Theme: Reach

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).

W.C. Mepham High School
2401 Camp Avenue
Bellmore, New York, 11710
United States

Carissa Lintao

Hailed "a trailblazer" by Forbes Media, Carissa Lintao has spent the past five years working in the "App economy" as a common-sense app strategist and educator. Currently the CEO of Apptuitive, an award-winning app store optimization agency, she has overseen the growth and development of over 200 apps. Carissa is a "Kind Innovator" and believes that founders, designers, developers, and makers have an obligation to uphold responsibility for everything they build. She researches and reports on overlooked ethical issues surrounding technology, such as humane design, social media usage, app developer responsibility, and inequality. Carissa has been featured on Forbes, Business Insider, CNBC, Thrive Global, and Roadtrip Nation's documentary,Venture Forward, for her entrepreneurial efforts and focus on utilizing technology for good.

Joseph Labriola

Joe Labriola is an author and professor at Stony Brook University. His writing is largely focused around issues of environmental sustainability. He is an adamant beach cleaner and founder of the Long Island North Shore Beach Cleaners. He is also the founder and host of Professor Labs Podcast. In his spare time, Joe can be found hiking, swimming, and of course, combing local beaches for plastic waste. His first guidebook,The Beach Cleaner’s Guide to Getting Trashed, outlines his experiences and tips for beach cleaners new and old to get involved in making a difference in their local communities and beyond.

Scott Azar

Scott Azar (Educator) Scott Azar is a high school Earth Science teacher, an International Society of Technology in Education (ISTE) certified educator, a geology enthusiast, and a chronic adventurer from Oceanside, NY. He holds a B.S. in Earth Science and Adolescent Education from SUNY Oneonta and Masters degrees from Stonybrook University and Mercy College in Adolescent Education and School & District Leadership, respectively. Scott is always looking for fresh and innovative content to learn and teach, and he loves sharing his expertise. He is a frequent guest speaker in NYSUT ELT courses, a Level II Google Educator, and a G-Camp for Teachers participant.

Sofia Gutierrez Boker

Student/ Blogger

Sofia Gutierrez Boker (Student/ Blogger) Sofia Gutierrez Boker is an innovator who is passionate about her blog called MNDAY BFAST, where she shares international breakfast recipes to kickstart the week with creativity. Sofia is the creator of The Chemistry of Cooking, a school club where she and her peers conduct experiments to explore the scientific explanations behind culinary questions such as, ‘How does popcorn pop?’ Sofia spends her weekends as a ski instructor, where she shares her love of skiing with children. Adding even more dimension to her life, Sofia is an athlete on the varsity cross country track and field team at her school and has participated in art study programs at the Whitney Museum of Art in New York City.

Terence Houlihan

Terence Houlihan (Educator) Since 1995, Terence Houlihan has been a teacher, counselor, and administrator in high schools and higher education institutions in the NY Metropolitan Area. Currently, he is the director of a school-wide K12 counseling program in Westchester County and lectures at CUNY Lehman College’s graduate school of education. He has written blog posts, articles and textbook chapters on the teenage brain, parenting, and counseling adolescents. Terence has appeared on radio programs and podcasts and speaks to parents and teachers across the U.S. and other countries on parenting and brain-based interventions. He believes that we can change the paradigm, one teenager at a time.

Timothy Needles

Tim Needles (Artist, Educator) Tim Needles is an artist, educator, and author of STEAM Power: Infusing Art Into Your STEM Curriculum. He is an Adobe Master Teacher and has been teaching fine art, film history, animation, and media arts for over eight years in the Smithtown School District and at the college level. Tim has been featured on NPR and in The New York Times. Additionally, his artwork has been featured in The Columbus Museum of Art, The Norman Rockwell Museum, The Alexandria Museum of Art, The Katonah Museum of Art, and The Cape Cod Museum of Art. He’s the recipient of ISTE’s Technology in Action Award and Creativity Award, NAEA’s AET Outstanding Teaching Award, and The Rauschenberg Power of Art Award. He’s served as a National Geographic Certified Teacher, PBS Digital Innovator, and Adobe Education Leader and is active on social media at @timneedles.