective relationships for their personal and professional growth in this digital-hybrid era with so many social changes."

"My favorite game is tetrio, because is a collaborative revival of a classic video game that brings it in a multiplayer version. I most like indieGames such as: I most like indie Games such as paper please (Lucas Pope-USA, 2013), Genesis Noir (Feral Cat Den-USA, 2021), Hue(Henry Hoffman and Dan Da Rocha-London, 2016 and 2019), Cup Head (StudioMDHR-Canada, 2017). The Walking Dead (TaleTale games-USA, 2012)."

Nick Rider is the Founder and President of the educational non-profit, Esports Ohio, which specializes in the organization, oversight and competition structure of scholastic esports at the high school level. He is also Director of Technology for the Carey Exempted Village School District, the Carey High School Esports Coach, and a high school educator. Nick recently has helped develop a curriculum in esports coaching and management and serves as an adjunct professor at Rhodes State College. Throughout his 15 years of education experience, he has spearheaded several STEM initiatives, served on several educational advisory committees, most notably the Ohio Department of Education Digital Task Force, and has been selected to present innovative strategies at countless educational technology conferences.

"I chose to become a NASEF Scholastic Mentor, because I value the connections and knowledge that I have gained as a Scholastic Fellow and would love the opportunity to continue to improve my knowledge and expertise in scholastic esports while supporting others who share this passion and to create opportunities for students."

"My favorite game is Red Dead Redemption 2, because I believe the cinematic display and gameplay push the limits of amazing graphics, creative storyline and player enjoyment."

Regina Schaffer is an Educational Technology Specialist for Middletown Township SD. She is an advocate for using technology to bridge the gaps that exist for many of our nation’s students. Regina is a co-author of the ISTE Digital Equity series, Closing the Gap. She is the former co-chair of the ISTE Digital Equity PLN and presently part of the leadership team. She has also been on the leadership team of the ISTE’s Computer Science Network PLN for the past three years. She has spoken and presented nationally, is currently a member of the NJ State PLC for Access to technology and STEM careers, and is a recipient of the 2016 National School Board Association's 20 to Watch Award. She is also a thought leader for the Future Ready Instructional Coaches Strand. Regina is VP of NJ NASEF affiliate’s Garden State Esports team, as well as a 2020 NASEF Fellow.

"I chose to become a NASEF Scholastic Mentor, because I value the connections and knowledge that I have gained as a Scholastic Fellow and would love the opportunity to continue to improve my knowledge and expertise in scholastic esports while supporting others who share this passion and to create opportunities for students."

"My favorite game is Red Dead Redemption 2, because I believe the cinematic display and gameplay push the limits of amazing graphics, creative storyline and player enjoyment."

I am an EDU Strategist, Digital Learning Specialist, Futurist, & Consultant from Palm Beach, FL. I have a passion for pedagogy & tech integration, especially emerging technology. I am in charge of eSports in Palm Beach.

"I chose to become a NASEF Scholastic Mentor to continue to keep abreast of the ever changing world of esports and work with leaders to make positive change."

"My favorite game is still Animal Crossing although I have fallen out of love with it lately. I still love my OG Nintendo stuff too Super Mario Bros 3 and Zelda."

My name is Travis Whitt and I am an ELA Teacher, Esports General Manager, and assistant head football coach at Washington Park High School in Racine, WI. I was born and raised in Racine and I consider my community the primary focus of my work. This is my 5th year at Park and I hope to spend the next 30 here. When I am not spending all day in the school building, I love to play with my kids and cheer on the Minnesota Wild.

"I chose to become a NASEF Scholastic Mentor because I want to help other educators start and expand scholastic esports in their communities. As a mentor I am excited to link with other educators to create unique learning experiences for all of our students, I chose to be a mentor because I want to elevate the Midwest as a hub for esports."

"My favorite games are Overwatch, FIFA, NHL, and Super Smash Bros."

Taylor is not only the tallest member of NASEF, he's also the most excited to be continuing to work with them this year! Beginning his 6th year as an expanded learning professional, Taylor has always seen the importance of Scholastic Esports in his local schools and communities. From creating his schools first ever Esports Homecoming match to watching his students accept thousands of dollars in scholarship prizes, he continues to be an advocate for competitive gaming in his after school programs.

