PBLSydney Online - Facilitators

Aaron Brengard (@brengard) is currently the principal of LeyVa Middle School which includes Bulldog Tech, a New Tech Network school, in San Jose, California.  Previously, he led the implementation of project-based learning to reinvent Katherine Smith Elementary from a traditional, public, neighborhood school into an Partnership for  21st Century Learning Exemplar and Buck Institute for Education PBL Exemplar School. 

In his eighteen years in teaching and administration, Brengard has been a strong advocate for bringing innovative learning approaches and advocacy to under served students. 

Aaron will be facilitating a PBL Leadership workshop during the three day PBLSydney Online event.

Charity Moran Parsons is a former high school PBL teacher, School Development Coach, and middle school-alternative programs Instructional Specialist who has experience as an elementary school Federal Programs Instructional Coordinator as well as a STEM Curriculum Manager. Charity has been involved in PBL education since 2007. She believes that PBL is a powerful and transforming instructional strategy that, when leveraged appropriately, dispels achievement disparities and empowers ALL stakeholders to become lifelong learners.

A Class of 2000 Gates Millennium Scholar, Charity has earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Southern University and A&M College; a Master of Arts in Secondary Mathematics Education from Centenary College of Louisiana; and an Educational Specialist certification in Educational Leadership from Louisiana State University-Baton Rouge. 

Charity will be facilitating a PBL Leadership workshop during the three day PBLSydney Online event.

Kristy Lathrop grew up as a self described Army brat. After years of living in a variety of cultures and geographic locations, she realized that her heart belongs to the mountains of Colorado. Her teaching career began in Leadville, Colorado, in a small school district at an elevation over 10,000 feet. There, she had an opportunity to develop teaching practices that engage a diverse group of students. After a few years of teaching, she developed a belief that the classroom should transcend physical walls and be rich with opportunities for students to apply their learning to real-life situations, thus developing competencies for success in life beyond school. It was that realization that led her to implement Project Based Learning in her classes. Most recently, Kristy was an 8th grade science teacher and department chair at an International Baccalaureate middle school in the Douglas County School District, the third largest district in Colorado.  Her teaching experience coupled with her passion for sustainable learning, has enabled Kristy to develop and facilitate high-quality professional development. Her areas of expertise include Science, STEM, educational technology, instructional coaching, and project based learning. She was a lead contributor in the development of the PBL Coaching Workshop for PBLWorks.Kristy is an award-winning teacher who earned her B.S. in Secondary Education from Kansas State University. She holds a Colorado Secondary (7-12) Science teaching certificate.

Kristy will be facilitating a PBL 201 workshop during the three day PBLSydney Online event.

With nearly 30 years in education, Myla Lee serves as a consultant for literacy, technology integration, and project-based learning. Much of the learning she shares with others at state and national conferences focuses on various topics first field-tested in her classroom and explores inquiry in an authentic classroom culture.   

Currently, Myla is an instructional coach for Novi Community School District (Michigan), where she facilitates professional learning districtwide and provides job-embedded professional learning to individuals and teams of teachers.  Previously, Myla was the Project-based Learning Specialist with Technology Integration for her district.  With her 23 years of classroom experience, she worked with administrators, teachers, and students to implement integrated PBL units grounded in technology and current best practice.  

As a teacher/researcher, and in collaboration with university educators, Myla has researched, presented, and co-published on multicultural reading and literacy practices. In addition, Myla values the importance of developing engaging and relevant curriculum and has likewise created professional learning experiences for adult learners. Her passion for a student-centered classroom steeped in a culture of thinking and collaboration motivates her to always be curious.

Myla will be facilitating a PBL 101 workshop during the three day PBLSydney Online event.

Whether working as an elementary English teacher in Spain, outdoor educator in Australia, trip leader in South and Central America, dean of character and culture at a restorative justice high school in Brooklyn, teaching residents at Teachers College, Columbia University, or a high school special education teacher and coach in the New York City Department of Education; Jason has been inspired by the intersection of social/emotional learning and authentic, culturally relevant, project based learning - both in and out of the classroom. Prior to joining PBLWorks, Jason worked at The Urban Assembly Maker Academy (UA Maker) in downtown Manhattan, attracting a diverse body of students from all five NYC boroughs. While at UA Maker, Jason wore many hats - a feeling many educators know all too well. As a newly opened, public high school - focused on design thinking, project based learning, interdisciplinary career and technical education (CTE), blended learning, and standards-based grading - UA Maker provided numerous opportunities for Jason to learn and grow as an educator in inclusive, culturally relevant, project based classrooms. By the end of his time at UA Maker, Jason had collaborated and co-taught in physics, geometry, algebra, earth science, living environment, and advisory classrooms. He also designed the school’s advisory curriculum for 9th and 10th grade, founded the Murry Bergtraum Educational Campus’ lacrosse program, mentored new teachers in science and special education, provided instructional coaching in a physics classroom, explored the intersection of culturally responsive education and standards based grading in STEM classrooms, and developed a citizen scientist summer program in collaboration with the Teaching Residency at Teachers College, Columbia University.

Jason will be facilitating a PBL 101 workshop during the three day PBLSydney Online event.