Our Why
One and done civics classes aren’t working. Civic-mindedness is a mindset – one that requires nurturing at all levels of our academic journey. As civics teachers, we’ve become increasingly distraught by the polarization and political climate that is plaguing so many nations. The world has too many problems to solve for us to be at a stand still. We need an all hands on deck movement to nurture the skills in our students that will enable them to be civically minded. It is our goal to use play to promote consensus so that students understand how to use their voice effectively to build a better world.
Meet Our Team
Brian Deters
Brian Deters has been in education for twenty-seven years teaching social studies and coaching varsity soccer in the U.S. and abroad. Brian, a co-host of the 4 A Better Tomorrow Podcast, flew back and forth from Switzerland to run in the 2018 election as a U.S. Congressional primary candidate from the 18th District of Illinois. Brian holds a Bachelor’s in Secondary Education from the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign as well as a Master’s Degree in Educational Administration from Illinois State University where he also served as an adjunct professor working in the field with student teachers in 2018 and 2019. He currently teaches sociology and civics at Morton High School in Morton, IL.
Michelle Blanchet
Michelle is an educational consultant that infuses startup strategies into professional learning so that teachers are empowered to bring changemaking, social innovation, and SDGs into their work. After teaching social studies in both the U.S. and Switzerland, she founded the Educators’ Lab, which supports teacher-driven solutions to educational challenges. Michelle is the co-author of The Startup Teacher Playbook, and Preventing Polarization (2023). She has worked with organizations like PBS Education and Ashoka, and occasionally blogs for Edutopia. A graduate of IE University in Madrid, she is a part of the Global Shaper Community of the World Economic Forum and has presented at numerous events, including SXSWedu and TEDxLausanne. Her focus – teacher empowerment.
Brian Field
Brian Field has always been interested in fostering creativity and experimenting with group dynamics and gaming in the classroom. Teaching has taken Brian across the globe observing secondary schools in Australia, teaching middle schoolers in Michigan, USA and then spending a year teaching secondary students in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. He currently teaches at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Virginia, rated as one of the top high schools in America according to US and World News Report. At Thomas Jefferson, Brian served as Humanities Assistant Division Manager and Social Studies Department Chair until his tenure was up in 2020. Since then, he has continued his work developing multiple curriculum frameworks and summer programs including “Legitimate-Decision Making in Times of Crisis.” In 2019, he was nominated to Gilder Lehrman Virginia Social Studies Teacher of the Year and several times has been the Honored Guest at the Outstanding Educators Banquet for Loudoun County Public Schools. In addition, he currently consults with President Lincoln’s Cottage Museum which in collaboration with Brain Genius developed Brave Ideas, an elementary civic minded classroom game on nurturing and adapting ideas.
Peter Williamson
Peter Williamson is a professional golfer turned social entrepreneur who uses his love of knowledge of games, design, and philanthropy to catalyze change in communities. He co-founded two play-based ventures in Game Genius (nonprofit) and Barometer XP (for-profit). He also co-chairs a local giving circle in DC, sits on two nonprofit boards, and is an active Global Shapers member. Peter has a BA in Studio Art and Geography from Dartmouth College. He lives in Germantown, MD with his wife and 2 cats.