To prepare and inspire the next generation of learners, we need to invest in our teachers. They must embody 21st-century skills—collaboration, critical thinking, creativity, and communication.
Adopting educational technology and modern pedagogy must be transformative—engaging students in innovative learning experiences that shape their future.
Imagine a classroom where learning transcends textbooks, where technology empowers teachers to ignite curiosity in every student. That is the vision driving Global Learning Access (GLA), a Silicon Valley partnership dedicated to revolutionizing education. We are not just about tools; we are about cultivating 21st-century skills—critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and creativity—transforming teaching methodologies for a dynamic world.
This journey began with Gertrude Quiros Gregorio, a seasoned educator with 35 years of experience, including leading Foothill College's Adaptive Learning division. Recognizing the need for transformative change in the Philippines, she launched the precursor to GLA's Catalyst program in 2013, partnering with Foothill College and Pangasinan Congresswoman Rachel Arenas, with vital support from the Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco, to aid the crucial K-12 transition.
GLA launched in partnership with Foothill College, San Francisco Philippine Consulate General, former Congresswoman Rachel Arenas, and the Department of Education.
The impact spread, reaching the vibrant educators of Iloilo by 2019, where enhanced teaching methodologies took root. Then, the pandemic struck, demanding a swift pivot. GLA rose to the challenge, transitioning its Catalyst programs to virtual platforms, ensuring learning continued and reaching those previously beyond the classroom's reach.
Conducted EdTech training at Holy Rosary Academy in Iloilo for the Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines (CEAP) school networks from Ilocos Norte, Antique, Iloilo, and the Foundation University in Dumaguete.
Adapting to the Pandemic: Maiden edition of the online Catalyst+ program with teachers from St. Anne’s Academy in Piddig, Ilocos Norte and three public high schools in Zamboanga del Norte.
Fast forward to 2024: GLA joined forces with the Department of Education (DepEd), the Private Sector Advisory Council (PSAC) Education and Jobs Sector Group and the Private Sector Jobs and Skills Corp (PCORP), delivering transformative CATALYST training to 200 educators in Manila and Cebu. This pivotal initiative directly empowers the pilot implementation of the DepEd Enhanced Senior High School Work Immersion Program, bridging education with real-world skills.
Today, GLA stands as a beacon, gathering the brightest minds in education—Silicon Valley experts and global academics—to design and deliver courses that bring cutting-edge EdTech expertise from the U.S. to Asia's classrooms. We're not just training teachers; we're crafting the future of learning.
Gertrude Quiros Gregorio is an educator with 35 years of experience in executive leadership and educational policymaking. Her expertise lies in program development, education reform, and business leadership. During her tenure as Dean of Foothill College in Silicon Valley, she established the Adaptive Learning Division, a pioneering platform offering academic programs and support services for students with diverse learning needs, including veterans and lifelong learners.
Committed to making a broader impact, Gertrude served on the New Haven School Board in Northern California, overseeing one of the state's largest and most diverse school districts with more than 800 full-time teaching and non-teaching personnel and over 13,000 students. This experience provided invaluable insights into the complexities of educational governance and the far-reaching consequences of policy decisions.
Gertrude holds a master's degree in Educational Administration, Organization & Leadership from the University of San Francisco and has completed Management Development Program at Harvard University. She earned her Bachelor's degree in Foreign Service from the University of the Philippines.
Currently, Gertrude leads Global Learning Access (GLA), an organization dedicated to expanding equitable access to education by leveraging best practices, content, and resources to promote global advancement.
Claire is a dynamic professional with a robust background in business development and program management. In her role as Program Manager at Global Learning Access (GLA), Claire plays a crucial role in managing and implementing innovative EdTech programs, collaborating closely with government and industry stakeholders to deliver transformative learning solutions. Previously, she served as a Programs Development Officer at the Philippine Center for Entrepreneurship Foundation (Go Negosyo) and the ASEAN Business Advisory Council, where she led initiatives that supported micro, small, and medium enterprises across the region.
Alfonso M. Bicomong Jr. is a pharmaceutical and healthcare entrepreneur with over 29 years of experience. An expert in marketing, management, and business development, he founded various pharmaceutical enterprises, including Drugwell, ArtMed Pharma, and Wellness AG.
