FARGO, ND, September 1, 2022 – Prairie Public and PBS have announced the 2022 class of educators selected for the PBS Digital Innovator All-Star Program, which honors classroom changemakers who offer fresh ideas and bold approaches to supporting their students’ growth and learning.
Nominated by their local PBS stations, 20 educators were chosen from across the country. Frederick Edwards and J’Neil Gibson were chosen to represent Prairie Public Broadcasting and North Dakota.
Edwards is a graduate of North Dakota State University and recently received his master’s degree in education. He is the co-owner of Umoja Leadership Exploration and creator of FredsDissonance. Edwards is a community engagement specialist, motivational speaker, community educator, program coordinator and spoken word artist originally from North Minneapolis.
Gibson is a native of California, but he and his son and moved to Fargo, North Dakota, to experience a different pace of life. Gibsoncoordinates programs at Youthworks North Dakota that develop relationships with struggling, homeless, at-risk and trafficked youth.
As Digital Innovators, Edwards and Gibson will share their ideas with like-minded educators on national platforms, attend and produce events on trending topics in technology and 21st century learning and elevate their own professional voices as education thought leaders both locally and nationally.
“The entire Prairie Public team is excited to team up with these two dynamic educators in our community,” said education services manager Tim Wollenzien, “and we look forward to some wonderful collaboration over the next two years.”
Headquartered in Fargo, Prairie Public is a non-profit member station of PBS and NPR that provides educational and technological services to communities and individuals across its coverage area. In addition to free over-the-air radio and television broadcasts, Prairie Public productions are available online at prairiepublic.org, on Prairie Public’s YouTube channel, and on the Prairie Public app.