Jody Citizen is in his 21st year with Verizon, now a Senior Manager over Mobile Executive Relations - Court Team & Hum/ECE, leading this team responsible for consumer litigation support, corporate responsibility, and IoT automobile devices. He worked in Verizon's Legal department the previous 15 years, serving in various capacities such as Litigation, Public Policy, Risk Management and Law Enforcement/Corporate Security support. As a new, non-educator board member, Jody is looking to amplify OVA's reach, augmenting how the voices touch their respective communities, and broadening the impact of these powerful voices.

Leticia Citizen, a member of OVA Cohort 3, is a Samsung Education Coach passionate about technology-enhanced teaching, primary sources, and global connections to help augment student learning, modernizing traditional classroom methods. Her 23 educator years experience includes teaching kindergarten, first, and fifth grade in self-contained classrooms. While a tech coach, she taught digital citizenship to each TK-5 class.

Leticia dedicates her life to social justice, teaching through an equity lens, and providing intentional and engaging PD while mentoring teachers to share their voices. She is a co-founder of Equity In Action CA and Tech.Teach.Grow, LLC. In addition, Leticia is an ambassador and certified trainer for various digital tools including Nearpod, Wakelet, Seesaw, and Flip. She’s Google Certified and an MIE Expert who shares her expertise with educators at many national and global conferences, in-person and online.

Shaina Glass has been in K-12 education for the last 19 years, educating students and teachers alike. Her goal has always been to share her knowledge and love of learning in new, innovative ways with ALL Learners (young and older).

Shaina uses her voice to advocate for K-12 computer science (CS) and STEM, and serves as an educational consultant for schools and educational systems in her local community, and across the country. Shaina's impact on schools, districts, CS/STEM and educational technology communities are noteworthy. She has developed a strong personal learning network through social media, STEM, computer science and educational technology ecosystems. Shaina attends national, local, and regional conferences, and seeks out new technologies, and educational opportunities.

Shaina holds a Masters degree from Sam Houston State University in the field of Curriculum and Instruction with an emphasis in Instructional Technology. She is a graduate from Morgan State University, receiving a B.A. in Fine Arts.

She is currently the Director of Education with the Computer Science Teachers Association.  Prior to this role, Shaina served as Technology Applications/STEM Program Director, where she worked to expand equitable access to STEM and computer science instruction to all over 65,000 school students. She led, supported, and implemented technology applications and STEM programs, instruction, and events for students PK- 12th grade in Aldine ISD. She also serves as a member of the Texas Computer Science Advocacy Coalition, the past president of CSTA Greater Houston, as well as a writer for the CSTA K-12 CS Standards, and Texas’ K-8 Technology Applications standards.

Sawsan Jaber, a member of OVA's third cohort, just completed her PhD from Concordia University with a focus on inclusion and belonging of students from marginalized communities.  She is a National Board Certificate candidate.  Additionally, Sawsan is a founder of Project Pedagogy Consulting and offers professional development to support schools that lack funding for such initiatives.  She is an educational leader of twenty years with experience in a variety of settings in the US and abroad.  Sawsan offers the experience of being a member of a minority group as a daughter of refugees. 

Ronald A. Madison is an Instructional Technologist and Designer for the Genesee Intermediate School District in Flint, Michigan. He has worked in public education for over 29 years. Before this role, Ronald worked in an elementary for the special educational inclusion classrooms and central office as acting Instructional Technology Coordinator. He is passionate about helping teachers integrate technology from rural to urban environments. As a designer of online courses for educators in Michigan but reaching educators across the country. He enjoys connecting with new groups and people all across the United States face-to-face and virtually. Including working with International Keynote Speaker Kevin Honeycutt. 

He has sat on the Executive Board of Directors as the Treasurer for multiple terms with the Michigan Association for Computer Users in Learning (MACUL). In 2020 Ronald was invited to serve on the Board of Directors for the Michigan High School Esports Federation (MiHSEF). The Regional Educational Media Center (REMC) Association of Michigan has committees for Classroom Maker, Esports, and Divirsity Equity and Inclusion.

