Theme: The Road Less Traveled

Despite controversy over the interpretation of Robert Frost’s famous poem, “The Road Not Taken,” when reading it one cannot help to think about the choices we are fortunate enough to have. How we decide to act, interpret and move forward on any given day at any given moment speaks volumes of one's integrity and the type of world we can choose to help create. This year’s TEDx conference entitled “The Road Less Traveled” will challenge quests and the audience to find what paths we have to choose from, what paths we have already chosen or may yet choose, and what differences all of these possibilities may bring.

North Broward Preparatory School
7600 Lyons Rd, Coconut Creek
Coconut Creek, Florida, 33073
United States

Alexander Grindle-Boettcher

Student

Alexander Grindle-Boettcher is a junior at North Broward Preparatory School, and has lived in South Florida for most of his life. His involvement in local communities and organizations like the Black Lives Matter Alliance, Food Not Bombs, and SunServe Florida gave him the courage he needed to come out as a transgender boy. Alex is currently practicing the viola, doing art, and living his most authentic life.

August Berger

Educator, Musician

August Berger is a Teaching Artist who enjoys an active musical life in South Florida. He maintains a busy schedule as both a performer and educator. August is a member of the Strings faculty at North Broward Preparatory School in Coconut Creek and also serves as Double Bass Coach with the Florida Youth Orchestras. As a musician, he performs with many professional orchestras and ensembles from the Keys to Palm Beach.

Austin Stein

Student

Austin Stein is a sophomore at North Broward Preparatory School in South Florida. He represented NBPS at the state Poetry Out Loud competition last year. His 2017 chemistry experiment won first place in Palm Beach County and fifth place in the state of Florida. When he is not playing the drums for the NBPS Jazz band, Pep band, and Wind Ensemble, Austin participates in Education Rocks, Math Club, Interact Club, as well as Music, Spanish, and Math honor societies. Austin is also in the NBPS Student Government.

Bobbi-Jo Suppelsa

Student

Bobbi-Jo Suppelsa is Freshman attending North Broward Preparatory School, she is interested in all of the STEMS fields and aspires to become a Chemical Engineering when she is older. She has attended Michigan Tech Summer programs for Women in Engineering, Robotics, and Chemical Engineering over the last several summers. Last year she started the first ever all-girls MATE underwater Robotics team at North Broward Preparatory School and achieved best product demonstration and coming in third place at the regional event. Beside STEMS she also enjoys cheering, and running track and dancing.

Dawn Card

Educator, Environmentalist

Dawn has a B.Sc. in Geology from the University of North Carolina. Upon earning her degree, Dawn joined the Peace Corps so she could apply her skills in Geology and Environmental Science on an international level. During her service in El Salvador she discovered her passion for teaching. She worked with local farmers on implementing more sustainable farming practices as well as in local schools teaching environmental education. Dawn also holds a M.Sc. in International Intercultural Education from Florida International University. While earning her degree she worked as an environmental educator in South Florida focusing most of her work on Florida’s diverse ecosystems and the impact humans have on the natural environment. This is Dawn’s fourth year teaching Life Science at North Broward Prep School. She devotes a lot of her time working in the MS garden with her students and exploring the connection between our health, the health of the environment and the food we eat.

Dido Balla

Educator, Creator, Brain Trainer

Dido Balla is an educator, a creator, and a brain trainer. His first company was a non-profit organization called FitLit, whose mission is to use a blended curriculum of fitness and literature to empower youth. His new company, MetaMindset LLC, is on a mission to spread the importance of mental fitness. As a brain trainer, Dido positively impacts hundreds of parents and educators as well as thousands of students in the areas of positive psychology, mindful awareness, social and emotional learning, and neuroscience. His work has expanded throughout the United States and abroad in countries such as Brazil and Jordan. Dido earned his Masters of Science in Education from Johns Hopkins University, and he is currently the Student Services and Academic Coordinator at North Broward Preparatory School.

Eitan Pessah

Student

Eitan Pessah is a senior at North Broward Preparatory School, born and raised in South Florida. He is an IB diploma candidate and heavily involved in the theatre department. Some of his other hobbies include reading, writing, and soccer. Eitan plans on majoring in both acting and pre-med when he goes to university.

