A seasoned educator and media creator, Sarah leverages technology and design thinking to create engaging learning experiences. Her program initiatives have thoughtfully integrated tools and processes to empower a range of audiences.
Sarah’s unconventional path to the classroom has made her a uniquely high-performing asset to learning institutions. Outfitted with production skills from her work with New York media outlets in the late ‘90s, Sarah has been recognized for her ability to visualize complex information and construct logical narratives that are clear and impactful.
Sarah was on the frontlines of online journalism, serving on the team that adapted Newsweek from print to web. She was responsible for enhancing interactivity with the magazine’s first audio-enabled photo galleries. Sarah earned a master’s degree in Media Studies and has continued to closely follow trends in interface functionality that foster communication and collaboration. Sarah ran the video filmmaking program at Trevor Day School in NYC from 2001-2010, where she produced film festivals of original student works and coached multi-camera video crews for live productions. Sarah created publications and video content that served the growth of the school. Identified as a tech visionary, she was awarded a fellowship to inspire tech competence and innovative teaching methods among faculty.
Sarah relocated to Texas in 2010 to implement an integrated technology program for another growing K-8 independent school, Trinity Episcopal of Austin. There, she founded two highly successful signature programs, D-Lab and Robotics, and produced a series of community-wide DesignFests. Sarah amplified the school’s capstone course, Innov8, to engage dozens of Austin entrepreneurs and design thinkers and she stimulated the school’s advancement campaigns with award-winning animated video content. Sarah has earned awards for teaching excellence from Trinity, National Geographic, and FIRST Lego League.
After acting as Video Director for an innovative New York City dance company, Sarah has continued to help artists and engineers share their work with the world, as time permits. Her recent full-length adaptations of two stage musicals for the screen in compliance with Covid restrictions were widely acclaimed. Sarah currently sits on the board of an FRC robotics team, mentoring high school students with media outreach and corporate fundraising. She is passionate about using the power of technology to connect people with ideas.
Pixelwater was conceived before the turn of the century and continues to be a place for Sarah to collect ideas and reflect on processes that engage learners and artists.
Education
2001 – The New School, New York, NY. Master of Arts in Media Studies.
1996 – Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT. Bachelor of Arts. Religion major.
University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana, West Africa. Junior year abroad.
1992 – Brookline High School, Brookline, MA.
Teaching & Learning Experience Design
Technology Integration Specialist / D-Lab + Robotics Teacher
Trinity Episcopal School, Austin TX
2010 – Present
Instructional Impact:
• DesignFest K-8 multi-part annual design thinking challenge.
• Innov8 8th grade entrepreneurial capstone course.
• D-Lab maker space + extra-curricular classes.
• Robotics teacher and team coach
• Technology integration: installed a 1-to-1 laptop program, articulated a school-wide Integrated Technology Program, develop digital citizenship policies and messaging
Media Production:
• web development and multi-media content creation for Marketing & Communications
• production of professional development, training, and fundraising videos
• production, filming, and editing of theatrical musical productions
• curation of school’s Vimeo account
Video Arts Teacher /
Video Productions Coordinator
Trevor Day School, New York
2001 – 2010
- Video Arts teacher for grades 6-12. Annual public screening of 35+ movies with additional showcases for senior films. Other courses have included Art of Animation, Dance on Camera, and TV News & Advertising.
- Faculty advisor to TrevorVision, a video journalism club that produces news-format webisodes.
- Event videography and DVD production. Coordinate 6-student video crews with 1 director, 2 live-mix engineers, and 3 camera operators.
- Audio-Visual Coordinator (’02-’06). Purchased, installed, and tracked classroom and large space AV systems. Created library loaning system and online tutorials for video and podcast production. Currently manage budget and purchasing.
- Member of Technical Executive Committee. Wrote mission and objectives for Tech Fellows program to promote the educational use of technology in classrooms.
- Facilitated meetings on the “Classroom of the Future.”
- Technology Fellow ’05-’06 and Master Learning & Technology Fellow ’07-‘10.
- Published articles: The New “High-Tech” (2006) and Meaningful Change (2008).
- Awarded faculty grants to adapt Video Arts and Media Literacy curricula to the web.
- Produced numerous videos for Development and Admissions offices and enhanced annual live auction with visual projections.
Accolades, Presentations, Articles:
Accolades:
• FIRST Lego League Coach Award (2021)
• Excellence in Teaching Award (2019)
• National Geographic “Teacher of the Week” (2016)
Presentations:
• Integrate Computer Programming and Support Learning Across the Curriculum, TCEA (2015)
• Full STEAM Ahead: Building a Community of Designers and Problem Solvers, SAES, (2015)
• Project 8: Design & Innovation Through Global Issues, SAES (2015)
Articles:
• Discovering Time: Nurturing Hybrid Minds by Rooting Technology in The Natural World, Trinity Magazine (2013)
• Re-imagining School: Connecting Ideas to Build the World We Want to Live In, Trinity Magazine (2015)