"I chose to become a NASEF Scholastic Fellow because I want to provide opportunities for students that I didn't have growing up. This industry is expanding at an exponential rate, and gives our students so many chances for learning skills like sportsmanship, personal responsibility, and accountability. For the first time in many of these students lives, they're getting a chance to stand in the spotlight and be recognized for their achievements in a way that they normally wouldn't."

"My favorite game is The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. Although it was my first entry into the series, it completely sucked me in with its incredible storytelling, unique questlines, and world building that made me feel like every decision I made was an important one."

Meet the 2021 - 2022 Scholastic Fellows

​Aidar Abdullin is a Grade 5 Homeroom Teacher with ten years of experience working in Education. Aidar worked as a teacher in various international schools in Russia, West Africa, and Kuwait. He is an Elementary School Homeroom teacher and is responsible for teaching core academic subjects to students using different Apps and digital tools. He is holding a Bachelor's degree and a Master's degree in Education. Aidar is a powerful force in the workplace and uses his positive attitude and tireless energy to encourage students to work hard and succeed. Aidar is inspired daily by his great wife and daughter. He has a unique hobby of growing pumpkins and has a Pumpkin seed collection of more than 100 types from different countries.

"I chose to become a NASEF Scholastic Fellow because I would like to learn more and grow as a professional."

"My favorite games are Mario and online Chess!"

This is my 18th year in education. I can remember playing pinball machines as a kid as well. Trying to make a quarter last at least 30 minutes. Then video arcades in high school. One of my favorites was Star Wars by Atari with the seat and enclosure. I tried to be the best Jedi Fighter ever. When the opportunity came up to offer an esports program. I leaped at the opportunity. This is Del Norte’s 3rd year and I am proud to be the esport coach with a winning record and have two 3rd place state finishes last year.

"I chose to become a NASEF Scholastic Fellow because I hope to expand my knowledge in coaching esports and grow Del Norte’s Esports Program to be a global leader in scholastic esports. Over the last couple of years Del Norte Esports has grown from 15 gamers to this year teaching an esports elective as well as a gaming lab with over 17 machines, over 30 gamers, team magers, streamers, shoutcasters, and media specialists.

"Right now my favorite game is hard to say, I play many games depending on the platform. Right now the game I spend the most time on is Animal Crossing. My Oculus is so much fun. But if it is a mobile game then Angry Birds Friends, on PC Rocket League and recently I started playing LOL I might have about 100 hours in and still feel like a noob."

Nevine Asfour is currently a Head of IT Departement of CPC/Pre-IG Alexandria International School , as well as Microsoft Innovator Educator Expert, Microsoft trainer, Merge ambassador, teach SDGs ambassador, MineCraft Mentor, Microsoft Certified , Wakelet Ambassador and Cospaces EDU ambassador. Nevine’s teaching interests include programming, coding, computer science and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) .Nevine has excelled in training the teachers on how to use Learning Management Systems (LMS) and a variety of other educational online programs and software. She was greatly honored to be a part of the Educational Exchange that took place in Paris in 2019. That, granted her an outstanding opportunity to be able to train a large number of teachers. She graduated from the Faculty of Commerce, One of Nevine’s most important beliefs and mottos in life is that education is a human right that should be granted to everyone and she considers it a magical pathway in the process of each country’s development. In 2020, and adding up to her enormous achievements, she was honored to receive the award of Outstanding Achievement from Microsoft and the Ministry of Education. She is honored to be part of Microsoft Ignite The Tour in Dubai 2020. Moreover, she proudly represented Middle East in the North American Scholastic Federation Competition 2020 NASEF Minecraft Masters Global Competition.

"I chose to become a NASEF Scholastic Fellow because a computer science teacher and head of IT. I am responsible for students from grade 1 till grade 9 using IGCSE curriculum. My life changed when I started using coding in games like Minecraft. I taught java script and python and practice in Minecraft. I joined NASEF competition last year. My students never forgot this experience and they keep asking about NASEF competition I hope I can go through it again . More over being using your curriculum and connect across the world thats what my students need . I am proud to be part of NASEF."

"My favorite game is Minecraft Education."