Evan Hashemi

Student

Evan Hashemi is currently a Senior at North Broward Prep School. He has a passion for mathematics and physics, and hopes to be an engineer who creates products that help reduce waste all around the world. He is currently enrolled in the IB diploma program and hopes to finish with high marks.

Genevieve Hoppe

Middle School Principal

Genevieve is a passionate educator and life-long learner who has worked in education as a teacher and administrator for over twelve years. In her current role she is the MS Principal for North Broward Prep. Genevieve’s educational credentials include her Bachelor’s degree in Spanish with a concentration in Business Administration from Furman University and a Masters of Modern Language from the University of Memphis. She further developed her understanding about Visible Thinking strategies by graduating from Harvard Project Zero. Genevieve is a Google Certified Educator and an Apple Teacher. She has experience in curriculum and strategic planning, has worked on various school accreditation teams, rolled out one-to-one laptop and one-to-one iPad programs, worked in diverse school settings, and has been trained in design thinking and experiential learning. Genevieve has a passion for education and working with young people and is a true advocate for students, teachers, and families.

Gianna Milan

Student, Pianist, Composer

Gianna is a seventeen year old aspiring pianist, composer, and journalist from Boca Raton, FL. She believes everyone in this world has a unique artistic voice that deserves to be shared. Through her passions for music and writing, Gianna hopes to inspire others to discover their creative outlets and express themselves in an enlightening and meaningful way. In her TEDx talk, Gianna expands on the idea of living by the pursuit of happiness: if you follow your heart and aspire to your greatest passion, then you will ultimately fulfill your dreams, bringing joy to your life for as long as you live. Gianna is a high school senior at North Broward Preparatory School, where she is the Editor in Chief for the student-run online publication, Brainwash (brainwashnbps.com) and the President of Tri-M Music Honor Society. In college, she plans to study music performance and journalism, with dreams of pursuing a career as a pianist or classical music critic.

Harrison Haber

Student

This is Harrison’s 4th year on academic scholarship at North Broward Preparatory School as a current Senior. He was born and raised locally in Boca Raton. Harrison has been a captain of the North Broward hockey team since sophomore year and is also a player for the South Florida Hockey Academy. He is one of the lead event organizers for the St. Baldrick’s Childhood Cancer Shave-a-thon and Treasurer of the Interact Club that has raised over $80,000 towards childhood cancer, while shaving his head in support of the cause. He is also the Vice President of the National Honor Society, founder of the school’s health committee, a student government legislature, and works a part time job at a local Ice Rink. Harrison has been awarded the Brandies book award, Iron Eagle award and is a 2-time AP Scholar with Honor recipient. He has a 4.7 GPA and is also an IB diploma course candidate.

James Standefer

Educator and Administrator

James joined the NBPS Leadership team in 2018. He started as a High School English teacher in the Chicago, and has served as a classroom teacher, a special educator, and an administrator of special needs and student supports in public schools, and private international schools. He is a returned Peace Corps Volunteer (Republic of the Philippines 2002-04), and his career has taken him to places like Washington, DC; Silver Spring, MD; Stamford, CT; and Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. James earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Secondary Education and Literature from Illinois Wesleyan University, a Master’s in Transitional Special Education from The George Washington University, and his principal’s certification from Antioch University, New England. He is also an accomplished high school football and volleyball coach. James is a strong advocate for all of the students and families in the LPA program. He always has their best interest in mind and strives to serve as a leader and mentor.

Jeremy Hall

Educator

Jeremy earned his Bachelor of Arts in History at Villanova University and his Master of Education in Secondary Social Studies at Southern New Hampshire University. He is originally from the Washington, D.C. area and has taught in Maryland, New Hampshire, and now in South Florida. Jeremy currently teaches IB Theory of Knowledge and IB Global Politics. He also moderates the Philosophy Club, is a grade-level leader for an Advisory program, and, as a Nord Anglia Teaching Fellow, leads Professional Development programs both within and without the school. He loves to read; among his favorite books are Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, Joseph Campbell’s The Power of Myth, and John Steinbeck’s East of Eden. He is also a Star Wars fanatic and is known to his students as Darth Hall.

