Digital organizers generate online activity that powers offline action.
IDEA Digital Organizers: 2011-2012
Adam Burk
Location: Cape Elizabeth, Maine
Adam Burk is dedicated to aligning himself with wisdom, health, and creativity to live well in his place with the local and global community. His professional efforts mirror this—in his current roles as educator, community organizer, event producer, wilderness guide, and digital organizer, and in his past positions as social worker, carpenter, and baker. He enjoys working collaboratively, experimentally, and reflectively with others sincere in their desire to do good. He was recently recognized as one of 40 young leaders in Maine shaping the future of the state. Adam holds a master’s in education from Goddard College and is a graduate of the Institute for Civic Leadership’s intensive program for facilitative leadership. An avid naturalist, Adam lives in Maine with his gorgeous wife, Molly, and their two dogs.
Laura Chytka
Location: Omaha, Nebraska
Laura Chytka is a 7th and 8th grade television broadcasting teacher at Alice Buffett Magnet Middle School in Omaha, Nebraska. She entered her thirteenth year of teaching this fall, and is currently working on her Master's degree in Secondary Education and Instructional Technology. She has presented at several district, state, and national conferences, and when she isn’t spending countless hours on her computer, she enjoys Starbucks coffee, spending time with her family, and figuring out names for her dust bunnies.
Nancy Flanagan
Location: Cedar, Michigan
Nancy Flanagan is a retired teacher, with 31 years as a K-12 Music specialist in the Hartland, Michigan schools. She was named Michigan Teacher of the Year in 1993, and is a National Board Certified Teacher. She served for two years as Teacher in Residence with the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, working on issues of teacher leadership and education reform. Flanagan is co-founder of the Network of Michigan Educators and her blog, Teacher in a Strange Land, is featured on Education Week's Teacher division. She served as Electronic Media Coordinator for the Save Our Schools March, in July, 2011.
Manauvaskar Kublall
Location: Bronx, New York
Manauvaskar Kublall is an award-winning film director, community organizer, educator and visual artist born of Indo-Caribbean heritage. He credits his distinct artistic voice to his immigrant experience and a commitment to presenting stories of underrepresented communities so that they are heard, understood, respected and empowered to transform society. Manauvaskar is the founder and currently the Creative Director at Media Sutra Inc, a strategic consulting and creative services company that support clients to build capacity for impact and sustainability. Manauvaskar is also a facilitator with Power Up Networks, a program of Spirit In Action and a resident teaching artist with City Lore, a unique organization that brings artists into the NYC public school system to work with teachers to implement arts based projects into the classroom.
Megan Nesbeth
Location: Middlebury, Vermont
Megan Nesbeth is a recent graduate of Middlebury College. She entered undergrad wanting to study English and Sociology and discovered a love for education studies along the way. An alum of the Posse Foundation and various other educational programs in the greater New York area she’s now learning how to combine theory and personal experience into positive action for students. She hopes to use her burgeoning communications skills to make noise for the causes she cares about. In her free time, she loves to travel – next up: an All-American road trip or backpacking Central America.
Neola Young
Location: Jackson, Mississippi
Neola Young has been in the education mix since childhood, coming from a family of educators. Neola currently works with Parents for Public Schools - Greater Jackson in Jackson, Mississippi, as the programs coordinator. After spending a couple of years with Young Audiences in Portland, Oregon, Neola returned to Mississippi to work with the founding PPS chapter, engaging teachers and principals in transforming classrooms by integrating arts learning as well as establishing new media in the organization. She has has become increasingly involved in researching and synthesizing education commentary with special attention to public schools and closing the opportunity gap so many children in poverty face. Neola is especially interested in promoting equity in public schools.