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NICHOLAS D. FRANKOVITS,
Executive Director & Founder

Nick is the founder and director of the national non-profit organization, the National Museum of Education, which recognizes and conduits student and teacher educational inventions to the national marketplace. More than 80 products are being distributed nationwide through the efforts of this organization. Presently the National Museum of Education is conducting “Educator to Inventucator”™ Teacher Technique Training workshops combining invention with entrepreneurship. The National Museum of Education has developed summer student camps, and teacher training. In addition, Nick serves as the Executive Director of the National Gallery for America’s Young Inventors, which is composed of a national student board whose responsibility is to select six student inventions (K-12) to be honored and inducted yearly in Akron, Ohio. Nick serves on, and acts as a consultant for, many prestigious national competitions and granting programs for teachers and students K-12, Universal Studios, Energizer, Toyota, Sears/Craftsman, Thomas Edison Preservation Foundation, By Kids for Kids, and Toshiba. Nick's expertise was consulted by Susan Casey as she wrote her books "Women Invent! Two Centuries of Discoveries That Have Shaped Our World", and "Kids Invent". He is also a member of the Ohio Science (OSCI) advisory group for the 3rd to 6th grade state standards in science.

LEILA GAY EVANS,
Assistant Executive Director & Co-Founder

Gay Evans is presently the Assistant Executive Director for the National Museum of Education, which is an organization that fosters a relationship between business and education. In that capacity she has been the national coordinator for the Induction Banquet and Ceremony of the National Gallery for America's Young Inventors for the last ten years. She has previously served as Executive Director of Programs for the National Museum of Education, formerly the Partnership for America's Future, Inc. She has taught French and English on the High School level for over thirty years as well as three years of French at Kent State University. She served on the advisory board for NIH focus group for Middle School health curriculum. She is a member of the MSP group to establish state standards for Math and Science. Gay is also a preliminary judge for the Christopher Columbus Awards, giving grants for middle school students.Gay graduated Magna Cum Laude from Kent State University, with honoraries in French, English and Education (Pi Delta Phi, Sigma Tau Delta, and Phi Delta Kappa).As an undergraduate, she studied French as a major with Science and English as minors. She has her M.A. in French, and Ph.D. hours in English. In addition, she has studied abroad at the University of London, the Sorbonne, Paris, the University of Vienna, and the Free University of Berlin. She has been the Project Director for study groups of students and adults for 32 ventures into 19 Eastern and Western European countries as well as Canada and Mexico. She also is a host teacher for World Exchange faculty. Gay functions as a liaison for education and business with French Parliament for the Paris region. As a result of her work with four of the Rocket Boys from the award-winning film "October Sky", she developed and administers Rocket Camps nationwide, which hope to inspire a new generation of forward-looking young scientists. She also helped develop and administer Energizer's "Energizer for Innovation Camp" and "Inventucation Academy" for E-City and Upward Bound. She was the consultant and writer for the Sears/Craftsman "Young Inventors" competition, the Universal Studios "Jimmy Neutron Boy Genius" competition, and she was the editor for the "By Kids for Kids" internet competition. In addition, Gay has been consulted by invention author Susan Casey in the writing of her books "Women Invent! Two Centuries of Discoveries That Have Shaped Our World", and "Kids Invent".She developed and administers the "Freida J. Riley Teacher Award" program, which honors and celebrates a teacher who is teaching with an illness or disability, is teaching in an especially challenging environment, or has performed a heroic act for his/her students. Gay is presently publishing a book of the inspirational life stories of many of these outstanding teachers.Gay has recently given lectures titled "Educator to Inventucator" for the Akron Global Polymer Academy as part of a workshop for Elementary and Middle School teachers. She was also a speaker for the "Consortium for Entrepreneurship Education" in San Antonio, Texas.

SUE LYONS, Executive Director of Programs

Sue Lyons is presently the Executive Director of Programs for the National Museum of Education. As a thirty year educator, she taught secondary math and science at Tallmadge City Schools where she became the Coordinator of Gifted Programs during the last eighteen years of her tenure. In this position Sue developed and expanded many innovative and unique programs for students K-12 and provided leadership on numerous planning and design committees locally and statewide. While at Tallmadge she led five educational trips to Europe. For twenty-three years she was the advisor of the Tallmadge H.S. Ski Club.

Writing, developing, designing and directing the first Camp Inventions, Sue used her experiences from many educational camps. She developed Rocket Camp and currently directs the A.C.E. Academy (Aviation Career Education) at Kent State University. She is past president of Ohio Odyssey of the Mind Association. She served as OM Regional Director for eight years and was the OM State Tournament Director and Chair of OM State Judges for several years. Sue studied at Muskingum College and then earned her B.S.Ed. in math and science and M.S. degree in Educational Administration, both at the University of Akron. She studied British education during an internship in England. Since earning her Masters Degree, she became certified in Gifted Education and she also continued coursework at Kent State University, Ashland University, Eastern Kentucky University and Eastern Washington University. Currently Sue serves on the board for the Tallmadge Library Association, is secretary for the Tallmadge Foundation Board of Trustees, and is the Social Chairperson for the Congress Lake Club Ladies Golf Association.

Dr. RICHARD A. SCHWARZ, Ph.D Chemistry
Science Coordinator

Dick Schwarz has played an indispensable role in the coordinating & auditing of science curriculum developed by the National Museum of Education. With extensive experience as a chemist in the polymer industry, Dick has been a key asset for keeping our science curriculum thorough and learnable. For the Museum, Dick has done more than sit behind the books -- he has become hands on with the Museum's kids, showing them the science in numerous creative demonstrations. Dick is the inventor or co-inventor of 25 US patents. He holds his degree in Chemistry from MIT and his doctorate in Organic Chemistry from Duke. In the last 35 years he has worked as a researcher and lab chemist for Firestone Tire & Rubber Co. and Silica Products, among others. More than a researcher, Dick is an effective teacher to students of all ages.

L. GRANT LUTON, Writer, Author & Co-Founder

Grant Luton has taught Technology Education on the junior high and high school levels for thirty years, including one year in England as a Fulbright Scholar, and one year at Kent State University's School of Technology. He has previously served as Assistant Executive Director for the National Museum of Education, formerly the Partnership for America's Future, Inc.Grant is an accomplished pianist as well as a published author whose book on Biblical Hebrew, "In His Own Words", is presently being sold internationally. He is contributing author for several Technology Education textbooks and has developed curriculum in the areas of Electronics, Robotics, Holography, Photography, and Construction. His elementary education space exploration curriculum was featured at NASA's Lewis Space Research Center summer teacher workshop. Grant has also developed instructional materials for the Duracell and Sears Craftsman educational programs.

Andrew Raynor, Information Technology Consultant

Andrew Raynor graduated with a bachelor's degree in Computer Science from Harding University in May of 2005 and has served as Director of Information Technology for the National Museum of Education for 3 years. Since his addition to the Museum's team, he has been an instrumental part of a number of projects, where he has worked with Universal Studios Orlando, Time Warner, Panasonic, Texas Instruments and other companies in areas ranging from audio-visuals to web development.At Harding University, Andrew has been involved in a number of academic and service organizations, including Delta Chi Delta service club, Circle K (Kiwanis), and has served as treasurer for Campus Civitan.

RYAN HUMBERT, Director of Art & Promotions