Gayl Porter-Laurel is the Chief Technical Policy Officer of the Second Congressional Commission on Education who is based in the Philippines. She started off her educator journey as an early childhood teacher who genuinely loved teaching, playing, and learning with her students. Her passion for teaching young people led her down new uncharted paths. From curriculum design to policy reform to system-wide educational programs, her impact has expanded well beyond the classroom. She believes that quality education is a fundamental right and a pathway to societal transformation. With her anchor in global citizenship, Gayl emphasizes the need to be genuinely curious and translate awareness into action. Enjoy the conversation! 

Marijke Conklin is an elementary school teacher and instructional coach for the Oakland Unified School District. Her international perspective began in childhood where she spent her formative elementary school years living in Saudi Arabia. With a major change to return to the United States at the age of ten, she had to learn to navigate differences while building her sense of identity. Marijke has spent her career making an impact on young learners with an emphasis on social justice. She instills values of global citizenship in her classroom environment, curriculum, and attitude as a teacher. Enjoy the conversation! 

Benjamin Gulla is an experienced educator whose journey has taken him all over the world to places like South Africa and Colombia. His drive to learn more about the world around him through travel, books, and people speaks to his solid sense of being a global citizen. From designing classroom curricula to reimagining study abroad experiences, he is passionate about bringing students into new learning environments that will challenge them to think and grow about their impact. Benjamin is an educator who seeks to reveal the interconnectedness of our world through his earnest engagement with the humanities. Enjoy what Benjamin has to say about global citizenship!

Lauren Jensen is a High School English teacher with over 20 years of teaching experience. Her journey as a teacher is about deepening her connection and impact with students. She is happiest in the classroom where she engages students to explore their identity and voice through writing. With the help of past mentor figures and current students, she is committed to highlighting the interconnectedness of people and bridging gaps of differences through empathy and curiosity. Lauren embodies the ideal of life long learning and inspires her students to be global citizens through her own actions. Enjoy the conversation! 

Robb Meade is a transition assistance program manager. He spent nearly a decade working in the US Navy. With a diverse skill set and adaptable mindset to try new and challenging things, Robb thrived in chaotic situations. His training came from being a pastry chef, and even extends back to his childhood years spent doing meal prep with his father in the kitchen. Robb has a unique journey of navigating many different job roles and responsibilities. Now, he is well suited to provide guidance and resources to military service members and their families who are transitioning to civilian life. He is a veteran and wants to make a larger impact on fellow veterans in their next chapter of life. Enjoy listening to his views on global citizenship! 

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Lauren Ebersol shares her journey as an educator and mother, detailing her transition from teaching in traditional classrooms to homeschooling her children. She discusses the challenges and joys of parenting, the importance of adaptability in education, and her experiences in a homeschool co-op. Within the homeschool co-op, she served on the Board of Directors and played a pivotal role during the Covid-19 pandemic to maintain the school rhythm for their community. Her determination to offer praise and care for her children and those students in the co-opt have left a deep mark on how teaching and learning should be collaborative. Listen to what Lauren has to say about being a global citizen, or as her children as, a world changer.

Ankitt Agarwal is working on a masters of Learning Design, Innovation and Technology at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. He is originally from India and speaks to his childhood role models who helped him to pursue his education. From growing up in a rural village on the border of India and Nepal, Ankitt has broadened his global perspective by traveling within and outside of his home country to study, work, and learn. His path took him to explore areas as diverse as mathematics, industrial engineering, and business management. Starting from 2020, he pursued a new interest in education by helping students in India with tutoring. In a short period of time, Ankitt has created skill development programs to address the need within India’s education system to foster greater critical thinking skills. Check out Ankitt’s journey of giving back to his country and inspiring new generations of change makers! 

Mandy Krause is a teacher and school leader based out of Lake Forest, Illinois.She reflects on her early global experiences, including studying abroad in Australia and teaching in China, which shaped her perspective on education and global citizenship. Mandy discusses the challenges of balancing her career and personal life, especially when she was a single mother, and emphasizes the importance of embracing opportunities for growth. She also highlights the significance of teaching students to engage with the world around them and the value of leaning into complexity. Enjoy the conversation!

Kedaar Sridhar is currently doing a masters in Learning Design, Innovation and Technology at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. He was born and raised in Oman by immigrant parents from India and attended an international school from kindergarten up until high school. With such diverse influences, he identifies as a Third Culture kid and Global Citizen. Kedaar is passionate about the intersection of technology and educational access. A recent initiative he has taken up is to leverage technology to address math illiteracy within multilingual populations in the US. With a spirit to push the envelope by getting out of his comfort zone, Kedaar is contributing to the ed-tech space with innovative ideas on how to break down barriers and expand access to all learners. Enjoy the conversation!

Xian Hui Ang is currently pursuing her masters in Human Development and Education at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. She was a risk consultant in Malaysia for seven years working to build structures that mitigated crisis situations. However, her early career interests were in teaching. From the initial step of working at a kindergarten, she has maintained a strong desire to support learners to reach their full potential. Her decision to leave the corporate world to return to education reflects her deeper passion of fostering young people. Xian looks to apply socioemotional learning and project-based learning into her future ambitions to create educational structures in Malaysia that will foster global citizens. Enjoy the conversation!