Educator Ambassadors 2025/26

Danae Acker 

Digital Integration Specialist - Anderson, SC

Danae is a creative learning leader and Digital Integration Specialist who champions hands-on exploration, curiosity, and joyful innovation in education. With expertise in instructional design, professional learning, and AI-powered creativity, she empowers educators and students to think differently and design learning experiences that spark imagination and agency. 

Danae is an aiEDU Trailblazers Fellow and was named one of EdTech Magazine’s K–12 IT Influencers to Follow in 2024. Whether coaching educators or speaking nationally, she believes play and creativity are powerful catalysts for deeper learning and she’s excited to bring that mission to life as a Clixo Ambassador.

Heidi Barber

District Educational Technology Specialist - Goldsboro, NC

An Educational Technology Specialist with 17 years of experience as a teacher, media coordinator, and district leader. She specializes in STEM integration, digital learning, and designing inquiry-based experiences that spark student curiosity. 

Heidi leads AI literacy and innovation initiatives and presents nationally on effective, creative instructional practices. At home, she is inspired by her almost-3-year-old son, Atlas, whose imagination fuels her passion for designing hands-on learning experiences for all students.

Janice Beard M.Ed.

Owner/Founder of STEAM STARZ, STEAM Educator - West Des Moines, Iowa

Janice is the owner and founder of STEAM STARZ, married to her husband Damian, and mom to Ellie and Beckham. With a master’s degree in Teacher Leadership, Curriculum, and Instruction and experience as both an instructional STEM coach and master preschool teacher, Janice brings expertise and passion to STEAM education. 

After being a stay-at-home mom for many years, she founded STEAM STARZ in 2023 to provide meaningful STEAM learning experiences for her own children, and it quickly grew to serve students across Central Iowa.

Laurie Guyon

Lead Coordinator for Instructional Technology - Gansevoort, NY

Laurie Guyon is the Lead Coordinator for Instructional Technology at WSWHE BOCES in New York. Laurie is the author of SMILE Learning: Leveraging the Power of Educational Technology and co-author of ArchiTech: Laying the Foundation for EdTech Coaching. 

She just released her first children's book, Put the Pickles in the Dishwasher. She is a co-host on the SMILE Factor podcast and a national speaker.

Connie Ann Roussel

K-5 Literacy & Innovation - Universal City, TX

Connie Ann has led the creation and growth of The Imaginarium, a K–5 STEM and makerspace learning hub at Randolph Elementary since 2021. She has presented on STEM-literacy integration, design challenges, and digital creativity at professional development sessions and national STEM educator conferences. 

Connie Ann brings stories to life through literacy-STEM challenges that combine creativity, engineering, and robotics to spark curiosity in every learner. She has over 17 years of experience in education.

Charmaine Rushing

K-12 STEM Instructional Staff Developer - Largo, FL

Charmaine is an educator, STEM innovator, and advocate for equitable learning opportunities. She leads STEM outreach for Pinellas County Schools, supporting 77 elementary campuses and coordinating over 150 STEM Explorer Clubs. Charmaine also manages teacher recruitment, training, and coastal field programs through USF’s OSPREY marine science initiative. 

A proud USF alumna, she serves on the university’s Education Committee and has spoken at the Innovation Education Summit. Her civic engagement includes leadership roles with Galilee Missionary Baptist Church and the National Pan-Hellenic Council. Charmaine is committed to empowering educators, inspiring students, and strengthening communities through STEM.