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Alex Hirbe

LMS Integrations Manager, 10 years in education

"I have always been a more reserved teacher that stayed near the safety of my desk. Teaching Gaming Concepts helped me to step out of my comfort zone and allowed me to connect with the students in a very engaging way."

  • 10 years in education

  • 6-12 grade

  • Intro to Industrial Technology

  • Computer Applications

  • Video Broadcasting

  • Intro to Cinema

  • Blender Animation

  • Intro to Technology 

  • 3D Design in Blender

  • Unity Game Design

  • Intro to Woodshop

  • Mass Production

  • District Technology Integration Specialist

Alex Hirbe
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Alexander Earley

Scholastic Account Executive

"I want to help kids like me find their WHY. I think having an esports program at every school would benefit so many kids on the outside, like myself, and give them the tools that they need to be successful."

  • Lifelong Gamer

  • Founded an esports non profit organization and served as a board member, secretary and treasurer

  • Expanded an esports LMS from Sweden into US markets

  • Currently working to help schools across the country build esports programs

When I was in high school I was an outsider. I tried to fit in with traditional sports and for the first two years, I never made a team. I spent a lot of time alone gaming after school while my friends all competed in their various sports. It wasn’t until my junior year that I joined our crew team and found my self confidence. I am doing this because I want to help kids like me find their WHY. I think having an esports program at every school would benefit so many kids on the outside, like myself, and give them the tools that they need to be successful.

Alexander Earley
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Andrew Lombardo

Scholastic Account Executive, 21 years in education

"I love seeing students’ lives transformed and improved by what they learn and experience from Generation Esports resources."

  • 6 years teaching, 7-12 Social Studies

  • 9 years Early Childhood/Preschool Administrator

  • Family and Teen Counselor

  • Pastor

  • Life Coach

  • International Teacher in China

  • School Board Member

  • Character Education Task Force

Andrew Lombardo
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Barry DeSain

Ambassador

"Bringing esports to our region in NYS is a passion of mine. I am so happy and proud to be able to support the amazing work that GenE is doing to support the youth of America."

  • Barry DeSain  is supporting educational technology integration by utilizing fourteen years of teaching and coaching experience to engage beyond the classroom to create immersive experiences for varied audiences. 

Barry DeSain
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Bubba Gaeddert

Gaming Concepts Writer & Executive Director of VEF, 11 years in education

"I am passionate about education and supporting students on their academic journey. I love seeing students earn scholarships for competing in esports, as it reflects their hard work and dedication. It's truly gratifying to see them succeed in something they are passionate about."

  • 11 years in education

  • Higher education adjunct professor in sports, coaching, and officiating

  • Online course educator specializing in esports and sports officiating

  • Executive Director, Varsity Esports Foundation

  • Professional broadcaster, host, consultant, entrepreneur, and content creator

  • Founder Jolumi Media

Bubba Gaeddert
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Chris Shima

Scholastic Account Executive, 18 years in education

Chris wants to equip educators who want to make a memorable difference in new, fun, and unconventional ways with their students through esports.

  • 18 years in education

  • 1st grade teacher for eight years

  • CTE Credentialed

  • Information Technology

  • Audio/Video/Film Technology

  • Visual and Design Arts

  • Performing Arts

  • Journalism and Broadcasting

  • Dance Teacher over 25 years

  • Theater director and choreographer over 20 years

  • Ukulele Teacher over 20 years

​

Chris's goals at Generation Esports:

  • To work alongside like-minded people wanting to achieve the same goal 

  • To use all of my life experience and skills towards something I could shape and promote that I thought was cool and that others would also think was cool 

  • To help create an experience at schools that I wish I had when I was a teen

  • To serve and support students, educators, and my co-workers

Chris Shima
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David Stone

Service Agent and Tournament Coordinator

​"In esports, I found my community AND my competitive spirit. I’m so thankful for the privilege I had in school where I was able to explore my musical passion, and I want to play a role providing that same opportunity to the students now, tomorrow, and forever. I want to give students a reason to come to school, just like I had."

  • Former Rocket League tournament coordinator for Kansas City Esports

  • Organized Smash Ultimate tournaments

  • Hours upon hours of time spent playing/studying/watching top tier esports such as Rocket League, Valorant, Overwatch, etc

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Growing up as an only child of divorced parents, gaming became a true solace for me to explore worlds and inspire my imagination. I grew up playing sports like basketball, soccer, baseball, and lacrosse because I love competing, but found that I never truly fit in with my teammates. Switching tracks to music and the arts helped me find my community and home. These are things generally –and unfortunately– seen as “non essential” or at the very least “lesser than” your typical general education course. Yet, for so many including myself, these “extracurriculars” are what keep them coming to school every day. 

