TEDx

Sloane Avery Ariana is a 5th grader at Riverfield. The daughter of Jamie Ariana and Lauren Avery and the sister of Ethan Ariana, when not at school she is a competitive gymnast, avid reader, and huge music fan. 

Ellie Crowe is the daughter of Thom Crowe and Christine Sharp-Crowe and is a 5th grader here at Riverfield. Ellie loves animals, especially her three dogs, and can usually be found writing stories, drawing magical worlds, riding her bike, or having adventures with her two golden doodles, Luna and Tilly.

Ellie is excited to share with you her passion for raising butterflies, watching them grow from little caterpillars until they’re fully grown butterflies, then releasing them out into the world. She’ll share her experiences with them and about the importance of creating pollinator spaces. 

Livy Curtis is a 10-year-old student entering fifth grade at Riverfield Country Day School. She loves expressing her creativity and is an avid reader, with the Harry Potter and Percy Jackson series among her favorite books. Outside of school, Livy performs with a performance troupe at Theater Arts in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. She also studies tap, voice, and musical theater and enjoys playing the piano.

Family is at the center of Livy's life. She enjoys spending time with her mom, Amanda, her dad, Joe, her sister, Amelia, and their beloved dog, Waffles. Whether she is learning something new, performing on stage, getting lost in a great book, or making memories with family and friends, Livy approaches each experience with curiosity, creativity, and joy.

Eleanor England is the daughter of Blake England and Holly Vicari. She is a 5th grader at Riverfield Country Day School. Eleanor loves animals. She ha two French Bulldogs (Penny and Pepper) and two cats (Carl and Squeakers). She enjoys horseback riding (on Rose), dancing, and crafts.

Eleanor will be speaking about the care and comfort that stuffed animals can provide. She is excited to share her love for stuffed animals.

Rylea Etris is the granddaughter of Penny Etris. She is a 6th grader at Riverfield Country Day School, and has attended Riverfield since she was four years old. She had 4 dogs including her dog Pumpkin, who also attends Riverfield and spends time in the Upper School Computer lab. She loves spending time with her friends, tumbling, and doing anything creative and artistic. She is always excited to share about her adventures between the pages of a good book. 

For this year’s TEDx event, Rylea is speaking about the Power of Reading. She is excited to share how reading can inform you, help you relate to others,  whisk you off on an adventure away from your troubles, and just maybe, help you see yourself from a new perspective

Millie Helmerich is a 10-year-old 5th Grader at Riverfield Country Day School who has been changing Tulsa, Oklahoma for the better since she moved from Los Angeles at age two. Known for her warmth and kindness, Millie is a friend to everyone she meets. She has played the violin since she was four years old and once sang at Red Rocks Amphitheatre alongside her dad when she was just five. A true horse lover, music enthusiast, and reading ninja, Millie also plays basketball and swims like a fish. Above all, she treasures time with her family — especially her little sister and best friend, Milo. Millie believes that kindness and curiosity can take you anywhere, and she hopes her talk inspires others to lead with compassion, no matter their age.

Jane Howard is the oldest and, occasionally, best-behaved child of Chris and Morgan Howard. She is a 6th grader at Riverfield Country Day School, entering her second year as a Raven. Born in Laredo, Texas, she has lived in New York City, Savannah, Bangladesh, and Alexandria, Virginia. She enjoys wrestling, volleyball, speaking in a British accent, softball, swimming, basketball, Academic Bowl, math, and rolling her eyes at her parents' jokes. 

Connor Jacobs is in the 5th grade at Riverfield and lives in Tulsa with his mom, dad, and dog, whom he loves very much. He is into reading, gaming, and swimming. His favorite restaurant is Szechuan Express, located at 51st and Memorial. He says, "It is the best Chinese food you will ever have. 5/5 stars. Run, don't walk."  

Connor is also kind and funny, as sourced by three friends, even though they all trade insults as symbols of their friendship. 

