Jake Miller
Jake Miller is an edtech and learning enthusiast who hosts the Educational Duct Tape podcast and shares #EduGIFs at @JakeMillerTech and on JakeMiller.net. He works as a Technology Integration Coach for the Orange City School District in Ohio. Before shifting his focus to supporting teachers in the integration of technology, he spent 12 years in the classroom teaching math, science & STEM at various grade levels. Jake’s favorite job, however, is his full-time position as a husband and father.
The #EduDuctTape Podcast, hosted by Jake Miller, focuses on viewing #edtech as a tool used to meet goals, address learning standards and solve problems in the classroom, much as duct tape is used as a tool that solves a plethora of problems in our lives. In each episode, Jake sits down with a different inspiring guest to share and discuss some awesome ideas for using tech in the classroom! Join us for Educational Duct Tape, every other week on Wednesday!
Ken Shelton
Ken currently holds an M.A. in Education with a specialization in Educational Technology as well as New Media Design and Production. He has worked as an Educator for over 14 years and most recently taught technology at the Middle School level. As a part of his active involvement within the Educational Technology community, Ken is an Apple Distinguished Educator and a Google Certified Innovator. Ken has worked extensively at the policy level and was named to the California State Superintendent of Public Instruction's Education Technology Task Force. Ken regularly gives keynotes, presentations, and leads workshops, many of which are hands-on, covering a wide variety of Educational Technology, Technology Integration, Equity and Inclusion, Multimedia Literacy, Visual Storytelling, and Instructional Design topics. Ken is the ISTE Digital Equity PLN 2018 Excellence Award winner.
Eric Combs, 2020 Illinois TOY
Mr. Eric Combs is the 2020 Illinois Teacher of the Year. He is in his 15th year of teaching middle school level bands. Mr. Combs has both a Bachelor's degree and a Master's degree in Music Education from Eastern Illinois University.
Mr. Combs began his career teaching 6th-8th grade band in Robinson, Illinois for three years from 2005-2008. He then became the beginning band director at Richland County Middle School in Olney, Illinois. An Olney native, Mr. Combs now teaches in the same room where he first played the sax as an 11 year old.
Under the direction of Mr. Combs, the RCMS bands have earned national recognition. The music department has won awards four times through the "Best Communities for Music Education" program, being named one of a select few top school music departments in the United States. The band program has been recognized twice in recent years by the United States Congress, and regularly earns perfect superior ratings at state contest. Director Eric Combs was a recipient of a 2019 Golden Apple Award from WTHI TV10, Terre Haute. In August of 2019, Mr. Combs was awarded the "Good Neighbor" educator award from WSIU (National Public Radio), Carbondale, Il.
Mr. Combs is an active internet personality in the band director world with over 5,000 band director followers on his various sites. He shares his insights into the profession through his Facebook site, "Thoughts From a Beginning Band Director." He shares video footage of classroom teaching, and lectures about his methods, with other directors through his site, "Sound Beginnings Beginner Band Series." He has also developed and maintained the sites "Band Directors Share," "Southern Illinois Band Directors," and "Illinois Band Director Job Openings." Mr. Combs has written three books for band directors. He shares these and his many other teaching materials for free. He has also been published in SBO Magazine (School Band And Orchestra), the online magazine Band Directors Talk Shop, and has a feature episode on the Everything Band podcast. From August 2018 - August 2019, Mr. Combs was contacted by over 650 band directors from around the world for teaching advice.
Mr. Combs began his career teaching 6th-8th grade band in Robinson, Illinois for three years from 2005-2008. He then became the beginning band director at Richland County Middle School in Olney, Illinois. An Olney native, Mr. Combs now teaches in the same room where he first played the sax as an 11 year old.
Under the direction of Mr. Combs, the RCMS bands have earned national recognition. The music department has won awards four times through the "Best Communities for Music Education" program, being named one of a select few top school music departments in the United States. The band program has been recognized twice in recent years by the United States Congress, and regularly earns perfect superior ratings at state contest. Director Eric Combs was a recipient of a 2019 Golden Apple Award from WTHI TV10, Terre Haute. In August of 2019, Mr. Combs was awarded the "Good Neighbor" educator award from WSIU (National Public Radio), Carbondale, Il.
Mr. Combs is an active internet personality in the band director world with over 5,000 band director followers on his various sites. He shares his insights into the profession through his Facebook site, "Thoughts From a Beginning Band Director." He shares video footage of classroom teaching, and lectures about his methods, with other directors through his site, "Sound Beginnings Beginner Band Series." He has also developed and maintained the sites "Band Directors Share," "Southern Illinois Band Directors," and "Illinois Band Director Job Openings." Mr. Combs has written three books for band directors. He shares these and his many other teaching materials for free. He has also been published in SBO Magazine (School Band And Orchestra), the online magazine Band Directors Talk Shop, and has a feature episode on the Everything Band podcast. From August 2018 - August 2019, Mr. Combs was contacted by over 650 band directors from around the world for teaching advice.
Justin Johnson, 2021 Illinois TOY
Justin Johnson is entering his 9th year as Director of Bands at Niles West High School in Skokie, Illinois where he oversees all aspects of the band program. He received his Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from the University of Memphis and his Master’s degree in Music Education from Eastern Illinois University. Mr. Johnson has also served on staff for a number of nationally recognized ensembles including the Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps for over a decade and the US Army All-American Marching Band from 2013-2015 and again in 2018. He has adjudicated and given clinics for concert ensembles, marching band, indoor drumline, winter guard, and jazz ensembles across the United States.
Mr. Johnson prides himself on creating a classroom culture focused on student growth while creating an atmosphere that cultivates accountability, responsibility, and goodwill. His voice is valuable as a fresh perspective in education and he always seeks to teach values and lessons that reach beyond the bandroom. Johnson has always been a leader in demanding equitable practices, equal access to music, and creating systemic change to promote cultural diversity in music through various initiatives and commission projects.
In 2016, Mr. Johnson was named a finalist for the Golden Apple Award and named a teacher of distinction. In 2020, he was named the Zemsky Teacher of the year for Niles West High School in addition to being named the 2021 Illinois Teacher of the Year. He is an active member of Illinois Music Education Association, NAfME.
Mr. Johnson prides himself on creating a classroom culture focused on student growth while creating an atmosphere that cultivates accountability, responsibility, and goodwill. His voice is valuable as a fresh perspective in education and he always seeks to teach values and lessons that reach beyond the bandroom. Johnson has always been a leader in demanding equitable practices, equal access to music, and creating systemic change to promote cultural diversity in music through various initiatives and commission projects.
In 2016, Mr. Johnson was named a finalist for the Golden Apple Award and named a teacher of distinction. In 2020, he was named the Zemsky Teacher of the year for Niles West High School in addition to being named the 2021 Illinois Teacher of the Year. He is an active member of Illinois Music Education Association, NAfME.
