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Dr. Gary Wellbrock is an early elementary educator at a dual-language (American Sign Language and English) school in New York City. He teaches deaf, hard-of-hearing and hearing children from diverse backgrounds. He holds a master's degree from Columbia University Teachers College and later became a licensed reading specialist due, in part, to his work with the Hello Friend Foundation. Gary earned his doctoral degree from the Language, Literacy and Learning program at Fordham University.

Kelly Hannon is a life coach and teacher at The Excel Center University Heights, a high school for adults in Indianapolis, Indiana. She is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in urban education at Indiana University—Purdue University Indianapolis. Kelly's interests include critical literacy, social justice and student activism. In her spare time, she loves to go hiking and camping, and is currently attempting to complete the 52 Hike Challenge by the end of 2016.

Jeffrey is a seventh-grade English teacher at West Virginia’s DuPont Middle School. He holds certifications for English and social studies and often blends the two subjects in his classroom. In addition to teaching, he coaches track and field at DuPont; from time to time he uses poetry and history lessons to motivate his team. Webb has had pieces published in Vandalia, Red Mud Review, Pikeville Review and The Charleston Anvil.

Hoyt is the deputy director for Program Management & Operations at Learning for Justice. Before joining LFJ, he taught reading and social studies at a nationally recognized leadership elementary magnet school. He has extensive experience working with a statewide nonprofit designing and facilitating leadership and social justice experiential programming for K-12 students and staff. He enjoys exploring the intersection of equity and inclusion work with his passion for yoga and meditation.

Chris Avery is the director of programs of Steppingstone Scholars in Philadelphia, Penn., which helps underserved students achieve academic success. Formerly an eighth-grade world cultures teacher and director of community and diversity at The Haverford School, he also consults for TURNING STONEchoice, a nonprofit dedicated to helping students make self-empowering choices and publisher of his most recent work, ANGST: Overcoming Freshman Year of High School, a young adult novel. He is also a receipient of the 2014 Teaching Tolerance Award for Excellence in Teaching.

Amanda Ryan Fear has served as an art teacher, leadership teacher, and dean of students at a large, comprehensive high school in the Portland, Oregon area. She is a doctoral candidate in education methodology, policy and leadership at the University of Oregon and works with preservice teachers on community building and equity issues in the classroom. Her professional interests include leadership for equity, student voice and college readiness. She recently became a mother and misses sleep.