His first story, Bobby the Blue Chair! was published earlier this year, and his short films were recently released by Riverfield Film Labs. 

Sloane Johnson is the daughter of Jacob and Megan Johnson. She is a 5th grader at Riverfield. She just turned 10 this summer, which makes her uniquely qualified to speak on her chosen topic.

Sloane recently wrapped her fifth production with Theatre Tulsa, Matilda. She is in her second year of hockey, a devoted reader, and an enthusiastic redesigner of rooms. She is also the family's unofficial travel planner. Before a house is even booked, Sloane has studied every photo in the listing, assigned everyone a bed, and decided which room is for which activity.
 

Arthur Osborne is a Kindergartner at Riverfield Country Day School, where he has attended since he was two years old.  Arthur is the son of Christie and John Osborne, and younger brother to Lorelai Osborne.  His passions are Hot Wheels, Mario Kart, playing basketball, and building forts.  

For this year's TEDx talk, Arthur is talking about his experience with hospital visits and surgery, and sharing what he has learned about bravery.

Lorelai Osborne is the daughter of Christie and John Osborne. She is a 5th grader at Riverfield Country Day School and has attended Riverfield since she was two years old. She is the proud owner of two dogs and a LOT of stuffed animals! In her spare time, Lorelai enjoys playing basketball, doing crafts, and playing music.

For this year's TEDx event, Lorelai is speaking about her musical adventure. She is excited to share her experiences and encourage others to explore the world of music.

Paige Peters is the daughter of Meredith and Michael Peters. She is a Riverfield Country Day School senior, who has proudly attended the school for 5 years. After high school, Paige plans to pursue a degree in Biology or Exercise Science on a Pre-Med track, hoping to eventually become an orthopedic surgeon. In her free time, she can be found reading, planning meaningful service endeavors, playing basketball, or enjoying time with her friends. 

For this year’s TEDx event, Paige is speaking about life’s many purposes and how unavoidable adversity can affect one’s ability to pursue one while encouraging excellence through the perseverance it takes to find another. She is excited to share her story and inspire others to redefine their own perception of excellence. 

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Junuh Ridenour is the son of Jeremy and Jessica Ridenour and a senior at Riverfield Country Day School. At sixteen, he founded Ridenour Media Firm, LLC, a media production company that has covered events across Tulsa, including Oktoberfest. An aspiring engineer, Junuh is currently developing a low-noise drone design under the mentorship of a rotorcraft acoustics professor at Oklahoma State University, and he interned at Fab Lab Tulsa supporting design and fabrication programs. Outside of his projects, Junuh serves in National Honor Society, leads his school's News Weekly Club, and was a 2024 Oklahoma 3A state finalist in extemporaneous speaking and policy debate.

For this year's TEDx event, Junuh is speaking about "naive optimism" — the deliberate choice to start before you feel ready. Drawing on the story of building a business with zero clients and pursuing a drone design that an expert's math nearly killed, he makes the case that the most limiting phrase we hear is, "be realistic."

Salem Ronk is a student at Riverfield Country Day School with a passion for creativity, learning, and empowering others. She enjoys building beautiful flower arrangements, exploring artistic projects, and expressing herself through writing. As a dedicated gymnast, she has learned the value of perseverance, confidence, and determination. With English and Language Arts as her favorite subjects, she loves using words to inspire others. In her TED Talk, Salem shares why women's empowerment matters and encourages everyone to recognize the strength, resilience, and potential of women and girls everywhere.
 

Davis Sanders is the son of Jacob and Lauren Sanders. He is in 6th grade at Riverfield Country Day School and has attended Riverfield since he was an infant in the Bird Class.

Davis loves to play basketball, care for his pets, Maggie (English bulldog) and Max (Long-Eared Highland Hop bunny), play video games with friends, and make dinner for his family.