I never lost my passion for competition, and rediscovered esports when the pandemic hit. My fiance (now wife) and I were living in central New York, isolated from all of our friends, and the only method of true communication and connection we had with them was through gaming. Sessions of Overwatch, Rocket League, Call of Duty, you name it! This was when my epiphany hit: In esports, I found my community AND my competitive spirit. I’m so thankful for the privilege I had in school where I was able to explore my musical passion, and I want to play a role providing that same opportunity to the students now, tomorrow, and forever. I want to give students a reason to come to school, just like I had.

David Stone
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Dr. Kristen Craft

Scholastic Account Executive, 27 years in education

"I love seeing students thrive when odds are against them. Celebrating the numerous successes of students in the arts, activities and athletics, cheering teachers' growth and accomplishments as they work magic every day in the classroom knowing the hard work it takes to make it all look effortless, and being a mentor to so many exceptional leaders in education and seeing them flourish fills my cup!"

  • 27 years in education

  • Social Studies

  • High School Administrator

  • Middle School Administrator

  • District Level Administrator

  • Kansas Principal of the Year

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Dr. Kristy Custer

President Educational Innovation, Gaming Concepts Author, 24 years in education

Kristy has spent 20 years in alternative education for at-risk students turning their dislike for school into a love of learning. She believes that if you meet students where they are at, they will lead you where they need to go.

  • 24 years in education

  • 6-12 English teacher

  • Creative Writing

  • Drivers Education

  • Family & Consumer Science

  • Speech/Theater

  • 6-12 Journalism

  • High School Administrator

  • Kansas Principal of the Year

Kristy Custer
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Dr. Michael Russell

President Esports Education and Esports Integration, 6 years in education

"I grew up gaming, and credit gaming with saving my life, particularly as I navigated my middle school and early high school years. During my six years teaching at Complete High School we wrote 40 grants, built an amazing esports lab, participated in local and national competitions, and wrote a course titled Gaming Concepts. I would say my “why” has evolved from 'I am going to prove to people that gaming and the skills learned while gaming are beneficial,' to 'How can I help more students utilize the skills they learn from gaming to positively impact their career, college, and personal goals?'"

  • 6 years in education

  • Gaming Concepts

  • History

  • Social Studies

  • Business

  • Kansas Horizon Award Winner

  • Mid-American Computer Educator of the Year

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Heidi Albin

Gaming Concepts Writer, 14 years in education

"There is an art to motivating students, and it begins with discovering their interests. All students have the capacity to be motivated and the use of Gaming Concepts in the classroom is the key to unlocking effort and performance in an entire cohort of students whose interests and skills have been largely underutilized in schools...until now."

  • 14 years in education

  • 7-12 Science

  • Biology

  • Chemistry

  • Earth Science

  • Space Science

  • Physical Science

  • Agriculture

  • Health

  • Career Education

  • Character Education

  • Master Angler with Fishing's Future

  • Milken Educator

  • Presidential Award for Excellence In Mathematics and Science Teaching

Heidi Albin
Michael Russell
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James Rand

Generation Esports Ambassador

"Gaming Concepts has provided students with compelling opportunities in both STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) and 21st century skills that have transformed the way students look at school.  Using the lens of gaming, many students have now found their place in scholastic esports, and have developed a sense of community in a school environment.  It’s been amazing to watch students who previously had little interaction with peers join in a friendly game in class, building lasting relationships and a sense of belonging, all while giving students a window into the skillsets and opportunities that esports and related career paths provide.  Using esports as a teaching tool, the computer skills required for college and career become embedded in the excitement of gaming, where learning intersects with fun.  With high demand for these prebuilt courses, we hope to continue expanding our scholastic esports program with Generation Esports and Gaming Concepts."

Jim Rand is a veteran educator with 18 years of experience in the classroom, and five seasons coaching esports at Griswold Public Schools in Griswold, Ct.  He was one of the designers of the Nexus lab at Griswold High School, and has implemented credit-bearing scholastic esports classes into the district’s course offerings.  Jim is currently working on the expansion of Griswold’s program, including instruction on streaming, shoutcasting, cybersecurity, and 3D modeling.  He has spoken at numerous regional conferences, advocating for esports in education, and has assisted districts implementing their own scholastic esports programs.

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John Morais

Platform Service Agent

"People I grew up with did not have opportunities for growth in gaming nor a pathway to take this hobby that we all loved and make something out of it to better ourselves and our lives. I wanted to give that opportunity to today’s students in any way possible, with Generation Esports being the most logical choice to impact as many students as I could."

