Dr. Ethan Danahy is a Research Associate Professor at the Center for Engineering Education and Outreach (CEEO) with secondary appointment in the Department of Computer Science within the School of Engineering at Tufts University, outside of Boston MA USA. Having received his graduate degrees in Computer Science and Electrical Engineering from Tufts University, he continues research in the design, implementation, and evaluation of different educational technologies. Ranging from software and hardware to interfaces and environments, Prof. Danahy explores how these tools can improve interactive educational pedagogies through supports aimed at learners in K-12 through university classrooms. With particular attention to engaging students in the STEAM content areas, he focuses his investigations on enhancing creativity and innovation, supporting better documentation, and encouraging collaborative learning. As society discusses the global impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI), Professor Danahy is most recently examining the role of Machine Learning (ML) and AI in education, from how teachers are changing their instructional practices and students are learning in new and innovative ways.

Jessica is a P1 homeroom teacher for students aged 5-6 at International School of Billund. She has a Ph.D. in Child Studies from the Minho University in Portugal and a Masters in Sociology of Childhood from the UFRGS in Brazil.

Meet the English Language & Literature team in Middle School (students aged 10-16) at the International School of Billund! Between the three of them, they have almost fifty years of teaching experience, having taught in seven different countries in state, private, grammar, university and international schools.

Ella Hufford is a dedicated kindergarten teacher with passion for learning through play, working at International School of Billund. Ella hold a Bachelor's Degree in Early Years Education and a Master's Degree in Education.
With her educational background, work experience and passion for culture and language diversity, Ella is committed to creating an inclusive and engaging learning environment for the early learners.

Alessandra Landini is the Principal of the I.C. A. Manzoni in Reggio Emilia. She has a PhD in Human Sciences, thesis in Physics Education from the Department of Education and Human Sciences at the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, and a Master Degree in Organization and Management of Multicultural School Institutions from Alma Mater, Bologna. Her other areas of interest range from general didactics to innovative teaching. As a General Didactics’ expert at UNIMORE, she provides integrative teaching activities at the university. She collaborates with the "Metaphor and Narrative in Science" research center and provides teacher training on inclusive didactics as a national trainer for AID (Italian Dyslexia Association). Other areas of research focus on the use of descriptive evaluation in first and second grade secondary schools and teacher training as a community of practice, with particular attention to the development of creative skills in STEAM, integrating school and museum settings.

Helen Issar is the founder and director of Papagoya, a Nordic inspired model kindergarten and school firmly based in principles of Play in learning. With over 20 years of experience spanning multiple continents and across marketing, entrepreneurship, and education, her passion to support women back to work post motherhood and allow them time and space to balance family and careers combined with her love to create joyful learning environments for children, resulted in the start of Papagoya. Through Papagoya's play-focused model, Helen Isaar is transforming education in India by adapting holistic, play-centric approaches and ensuring joyful and meaningful learning for children. Helen is also featured in "Hum: When Women Lead," a book by UN Women and the Ford Foundation, recognizing her contribution to supporting working women and reinventing education in India.

Gilleon Clark is a teacher at International School Billund. Originally from Scotland, Gilleon is a passionate advocate of learning through play and lover of all things literacy!

Mario Casas is a Music and Spanish teacher in Middle School at the International School of Billund. Mario has a passion for play and AI.

Ruta Gerasimavice is a Kindergarten Teacher at the International School of Billund. With a background as a child psychologist, she has an experience in supporting children's social-emotional development. Ruta is passionate about making her classroom inclusive by using the Free of Bullying program.

Awanti Seth Rabenhøj is a Visual Arts and Design Teacher in Middle School (students aged 10-16) at the International School of Billund.

Chris Rogers has been at Tufts University for ages (his own words! 36 years). During that time he has done research for the National Science Foundation, the LEGO Foundation, LEGO Education, Steinway, Bach, NASA, Intel, and a few others. Chris Rogers' research efforts range from measuring particle behavior in turbulent flows in the absence of gravity (he flew over 700 parabola’s on NASA’s 0-g aircraft without getting sick) to working with instrument makers on understanding how sound is produced, to examining how students learn and helping develop hardware and software that motivates learning with LEGO Education.

David McFall is an experienced in-school principal with the Western Quebec School Board in Quebec, Canada. He has a wealth of knowledge of the current challenges and trends in today’s educational context. For the past 25 years, David has committed himself to re-thinking traditional school organization by focusing on learning through play and nature to ensure that all students have a successful, authentic, relevant, and joyful educational experience.

Eric is a teacher at International School Billund. He is originally from Scotland, and has 15 years of experience teaching primary. Cecilie is a 10 year old student in Eric's class at the International School of Billund.

Marina Benavente Barbón has been a teacher for 17 years , with nearly a decade spent at a school that embraces learning through play in Billund, Denmark. She has taught students from ages 3 to 99 and currently teaches MYP (Middle Years Programme) Science and Spanish. Passionate about playful learning, she continuously explores creative ways to help students overcome challenges with joy and curiosity.

Naomi Paxton taught for over 6 years in the USA in Early Childhood Education before moving to Denmark. Now she teaches at the International School of Billund, working in the Primary Years Programme (PYP) for the last 5 years.

Maartje Hermer is a history teacher and coach at Wings Agora Roermond.

Mitchel Resnick, Professor of Learning Research at the MIT Media Lab, develops technologies and activities to engage young people from diverse backgrounds in project-based, interest-driven learning experiences, helping them develop as creative, curious, caring, and collaborative learners. His Lifelong Kindergarten research group developed Scratch, the world’s most popular coding platform for children, used by more than 100 million young people around the world. The group recently launched OctoStudio, a free coding app that enables young people to express themselves creatively with mobile devices. Resnick has collaborated with the LEGO Company on the development of playful educational ideas and products, including the LEGO Mindstorms robotics kits. He also co-founded the Computer Clubhouse global network of 100 after-school learning centers for youth from marginalized communities. Resnick earned an undergraduate degree in physics from Princeton, and a Masters and PhD degrees in computer science from MIT. He was awarded the McGraw Prize in Education (2011), the LEGO Prize (2021), and the SIGCSE Award for Outstanding Contributions to Computer Science Education (2025). Resnick is author of the book Lifelong Kindergarten: Cultivating Creativity through Projects, Passion, Peers, and Play (2017).