Joli Schroeder is an 8th grader at Riverfield Country Day School. This is her 3rd year at Riverfield. She loves doing crafts, such as creating mini book nooks, building with Legos, and doing puzzles. She also has a desire to do good for others and has a huge heart for animals. This year, Joli is turning her love for animals toward environmental conservation. For her presentation, she will explore the impact that trash and litter have on the animal population and pitch a simple solution for trash trucks to help protect wildlife.

Nessa is in sixth grade. She likes to play with her doggies, ride her bike, and be with friends.

Nessa wants to explore how to create cultural change between young people and the adults in their lives. Nessa is excited to be heard and share her ideas about cultural and social change.

Elina Uddin is a curious and creative middle schooler, speaker, and a lifelong learner who wants to help others see the world in new ways. Whether through school days, or long conversations, she enjoys exploring new interests and discovering opportunities hidden in everyday moments. Her favorite hobbies are dancing, basketball, and playing the piano. 

 Elina believes that life's greatest adventures start with the smallest sparks. Through her TEDx talk, she hopes to inspire others to say "yes" to curiosity, embrace the unexpected, and how one small step can lead to extraordinary journeys. 

Connect: Website, Instagram, Operation Period

Manju Bangalore is a reproductive health scientist,  astronaut-in-training, and social impact leader advancing menstrual justice through science, policy, and culture. Her work sits at the intersection of STEAM education, bodily autonomy, and systems-level change, with a focus on expanding whose knowledge, and whose bodies, are taken seriously in both science and society.

She is the founder of Operation Period, a nationally recognized, Gen Z-led nonprofit fighting for menstrual freedom. Since launching the organization in 2015, Manju has led efforts to distribute more than 300,000 menstrual products, establish the Youth Institute for Menstrual Freedom, and train the next generation of menstrual justice leaders across the United States. Her approach centers communities too often excluded from mainstream health and policy conversations, including trans menstruators, incarcerated individuals, and low-income communities, while advancing durable policy and cultural change.

Manju’s advocacy is grounded in scientific expertise. She holds a B.S. in Physics and Mathematics from the University of Oregon and an M.S. in Astronautical Engineering from the University of Southern California. She has worked at NASA’s Marshall and Johnson Space Centers on propulsion systems and spacecraft interfaces and previously served in the Obama White House on science policy.

She is currently training for a pioneering research spaceflight (Operation Period-01) focused on studying menstruation in microgravity, work that aims to close a critical knowledge gap in human spaceflight and redefine how health research is conducted beyond Earth. Through this research, Manju is contributing to a broader reimagining of who science is built for, and what questions are considered worthy of investigation.

Beyond research and advocacy, Manju is an actor and cultural communicator who uses storytelling to translate complex ideas for wide audiences. She has appeared in national commercials, television series, and major cultural productions, including Beyoncé’s Brown Skin Girl. In 2022, she was selected as a Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Model, using the platform to challenge stigma around menstruation and bodily autonomy.

Manju is also the author of the children’s book You Can Be All The Things You Want To Be, which she has shared with thousands of students nationwide as part of her commitment to early STEAM exposure and confidence-building for young people.

A sought-after speaker, she has delivered talks and keynotes at organizations including Formula E, Microsoft, SpaceX, and Mensa, engaging audiences on the future of science, equity, and leadership. Across all of her work, Manju is known for bridging rigor and relatability, showing how scientific innovation, dignity, and imagination can coexist.

Nate Roy is a Team USA Bobsled brakeman, medical student at Weill Cornell, and founder of Cortex Flex, a neuroscience-informed performance training company for adolescent athletes. He is also the founder of CAPSuLe, a nonprofit dedicated to serving as an intermediary between scientists who study youth development and parents, coaches, and educators who drive it. As a former Division I football player, Nate first became interested in the brain through its role in athletic performance. It was during his research at Cornell, Harvard, and McGill that he found his deeper passion: understanding the brain as a lever for improving performance across all of life. Now preparing for a career in adolescent psychiatry, his work centers on a single question: How do we embed resilience amplifiers into the pursuits young people already love? 