  • Managed LAN tournaments in Houston, TX

  • Avid gamer since childhood with over 5000 hours in both Rocket League and Rainbow 6 Siege

  • Top 25 sales in the nation for Microsoft gaming (Xbox and PC)

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When I was in high school and even college, esports did not really exist on a widespread basis. Where it was present, it seemed like it was only for people such as professional gamers from places nowhere near where my friends and I lived. People I grew up with did not have opportunities for growth in gaming nor a pathway to take this hobby that we all loved and make something out of it to better ourselves and our lives. I wanted to give that opportunity to today’s students in any way possible, with Generation Esports being the most logical choice to impact as many students as I could.

John Morais
Jordan Mask
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Jordan Mask

Account & Finance Manager, 5 years in education

"Competition on Generation Esports and the Gaming Concepts classes create the perfect package. This isn't just something I wish I had in school when I was a kid, but a way we can impact mental health at a systemic level. To me, Gaming Concepts is not something I want kids to have, it's something they need to have!"

  • 5 years in education

  • Preschool teacher

​

Prior to joining Generation Esports, I worked in Education and Mental Health. I saw the issues teenagers are going through first-hand. After several years on the front line of the mental health crisis, I was burned out. I wanted to try and find something that combined my passion for video games with my desire to make a real and lasting change in the way we teach our kids. Competition on Generation Esports and the Gaming Concepts classes create the perfect package. This isn't just something I wish I had in school when I was a kid, but a way we can impact mental health at a systemic level. To me, Gaming Concepts is not something I want kids to have, it's something they need to have!

Joshua Michaels
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Joshua Michaels

Platform Service Agent

"I grew up playing video games. In my time with Generation Esports, I’ve seen how powerful the effects of scholastic gaming can be, especially to young people. To be able to work with teachers and students directly is truly amazing! "

​​"I have a passion for what we provide to the esports community and the stories and relationships I have made with our educators will stay with me for the rest of my life. I love being a part of this team and couldn’t imagine doing anything else."

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Joshua Tabor

Generation Esports Ambassador

"What brought us to Gaming Concepts was the education first approach. Many of the companies that approached us talked about esports competition and educating our students was an afterthought. Gaming Concepts is the exact opposite, which is how it should be. They are teachers first and their curriculum is student and educator focused. If your program is interested in competition, they can help, but it is not something they have ever pushed. All my dealings have been positive and I always walk away knowing they want what is best for students."

Dr. Joshua Tabor is a digital learning specialist and district esports lead in the Denton Independent School District in Denton, Texas. He has been in education for over 22 years, and, prior to his current role, taught social studies and coached volleyball and softball. His research fields include effective online learning, AI in the classroom, and gamification. He is also an adjunct professor at the University of North Texas in the Department of Learning Technologies. Joshua lives in McKinney, Texas, with his wife, Amanda, their son, Braxton, and their four furry children.

Joshua Tabor
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Julie Mavrogeorge

Generation Esports Ambassador

Why do you think teachers like teaching the Gaming Concepts curriculum?

 

Engaging students in the classroom is difficult post-pandemic. We've had to implement policies and procedures to pull students away from their phones, and we continually search for ways to connect them emotionally and intellectually to the idea of life after high school. We want to see our students succeed and find the passion that will lead them to college or a career that they find meaningful and rewarding. I hear it all the time, "I've tried everything, they just won't engage."

 

My answer is always: have you considered implementing Gaming Concepts as part of your curriculum? Because Gaming Concepts covers topics students are interested in, like streaming, video games, and shout casting (talking about the games they are watching on-screen), it's easy to hold their attention and provides a "hook" for learning.

 

Teachers can embed Gaming Concepts curriculum into many mainstream classes and use it as a linked learning tool through English, Speech, Marketing, Video, and Multimedia courses. It can also be its own stand-alone class. The coursework is aligned to all state and national standards and encompasses, health and wellness, social/emotional and mental health exercises, as well as provides the most interesting and engaging content that is relevant to the lives of our post-pandemic students.

 

Teachers/coaches in our district find that when using Gaming Concepts, students are learning the college and career-ready skills they need to flourish in our 21st-century society and are eager to learn because the content is genuinely relevant to them and the careers that interest them.

