J. Alison Bryant, Ph.D. – Head of Research & Curriculum
Alison has over 15 years experience researching and developing cross-platform media content. Prior to founding PlayScience, she was head of digital research and strategy for the Nickelodeon Kids & Family group. She has developed curriculum and conducted research on every platform for properties such as Sesame Street, Blues Clues, Dora the Explorer, Wonder Pets, and Juno Baby. She has helped develop a dozen virtual worlds and over 100 online and mobile games and websites. She has also authored numerous books and articles about kids, families, and media. For more on PlayScience, visit PlayScienceLab.com
Dr. Christopher Thurber is a board-certified clinical psychologist, educator, author, and father. He earned his BA from Harvard University in 1991 and a PhD in clinical psychology from UCLA in 1997. A dedicated teacher from a young age, Chris has taught elementary school French, undergraduate courses in psychology, and swimming and sailing to people between the ages of 8 and 80.
Chris has shared his youth development expertise on the Today Show, Martha Stewart, CBS Morning News, NPR, FOX, and PBS. His research has been featured in Time, Newsweek, USNews & World Report, Smart Money, Parents, Parenting, Good Housekeeping, Women’s Day, Family Circle, Men’s Health, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Boston Globe, The Washington Post, and many local newspapers and magazines.
In 2007, Chris co-founded ExpertOnlineTraining.com, which quickly became the Internet’s most popular and respected educational resource for youth development professionals. For more information on Chris, go to CampSpirit.com.
Wynn Godbold
She's the president of Bee Sharp Educator Training Associates, LLC, a company that empowers teachers through professional development and personal coaching so they will be highly effective; reaching students in authentic ways. Visit her at WynnGodbold.com and beesharp.us
Michelle Siegel
When it comes to reading Michelle knows her books! As a National Board Certified teacher Michelle can usually be found talking with students about their next great book. Reaching and teaching students to overcome their challeges with reading is more than a job it is her passion. Opening the door of imagination and knowledge for her struggling readers is her greatest reward. "Watching a child go from approaching reading as a difficult, awkward task to loving every page they read is life's greatest gift." In 2007 Michelle won the Dwyer Award for Teaching Excellence for Special Programs and in 2009 she received her Master's Degreee from Florida Atlantic University in Reading Education. She can currently be found at Pine Jog Elementary teaching just outside 135 acres of pine forest in West Palm Beach.
Michelle Cates
Winner of the Florida Power-Library School Award and recipient of the 21st Century Library Media Specialist certification, Michelle constantly explores new worlds with her students in the traditional and digital realms. Her “novel” ideas and techniques have been shared with teachers and librarians through more than 20 presentations at district, region, and state conferences in the last five years.
Michelle’s goal for her school library program is to invigorate research and literature through digital technology, games, acting, and excitement. Every project and lesson is firmly rooted in the Florida standards curriculum, supported by Michelle’s M.Ed. in Curriculum /Instruction and M.A. in Library/Information Science.
But she cannot achieve these lofty goals alone; collaboration with teachers is essential. Each year, Michelle leads Research Madness and The Florida Storytelling Festival which integrate classroom and fine arts instruction with authentic library use.