Ben duPont co-founded Chartline Capital Partners, a leading venture capital firm investing in emerging B2B companies. Prior to that, he co-founded Yet2.com, the first open innovation platform, with offices in London, Tokyo, and Boston.

In 2024, Ben teamed up with his friend Rohit Bhargava, and together, they studied Olympians, explorers, entrepreneurs, and achievers who have found non-obvious solutions and achieved great things. They turned their findings into the award-winning book, Non-Obvious Thinking: How to See What Others Miss, the topic of his presentation.

Ben has a 1986 BSME from Tufts University. He is a licensed pilot, a ham radio operator, and an avid sailor. He lives with his wife, Laura, and their two children in Wilmington, Delaware.

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Brooke Baker is a school librarian and advocate for digital literacy. Based in Indianapolis, she is the librarian at Belzer Middle School and the Media Center Regional Specialist for Secondary Schools for MSD Lawrence Township. Brooke is committed to equipping schools with the tools and policies needed to navigate emerging technologies responsibly.

She holds expertise in media literacy, makerspaces, AI education, and embedding digital literacy, inquiry, and critical thinking into curriculum. Her work focuses on helping schools create equitable, future-ready learning environments that balance innovation with student safety and integrate critical thinking, academic integrity, and digital wellness into the school culture.

Jerry Bates is an educational leader with more than 35 years of experience spanning independent schools, higher education, and educational consulting. Since becoming Head of School at Riverfield Country Day School in Tulsa, Oklahoma, he has guided the school's strategic growth through transformative initiatives in enrollment, fundraising, campus development, and innovative teaching and learning.

A passionate advocate for inquiry-driven education, Jerry has become a respected voice in the Reggio Emilia approach and the future of learning. He has presented regionally, nationally, and internationally on topics including educational leadership, professional development, creativity, continuity in learning, and the Reggio Emilia philosophy. He has also led numerous professional learning experiences, including educator study tours to Reggio Emilia, Italy, and continues to consult with schools and organizations across the country.

Jerry has contributed to published articles and book chapters and is co-author of a book exploring environments, materials, and inquiry as provocations for learning. His 2025 TEDx Talk, The Importance of a Shared Vision, reflects his belief that schools thrive when communities work together around a common purpose. He has served on the Standards and Finance Committees for the Independent Schools Association of the Southwest (ISAS), regularly chairs and supports accreditation teams, and remains active in civic leadership through Rotary.

Jerry earned a Master of Education from the University of Oklahoma and completed doctoral coursework in Educational Leadership and Curriculum Supervision. He is currently writing his dissertation. He lives in Tulsa with his wife, Amy. Together they have three children, all proud Riverfield graduates. Outside of school, Jerry enjoys boating, water sports, ice hockey, golf, and spending time with his family.

Michael "Blake" Bovasso is a middle school Humanities teacher at Riverfield Country Day School in Tulsa, Oklahoma. After attending NYU Tisch and beginning his career in the film industry, he found his way into education and discovered a deeper sense of purpose in helping young people grow as thinkers, problem-solvers, and human beings. He recently completed his Master of Education in Instructional Leadership through Northeastern State University and has dedicated his career to creating meaningful learning experiences that help students find confidence, purpose, and belonging.

Blake's work focuses on supporting students who struggle within traditional educational systems, helping them build trust, develop self-awareness, and recognize their own potential. In addition to teaching Humanities, he takes great pride in teaching English, leading a Creative Writing elective, assisting with Film Camp, and running Dungeons & Dragons clubs and summer camps. Through storytelling, project-based learning, and collaborative experiences, he strives to create environments where students feel valued, challenged, and empowered to grow.

Outside the classroom, Blake recently married his incredible wife, Arie, whose support and partnership continue to inspire both his personal and professional journey. As both an educator and lifelong learner, he believes that lasting change rarely begins with content or curriculum; it begins with relationships. Through his teaching, writing, and speaking, he advocates for a more human-centered approach to education that recognizes the potential in every student and the transformative power of genuine connection.