Julie Mavrogeorge’s passion in education is assisting in the creation of innovative STEAM programs that provide access to flourishing college and career opportunities. She is privileged to collaborate with global esports and technology industry professional partners and colleges to assist school districts in developing personalized esports solutions and programs. For Fresno Unified, Julie is a CTE Pathway Coordinator, where she has introduced drones for careers in aerial photography and drone racing for exploring aviation. She is concurrently developing a comprehensive K-12 CTE esports pathway which includes writing inclusive and diverse, social/emotional K-6 esports curriculum, and integrating curriculum in existing CTE courses.

Julie Mavrogeorge
Michael Watson
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Michael Watson

Platform Service Manager, 6 years in education

​"I have witnessed firsthand how powerful esports can be in reaching an unreachable group of students. The story of a specific student comes to mind. This student was almost nonverbal because of crippling anxiety in 10th grade. Esports gave this student a way to connect with friends at school. By 12th grade, this student was on the leadership team in our esports club, had become a social person, and earned a scholarship to play Overwatch and design the branding for a college esports team. I want to be able to bring this life-changing experience to as many students as possible."

  • 6 years in education

  • 9-12 English

  • Esports club advisor

  • Esports coach

Neal Doolin
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Neal Doolin

Director of Platform Operations, 8 years in education

​“I saw the immense growth in my esports students at Blue Valley Southwest. I wanted to grow the program, increase its legitimacy, and spread it to other schools in the district and state. I came to Generation Esports because I wanted to become theperson that could have helped me reach more kids at my school. That will always be my goal at GenE–to improve the experiences and lives of as many students as possible.”

  • 8 years in education

  • General Physics

  • Intervention Algebra

  • AP Calculus BC

  • Esports program founder, sponsor, and coach

  • Blue Valley Southwest Teacher of the Year (2018)

  • Blue Valley Southwest Master Teacher of the Year (2019)

  • University of Kansas School of Education Wolfe Family Teaching Award (2020)

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Peyton Horton

Scholastic Account Executive

"I am moved by the mission to change students' lives through gaming. This has never been about just the game and the tournaments but the positive impact we provide for the students' futures. It is an incredible feeling to see a school adopt the idea of esports, allow that idea to grow, and see the difference it makes in the students who participate."

I wanted to work in the gaming industry when I first started. I am moved by the mission to change students' lives through gaming. This has never been about just the game and the tournaments but the positive impact we provide for the students' futures. It is an incredible feeling to see a school adopt the idea of esports, allow that idea to grow, and see the difference it makes in the students who participate. From us, to the teacher, to the school and district, it is impactful for everyone involved.

I am from smalltown USA where the roots of hard work and dedication run deep. Caring for others and a willingness to help in any way possible has always been a personal mission of mine inside and outside of an office setting. I have a passion for gaming and continue to grow and connect with the industry I love. Coming from other industries, I have gained experience to contribute to esports and see everyone grow as a whole. My favorite games include: Call of Duty, Need for Speed, and NFL Street 2. If I can help others with a shared passion for gaming take a step in a direction that will change their life, that is a job well done for me.

Peyton Horton
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Sharon Seaton

Generation Esports Ambassador

Sharon Seaton is a 29-year veteran of the education profession. She earned her BA in Secondary Education from Grandview University in 1994 and her MS in Science Education where she majored in Integrating Technology Into the Classroom from Walden University in 2011. She currently teaches Science and Computer Science for Weld North Education in addition to her teaching duties at Expedition Academy and Green River High Schools in Green River, Wyoming where she offers 27 different science classes, eight math classes and four computer science classes. She holds endorsements in Life Science, Physical Science, Earth/Space Science, Computer Science, English as a Second Language and At-Risk/Alternative Education. She also serves as a mentor and reviewer for the Wyoming Department of Education’s Microcredential Program. Her hobbies include gardening, crocheting, quilting, doing crafts, hiking, fishing, and being outdoors. Mrs. Seaton currently resides in Green River, Wyoming with her husband Michael.

Sharon Seaton
Trevor Goertzen
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Trevor Goertzen

Scholastic Account Executive, 17 years in education

“My best memory in education was when a student named Connor, whom I had to expel two years prior, came back to visit me. In talking with his parents, they commented that regardless of the situations or interactions, they always felt like I treated their son and them with dignity and respect.”

  • 17 years in education

  • 6 years in administration

  • Middle school English/Language Arts

  • National Board Certified Mentor

  • Adjunct Professor of Educational Technology

  • Drivers Education

  • Middle School/High School coach(football, basketball, wrestling, track)

  • National Association of Secondary School Principals Digital Principal of the Year

  • Two-Time Prairie Star Middle School Teacher of the Year

  • National Board Certified Teacher

  • Kansas Principal Association -President-Elect

James Rand
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