{"id":28157,"date":"2023-05-17T12:02:00","date_gmt":"2023-05-17T16:02:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nearpod.com\/blog\/?p=28157"},"modified":"2025-06-30T14:00:20","modified_gmt":"2025-06-30T18:00:20","slug":"pionear-program-2023","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nearpod.com\/blog\/pionear-program-2023\/","title":{"rendered":"Meet the 2023 Nearpod PioNears"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

As a teacher, you know how valuable it is to have a community of fellow educators to share ideas, experiences, and best practices. That’s why the Nearpod PioNear program<\/a> is such a valuable resource for Nearpod and Flocabulary users who want to take their teaching to the next level with the help of an enthusiastic and knowledgeable community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You don’t have to be a PioNear to benefit from the resources and expertise offered by this community. By following PioNears on social media, attending their Camp Engage<\/a> sessions and conference presentations, and reading their blog posts, you can learn new ways to use Nearpod and Flocabulary to engage your students, differentiate instruction, and bring some magic to the classroom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Learn how to become a PioNear<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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What is the PioNear Program<\/strong>?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The PioNear program embodies these core values:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\ud83e\ude84 Spread the Magic<\/strong>
\ud83d\ude80 Innovate, Collaborate, Elevate<\/strong>
\ud83c\udf1f Lead with Impact, Leave a Mark<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\ud83d\udca1 Always Learning, Always Improving<\/strong>
\ud83c\udf08 Unity in Diversity<\/strong>
\ud83d\udcaa Stronger Together<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

The program is an opportunity for Nearpod and Flocabulary users who are seeking an opportunity to expand their PLN while serving as leaders in the community. It’s more than just a community of educators; it’s also a source of resources for those looking to enhance their teaching and training skills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meet our 2023 Cohort<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

And connect with them on Twitter! (See full PioNear Twitter List here<\/a>)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"\"<\/a>
Alan Rhees<\/strong>
Utah, USA<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a>
Chejuana Martin<\/strong>
Texas, USA<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a>
Dan Thompson<\/strong>
Oklahoma, USA<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a>
Erin Merrill
Virginia, USA<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a>
Gavin Knight
England, UK<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a>
Jennifer Scheffer
New Hampshire, USA<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a>
Kara McFarlin
Illinois, USA<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Lori Perez
New Jersey, USA<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a>
Melissa Muir
Pichincha, Ecuador<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a>
Nicole Good Zawidski
Pennsylvania, USA<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a>
Sonia Apodaca
Texas, USA
<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a>
Theresa Upchurch
Texas, USA<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Arianna Trickey<\/strong>
Virginia, USA<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a>
Blake McCabe<\/strong>
New York, USA<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Dan Thomas<\/strong>
New York, USA<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a>
Elizabeth Dalton
Nevada, US<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a>
Heather Tyler LaBrot
Texas, USA<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a>
Jillian Hatton
New York, USA<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a>
Kaitlyn Powell
Texas, USA<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a>
Larry Davies
Abu Dhabi, UAE<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a>
Melinda Bailey
Louisiana, USA<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a>
Perla Lujan Zurita
Mexico<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a>
Sylvia Huber
Texas, USA
<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Tikera Phillips-Witter
New York, USA
<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Bassem Rahmouni<\/strong>
El Kef, Tunisia<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Christie Thompson<\/strong>
Georgia, USA<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a>
Dominique Janeway
Texas, USA<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a>
Elizabeth Esparza
Texas, USA<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a>
Jen Hall
Georgia, USA<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a>
Katrina Haynes
South Carolina, USA<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a>
Lauren Martinez
Texas, USA<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a>
Maria Mercado
Chihuahua, Mexico<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Mary George
Connecticut, USA<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Patricia Ferris
Illinois, USA<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a>
Sherena Small
Illinois, USA
<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a>
Yara Samir Mohamed
Egypt
@Sherytmtm<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Brian Krause<\/strong>
Illinois, USA<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Daniel Roeder<\/strong>
California, USA<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a>
Dixie Harper
Georgia, USA<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a>
Erica Edwards
South Carolina, USA<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a>
Jenna Cherry
Utah, USA<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a>
Katie Fielding
Virginia, USA<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a>
Leidy Jim\u00e9nez
Mexico City, Mexico<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a>
Malini Nair
Dubai<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a>
Nicole Kadansky
New York, USA<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a>
Sarah Gorman
Wirral, UK<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Tom Langston
Hampshire, UK<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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“PioNears are some of the most passionate and fierce educational advocates out there who stand for technological equity. They believe in the power of accessible, culturally-responsive EdTech and are constantly pushing boundaries, innovating, and inspiring teachers to do the same.”
– Arianna Trickey, Virginia<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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“I was drawn to the PioNear program the first time I attended a Camp Engage. All of the presenters were so excited about Nearpod and Flocabulary, but more importantly, they were so willing to share their successful instructional strategies and best practices.”
-Erica Edwards, South Carolina<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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