Stephanie Howell’s mission is to create more personalized and differentiated learning experiences that empower every student to overcome obstacles. As a Teaching and Learning Coordinator and founding member of Global GEG and Gold EDU, Stephanie works to make this vision a reality. A sought-after speaker at conferences worldwide, her recent accomplishments include contributing to an ISTE Distinguished District, becoming a Google Innovator, and being named a 2023 #ISTE 20 to Watch.

Your WHY 

Diagnosed with a learning disability in second grade, I struggled in school and became determined to create a better experience for other students. I thrived on hands-on learning—building, experimenting, and even taking things apart. My passion is to create learning environments where every student can learn in a way that works best for them.

Your Background Growing Up

My parents have always been my biggest advocates, especially during my time in a self-contained special education classroom. They never accepted the limitations the label implied, and constantly pushed for me to have more inclusive experiences.  They understood that being included in the regular education classroom, even for part of the day, was crucial for my growth, academically and socially. They went above and beyond, advocating for me in meetings, working with teachers to create individualized plans, and ensuring I had the support I needed to succeed in a more integrated environment. They were tireless in their efforts, always believing in my potential even when others might have doubted it.

Their support wasn’t just about academics. They instilled in me a strong sense of self-worth and never let me feel defined by my special education label. They celebrated my strengths and encouraged me to pursue my passions.  They taught me to advocate for myself, a skill that has been valuable throughout my life.

Now, years later, I’m living in Ohio, and my parents are incredibly close by.  They live behind me with my husband, Kevin, and our children, AJ and Eli. Having them so close is a blessing.  Their unwavering support continues to be a source of strength for me. AJ is a lot like me. He is so creative, and I do not want school to crush creativity like it did to me. So now I am learning about advocating for him like my parents did for me. 



Your journey as an educator 

Considering my rocky start with school, I struggled, felt different, and hated school. That feeling persisted through college. I didn’t connect with the traditional learning environment, and felt like I was constantly failing. It wasn’t until much later that I understood why. A master’s degree focused on Educational leadership from Western Governors University helped me find who I wanted to be.

My path has taken me through several roles at Pickerington Local School District, each building on the last: from Intervention Specialist, where I worked directly with students who struggled like I did, to Instructional Tech Coordinator, where I helped integrate technology into the classroom, then Instructional Tech Coach, where I supported teachers in using technology effectively. I’m fortunate that Brian Seymore believed in me and that I was able to contribute to our district becoming an ISTE Distinguished District...