Julia Wadsworth

Educator, Musician

Hi my name is Julia Wadsworth and this will be my third year as an elementary strings teacher and 2nd year as an IB music teacher at North Broward Preparatory School! After graduating from the Hartt School of Music with a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education, I spent 4 years teaching elementary strings and general music in Phoenix, AZ. As a violinist, I have had the pleasure of traveling and performing as concertmistress for the Deleware Valley Opera, the New York Summer Music Festival in Oneonta, NY, and the Festival Eleazar de Carvalho in Fortaleza, Brazil. While living in Phoenix I played with the Pro Arte Ensemble, West Valley Symphony, Musica Nova Orchestra, and La Forza Symphony Orchestra. I have a strong belief in comprehensive musicianship: teaching students of all ages not just how to play music, but also how to understand and create it. This allows music to play many roles. It can challenge the mind, ignite the imagination, and touch one’s soul all at once.

Laura Weinstein

Student

Laura Weinstein is a student journalist, as well as a vegan, LGBTQ+, and feminist activist from Coral Springs, Florida. She is the opinion editor of North Broward’s online newspaper Brainwash, where she publishes everything from movie reviews to controversial articles on questioning the foundation of personal ethics. Laura is an officer for the Gay Straight Alliance of NBPS, and runs social media for the club as well.

Lizzie Sider

Country Singer - Speaker - Activist

Lizzie is 20, and has performed all over the country, been on TV and radio many times, and performed over 20 National Anthems at Major League sporting events. Her signature single, “Butterfly,” and her second single release and music video, “I Love You That Much,” charted in the Top 40 on Nashville’s Music Row Chart. Lizzie is passionate about speaking out against bullying, and being a positive role model for kids. She is proud to be a spokesperson for organizations such as PACER Teens Against Bullying, GWEN (Global Women’s Empowerment Network) and Hatebrakers.org from whom she has received the “Peter Yarrow Hatebraker Award” for her work in bully prevention. Lizzie was named “Who to Watch” by the Country Music Association, and has won a Hollywood Music in Media Award for “Butterfly,”. Lizzie has appeared on Entertainment Tonight, Fox News, Home & Family and the Queen Latifah TV shows. She is a frequent speaker about bullying at state and national conferences of educators.

Matthew Dombrowski

Assistant Professor specializing in Digital Media

Matt Dombrowski is an Assistant Professor specializing in Digital Media at the School of Visual Arts and Design (SVAD) for the University of Central Florida (UCF). He is an international exhibiting fine artist, as well as having, an industry background in motion graphics and commercial art. He worked on numerous design projects for companies the likes of Disney, the Orlando Magic, TG Lee Diary and the Golf Channel. Matt brings his visual arts, marketing and commercial production experience to his research at UCF. His research focuses on the melding of current digital media technologies, practices and techniques to utilize digital art in the development of interactive experiences beyond entertainment. Recently, Matt has worked in partnership with Limbitless Solutions, in the development and production of expressive 3D printed prosthetic arms. They have created alternative EMG controllers and training games for children to learn how to properly use their 3D printed prosthesis.

Milo Gilad

Student

Milo Gilad is an aspiring computer scientist at North Broward Preparatory High School in Coconut Creek, Florida. Heavily involved with his local Robotics Team and Coding Club, he hopes to enter the burgeoning field of cybersecurity. Milo also enjoys tutoring students in computer science as a means of encouraging involvement in STEM classes and careers.

Mohammed Khalil

Student

Mohammad Khalil is a senior at North Broward Preparatory School. He is a Palestinian American who loves getting involved in current events and world systems. Mohammad is an actor and writer who is very passionate about his craft, and intends to use them as an extension of his voice to try and make the world a better place.

Sophia Lynn Berman

Student

Sophia Lynn Berman is an eleventh grade student living in Parkland, Florida. With hobbies and interests in the fine arts, she founded the Children of the Arts foundation in 2016, which helps to support and nurture local youth centered arts organizations by increasing viable opportunities. Sophia has an interest in psychology, and fosters that interest by learning everything possible about the human mind, and how it affects society. She hopes to graduate from a well reputed university with a degree that allows her to continue her passion for analyzing human behavior.

Tasman Rosenfeld

Environmental Activist and Student

Tasman Rosenfeld is a first-year student at Yale University where he is studying the origins, evolution, and distribution of life in the universe. Tasman works to promote conservation through his music and wildlife photography, and more formally through his service as Youth Conservation Director of the Florida Wildlife Federation. In 2017, he founded SciTeens.com in order to help other teens pursue their passions for STEM research.