Today, Al heads two companies and owns equity in several others. His primary focus is on Pharmatechnica Laboratory Inc., one of the Philippines' premier manufacturers of healthcare and wellness products. Pharmatechnica develops quality, safe, and effective healthcare products, including pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, and cosmetics. The other company he leads is Total Wellness Pharma, a marketing company that distributes innovative medical supplies and exports them to nearby Asian countries.
His dedication to innovation, leadership, and people-centric approach has inspired his associates to strive for excellence, not just for themselves, but for the community they serve.
Fr. Tito Bonoan is an education leader with 30+ years experience in K-12 education in the US and the Philippines. As Superintendent of the Diocese of Laoag Educational System (DLCES) composed of 15 Catholic schools in the northern Philippines, he has turned it around from dwindling enrollment to a thriving local school network. He actively advocates 21st century education and uses his leadership role in influencing national policy decisions at the Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines (CEAP) and the Manila Archdiocesan Parochial Schools Association (MAPSA). He is currently finishing his doctoral program in educational leadership.
Kyle has been self-employed since 2010 . With an extensive background in online and network marketing and a passion for technology, Kyle is the founder of multiple e-commerce companies based in the United States with partners in Asia. He is excited to bring his online marketing and public relations experience to the GLA team.
With 30+ years in diplomacy, entrepreneurship, and corporate leadership, Josephine drives high-impact projects across ASEAN and the Philippines. Her expertise spans program planning, business development, and international trade and investment promotion, with extensive experience in North and South America, and Southeast Asia.
As a certified mentor, she champions digitalization and entrepreneurial development. Her firsthand challenges with venture funding inspired her to introduce Silicon Valley-style incubation to the Philippines through the Department of Trade and Industry’s e-Services Philippines Conference, fostering startup growth. Today, she propels the country's tech scene through ventures like Zip Fintech, a joint venture of Magpie.IM and the oldest bank in Southeast Asia.
Rushton Hurley has worked and studied on three continents as a Japanese language teacher, school principal, teacher trainer, and inspirational speaker. He founded and directs the educational nonprofit Next Vista for Learning, which houses a free library of creative educational videos at NextVista.org. Rushton holds masters degrees in Education and East Asian Studies from Stanford University. He has been the lead instructor for the GLA Catalyst team, including customizing, developing, and teaching the curriculum in the Philippines since 2013.
The author of three books (Technology, Teamwork, & Excellence; Making Your Teaching Something Special; and Making Your School Something Special), Rushton's work centers on inspiration and creativity, technology and leadership, avenues for engaging learning, the power of digital media and cutting-edge technology for collaboration, and personal and professional perspectives in a technology-infused, ever-changing world. He also works with WarmDemanders.com to provide focused, self-paced mini-courses for professional development, including a course for educators on ChatGPT for which several thousand people around the world have registered. He also serves as the Charter President of the Rotary eClub of Silicon Valley.
In the spring of 2023, Rushton joined the team at Junípero Serra High School (CA) as the Director of Design-Led Innovation. In that role, he co-teaches the Creative Solutions for the Global Good class and coordinates international projects between Serra and other fascinating schools around the world.
For three decades, Jeff has passionately championed student-centered learning, weaving together his extensive experience as a classroom teacher, instructional technology coach, and adjunct professor. But it's his unwavering commitment to underserved and marginalized youth that truly defines his career. Currently, at The Monarch School, the nation's only K-12 institution dedicated to unhoused students, Jeff leads an independent studies program, fostering a space where relationships and creativity flourish. As an Adobe Express Innovator, Google in Education Trainer and Innovator, and ViewSonic Expert Trainer, he empowers educators to thoughtfully integrate technology, ensuring it amplifies student learning while preserving the vital human connection. Jeff believes that at the heart of education lies the recognition of each student's unique value, and he strives to equip educators with the tools and strategies to cultivate that belief in every classroom.
Dennis is an accomplished educator with over 30 years' experience in Lutheran schools and Technology Education. Having been nurtured by Lutheran education himself, he embarked on a journey that led him to serve as a technology educator at Concordia International School in Shanghai, China, before assuming his current role as Assistant Director of Innovation at Faith Lutheran Middle & High School in Las Vegas.