Pamela Jean Brady is a High Performance Coach, Business Coach, Life Coach, and Portrait Photographer with thirty-eight years of business ownership and over a decade of coaching experience. She trains new coaches and serves coaching clients within two of the most influential personal development brands in history, and has the honor of working alongside some of the most influential leaders in the personal development world.

A two-time TEDx speaker and author of Why Not Me? The Question That Changes Everything, Pamela has built a career and a movement around one transformative belief: that every person carries a God-given calling that is waiting not to be discovered but to be activated. Her message sits at the intersection of faith, personal development, and the AI revolution — a combination that is both uniquely timely and profoundly human.
Pamela’s approach is grounded in thirty-eight years of real-world business experience, delivered with the warmth, directness, and authority of someone who has lived every word she teaches.

Amanda Curtis is a dedicated leader in the waste and recycling industry with 17 years of experience, including the past 15 years with American Waste Control. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Organizational Leadership and has built a career focused on operational excellence, leadership development, environmental responsibility, and advancing opportunities for women in the industry.

Passionate about recycling and doing the right thing for both people and the environment, Amanda has dedicated her career to educating businesses, municipalities, and community members about sustainable practices, recycling, and proper waste disposal. She believes that education and awareness are key to creating cleaner, safer, and more sustainable communities.

Amanda currently serves as Vice President of the National Waste & Recycling Association (NWRA) Women’s Council and has previously held leadership roles as Fundraiser Chair and Professional Development Chair. She also serves as Chair of the Oklahoma Chapter NWRA Board of Governors, where she works to support industry growth, advocacy, and professional engagement throughout the state.

Beyond her industry leadership, Amanda is deeply committed to serving her community. She is a graduate of Leadership Broken Arrow, a member of the Salvation Army Women’s Auxiliary, and serves on the Board of Directors for the Tulsa Christmas Parade. Throughout her career and volunteer work, she has remained passionate about giving back, helping others, and creating opportunities for individuals and organizations to thrive.

Amanda is married to her husband, Joe, and together they have two daughters, Alivia and Amelia. Whether leading within the waste and recycling industry or volunteering in her community, Amanda is driven by a genuine desire to make a positive impact, serve others, and leave her community better than she found it.

Dr. Kat Gardner-Vandy is an Associate Professor of Aviation and Space at Oklahoma State University. She is a geologist, planetary scientist, and private pilot who studies the formation of the solar system, student pilot training, and aerospace workforce development. As a citizen of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, she actively works with Native Nations to build earth-sky STEM curriculum for the K-12 classroom. Kat is a daughter, sister, cousin, friend, wife, and mother. She enjoys spending time with her husband and four children and their animals (two dogs and a horse). While she proudly identifies as many things, she has never once labeled herself an athlete.

Dr. Laura Garrett serves as an Associate Professor of Psychology at Tulsa Community College and serves as a Community Educator for the Alzheimer’s Association. She also serves as an Alzheimer’s advocate on the state and national level. She is an adjunct professor for the University of Central Oklahoma. Dr. Laura has Doctorate of Education in Family Studies and Child Development from Oklahoma State University with a Graduate Certificate in Gerontology. She holds a Master of Human Relations from the University of Oklahoma and a Bachelors in Consumer Affairs with a Secondary Major in Gerontology from Kansas State University. She is currently serving as the District Governor for Rotary International District 6110.  She has two children: Sarah is an orchard researcher in Ravensburg, Germany, and her son Rob is a graduate student at Fordham Law School.

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A veteran teacher with a wide range of classroom experience, Chris Holmes currently serves as a gifted education specialist, grades 8-12. A better description would be Humanities teacher, having also taught journalism, literature, government, history, psychology, and creative writing. His work includes giftedness, twice-exceptionality, autism spectrum disorder, learning disabilities, and dropout prevention. Most recently, it also includes a version of homeschooling, which applies a holistic approach to adolescent development for neurodivergent children. One of these "road schooling" journeys, this past July and August, is being captured in a documentary film scheduled for release in 2028. Chris is the 2015 Missouri Teacher of the Year, and the 2009 Missouri Governor's Council on Disability Educator of the Year. 

