In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized (subject to certain rules and regulations).

McConnell Arts Center
777 Evening Street
Worthington, Ohio, 43085
United States

Anna Farrell

Anna Farrell was born in New York City and is a senior at Thomas Worthington High School. Loving chemistry, she began the Thomas Worthington Chemistry Club and enjoys volunteering, blogging, and reading in her free time. Anna is the vice president of her class’s student council and is passionate about positively influencing her community. As a freshman, her science fair project about hybridization’s effects on fruit’s nutritional content earned her the Ohio Wesleyan Outstanding Achievement in Science Scholarship and the Ohio Nutrition Council’s Human Nutrition Award. Anna hopes to study neuroscience in college and become a physician.

Cheyenne Buckingham

Cheyenne Buckingham is a junior at Ohio University in the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism. While her primary course of study is journalism, she has an innate passion for health and nutrition, as exhibited by her specialization and minor in applied nutrition. She aspires to be a health food and fitness writer upon graduation, so that she can inspire people to lead a healthy lifestyle through both food choice and daily physical activity. She writes for a number of publications and also manage her own blog, Seeking Eternal Balance. Cheyenne is an avid long distance runner and has learned how to fuel her body with an adequate amount of nutrient-dense foods to sustain energy throughout rigorous activity.

Chris Hasebrook

After 29 years of marriage, 28 years of teaching, and 27 years of parenting, Chris Hasebrook is thrilled by the life he’s led thus far and is excited about what’s to come. He is snarky but eschews cynicism. Chris believes in hope, hard work, the Oxford Comma, banning the designated hitter, and that teenagers will always be teenagers, regardless of what we throw at them. As the Teacher-Director at Linworth, he teaches two classes each semester, and encourages all educators to stay as close to the classroom as possible.

Cindy Foley

Cindy Meyers Foley is the Executive Deputy Director for Learning and Experience at the Columbus Museum of Art. Foley worked to reimagine the CMA as a 21st century institution that is engaging, meaningful and transformative --an institution that impacts the health and growth of the community by cultivating, celebrating and championing creativity. In 2012, Foley received the Greater Columbus Arts Council Community Arts Partnership award for Arts Educator. She has been a keynote speaker for the 2015 Maryland Art Education Conference, the 2015 Art of Education Conference and the 2012 Ohio Art Education Association Conference. In November 2014, she was a TEDxColumbus Speaker presenting Teaching Art or Teaching to Think like an Artist.

Eric Gnezda

Eric Gnezda is host and co-creator of the American Public Television series, Songs at the Center. An award-winning songwriter, he and his work have been featured on media around the world. Eric is a recipient of the Ohioana Citation for Music Composition. Eric’s songs embrace expansive subjects and tones, from inspiring anthems to humor. Also a memoirist and keynote speaker, Eric performs for audiences across the country. He was a columnist for The Columbus Dispatch, and earned an Emmy nomination for his retrospective on the 1972 Munich Olympic massacre, produced in Europe for American television. Eric received his Master of Fine Arts degree in creative writing from the Rainier Writing Workshop at Pacific Lutheran University. Away from the stage and studio, he is a visiting lecturer of public speaking at his alma mater, Ohio Wesleyan University. He is a graduate of Thomas Worthington High School.

Michael Roush

Michael Roush specializes in educational technology, assistive technology, and Universal Design for Learning. Michael has previously taught at the high school and college level, and worked for over 10 years providing school improvement and special education consulting with the Ohio Region 14 State Support Team. He currently serves as Customer Service Coordinator in the IT Department at Wilmington College. Michael and his wife, Angie, live in rural southwestern Ohio. They have four adult children, and two in elementary school.

Steve Kucinski

From Dublin City Schools in Dublin, Ohio, Dr. Steve Kucinski is a Nationally Board Certified teacher of English who has taught at the secondary level for 23 years and is the District Content Lead Teacher for high school English. He has a Ph.D. from The Ohio State University in Educational Psychology and Adolescent Development and is currently an adjunct professor there. Steve has presented twice before at the NCTE national convention, at the OCTELA state conference, and at the Ohio Association of Secondary School Administrators. He also provides professional development to schools on using electronic feedback to improve learning and engagement.

Tom Burton

Mr. Tom Burton is currently the Associate Superintendent of Schools at Princeton City Schools located just outside of Cincinnati. Tom has been in administration since 1995 with over 12 years of service as a building principal. He is the author of “Mark of Leadership: Strategies for Leading with Purpose, Plans, and Passion.” Since 2001, Tom has spoken to numerous audiences throughout the United States with passion and purpose on a multitude of topics. He is the winner of NASSP/MetLife Ohio Middle School Principal of the Year, Distinguished Young Alumni Award from Slippery Rock University, and many other awards. Most recently he was selected as Ohio Educator of the Year by the Ohio Middle Level Association and was inducted in both the Cleveland Heights High School Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame and John Carroll University Athletic Hall of Fame. Tom is married to wife Franca, and they share the joy of raising three children.

Trent Bowers

Dr. Trent Bowers is the Superintendent of Worthington Schools. He has 19 years of experience in public education and has served students and families as a teacher, coach, dean of students, and the principal of three schools. Trent has designed, built and opened several new schools, led contract negotiations, mediated personnel disputes, and led district-wide instructional improvement. He has taught leadership courses at the university level and has been a guest lecturer on data based decision making. Dr. Bowers holds a doctorate in educational leadership from Ashland University, a Masters in school administration from Ohio State University and a Bachelor’s Degree from Taylor University. He is also a graduate of the ESCCO leadership institute, is certified in Ventures for Excellence and is a credentialed evaluator of both teachers and principals in Ohio. He and his wife Doreen and their three daughters live in Worthington.