Sarah FitzHenry
Learning and Community Manager
Sarah FitzHenry is an educator working to provide equitable and engaging learning experiences for all students. As the Learning and Community Manager for BirdBrain Technologies, she connects, supports, and empowers educators all over the world as they bring creative robotics into their classrooms. Sarah is a tech geek, maker, writer, volunteer, and co-host of the Once Upon a Tech podcast. A Jane-of-all-trades, she can be found in Charlottesville, Virginia making mistakes, learning new things, and asking a lot of questions.
Erica Hogan
Operations Coordinator
Erica is responsible for many of the day to day operations at BirdBrain. She processes and creates orders, provides quotes, and manages the demo programs. She has a background in Secondary English Education and a Masters degree in Library and Information Science. Erica is an avid reader and in her free time she enjoys baking, playing D&D, and crafting.
Jenna Kindler
Business Manager
Jenna is your go-to team member for sales and business services, and, unofficially, cooking tips! Earlier in her career, Jenna led the design of museum curricula and exhibits, and participated in research projects funded by the National Science Foundation. Along with elementary teacher licensure and a Masters of Education degree in curriculum and instruction, Jenna offers experience with grants and philanthropic relations.
Tom Lauwers, Ph.D.
Founder & CEO
Tom founded BirdBrain Technologies in 2010 after receiving his doctorate in robotics from Carnegie Mellon University. His research was founded on engaging all students, regardless of background, in robotics and engineering. Tom seeks to design educational tools that catalyze positive making, coding, and engineering learning experiences in the classroom. Tom resides in Pittsburgh’s Squirrel Hill neighborhood with his wife, two kids, cat, and a small army of robots. He would be an invaluable ally in the event of a robot uprising.
Jen Norton
Product Coach
Jen provides technical support, curriculum development, and classroom integration strategies to teachers. With over 11 years of teaching Math and Computer Science, Jen is passionate about making Computer Science education accessible for all students. Jen resides in a quiet suburb outside of Atlanta with her husband, son, and two cats. In her free time, you can find Jen reading, playing video games, or going for a cruise in her ’65 Mustang.
Jake Sam
Operations Associate
Jake is responsible for day to day shipping and operations at BirdBrain. He processes orders, handles tech support, and creates and edits videos. He has a background in Film Studies and Economics from the University of Pittsburgh. Jake is a gamer and film buff and in his free time enjoys playing basketball and tracking sports stats.
Tyler Shetler
Shipping Specialist
Tyler assists in the day-to-day shipping and operations at BirdBrain. He processes, packs, and helps manage the inventory for all our orders. Tyler graduated from Duquesne University and has a background in Economics and Business Administration. In his spare time, Tyler is an avid sports fan and gamer. He is often harassed at home by his two cats.
Matt Chilbert
Professional Development Provider
Matt provides online professional development for BirdBrain Technologies. Working with organizations like the Jim Henson Company, The Lawrence Hall of Science, and Sesame Workshop, Matt has found his niche directly between the worlds of entertainment and education. A craftsman, a filmmaker, and a teacher, Matt has spent the last 20 years looking for new ways to engage young minds through storytelling and technology.
Kelsey Derringer
Professional Development Provider
Kelsey provides online professional development for BirdBrain Technologies. She has been an educator for over 15 years, working as a classroom English teacher and an after-school STEM teacher. Kelsey specializes in creating hands-on STEM learning experiences that are both fun and relevant to real classrooms. In her free time, Kelsey is also an avid writer and musician.