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Nicholas Provenzano

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Nicholas Provenzano is a Technology Coordinator and Makerspace Director at University Liggett School in Michigan. He is also an author, makerspace builder, international keynote speaker, and consultant. He writes on his website, TheNerdyTeacher.com, Edutopia.org, as well as many other prominent educational websites. He has been featured on CNN.com, Education Week, and other media outlets. In 2013, he was awarded the Technology Teacher of the Year by MACUL and ISTE.

Nicholas is a Google Certified Innovator, ASCD Emerging Leader, Raspberry Pi Certified Educator, and a TEDEd Innovative Educator. His best-selling books, Your Starter Guide to Makerspaces and The Maker Mentality can be found on Amazon. He also hosts The Maker Mentality Podcast which can be found on Anchor.fm and other podcasting sites. Nicholas loves sharing plenty of nerdy things on Twitter and Instagram at @TheNerdyTeacher.

Some of Nicholas's Webinars

Presented by Nicholas Provenzano Wednesday, October 24, 2018
6:00 - 6:30 PM EDT
Presented by Nicholas Provenzano Wednesday, September 19, 2018
5:00 - 5:30 PM EDT
Presented by Nicholas Provenzano Tuesday, March 7, 2017
5:00 - 5:30 PM EST

Meet SimpleK12 Trainer Nicholas Provenzano

Q & A with Nicholas Provenzano

If you weren't in education, what do you think you'd be doing and why?

Something in advertising. I love being creative and think that would be a great place for my creative juices.

When you were a kid, you wanted to be a ______? Why?

Archeologist. Indiana Jones made archeology look so awesome. As I got older, I thought all of the cool stuff was found, so I took another road. I still watch the History channel and realize I could be doing both.

What's your idea of happiness?

Being with my wife and son. Nothing makes me happier than hanging out with them.

Twitter changed my life because:

I know have a network of people that I can count on at any time.

What are your favorite books and authors?

As a Literature teacher, you are basically asking me to pick my favorite child. So, here is what I pick now, but it changes regularly. Fahrenheit 451 - Bradbury, Catcher in the Rye - Salinger, Adventures of Huck Finn- Twain

The teacher who had the biggest impact on me and why:

Another tough question. So many great ones taught me so many different things. I like to think I took all of the best traits and made them my own.

If you were dictator and had total control, tomorrow education would:

Free and equal, no matter where you lived.

If you could live anywhere other than where you are, it would be:

I have a fondness for Italy. I love Rome but my wife really loved Florence, so it would probably be Florence.

The biggest problem with K-12 education is:

Inequity. Where you live should not determine how you learn.

Do you have a motto you live by?

"It is not the critic who counts, nor the man who points out how the strong man stumbled, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena; whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, and spends himself in a worthy cause; Who, at the best, knows in the end the triumph of high achievement; and who, at the worst, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat." (Theodore Roosevelt)

I've always wanted to visit:

Ireland

What are your most treasured possessions?

iPhone, iPad, and my Playstation 3.

If you never had to worry about making money, what would you do?

I would still teach. I love teaching and being involved in education.

What kind of kid were you in high school?

I played soccer, but also did theater my senior year. I was just an average kid looking to get through high school.

What's the best piece of advice someone ever gave you?

Even if you want to be a ditch digger, try and be the best one there is. (My Dad.)

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