Sanjay Kumar Bhagat works as American Spaces Program Specialist with the U.S. Embassy New Delhi. Sanjay has been in the area of Public Diplomacy for more than 17 years now. Prior to the U.S. Embassy, he worked in the area of information research & analysis and content creation—both in government and in corporate set up. Sanjay has majored in Life Sciences, Information Science, Library & Information Science, and a PG Diploma in Marketing Management. He speaks English, Hindi, Bengali, Bhojpuri, Maithili, some French, and a bit of Hungarian. When off serious work, he loves public speaking, networking with people, driving on hills, and photography.

"I chose to become a NASEF Scholastic Fellow because I love the concept of tapping on the inherent interest of today's youth in active gaming and modulating constructive leadership and learning activities onto it to channelize their energy in a positive and productive way. I believe that the NASEF Scholastic Fellowship will give me the needed platform to network and learn from the stalwarts in the field, which will immensely help me start the eSports Club in the American Spaces across India and collaborate with our counterparts in the South Asia region."

"I am not an active gamer in today’s date but I love seeing my son build his farm on Minecraft and I would love to pick up on some of the games from him and my counterparts to choose my best one soon. Yeah…!"

Melissa Burns is an award-winning educator and international speaker within the field of scholastic esports. Specialized in the integration of arts and technology in education, she is the founder and president of the first competitive middle school esports program in Winnipeg, Canada (MYEMB est. 2016) and Esport Canada (est. 2020), a not-for-profit k12 scholastic esports organization with offerings in both curricular and varsity gaming. She is actively involved in esports advocacy and research, and recently published a chapter for the academic research book “Esports Research and its Integration in Education” (IGI Global, 2021).

"I chose to become a NASEF Scholastic Fellow because I have a passion for game-based education through scholastic esports and am committed to providing the best opportunities for Canadian students and resources/support for Canadian educators. NASEF will allow me to learn alongside a global PLN of educators who are committed to exploring progressive pedagogy through scholastic gaming."

"League of Legends for the incredibly immersive game experience it provides. The strategy and regular patches keep the game itself fresh, the differentiated positions that allow multiple play styles to feel valuable within the team comp, the lore and art that add depth and investment within the game world, the quality of music, audio, and video production, and of course the pro scene and LCS (Go C9!). For my middle school gamers (and my own 5 year old son), I’ve been loving Pokemon Unite for a similar gaming experience."

High School teacher of distinction. Passionate, pragmatic and a very strong drive for excellence

"I chose to become a NASEF Scholastic Fellow because I would like to mingle with other like-minded professional and also be able to reach out more significantly to my learners through games."

"My favorite game is not sure as of yet."

- Experienced as a Professor in education related to game development for 17 years.
- Skilled in Lecturing, Curriculum Development, Teaching, Higher Education, and University Teaching. - Experienced in esports business and education in Korea.
- Have extensive knowledge of IT and VR/AR content production and has extensive business experience.
- Have a very strong Network in Korean Game Industry. - Have good relations with the Korean Game Rating And Administration Committee and the Government.

"I chose to become a NASEF Scholastic Fellow because in order for South Korea to continue its title as an "esports country," it must focus on esports education. However, there is no perception of esports education in Korea and there is no system to nurture esports players and experts. So I applied for NASEF's fellowship program."

"When I was in my 30s, I liked strategy games such as Starcraft, and in 40s, I liked FPS games such as Call of Duty, and now I like open world games such as Horizon."

PK is a STEAM Content Specialist and Instructional Designer with a particular passion for teaching computer science and gaming. He serves his school district as the "Guru of Gaming" where he has 7 Varsity programs and 11 middle school Esports programs. Through the scholastic lens, PK sees gaming as the most important educational opportunity of his life and has dedicated himself to bringing gaming opportunities to every student.

"I chose to become a NASEF Scholastic Fellow because I am passionate about creating STEAM educational opportunities for all students and I know that nearly all students play video games. It is at this point of confluence between gaming and education that I want to learn more about how to develop these student’s passion for gaming into that for STEAM subjects too."

"My favorite game is Echo Arena for competition and No Man’s Sky for fun."

