About Our Team
This guide is built and maintained by a small, dedicated team of educators who understand the classroom and also know a little bit about technology. It is our goal to turn this wild jungle of tech into a clear, well-organized directory that makes sense, so you can get what you need and get back to what you do best.
Jennifer Gonzalez
Editor-in-Chief, Cult of Pedagogy
After more than 10 years as a middle school language arts teacher and college level teacher trainer, I started Cult of Pedagogy in 2013. Since then, I’ve had the privilege of talking with researchers, subject-area experts, and brilliant classroom teachers all over the world to learn what works best in education.
I published the first Teacher’s Guide to Tech PDF in 2015 to help busy teachers navigate the rapidly growing world of educational technology and have published fresh editions every year since then. I did the guide entirely on my own until 2021, when I started building this amazing team to help.
Marnie Diem
Lead Technology Specialist, Cult of Pedagogy
As a former classroom teacher, my 3rd and 4th grade classes were technology infused before technology was infusable. My passion for teaching and technology led me to my current role at Hillel Day School, a pre-K-8th grade Jewish day school in Metro Detroit where I find the magic places where technology and learning collide. A
regular presenter at ed tech conferences, a MACUL Board Member, and certified and ambassadorized in a dozen ed tech tools, my ultimate goal is using tech to make curriculum come to life.
When I’m not tech-ing at school, I love snuggling with my rescue pup, reading, and giggling with my nieces. I am currently on the quest for good gluten-free bread and a functioning time-turner.
Team Members
Brandie Wright
STEM Educator
Norfolk, VA
Who would leave a thriving district career to become a classroom teacher? Someone with a passion for learning and a natural risk-taking mindset. Brandie is that person. An inquisitive, persistent, and innovative educator, she brings experience, knowledge, wisdom, and authenticity to every classroom, meeting, training, and presentation. When not at school she loves music, cooking, teaching Christian dance fitness classes, watching movies, and trying new things. Thanks to her students she has expanded her playlist to include lo-fi, anime, and instrumental hip hop. She is known for asking lots of questions and provoking deep conversations. Brandie is also a proud mother of two, one daughter and one son. They enjoy being foodies, watching movies, and spending time with family.
Kim Darche
Adjunct Professor & 3rd Grade Teacher
New Lenox, IL
Kim discovered her passion for supporting adult learners when she volunteered to teach computer classes for senior citizens in her parish circa Windows 95. Since then, she has not stopped. Kim’s deep appreciation of questioning, researched-based instruction, and digital learning is what she brings to educators both in the hallways and the virtual spaces. She has been featured on podcasts and at conferences, written guest blog posts and chapters in books, but nothing is more fulfilling than a teacher reaching out years later to say Remember when … ” because it means she made a difference. If Kim had a tagline like a Real Housewife, it might be: “My advice: Keep telling them you are funny, and one day they might believe you!”
Lucia Hassell
Director of Technology Integration
Bethesda, MD
At Holton-Arms, the independent day school where Lucia does her work, Design Tech Studio isn’t just a class, it’s a vibrant workshop where students don their “maker hats” and forge STEAMy creations. This passionate educator, Lucia, fuels their risk-taking explorations with the credo: “Failure” equals success. Beyond the classroom she nurtures creativity as advisor to the Graphic Design Club, champions tech exploration as lead of the faculty Learning Innovation Team, and even leaves footprints (and killer dance moves) as founder of Howard University’s Quad Step Team.