Meet the Team
Dr. Hiller A. Spires is a Distinguished Graduate Professor of Literacy and Technology in NC State University’s College of Education. She received her Ph.D. in literacy education from the University of South Carolina. Dr. Spires served as the founding director of The William and Ida Friday Institute for Educational Innovation from 2002-2006 and currently serves as FI Senior Research Fellow. Her research focuses on the effects of digital literacies on learning, including emerging literacies associated with gaming environments, and on inquiry-based disciplinary literacy for middle and high school teachers and students. Her publications have appeared in the Journal of Educational Psychology, Cognition & Instruction, Journal of Educational Computing Research, Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy, Literacy Research & Instruction, Computers and Education, and Journal of Research in Technology Education.Dr. Spires led the development of the New Literacies & Global Learning graduate program and co-directs the Friday Institute’s New Literacies Collaborative (www.newlit.org). For her ongoing work with teachers in China, Dr. Spires received the Jackson Rigney International Service Award in 2011 from NC State University for her work with teachers in China. Currently, she is working with Beijing Royal School (http://en.bjroyalschool.com/) and Suzhou North America High School (http://www.sna-edu.com/en/main.asp).
Erin Lyjak is a research associate at the Friday Institute for Educational Innovation, working with the New Literacies Collaborative. She received her Master’s degree in Experimental Psychology from Radford University. Ms. Lyjak has been in the field of educational research for over 15 years. She has worked a wide range of educational studies (digital literacies, disciplinary literacy, standardized testing) and worked with students and teachers both nationally and internationally (New Literacies Teacher Leader Institutes, Summer/Winter Camps). Ms. Lyjak is currently working on the development of the Disciplinary Literacy for Deeper Learning MOOC-Ed course and the project manager for Suzhou North America High School: Connecting to the Future project.
Marie Himes is a research associate at the Friday Institute for Educational Innovation. She received her bachelor of arts in international politics and international studies from the Pennsylvania State University in 2008 and a master of education in curriculum and instruction from Penn State in 2012. Prior to graduate school, Marie taught English as a second language in Schweinfurt, Germany as a Fulbright Grantee and interned as a policy and communications aide on Capitol Hill. After earning her master's degree, Marie taught high school social studies for a year in central Pennsylvania, and then relocated to North Carolina where she taught middle school English language arts and social studies for an additional year. At the Friday Institute, Marie is working within the New Literacies Collaborative as the curriculum specialist for the Suzhou North America High School: Connecting to the Future Project and as the coordinator for the PBI Global Initiative.
Nicholas Fortune is pursuing a doctoral degree in mathematics education at North Carolina State University. Before moving to North Carolina, Mr. Fortune was in Troy, New York completing his BS and MS in Applied Mathematics from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. His mathematics education research interests are students’ mathematical conceptualizations and mathematical undergraduate content knowledge for teacher training.
Tricia Willoughby is an education consultant and policy advisor who has been a classroom teacher as wll as a member of a college of education faculty. She received her Bachelor's degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and a Master's degree in reading education from Meredith College. Willoughby has a significant policy experience including service as the State Superintendent of NC Department of Public instruction during 2004-05. Additionally, she served as Executive Director of the North Carolina Business Committee for Education, a consortium that brought together policy leaders from business, education, and government.
Dr. Scott Smith is currently Chief Technology Officer for one of America’s most well known one-to-one computing schools, Mooresville Graded Schools, in NC. As past president of the North Carolina Technology In Education Society, Scott led efforts for North Carolina’s technology educators. In 2014 Scott attained Certified Education Technology Leader credentials from the Consortium of School Networking.
George Bigham is currently a lecturer at Kent State University and teaches in the College of Applied Engineering, Sustainability, and Technology in the construction management department. Mr. Bigham received a bachelor’s degree from Kent State University, his master’s degree in construction science and management from Clemson University, and is currently pursuing his PhD at Indiana State University in technology management with a construction management specialization. He also has over 20 years of experience as a construction project manager and as a construction consultant on a variety of projects.
Catherine Immanuel is a freelance graphic designer holding a BA from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in international relations and an MA from the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University. She has worked with nonprofits and institutions of higher learning as a graphic designer for over 20 years.
Tim Tharrington received his BA in English from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. He is a Nationally Board certified teacher and has taught English/Language Arts in Raleigh for the past 20 years.
Ted Richardson is a photojournalist and filmmaker based in Chapel Hill. He has taught courses in photojournalism and multimedia journalism at UNC-Chapel Hill, and his video and photo assignments have taken him to Nepal, Afghanistan, Cuba, and Mexico.Richardson graduated from Davidson College with a B.A. in English, and from UNC-Chapel Hill with a Master's in Journalism.He recently directed and produced a feature film, The Last Barn Dance, and currently covers assignments for editorial clients to include the Washington Post, The New York Times & the Associated Press.
Erin Lyjak is a research associate at the Friday Institute for Educational Innovation, working with the New Literacies Collaborative. She received her Master’s degree in Experimental Psychology from Radford University. Ms. Lyjak has been in the field of educational research for over 15 years. She has worked a wide range of educational studies (digital literacies, disciplinary literacy, standardized testing) and worked with students and teachers both nationally and internationally (New Literacies Teacher Leader Institutes, Summer/Winter Camps). Ms. Lyjak is currently working on the development of the Disciplinary Literacy for Deeper Learning MOOC-Ed course and the project manager for Suzhou North America High School: Connecting to the Future project.