Ronald is a co-author of the first #EduMatch Snapshot in Education 2016 with 19 amazing educators from across the globe. 

One of the most impactful professional learning conferences for Ronald was when he was selected from a national group of educators to attend Our Voice Academy (OVA) led by Jennie Magiera, Founder. Our Voice Academy created a partnership with ISTE to provide additional training and guidance around public speaking through the ISTE Community and TED Masterclass program. The goals of Our Voice Academy (OVA) was to elevate the voices of underrepresented educators. 

Jennie Magiera is the Global Head of Education Impact at Google, the Corwin bestselling author of Courageous Edventures and the founder and president of the non-profit organization, Our Voice Alliance, whose mission is to elevate marginalized voices and perspectives to improve equity & empathy in education. She also serves on the board of Saga Education. Previously, she was the Chief Program Officer for an edtech company, the Chief Innovation Officer for the Des Plaines School District the Digital Learning Coordinator for the Academy for Urban School Leadership, and a Chicago Public Schools teacher. Jennie uses her classroom experiences to inform her work supporting educators to create new and better opportunities for their students. She believes that despite the many challenges facing schools today, every classroom can be a place for “edventures”: student-centered, passion-based experiential learning. 

Jennie is also passionate about reimagining professional learning to facilitate more relevant teacher support. She has served on the Technical Working Group for the US Department of Education’s National Educational Technology Plan, helped develop the Dynamic Learning Project, and co-founded various conference concepts such as PLAYDATE and Teachers for Tomorrow. She has been recognized for her work as an Obama White House Champion for Change, Chicago Public Schools Innovator of the Year, TEDx Speaker, Golden Apple Teacher of Distinction, Apple Distinguished Educator, Google for Education Certified Innovator, and featured on various programs such as NBC’s Education Nation, C-SPAN’s Reimagining Education and NPR.

Jennie shares her experiences taking risks in the classroom and helping others to feel comfortable doing the same in her book, Courageous Edventures. You can follow her on Twitter at @MsMagiera and learn more about her work and her book at bit.ly/edventuresbook.

Jennie is a graduate of Phillips Exeter Academy and has earned a BA in psychology and history from Columbia University and a MS from University of Illinois at Chicago in Mathematics Education. 

When not working to improve the world of education, she can be found at her home in Chicago, baking, ice-cream making, and/or dancing with her daughters Lucy and Nora.

Dr. Toutoule Ntoya is an educator dedicated to helping students achieve by 1) working with teachers in professional development and coaching to implement curricula and 2) working with students directly using learning and motivation strategies.  Dr. Ntoya possesses a doctoral degree from University of Southern California in Urban Education Leadership.  He taught physical science, chemistry, physics, and environmental science in diverse, k-12 learning environments.  His interests span from supporting students in and out of school settings.  This is done through mentoring, writing, creating content that uplifts others, and being an advocate for students.  Dr. Ntoya is also committed to supporting all educators so that their voices can be heard in a variety of ways. 

Dr. Sonal Patel is a Program Manager for Digital Learning and Computer Science Education. She facilitates the design, development, and implementation of equitable educational technology and Computer Science programs. Dr.Patel recently completed her doctorate in Leadership for Educational Justice at the University of Redlands, researching the collective impact approach to broadening computer science access, participation, and experience of K- 12 students of color. In her personal realm, Sonal is a wife and proud mom of two children.

Sarah Thomas, PhD is a Regional Technology Coordinator in a large district in Maryland, and the founder of EduMatch, a project that empowers educators to make global connections across common areas of interest.  She has spoken and presented internationally, participated in the Technical Working Group to refresh the 2017 ISTE Standards for Educators, and is a recipient of the 2017 ISTE Making IT Happen award. She is also a national advisor for the Future Ready Instructional Coaches Strand, and an Affiliate Professor at Loyola University in Maryland. Sarah is a co-author of the ISTE Digital equity series, Closing the Gap.