Hello! I am a teen programming librarian at the Indian Creek Library. I have a Master's Degree in Library Science from Emporia State University, and a Bachelor's Degree in Anthropology and Creative Writing from Wichita State University. Before I was a teen librarian here I worked in a Makerspace, as a writer for Dystopia Rising (A Live Action Role Play Company), and a magician's assistant! I am interested in cosplay, anime, video games, role playing games, and the fine arts!

"I chose to become a NASEF Scholastic Fellow because I want to learn and provide the best resources for my teens. I strive to be a leader in my community and share what I learn with others."

"My favorite game is Hearthstone! Though I have been playing League of Legends recently :)."

Andy Gribbin is the Director of STEM Education at Reach Cyber Charter School in Pennsylvania.  In this capacity, he works to help plan and create STEM opportunities within the school.  The school supports STEM initiatives in many ways including regularly infusing STEM activities and lessons.  The school also holds regular competitions such as the Winter STEM Challenge.  As part of the STEM program, Reach Cyber Charter School offers their students the chance to engage in STEM Camps.  These STEM Camps include many ways to engage with STEM including opportunities for Esports.   Andy has worked in education for more than 20 years.  Starting out teaching in Virginia at the former Godwin Middle School, Andy had the opportunity to teach middle school science for many years.  After teaching in brick and mortar schools, he joined cyber education about 10 years ago and has had different roles including teaching, family support and administration.

"I chose to become a NASEF Scholastic Fellow because I see a need for the unique opportunities that it will afford me to help offer at the school I am lucky enough to be employed."

Amy Harris is a mom in her tenth year of teaching CTE Computer Science, and has been the adult in the room for Hart Career Center’s esports program since its inception in 2016. She is also a director and the treasurer for the Missouri Scholastic Esports Federation. Her previous job titles include IT Director and Web Developer. She is easily distracted by conversations on DC, Star Wars, Zelda, and any number of other geek culture topics.

"I chose to become a NASEF Scholastic Fellow because I would love the opportunity to bring my kids (and ultimately the students of Missouri) a career-focused esports experience that’s been both inspired and vetted by a hive of minds with the same goals."

"My favorite game is The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, followed closely by Breath of the Wild – but I wouldn’t turn down a game of Clue!"

My name is Chuck Hobbs. I am a teacher in the Capistrano Unified School District in Southern California. I have been the middle school technology teacher at Vista del Mar Middle School for the last 14 years. Before that, I was an elementary teacher at Moulton Elementary and Laguna Niguel Elementary in CUSD. I started my career in the Cypress School District where I taught at Luther Elementary and Arthur Elementary. Also before I came to CUSD, I taught in the Buena Park School District at Corey Elementary. In my 29 years of teaching, I have taught 2nd-8th grades with a 2/3 and 4/5 combo thrown in for good measure along the way. Presently at VdMMS, I teach the technology electives. I have a Masters in Education with an emphasis in technology and got my CTE credential in Information and computer sciences 3 years ago. My vision for technology classes is inspired by Hall Davidson who believed that we need to get as much technology into the hands of the students as we can and see where they go with it. As such, my students learn a wide variety of technology skills such as 3D design and printing, graphic design, video production, photography, robotics, coding, laser engraving, CNC milling, game design, audio production, and engineering. I love my job and can't wait to introduce esports to my classes.

"I chose to become a NASEF Scholastic Fellow because I teach CTE classes. These classes are designed to expose students to possible future careers and college pathways. I want to be able to expose my students to the opportunities that a career in eports can offer. Esports are rapidly overtaking traditional sports in viewership and participation. What was once considered a free time activity, has become a viable way to make money. Once seen as a distraction, it is now see as a career choice. From sponsorships to scholarships, my students can benefit from learning about esports."

"My favorite game is MLB the Show."

Hi! My name is Giselle Jaimes, I’m a 29 years old architect feeling lucky and passionate to be working in esports. Started my esports career as a caster and a strategic analyst of semi-professional League of Legends teams, so I had the opportunity to teach players and work with them in different aspects of their development, from the technical knowledge of the game to sports psychology. Recently with my one-year-old experience as an Operations Director in Prepa League, I have had the chance to be part of this huge community of teachers, students, and gamers who are so involved in creating new opportunities in schools for many talented youths. I'm proud and happy to be part of the NASEF Fellow program, so we can be able to give our community more opportunities and grow even more in México and LATAM.

