Zack’s work in curriculum design began shortly after he completed his undergraduate degree at Temple University. Using the knowledge and skills he’d mastered as a film student, he wrote a video production curriculum for fifty high school students in a credit recovery program at Fairhill Community High School in North Philadelphia. The summer program students, all former dropouts, produced a documentary about the dropout crisis in Philadelphia public schools. The film includes students’ personal stories, and interviews with school and public officials, including former Philadelphia mayor Michael Nutter.
Zack’s work in North Philadelphia led him to another video production program at the Arts Academy at Benjamin Rush, another Philadelphia high school. There he worked as a teaching artist with the Big Picture Alliance. These early experiences teaching young people sparked an interest in education, which led him to pursue his teaching license at the University of Pittsburgh. While enrolled at Pitt, Zack worked as a student teacher, designing lessons for 11th and 12th grade Language Arts students at Mount Lebanon High School, a nationally ranked Blue Ribbon School.
In the spring of 2011, Zack completed his teacher preparation program with endorsements in secondary English and Communications, and applied for a teaching position with the Department of Defense Education Activity (DODEA). By August of that year, he had relocated to Germany to teach English and video courses at the brand new Schweinfurt American High School. The Army’s Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) plan shuttered the high school in Schweinfurt after three years, but in that time Zack had a chance to shape school culture, create a nurturing learning environment, and build a school video program from scratch. He was awarded a Certificate of Appreciation by the garrison commander for his service to the well-being of Schweinfurt military dependents.
Following the closure at Schweinfurt, Zack transferred to Bitburg American High School for his final year of teaching overseas. During his four years in Germany, Zack taught English 7, 10, 11, 12 and AP Language and Composition, as well as several levels of middle and high school video production. In the summer of 2015 he was offered a position at the National Museum of the U.S. Army in Virginia and returned home to the U.S.. He now helps to design educational programs and exhibits for the brand new museum.
Zack’s work in North Philadelphia led him to another video production program at the Arts Academy at Benjamin Rush, another Philadelphia high school. There he worked as a teaching artist with the Big Picture Alliance. These early experiences teaching young people sparked an interest in education, which led him to pursue his teaching license at the University of Pittsburgh. While enrolled at Pitt, Zack worked as a student teacher, designing lessons for 11th and 12th grade Language Arts students at Mount Lebanon High School, a nationally ranked Blue Ribbon School.
In the spring of 2011, Zack completed his teacher preparation program with endorsements in secondary English and Communications, and applied for a teaching position with the Department of Defense Education Activity (DODEA). By August of that year, he had relocated to Germany to teach English and video courses at the brand new Schweinfurt American High School. The Army’s Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) plan shuttered the high school in Schweinfurt after three years, but in that time Zack had a chance to shape school culture, create a nurturing learning environment, and build a school video program from scratch. He was awarded a Certificate of Appreciation by the garrison commander for his service to the well-being of Schweinfurt military dependents.
Following the closure at Schweinfurt, Zack transferred to Bitburg American High School for his final year of teaching overseas. During his four years in Germany, Zack taught English 7, 10, 11, 12 and AP Language and Composition, as well as several levels of middle and high school video production. In the summer of 2015 he was offered a position at the National Museum of the U.S. Army in Virginia and returned home to the U.S.. He now helps to design educational programs and exhibits for the brand new museum.
About
Zack Cyphers is a Pittsburgher living and working in the Seattle area. He is a graduate of the Film and Media Arts program at Temple University, and the Designing Digital Learning in Schools program at George Mason University's College of Education and Human Development. He earned his teaching credentials at the University of Pittsburgh.
Zack has spent the last decade working as an educator in formal and informal settings both at home and abroad. He has taught public school students in nearly every grade K-12, designed interactive experiences for a national museum, and managed a K-5 library media program and currently works as a data specialist in a large public school district.
Zack is interested in the ways technology can enhance teaching and learning. He knows that technology is not the solution to every problem, but he has seen the potential of the right tools deployed in thoughtful and equitable ways. He is skilled at integrating web apps and other technology into his practice. He knows that even the youngest learners can become creators and curators rather than simply passive consumers. Zack employs modern technology to share best practices with friends and colleagues around the globe. He knows that prosperous communities depend on the collective wisdom of their members. He is a firm believer in the growth mindset, human-centered design, and the power of collective knowledge in solving complex problems.
Click to read more.
Zack has spent the last decade working as an educator in formal and informal settings both at home and abroad. He has taught public school students in nearly every grade K-12, designed interactive experiences for a national museum, and managed a K-5 library media program and currently works as a data specialist in a large public school district.
Zack is interested in the ways technology can enhance teaching and learning. He knows that technology is not the solution to every problem, but he has seen the potential of the right tools deployed in thoughtful and equitable ways. He is skilled at integrating web apps and other technology into his practice. He knows that even the youngest learners can become creators and curators rather than simply passive consumers. Zack employs modern technology to share best practices with friends and colleagues around the globe. He knows that prosperous communities depend on the collective wisdom of their members. He is a firm believer in the growth mindset, human-centered design, and the power of collective knowledge in solving complex problems.
Click to read more.
The image used in the header of this site is a painting by a student at the American International School in Vienna, Austria. It is a reinterpretation of Van Gogh's Starry Night.
