Full Sail University’s Teacher Appreciation Week 2023 featured a week-long virtual conference that gave K-12 educators opportunities to enrich their professional development. More than 230 teachers from 200+ schools from around the United States and Brazil participated in the event which was focused on giving back to teachers with free webinars featuring award-winning Full Sail graduates along with amazing giveaways on behalf of the event’s sponsors.

K-12 educators from 30 different states were able to attend behind-the-scenes Q&A sessions featuring industry professionals discussing the various tools that make up projects in the entertainment media and emerging technology industries.

Notable Full Sail graduates Stephen Beres (HBO), Elbert Perez (Halo 4), Grant Shonkwiler (Epic Games), Fela Davis (Christian McBride, KRS One), and Jeremy Vickery (Pixar) shared their knowledge with educators in backstage sessions where they explored advancements and their experiences in industries including film and television, audio engineering, game development, technology, and animation.

The Global Teacher Networking Social invited educators to connect with peers from around the world, compete in trivia, and celebrate this year’s Extraordinary Educators. The three awarded educators were recognized for their contributions to the classroom by living what they teach, acting in the best interest of their students, and supporting and elevating the skills of their fellow teachers.

• Teresa Diaz - With more than 23 years in education, Teresa serves as the Membership Chair for the Art Educators of New Jersey and sponsors her school’s National Art Honor Society. She has received numerous awards for her advocacy work, including the 2021-2022 Hunterdon County Teacher of the Year and the Dare to Imagine Award for promoting art education for special needs students.
• Julius Edwards - Consistently finding new ways to supporting his students’ dreams through mentorship and competitive sports, Julius led the development of Palm Beach County’s first Esports Academy. Recently, he was recognized by his district as a “Thank the Teacher” recipient and selected by the Network of Academic and Scholastic Esports Federations as a Scholastic Fellow.
• Cintia Yamashita - Consistently encouraging her students to build upon their education outside the classroom by competing in multiple international competitions throughout the year, Cintia is a passionate educator with more than 10 years experience as a teacher. She recently received a promotion to Lead Teacher at her bilingual school in São Paulo, Brazil.

The event was made possible with help from sponsors including CDW G, MSI, Focusrite, and DELL. In partnership with sponsors, Full Sail was able to give away some incredible prizes for the K-12 educators in attendance. Winners walked away from the virtual week-long event with prizes including iPads, Apple Pencils, Bose headphones, a Nintendo Switch, Keurig coffee machines, Yeti microphones, and more.

Join us in our K-12 Educator Facebook Group to learn more about Full Sail’s Outreach initiatives or to get your school involved!