About

Tim Swick

I am a 4th and 5th grade Montessori teacher at Pontiac Elementary School in Richland School District Two. This is my 16th year teaching. I enjoy challenging my students to become independent and creative thinkers through the integration of 21st Century Learning tools. As I started as a classroom teacher, I was initially drawn towards creating innovative experiences for my students. In 2005, I had the opportunity to be selected as my school's "Teacher of the Year", and was additionally chosen as a district "Honor Roll Teacher." In 2006, I successfully completed National Board Certification, and in 2016 I renewed this certification.

​Over the course of my career as an educator, I have had the opportunity to develop my educational technology skills in a variety of ways. Twelve years ago, I was selected to pilot an early desktop version of one-to-one computing classroom in Richland School District Two known as "iTech" classrooms, and four years ago, I participated in our district's creation of "updated" one-to-one classroom using mobile "Chromebook" devices.

​Most recently, I have become interested in ways to expand critical thinking, creativity and career-ready skills in my classroom. Because of this I have begun integrating computer science skills like "coding" into projects. I am also proud to have begun an afterschool "Lego" Robotics team that competes in the USFirst Lego League.

Marissa Young

I am Marissa Young, 4th Grade elementary teacher at Pontiac Elementary located in Elgin, South Carolina. I have been teaching for 11 years in the elementary general education classroom. I have a Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education and a Master's Degree in Divergent Learning. I am currently teaching in a PBL classroom.

While I have had much experience presenting about personalized learning, the Maker Faire is a new experience that I am excited to share with other educators to help them create and experience a Maker Faire at their own school