Transforming Classrooms and Communities with Dr. Nadine Ebri
How personalized learning, bold entrepreneurship, and community-rooted innovation are reshaping education technology for all
At Thinkering Media, we believe the future of education isn’t defined by tools alone — it’s built by the people who have the courage to challenge how things have always been done. Our InnovateHer series exists to spotlight exactly that: Women of Color who are driving meaningful change in EdTech, education, and the lives of learners everywhere.
In this episode, host Yaritza Villalba sat down with Dr. Nadine Ebri, whose journey from a misunderstood student to an award-winning educator and founder of her own EdTech consulting firm reveals just how powerful it can be to rethink the basics — who gets to lead, how students get to learn, and what communities need to thrive.
A path defined by empathy and innovation
Dr. Ebri began her story by recalling her own early years as a student who never quite fit the mold. Sitting still, reading quietly — none of it connected for her. What did? Hands-on lessons, music class, any moment where creativity and movement were welcome. It’s no surprise that when she became a teacher, she was determined to create the kind of classroom she never had.
Yet it didn’t happen instantly. Like many new educators, her first instinct was to teach the way she had been taught. The results were disheartening. “My scores looked like a battlefield,” she said. Facing a crossroads, she chose to transform. That fall, she gathered her second graders in a circle and asked a question many had never heard from an adult: How do you want to learn?
What followed was a radical shift. Students wanted to sing, dance, act, even teach the lessons themselves. Dr. Ebri honored their voices — scripting lessons for students to lead, treating them with the same respect she expected for herself. Engagement soared. One lesson even led to a viral classroom video with millions of views and attention from celebrities. But the deeper impact was local and personal: students who had struggled were now the ones teaching, performing, and thriving.
Building Every Education: from proving brilliance to owning it
Years later, after rising into EdTech leadership roles and eventually managing global communities for Minecraft Education, Dr. Ebri faced another critical pivot. She realized she had been pouring her energy into building capacity for everyone else — school districts, large tech companies — while sidelining her own vision.
That realization drove her to launch Every Education, an EdTech consulting company focused on deeply personalized training, AI integration, and creative program design. The decision was anything but easy. She described the fear of leaving stable roles, the uncertainty of whether her business could sustain her. But when she finally committed fully to her own venture, the results were immediate and affirming.
“Every time I invested in my business, it thrived. Every time I tried to go back, doors closed. It was clear. I had to sink or swim — and sinking wasn’t an option.”
It’s a lesson many educators and EdTech professionals will recognize. Too often, brilliant, purpose-driven individuals spend decades building systems for others without ever investing in their own ideas. Dr. Ebri’s story is a reminder that taking that risk is not just about personal success; it’s about bringing much-needed innovation directly to the communities who need it most.
Personalized training and the power of asking why
One of the standout elements of Dr. Ebri’s approach is her insistence that no two trainings should look the same. While much of the education consulting world relies on one-size-fits-all decks and pre-baked blueprints, she begins every engagement by asking districts: What’s your purpose for this?
Is it about easing teacher workload? Increasing student engagement? Preparing young people for the workforce with AI? Each reason demands a different strategy. For Dr. Ebri, taking the time to tailor professional development isn’t a luxury; it’s the only way to ensure lasting impact. It’s also how you respect educators’ time and intelligence — creating sessions where they don’t wish they were somewhere else, but instead build practical tools they can immediately bring back to their classrooms.
This philosophy ties directly back to her earliest lessons with her second graders. Whether working with seven-year-olds or entire school systems, meaningful change starts by asking: What do you need, and how do you want to get there?
Innovating close to home: an app for kids with autism, and training families alongside students
While Dr. Ebri’s professional work spans states and countries, she is equally committed to making sure the people closest to her aren’t left behind. Her next big project — developing an app to support children with autism — started not in a boardroom but at home. Her daughter, who is autistic and deeply engaged with technology, will be the first tester. If it helps her thrive, Dr. Ebri plans to release it to support countless other families looking for tools they can’t currently find.
It’s the same reason she offers direct sessions not just for teachers and students, but also for families. In her words, “As kids get ahead, we can’t let their parents stay behind.” Building true community capacity means ensuring parents have the confidence and skills to navigate an increasingly tech-driven world, too.
A different kind of control, a different kind of legacy
In one of the episode’s most striking moments, Yaritza closed with a game: Control, Alt, Inspire. When asked what control she had to release to move forward, Dr. Ebri answered simply: she had to let go of the need to orchestrate every detail. Trusting the direction she was being called to follow made space for the impact she’s now having.
And when it came to advice for other Women of Color in EdTech or STEM, her words were clear and urgent:
“Invest in yourself. You’re building up your own legacy, not just someone else’s. That’s the best investment you’ll ever make.”
Why this matters for all of us
At Thinkering Media, we see Dr. Nadine Ebri’s story as emblematic of what happens when educators stop waiting for permission to innovate and start building what their communities truly need. Her journey from misunderstood student to visionary founder demonstrates why personal perspective matters — and why equity in EdTech is about so much more than who’s sitting at the table. It’s about who gets to design the table in the first place.
For more conversations like this, and to continue exploring how Women of Color are transforming education technology and beyond, stay connected with InnovateHer and the rest of our Thinkering Media storytelling. Together, we’re rethinking what education can be — for every learner, every family, and every community.
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