Rick Brennan, Founder + CEO – As a teacher turned designer and entrepreneur, Rick Brennan “knows exactly what kind of innovation is possible within a traditional public school system” (Fast Company, 2013). Brennan designs dynamic, standards-aligned ed + tech experiences and provides powerful professional development workshops that teach others to do the same. Brennan has developed innovative game-based curriculum to support popular game titles, like SimCity, Minecraft, Gamestar Mechanic, Never Alone and Historia. He was a keynote speaker at The Atlantic’s 10th Annual EdTech Forum in Washington DC and has presented at SXSWedu, Games4Change, FETC, AWP and TEDxHouston. His work was featured by The Gates Foundation and Institute of Play in the PLAYMAKERS film series and has been spotlighted by The Atlantic, Edutopia, Fast Company and the Houston Chronicle. Recently, Brennan was recognized as a “Global Hero in Education” by Microsoft and Histrionix was awarded the prestigious Jamail Innovation in Education Award by the Houston Arts Alliance and the NEA Creativity Connects Award with local partner-in-play Writers in the Schools.
- Jamail Innovation in Education Award – Houston Arts Alliance
- Creativity Connects Award – National Endowment for the Arts
- Global Leader in Education Award – Microsoft