Hayden Hradek is a student at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, studying International & Public Affairs and Social Analysis & Research. Raised in the Ozarks of southwest Missouri, he is driven by a question that sits at the center of much of his work: why do people lose trust in institutions, and what does it take to rebuild it?

His interests lie at the intersection of civic trust, democratic governance, social cohesion, and the law. At Brown, he works with the Community Dialogue Project, where he facilitates conversations across differences as a Certified Reflective Structured Dialogue Facilitator and Dignity Index Trainer. Across his academic, professional, and community work, he is particularly interested in how institutions—from neighborhood organizations to courts and legislatures—can maintain legitimacy in an era of growing polarization and public skepticism.

Hayden holds a Chancellor's Certificate in Neighborhood Leadership from the University of Missouri–St. Louis and was recognized as Missouri's Most Engaged Neighbor in 2024. He is the founder of the Republic Youth Sports Equipment Library, a community initiative designed to expand access to youth athletics. He has worked on political campaigns, volunteered with the American Legion Missouri Boys State, and interned within the federal judiciary, experiences that have allowed him to engage directly with institutions at the local, political, and legal levels.

Rather than approaching questions of trust and civic connection from a single discipline, Hayden studies them through practice. His work spans community development, civic dialogue, electoral politics, and the justice system, all in pursuit of a better understanding of how institutions earn, maintain, and repair public confidence.

Connect: IMDb, Instagram

Tulsa native Olivia Jordan is an actress, television host, acting coach, and former Miss USA. Since winning the Miss USA title in 2015, she has built a career spanning film, television, fashion, and advocacy. Her acting credits include leading roles in Lifetime films and appearances on NCIS: Hawaiʻi, Hawaii Five-0, Murder in the First, and Rescue: HI-Surf. She was also featured in Sports Illustrated Swimsuit and has walked in New York and Miami Fashion Weeks.

Passionate about service and mentorship, Olivia has hosted fundraising events that have raised millions of dollars for charitable causes, advocated on Capitol Hill, and currently serves on the board of the Oklahoma Motion Picture Alliance. She also works as an acting coach and mentor at Cody Mayo Studios. Above all, Olivia is a proud mom who is dedicated to helping others step into their fullest potential both on and off the stage.

Jennifer Kesselring is known for helping schools move from asking, "How do we improve education?" to asking, "What kind of education does today's world actually require?" An educator, pedagogical leader, international speaker, and educational innovator, Jennifer has spent more than 34 years challenging conventional thinking about teaching and learning. For the past 28 years, she has served at Riverfield Country Day School in Tulsa, Oklahoma, an independent school serving children from eight weeks through twelfth grade, where she currently serves as Head of Strategic Innovation and Learning.

Throughout her career at Riverfield, Jennifer has served as a classroom teacher, studio teacher, pedagogical coordinator, and Division Head. Her work centers on designing learning experiences that cultivate curiosity, agency, creativity, and deep intellectual engagement while preparing young people for a world being reshaped by artificial intelligence, globalization, and unprecedented change.

Known for asking provocative questions rather than offering easy answers, Jennifer partners with schools and organizations across the United States and around the world to rethink pedagogy, curriculum, learning materials and environments, assessment, systems, and the very image of the child, student and teacher. She believes great schools do more than transmit knowledge - they cultivate thinkers, designers, collaborators, citizens, and leaders capable of shaping the future.