"I chose to become a NASEF Scholastic Fellow because breaking barriers is an important goal in México and LATAM for esports communities, with NASEF I aspire to learn from the experiences of others to get close to teachers and parents, give them the tools to provide a correct perspective of what esports means to the students, and help them to develop for the future through them."

"My favorite game is Monkey Island and The Elder Scrolls: Skyrim."

Erica Larson Bautze has been an educator for over 10 years and is turning to gaming as her next big project. As Deputy Director of the German-American Institute Saxony, Erica introduces young people to international topics and looks forward to implementing new mediums.

"I chose to become a NASEF Scholastic Fellow because I look forward to learning how to use gaming as a educational tool."

"My favorite game is League of Legends."

Music teacher and Esports leader in the flagship Esports secondary school for Scotland Alva Academy and avid hobby gamer

"I chose to become a NASEF Scholastic Fellow because I want to learn more about Esports in education to enrich my students experience of secondary school and learning."

"My favorite games are too difficult to choose, I cycle between Valorant, ff14, League of Legends, old Pokémon games and Overwatch."

Felicia J. Martin Latief, Ed.D. is the STEM Instructional Supervisor for Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS).  Her focus is on helping the district meet its goal of outstanding academic achievement for all students and achieving the STEM vision of preparing students to be the problem-solvers of tomorrow.  

"I chose to become a NASEF Scholastic Fellow because I wanted to immerse myself in learning esports with like minded people so that I innovate how to bring this STEMtastic opportunity the students I serve in my district."

"My favorite game is Bust a groove. I know its old and outdated but I love it!"

Media specialist, and Gamer Newbie! Currently, I’m a librarian at Travis Middle School in the South Pole of Texas. I’m a proponent of literacy programs at any stage in life with classroom teaching experience from self-contained elementary classrooms to adult learners.

"I chose to become a NASEF Scholastic Fellow because I want to introduce my students to future technologies. As a NASEF Fellow, I hope to provide students within my school and district with opportunities to participate in local, national and global networks, develop communication skills, learn from others, and also view themselves in a career that involves gaming."

"My favorite game is yet to be discovered! I'm not an avid gamer (actually, I don't own a console of any sort), but I look forward to the journey of discovery with my Esports team."

Mr. Jim McKowen is a Computer Science and Math teacher at Hopatcong High School, in Hopatcong NJ, as well as being the Chiefs esports coach. Being a NASEF Fellow, Mr. McKowen hopes to strengthen students’ interests in career and educational opportunities connected to their interests in esports and gaming in general, while also building connections to those in the industry.

"I chose to become a NASEF Scholastic Fellow because I want to help the esports ecosystem continue to grow and incorporate as many career and education connections as possible, giving students opportunities that they may have missed otherwise, while doing something they enjoy."

"My favorite game is anything with an engaging and gripping story! PS4's Spiderman, the God of War, and the Assassin's Creed games have been recent favorites!"

My name is Adrieanne Moliere and I am in my 5th year of teaching at the high school level. Currently I teach in the virtual environment which has been incredibly advantageous in allowing me to reach my students during the pandemic. In becoming a NASEF Scholastic Fellow my goal is to provide my students with a higher level of workplace readiness skills, as well as a better understanding of how the soft skills they will attain will benefit them in their future endeavors. Working as a special education teacher allowed me to cultivate information and teaching styles across all four content areas. I have received guidance, and advice from teachers with decades of experience which has been imperative to my student’s success. I'm so excited to merge this experience with esports to provide my student with further opportunities inside and outside of the classroom.

"I chose to become a NASEF Scholastic Fellow because I saw the disparity in opportunities available to the students I taught. I wanted them to have more opportunities upon graduating from high school  as well as the ability to explore their interest using a medium that many of them already use."

"My favorite game is probably Halo 4. Back when I completed the story mode I felt it had the most amazing mix of gameplay, game design, and story telling."

