Engage Students in Economics and U.S. History Through Arts-Based Teaching Strategies

About the Presenters

Christopher Cannon, Ph.D., serves as Associate Director and Chief Program Officer of the Georgia Council on Economic Education (GCEE). A former classroom teacher (Economics Teacher of the Year 2012) with experience at Morrow High School in Clayton County and Sandy Creek and McIntosh High School in Fayette County, he has also served as Social Studies Program Specialist for the Georgia Department of Education. At GCEE, Dr. Cannon leads K–12 professional development workshops, designs curricula and activities on topics such as personal finance, international trade and manufacturing, and coordinates statewide initiatives including the Personal Finance Challenge and a Rural Georgia education program. He is committed to helping educators engage students through real-world applications of economics and financial literacy.

Triza Cox is the Program Manager for TeachRock’s Harmony Student Wellness Program. In this capacity, she uses her passion for democratizing arts access as well as her commitment to wellness through the use of art to engage students in social and emotional learning. Triza holds a Master of Fine Arts in Theatre Performance from the University of Louisville and has worked for over a decade as an arts educator as well as a playwright, director, producer, and actor. Additionally, Triza has been a Certified Prevention Specialist and worked in drug and alcohol prevention. She is currently a National Leaders of Color Fellow in Arts Administration. In 2021, Triza was awarded a fellowship in screenwriting from the South Carolina Arts Commission. She is also currently the Artistic Director of The Drama Lady Theatre Group.

Gina Machado is the Director of Programs and Partnerships at TeachRock, where she leads the development of an arts-integrated social and emotional learning program and designs and facilitates professional development initiatives nationwide. Drawing from her foundational experience as a classroom educator in The Bronx, New York, and her Master’s degrees in Special Education and Educational Leadership, Gina supports educators across the United States in implementing TeachRock’s innovative curriculum and pedagogical approaches. An educator at heart with extensive experience working with students of various levels and abilities, Gina’s passion lies in developing creative ways to engage all learners while strengthening meaningful student-teacher relationships.