Jennifer has authored numerous articles, contributed chapters to multiple books, and most recently, co-authored Curated Moments, a book exploring how environments, materials, and inquiry can become powerful provocations for learning. Jennifer is a member of a design collaborative with Guidecraft, where she contributes to the ideas and development of educational products. She designs and facilitates professional learning experiences, consults with schools and districts, and presents nationally and internationally on innovation, inquiry, courageous pedagogy, and educational transformation. Among her international engagements, she was honored to present at the renowned 0–99 Education Conference in Reggio Emilia, Italy.

Beyond Riverfield, Jennifer serves as an instructor in the Innovative Teacher Education graduate program at the University of Colorado Denver. She has also served on the boards and advisory committees of the North American Reggio Emilia Alliance, On Design, the Early Childhood Association of Oklahoma, Tulsa Community College Advisory, the International Infant Toddler Conference, and the National Association for Gifted Children.

Jennifer is currently completing her doctorate in Educational Leadership and Curriculum & Instruction, where her research explores courageous pedagogy, intelligent learning environments, and innovative school design that prepares young people to thrive in an ever evolving world.

Rather than helping schools do what they have always done a little better, Jennifer challenges educators to imagine, design, and build what comes next.

Jill Krefft is the R.M. & Ida Dean of Libraries at the University of Tulsa, where she brings a deep commitment to advancing research, access, and community engagement through innovative library services. With a background in digital archives, scholarly communication, data literacy, and library systems, she has led initiatives that support student success, creative services, and preserve unique collections. 

Connect: Rooted Leadership

Melissa McGillen spent 25 years building a successful executive career with Williams before launching Rooted Leadership Consulting to pursue her passion for developing people and leaders.  She also partners with Schnake Turnbo Frank as an associate and coach, helping leaders grow their impact while creating stronger, healthier organizations.  As an executive, she led across engineering, operations, commercial, and enterprise functions, gaining firsthand experience navigating complexity, transformation, and growth.  Today, Melissa combines that executive perspective with a passion for helping others discover their potential.  

Affectionately known as a “Gardener of People”, Melissa believes that leadership development begins with understanding who you are at your core.  Her Rooted Leadership framework helps individuals identify their values, leverage their strengths, and cultivate meaningful growth in their careers and their lives.  

Melissa holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from Oklahoma State University and is a certified Hogan Assessments practitioner. Her leadership extends beyond the workplace through long-standing service with organizations like Breakthrough T1D and Goodwill Industries of Tulsa, dedicated to Type 1 diabetes research and advocacy, workforce development, and community impact. Through her work, Melissa inspires others to honor their roots, embrace growth, and reach confidently toward what comes next.   

Connect: tulsastem.org

Dr. Emily Mortimer is an educator, researcher, and STEM ecosystem leader dedicated to helping young people discover and pursue pathways that connect their passions to future opportunities. As Vice President of Ecosystems at Tulsa Regional STEM Alliance, she works at the intersection of education, workforce development, and community partnerships to expand access to high-quality STEM learning experiences across Oklahoma.

With a Ph.D. in Curriculum Studies and more than two decades of experience in education and nonprofit leadership, Emily has led initiatives that bring together schools, industry, community organizations, and families to support student success. She is the architect of MOMENTUM, a statewide digital badging initiative designed to make learning visible and help students document the skills they develop both inside and outside the classroom.

Through her work, Emily advocates for a future where every student can recognize their own potential and become the author of their own story.

Katie Musick is the Head of Lower School at Riverfield Country Day School in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where she has served for more than two decades as both an educational leader and classroom teacher. With over 30 years of experience spanning early childhood education, elementary teaching, school leadership, and educator development, Katie is dedicated to creating joyful, inquiry-driven learning environments where curiosity, creativity, and meaningful relationships inspire children to thrive.

Throughout her career, Katie has championed constructivist and inquiry-based education, mentoring teachers, designing innovative curriculum, leading strategic initiatives, and cultivating a school culture that empowers both students and educators to become lifelong learners and thoughtful problem solvers. Prior to joining Riverfield, she served as a teacher trainer for Early Head Start, a program director in California, and a Head Start teacher and curriculum coordinator in Arizona, experiences that continue to inform her deep commitment to whole-child development and educational excellence.