I was born in the Dominican Republic and raised in the Washington Heights section of NYC. As the youngest of 4 and the only girl in my family, I often found myself looking up to my brothers who participated in every extracurricular activity possible. We were a family of athletes of all ages, with busy schedules and huge age gaps; However, one thing that always brought us together, regardless of age and schedules was The Legend of Zelda. Gaming has always been our favorite family pastime and I hope to continue to share the same passion with my students. I am a passionate Special Education teacher in the Big Apple who aspires to inspire her students in every way possible. As someone who has been teaching for over a decade, I have dedicated my time to forming relationships with my students and breaking down barriers that would hinder their social-emotional and academic growth. In my interactions with students, I work to demonstrate creativity along with proactive problem solving skills, particularly with regards to ensuring that students have spaces to explore and develop their own interests and passions.

"I chose to become a NASEF Scholastic Fellow because I wanted to connect my passion for gaming along with my dedication for education and change the narrative and perception people have about gaming."

"My favorite game is The Legend of Zelda complete franchise. Most specifically Majora's Mask. Something about Zelda does it for me like no other game. The art, storyline and the soundtrack are all just mesmerizing."

I am a UK based lecturer in Games and Esports. I am a curriculum lead for digital at Coventry College, and team manager of the Coventry Crosshairs, an esports grassroots project.I believe in using technology and games to pursue the interest of young people and inspire them to be our success in the future. Esports embeds both tech and fun, what a better way to support them through their future goals.

"I chose to become a NASEF Scholastic Fellow because I want to further develop the Esports provision at Coventry College and use it to pique the interest of the community and local businesses to help me continue to enrich the experience that students gain as part of our current position with Esports. This program will help me to change people’s outlook of esports and guide the people of Coventry to learn that esports is more than gaming, it's about the community, the skills developed and what it does for young people."

"My favorite game is Bioshock. Its based on a whole new world and has an amazing story. I love discussing the sociological and psychological reading of the Bioshock series with my Games Production students as there is such an interesting take on the world created from a theoretical perspective."

Within his current role at Barnsley College, Kalam focuses on the quality of education, project management, curriculum developments and engagement with external stakeholders, along with Line Management responsibilities for Esport and Sport in Further Education, League Football & Premier League Football Education, Community Education Programmes, Essential Skills & 14-16 Learning. As a result, Kalam has worked extensively with a wide range of national education providers, bodies, employers and Universities to support the development of esport and sport in education in the United Kingdom. Kalam has worked in a number of roles in Further Education ranging from Teacher, Coach, Assessor, Advanced Practitioner, Course Leader, Lead Internal Verifier, Curriculum Leader and most recently as an Esports Writer, Rater, Vetter, Vocational Trainer & Podcast Host for UK Awarding Body - Pearson. His work within esport encompasses facility design and development, revenue modelling, esports business research, project management and esports curriculum design. This is complemented by recent work with the British Esports Association, guest speaking at national conferences and as host of the Pearson Esports Podcast. Kalam was instrumental in setting up and designing Barnsley College’s Esports Study Programme, Esports Facility and Esports Academy, the first of its kind in the U.K.

"I chose to become a NASEF Scholastic Fellow because I have a passion and drive to continue to develop esport in education through collaborating with others, sharing best practice and learning from international curriculum models. I look forward to sharing our model and implementing to change to our curriculum in the UK to continue to shape the national esports curriculum and provide opportunities for young people to progress into future careers."

"My favorite games are FIFA & Rocket League. Being from a sporting background, these are two games that a high number of our students love to play and can relate to. I love to see how elements of teamwork, communication and strategy develop in such a short space of time."

The wisdom of the medieval man has stood the test of time, observed and etched in not only kashiri kasingapambari akanuni, audentes fortuna iuvat or to dare is to do.

"I choose to be a NASEF Scholastic Fellow because I stand to get the skills needed to empower a 21st century child in a manner that makes the child not only relevant, but also competent in the challenging environment of the future."

"My favourite board game is chess. Out of my love of football, I also occasionally play FIFA 19."

I am an elementary STEM teacher for South Haven Public Schools. Outside of school, I have a wide variety of interests. I am a third generation amateur radio operator. I love to sew, turn wood, shoot wildlife photography, garden, and cook. On our farm in Watervliet, MI, we raise ducks, maintain a prairie habitat restoration, and make maple syrup. As a teacher, I love joining my students on our learning adventures and reminding them of their strengths and talents.

