Thank you to all of our teachers presenting

 Without our teachers, today would not be possible. 

Tisha is a high school culinary arts teacher, author, podcast host, and i2e Education Specialist from Southern Oregon. With over 20 years in Family & Consumer Science and experience as a Tech Integration Specialist, she brings creativity and innovation to education. She is president of Southern Oregon CUE and serves on the CUE executive board. Tisha has authored Make Learning MAGICAL, co-authored the EduProtocol Companion Guide, and co-wrote the children’s book Dragon Smart with her son, Tommy—each inspiring playful, engaging learning experiences for students and educators alike.

In 2018, she was a recipient of Medford School District's Golden Pear Educator Secondary Teacher Award and a first place winner of the Henry Ford Innovation Nation Educator Award. Tisha is passionate about infusing joy, passion, play, and gamified strategies to immerse and empower our 21st century learners and make learning a MAGICAL experience for all! She connects globally with educators around the world continuously reaching beyond her comfort zone to grow and help transform the educational landscape so all learners can thrive. 

Mikah Ruiz-Marquez is an alumnus of Waubonsie Valley High School, Class of 2015. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Music Education from North Central College in Naperville, IL. He then pursued a Master’s in Business Management at Stanford University, followed by a second Master’s in Business Administration with a focus on Training and Development from Illinois State University. Currently, he is pursuing his Doctorate at DePaul University.

Mikah has been involved in the restaurant industry since he was 16, starting as a host at Chili’s and working his way through every position. In his management career, he has served as General Manager for Oberweis Dairy - Tri-Brands, opened and managed a franchise concept, and worked as General Manager for MidiCi in downtown Naperville. He has also been Director of Training for Bar Louie and is currently the Assistant General Manager at Cheesecake Factory, where he has been for three years. 

He is truly passionate about the restaurant industry because it allows him to connect with people, lead teams, and create memorable experiences every day. This career fuels his drive to grow, learn, and make a positive impact in every role he takes on.