Theme: Innovate Within

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).

TEDxClintonMiddleSchool
75 Chenango Ave
Clinton, New York, 13323
United States

Alicia Dicks

President/ CEO

Alicia Dicks is president and CEO of The Community Foundation of Herkimer & Oneida Counties. Alicia also spent more than a decade at National Grid in several managerial and operational positions. She was a regional executive director, managing National Grid’s business operations for the Mohawk Valley and Northern New York, and also served as a director of market strategy. She began her public policy career at the Albany Local Development Corporation and in Albany city government, facilitating urban planning, development, and construction projects as a senior economic developer. Alicia has a master’s degree in Urban and Regional Planning from the University at Albany and a bachelor’s degree in International Relations from SUNY Cortland. She serves on many local boards, including the “Save of the Day” Foundation, the School & Business Alliance and Mohawk Valley EDGE. Alicia lives in Whitesboro with her husband and two daughters.

Ariana Febus

People Builder

Ariana Febus is a 7th grade student at Clinton Central School who understands the importance of building people up with words and actions.

Chloe Freund

Concerned Student

Chloe Freund is a 7th grade student at Clinton Central School who is concerned with helping people see their potential.

Christopher Albrecht

Teacher

Mr. Albrecht teaches 4th grade Language Arts, sciences, social studies, and technology. In 2016 when he was named the National Teacher of the Year by the Campaign for Cursive. He is the 2018 recipient of the Donald Sobol and David Johnson Awards for Teaching Excellence. In September of 2017, Christopher Albrecht was named the 2018 New York State Teacher of the Year. In 2018, Christopher received the St. Bonaventure University School of Education Distinguished Alumni Award. In 2019 NEA Foundation Award finalist for excellence in teaching. In 2019, he will be inducted into the Fairport High School Alumni Hall of Fame. Christopher has been married to his wife and hero, Jennifer, for 22 years. They have three children. Albrecht wears a ponytail hairstyle to show his dedication for the fight against cancer in honor of his mother raising money towards advancements in this medical field of study. He will be publishing his first book called “Unconventionally Successful” in 2019.

Darcy Head

Truth Seeker

Darcy Head is a 7th grade student at Clinton Central School who is in search of truth.

Debby Hepburn

Teacher

Debby Hepburn taught English at Clinton High School for 27 years, retiring in June 2014, after a 40-year-career of teaching close to 5,000 students in New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from Ithaca College ( B.A. in English, 1973) and earned her Master’s Degree in Writing Education from Vermont College of Norwich University in 1986. When asked about her students, she loved to respond with "I know the very best people--- and the vast majority of them are 16, 17, and 18- years-old! They inspire me to be worthy of them," a philosophy that motivated her to aspire to be the best teacher she could become to honor the students she so revered. Upon retiring from Clinton, she began a college consulting business with Clinton parent Susan Yaworsky, A Write Fit. She has also written several columns entitled "Teacher Talk" for The Waterville Times and for The Clinton Courier post-retirement.

Eva Gaetano

Positive Voice

Eva Gaetano is a 7th grade student at Clinton Central School who feels that sharing your voice and your words can be used for positive changes. She plays basketball, soccer, and the clarinet.

Jordan Gross

Writer, Leadership Coach, Speaker

Jordan Gross is a Northwestern and Kellogg School of Management graduate, a writer, leadership coach, speaker, and self-proclaimed multipotentialite, having experienced positions in large banks like Merrill Lynch to small startup companies focused on bringing cheaper Asian delivery food to urban populations. Jordan is a 2x startup founder, 2x author, and corporate refugee turned trailblazer for positive change, optimism, and the belief that our daily actions can help us all overcome stress and anxiety. He has worked with corporate executives and employees at Google, Amazon, The Professional Bowling Association and various startup companies on behavioral leadership change, He has spoken on hundreds of podcasts, in libraries, at conferences, and in high schools around the country, and he is a top contributing writer on LinkedIn and Medium in the areas of Leadership, Self-Improvement, Inspiration, and Personal Development.

Michael Eagle

A career educator, speaker, entrepreneur, and musician

Michael Eagle is a new voice in the revolution in education. Having taught for nearly 20 years in US public schools and academia including the University of Texas, New York University, and Stony Brook University, Michael left the "exhausted" traditional system to work with business and schools to develop new and innovative educational products combining technology with customized, personal implementation for learners of all ages. A career educator, speaker, entrepreneur, and musician residing in New York City, Michael travels the globe performing in a wide variety of ensembles, instructing workshops, and designing curricular to suite any learning initiative. He is the Co-Founder & CEO of Rhythm Monster (www.Rhythm-Monster.com), an online educational institution quoted as, “The Khan Academy of Drumming and Percussion.” Mr. Eagle is a frequent keynote and public speaker at educational events, universities, international festivals, and personal development conferences.

Olivia Peto

Interested in helping people

Olivia Peto is a 7th grade student at Clinton Central School who understands the power of words. She plays softball, volleyball, and she is in the orchestra.