Marie Himes is a research associate at the Friday Institute for Educational Innovation. She received her bachelor of arts in international politics and international studies from the Pennsylvania State University in 2008 and a master of education in curriculum and instruction from Penn State in 2012. Prior to graduate school, Marie taught English as a second language in Schweinfurt, Germany as a Fulbright Grantee and interned as a policy and communications aide on Capitol Hill. After earning her master's degree, Marie taught high school social studies for a year in central Pennsylvania, and then relocated to North Carolina where she taught middle school English language arts and social studies for an additional year. At the Friday Institute, Marie is working within the New Literacies Collaborative as the curriculum specialist for the Suzhou North America High School: Connecting to the Future Project and as the coordinator for the PBI Global Initiative.
Nicholas Fortune is pursuing a doctoral degree in mathematics education at North Carolina State University. Before moving to North Carolina, Mr. Fortune was in Troy, New York completing his BS and MS in Applied Mathematics from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. His mathematics education research interests are students’ mathematical conceptualizations and mathematical undergraduate content knowledge for teacher training.
Tricia Willoughby is an education consultant and policy advisor who has been a classroom teacher as wll as a member of a college of education faculty. She received her Bachelor's degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and a Master's degree in reading education from Meredith College. Willoughby has a significant policy experience including service as the State Superintendent of NC Department of Public instruction during 2004-05. Additionally, she served as Executive Director of the North Carolina Business Committee for Education, a consortium that brought together policy leaders from business, education, and government.
Dr. Scott Smith is currently Chief Technology Officer for one of America’s most well known one-to-one computing schools, Mooresville Graded Schools, in NC. As past president of the North Carolina Technology In Education Society, Scott led efforts for North Carolina’s technology educators. In 2014 Scott attained Certified Education Technology Leader credentials from the Consortium of School Networking.
George Bigham is currently a lecturer at Kent State University and teaches in the College of Applied Engineering, Sustainability, and Technology in the construction management department. Mr. Bigham received a bachelor’s degree from Kent State University, his master’s degree in construction science and management from Clemson University, and is currently pursuing his PhD at Indiana State University in technology management with a construction management specialization. He also has over 20 years of experience as a construction project manager and as a construction consultant on a variety of projects.
Catherine Immanuel is a freelance graphic designer holding a BA from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in international relations and an MA from the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University. She has worked with nonprofits and institutions of higher learning as a graphic designer for over 20 years.
Tim Tharrington received his BA in English from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. He is a Nationally Board certified teacher and has taught English/Language Arts in Raleigh for the past 20 years.
Ted Richardson is a photojournalist and filmmaker based in Chapel Hill. He has taught courses in photojournalism and multimedia journalism at UNC-Chapel Hill, and his video and photo assignments have taken him to Nepal, Afghanistan, Cuba, and Mexico.Richardson graduated from Davidson College with a B.A. in English, and from UNC-Chapel Hill with a Master's in Journalism.He recently directed and produced a feature film, The Last Barn Dance, and currently covers assignments for editorial clients to include the Washington Post, The New York Times & the Associated Press.
Wake STEM Early College: A Partner School
David Schwenker, currently the principal at WAKE STEM Early College High School, has been a long-time educator in the Wake County Public School System. After teaching at the elementary level for 3+ years, Mr. Schwenker moved into administration. He was an Assistant Principal before moving into the role of Principal. As Principal for the last 17 years, the success of his schools has allowed him to lead schools in all 4 levels in the Wake County K-13 spectrum (elementary, middle, high and early college).
Andrea Gambino received her M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction with a specialization in New Literacies and Global Learning. Mrs. Gambino has taught 7th Grade Language Arts/Social Studies and is presently completing her seventh year teaching at Wake STEM Early College High School at NC State University and is teaching Honors English III and Honors Civics & Economics. Mrs. Gambino is also teaching American History I in a blended learning environment for North Carolina Virtual Public School. Mrs. Gambino is the lead teacher coordinating the PBI Global collaboration with Suzhou North America High School.
Evelyn Baldwin is a National Board Certified science and engineering educator with twenty years of experience in the Wake County Public School System. Ms. Baldwin has BS and MEd degrees in secondary science education from North Carolina State University.
Andrew Bagwell is a World and US History teacher at Wake STEM Early College. He earned a BA in History from Skidmore College and a MA at Colorado State University. Mr Bagwell was a teacher at the China University of Petroleum in Shandong Province. He has been a teacher in Colorado and North Carolina for 14 years. Mr Bagwell specializes in 21st Century Skills, thematic teaching and the appropriate use of 2.0 technology.
Andrea Gambino received her M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction with a specialization in New Literacies and Global Learning. Mrs. Gambino has taught 7th Grade Language Arts/Social Studies and is presently completing her seventh year teaching at Wake STEM Early College High School at NC State University and is teaching Honors English III and Honors Civics & Economics. Mrs. Gambino is also teaching American History I in a blended learning environment for North Carolina Virtual Public School. Mrs. Gambino is the lead teacher coordinating the PBI Global collaboration with Suzhou North America High School.
Evelyn Baldwin is a National Board Certified science and engineering educator with twenty years of experience in the Wake County Public School System. Ms. Baldwin has BS and MEd degrees in secondary science education from North Carolina State University.
Andrew Bagwell is a World and US History teacher at Wake STEM Early College. He earned a BA in History from Skidmore College and a MA at Colorado State University. Mr Bagwell was a teacher at the China University of Petroleum in Shandong Province. He has been a teacher in Colorado and North Carolina for 14 years. Mr Bagwell specializes in 21st Century Skills, thematic teaching and the appropriate use of 2.0 technology.