Katie holds a Master of Education from the University of Oklahoma and a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education from Oklahoma State University. She is an active contributor to the broader educational community through leadership and service with organizations including the Independent Schools Association of the Southwest (ISAS), the ORU College of Education Community Task Force, and Discovery Lab's Education Advisory Committee.

A frequent presenter at national conferences, Katie has shared her expertise through the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), the Association of Constructivist Teachers, and the National Science Teaching Association (NSTA). She has also participated in professional study tours in Reggio Emilia, Italy.

Connect: City of West Allis, Missouri Girls State

My professional career is in environmental, health, and safety within manufacturing, where I lead regulatory compliance efforts, conduct adult education, and serve as an incident commander during emergencies.

My true passion is public service.  That passion began as a high school junior attending ALA Missouri Girls State and has continued for more than 20 years on staff, including a decade as an instructor and political advisor. Through that experience, I developed a deep appreciation for civic engagement, leadership, and the impact of local government.

Today I have the privilege of serving as an elected alderwoman, where I focus on community engagement, transparency, and helping residents better understand the decisions that affect their daily lives.

Across both my professional and public service roles, my work centers on the same core principle: showing up with clarity, compassion, and a willingness to lead—especially in moments that matter most.

Outside of work, I’m a community organizer and a proud pet mom to a dog and a cat. I’m also on a never-ending quest to perfect my chocolate chip cookie recipe and enjoy creating quilts for friends and family.

Thomas was born and raised in a small college town in Tennessee with a strong appreciation for the liberal arts and the place of mathematics among them, as an essential and quintessentially human pursuit and source of perspective. He decided on Philosophy as an undergraduate major at Davidson College, before spending his early career teaching mathematics in American schools overseas, including in Costa Rica, China, Malta and finally Slovakia, where he met his future wife, Andrea. After a stop in Nashville, where Thomas completed his Masters in Education at Vanderbilt's Peabody School, they returned to Slovakia where their daughter Lily was born. The Priestleys moved to Tulsa in 2023, drawn by the educational philosophy of Riverfield Country Day School, where Lily now attends third grade and Thomas teaches in the upper school.

Connect: alz.org

Neha Reddy is a student, advocate, and researcher who uses science to create action from the patterns people miss. As a rising senior in high school, she conducted independent research analyzing inequalities in NIH funding for Alzheimer's disease, revealing how where you live can determine the care your area receives. Her work is grounded in her hours spent as a hospice volunteer and Alzheimer's advocate, sitting with both patients and legislators to enact new policies. She has also explored the cultural and emotional stigma caregivers experience, and has plans to soon publish her research which amplifies these marginalized voices. Shown through her experiences, Neha believes that young people don't have to wait to grow up to drive change.

Lindsay Smolko is a K-5 STEAM teacher and elected city council member in Puyallup, Washington, where she brings the same hands-on, curiosity-driven approach to both the classroom and the council chamber. Known for making complex ideas accessible — whether through circuits, maker projects, or municipal policy — she champions equity-centered, evidence-based thinking at every level of community life. In 2023, she filed for city council on the last day of the filing period, ran a scrappy, small-budget campaign, and won decisively, proving that civic participation doesn't require a political machine — just a willingness to show up. A passionate advocate for progressive, data-driven governance and STEAM education, she believes the tools that empower kids to build things also empower communities to change things.

I am an Early Childhood Educator at Riverfield Country Day School in Tulsa, Oklahoma, working in a Reggio-inspired environment that values curiosity, collaboration, and exploration. I grew up in Houston, Texas, and later moved to Stillwater to attend Oklahoma State University, where I earned my B.A. in Psychology while working in children’s programs supporting international student families in toddler and after-school settings. These experiences shaped my interest in how young children learn through relationships, play, and experimentation. My work explores what these early learning experiences reveal about human development and how they challenge the way we think about excellence, growth, and education.

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