"I chose to become a NASEF Scholastic Fellow because I want to bring the conversation about healthy gaming to my elementary students. I also hope to inspire fellow teachers to bring game-based learning into their classrooms."

"My favorite game is Unstable Unicorns. My favorite contemporary video game is Yoshi’s Crafted World, although Link’s Awakening will always hold a place in my heart."

Grade 7/8 Teacher with interests in cognitive psychology, political philosophy, digital pedagogy, eSports in education, and gamification of learning. Teaching middle schoolers principles of 3D game design and animation using the Unreal Engine.

"I chose to become a NASEF Scholastic Fellow because of the amazing resources and support made available to those interested in implementing or extending scholastic ESports programs!"

"My favorite game is Magic: The Gathering Arena because of the strategy involved!"

After graduating from a physical education University in Japan, I moved to the United States. After graduating from San Jose State University with a degree in Athletic Training in the Department of Kinesiology, I have worked as a physical education teacher, athletic trainer, and dormitory supervisor at a Japanese high school in New York for about 10 years. I was inspired by the appeal of e-sports when I decided to teach online physical education classes. After returning to Japan, I have joined Third Wave Co., Ltd. to promote the educational value of e-sports. I was involved in the launch of NASEF JAPAN in 2020 and became the esports scholastic director.

"I chose to become a NASEF Scholastic Fellow because I would like to use e-sports as an educational tool in Japanese schools to educate the next generation. To do this, I would like to build relationships with Fellows in the U.S. and around the world and become a bridge between Japan and the world."

"My favorite game is Mario Kart 8 Deluxe."

My name is Ignacio Vargas, I majored in TELF, but I am now working as an Assistant of Academic Services at Centro Cultural Costarricense-Norteamericano. In 2021, I enrolled in a master’s in English Language Teaching with Emphasis in Management and Assessment of English Programs at ULACIT. I was born in Costa Rica, however, I spent most of my childhood in Salamanca. Among the memories that I treasure most about that time are the summer days when my family and I would travel around Europe on a van my father purchased shortly after we had stepped foot in Spain. I have always been fond of rock and blues music and storytelling in its multiple formats: books, film, videogames. I strongly believe that there is tremendous power in narratives and that everyone has a story to tell.

"I chose to become a NASEF Scholastic Fellow because I think that engaging in this program will grant me the possibility to further explore curriculum design in areas strongly connected to STEAM. I believe as well that there is no more powerful learning experience than immersion and videogames allow students to acquire knowledge while they play. This is a very solid pedagogical principle."

"My favorite game is Final Fantasy VIII. It was one of the first videogames I ever played. It's striking graphics and memorable soundtracks, intricate plots and complex characterization makes it one of the greatest games to me."

Digital Technologies Teacher from Brisbane Australia. Passionate about 21st Century learning and encouraging my students to try new things

"I chose to become a NASEF Scholastic Fellow because I would like to learn more about esports integration into the curriculum. I have seen the impact as an extra-curricular program and would love to see it as a program made available to students."

"My favorite games are Portal and Breath of the Wild. I have always loved the puzzle games and sense of completion."

Audra Yocom is a big Disney fan, if you couldn't tell from the name of her dog (Ellie Tiger-Lily). Audra graduated from a rival school near where she now teaches and was 1 of 6 girls on a state championship swimming team and was also voted the "next Bill Gates" by her classmates. Continuing on to college, she swam for Brigham Young University and pursued a degree in Technology and Engineering Education. Audra is now working on her master's degree from Western Governors University in Information Technology Management. When not thinking about school, Audra is working on fixing up her grandparents' 70-year old house. The kitchen caught fire last September (thanks to her chickens) and she *almost* has it back in working order.

"I chose to become a NASEF Scholastic Fellow because I am a passionate Computer Science & Information Technology educator working to ignite passion in students through unconventional pathways. I am an advocate for creating meaningful opportunities for all students, no matter their background, and to find ways to bridge the gap between public/private industry partnerships."

"My favorite games vary. I love Rocket League, but I spent a lot of time during quarantine playing Animal Crossing and Zelda BOTW. I'm definitely more of a social gamer, but I have seen how much fun the competitive gaming scene can be for my students and love to advocate and support those opportunities. I think the beauty of gaming is that you don't have to pick a favorite, but there is always something to fit your mood."