In his capacity, Dennis empowers teachers to seamlessly integrate technology and research into their pedagogical approaches, overseeing the deployment and training of faculty on cutting-edge tools and systems. Believing that technology integration can enhance existing teaching and learning, he reframes technology as an exciting opportunity for educators rather than an added burden. He has a passion for fostering collaborative learning among educators, providing them with fresh ideas and strategies to inspire positive change in their schools.
Gary Meegan has degrees in music, education, and theology. His doctorate focused on bringing critical thinking into the classroom. He also has graduate certifications in curriculum, Teaching English to Students of Other Languages, philosophy, and Church history. He has taught in New York and California in public schools, and for the last 25 years in Catholic schools. In addition, Gary spent many summers in Vietnam teaching English to the priests, seminarians, and high school students for the Diocese of Phát Diệm.
Gary's resources in critical thinking for the classroom are being used by schools and universities around the world. His website (The Elements of Thought) and his Youtube channel (Gary Meegan) contain videos and concepts that can be brought immediately into the classroom by teachers to foster better learning. Gary has presented at the International Conference for Critical Thinking, the National Catholic Educational Association, and the California Association for Teachers of English, and is especially proud of this time working with the fantastic faculty of Jacinto Zamora Elementary School.
Gary has been teaching theology at Junípero Serra High School in California for 21 years and spent the past 45 years teaching. He has been both the chair of the department and moderator of the Improv Club, along with assisting on campus ministry retreats. Gary's current project is preparing a course on the philosophy and theology of sport.
As an educator for more than two decades, Brian Ravizza brings a wealth of experience and passion to his teaching practice. With a commitment to experiential project-based learning, he guides students through the wonders of biology, ecology, and environmental stewardship by connecting them to both the natural and social communities in which they live. Through project based learning, he instills not only knowledge but also a profound appreciation for the interconnectedness of life on our planet.
Combined with a keen focus on fostering critical thinking and environmental literacy, he strives to empower students to become informed digital citizens equipped to tackle the pressing challenges of our time. He calls students to identify issues that matter to them, while using their own passions and skills to seek solutions. The integration of generative AI has proven to be a powerful tool to assist his students in developing their own questions while becoming creative problem solvers.
Ken is a multi-award-winning educator, best-selling author, and global thought leader in educational technology, leadership development, and AI in education. With over 20 years of experience and a Master’s in Education, he specializes in school transformation, inclusive learning, and policy analysis. Co-author of The Promises and Perils of AI in Education, Ken has served on the California State Superintendent's Education Technology Task Force and earned recognition from Apple, Google, and Microsoft. His accolades include two awards from the International Society for Technology in Education and the 2024 CUE Platinum Disc Award. He speaks internationally, advising organizations on responsible AI development and creating equitable, inclusive educational opportunities.
Marlowe has been a passionate educator since 2012 and holds a Bachelor of Science in International Studies from Fordham University and a Master of Arts in Education with a concentration in International Teaching from Framingham State University. His teaching experience spans both the public and private sectors around the world, working as a public school assistant teacher for the Ministry of Education in Spain, an English language instructor for Kaplan International and Education First in San Francisco, USA, and most recently, as a high school social studies teacher and division coordinator for the XCL American School of Bangkok in Thailand. With an interdisciplinary background in international teaching and English language learning, Marlowe aims to bring a multicultural perspective to the GLA team as they set out to train the next generation of global educators.
Dr. Stephen McGriff is a longtime champion for student-centered learning with technology. He inspires teachers to lead with a passion for developing their students' future-proof skills. As a teacher educator, he creates compelling professional learning online and in-person that empower the use of digital media for problem-solving, creativity, communication, and collaboration. He is the founder and principal instructional designer of DivergentED Consultants. As a divergent thinker, Dr. McGriff creatively imagines education and training in ways that nurtures and releases creative potential.
Mark Dohn is an education technology consultant who helps teachers and schools create 21st century learning environments. He holds an MS in Education Media Design and Technology and was a classroom and technology teacher/coordinator for fifteen years in the Los Angeles Unified School District. Mark advocates for equity and accessibility to content for students through the use of technology, Universal Design for Learning and Inclusive Design.
"Being a member of the GLA team has become a life-changing experience for me because I learned many tools that I've shared with my students."
Master Teacher II, Pangasinan National High School