Eric Kallenborn

Eric Kallenborn began reading comics when his dad would take him to the local candy store, when he was about 10, to pick up a few comics. Those comics both kept him out of my parents’ hair but also led to a love being developed that would find its way into his adulthood and his career. Eric has been teaching high school English for 20 years, and over the course of his career, has taught many comics and graphic novels. He has presented his strategies all over the country from local educational and fan-based events to national conferences. In 2017 he co-keynoted at the NCTE Annual conference in St. Louis Missouri with fellow LitX-er Ronell Whitaker and artist Gareth Hinds.

Michael Gianfrancesco

Michael Gianfrancesco is a 20 year high school veteran English teacher, occasional adjunct professor, and newly published comic creator who advocates for teaching with comics. He has curated programming at Harvard, Brown, Fordham, SDCC, NYCC, C2E2, ECCC, DPCC, ALA, NEATE, NCTE, and many other events. He directed the much-acclaimed New England Comics Arts in the Classroom Conference back in 2011 and is a founding member of the LitX teacher cohort. His first foray at comic creation was as a scriptwriter for the CISA-commissioned graphic novel Real Fake.

Ronell Whitaker

Ronell Whitaker is a high school English Curriculum Director in Chicagoland with over 15 years of experience and is a champion for comics in the classroom. He is a founding member of the Lit-X Teacher Cohort. Ronell believes in comics, and he likes to think that comics believe in him.

Jana Tropper

Jana Tropper, M.S. CCC-SLP/L, is a speech-language pathologist, comic book writer, and presenter. She uses comics and other sequential art texts in speech and language therapy to improve communication and literacy skills for preschool through fifth grade students and runs an after school Comic Book Club for aspiring creators. She has written the middle grade comic SEEKER SOCIETY (available on Epic) as well as two books in the ANIMAL RESCUE FRIENDS (available on Epic and in print through Andrews McMeel). She has appeared as an author and educator at a variety of national events including Baltimore Comic Con, San Diego Comic Con, C2E2, and LITapalooza to speak on a variety of topics including literacy, accessibility, and disability. When she’s not working with students, writing, or presenting, she is volunteering as the Director of Literacy for Reading with Pictures (a non-profit supporting comics in schools), playing video games with her husband, or cuddling with her three rescue dogs: Ripley, Newt, and Sandy.

Adam Ebert

Adam Ebert is an educator from Chicago in his 10th year of teaching. He loves teaching, comics, and teaching with comics. He has presented on the power of comics and graphic novels as educational tools at conventions like SDCC, NYCC, C2E2, ALA, NCTE, and others. He even did a panel with RL Stine once. The Lit X educational cohort is a great source of pride for him as he finds it to be an endeavor that most closely aligns with his beliefs as an educator. Adam is also the creator and host of the YouTube series “Can I Teach It?” which explores the teachability of pop culture across mediums. You should probably subscribe to it. 

Ailysh Cooper

Ailysh Cooper is a high school art teacher from the Chicago suburbs.  She focuses on drawing, painting, and photography skills in her classes, alongside experiences teaching comics and introductory art classes.  Cooper graduated from Northern Illinois University in 2018 after studying art and design education, and she will receive her master’s degree in art and design education from Northern in 2024.  Outside of her daily teaching, she sponsors NAHS, theater (crew), a crochet club, and the school’s GSA.  She is a summer art camp counselor at Northern.  She is also the creator of Ms. Cooper’s Art Class on YouTube.  On the board of the Illinois Art Education Association, Cooper is the Youth Art Month coordinator and the graphics coordinator.  She has been a delegate to the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women and has been recognized as the Illinois Art Educator of the Year.  Cooper enjoys teaching others and working in professional communities to provide professional development.  In her free time, she enjoys reading, crocheting, and spending time with her loved ones.  

Adan Alvarado

• Veteran Teacher (Be kind, have high expectations and teach dope things.)
• Cinephile (peep @3kingscinemaclub on IG)
• Melophile (🙌🏽 No More Shall We Part 🙌🏽)
• Bibliophile (Kali Farjardo-Anstine is a G)
• Done w/ the philes
• Comic Enthusiast (“That Box We Sit On” is a modern masterpiece.)
• Professional Wrestling Mark (Dirty Dom is that dude!)
• Unapologetic Consumer of Taco Bell (Bring back the Double Decker. Forever!!!)
• Apologies for all the shouting. 
• One Who Does the Dew (I bleed green.)
• Professional Uncle (Love Em’ & Leave Em’) 
• Partner of Bud (🖤) 

Jason Nisavic

Jason Nisavic has been a high school social studies teacher for 16 years. He sponsors his schools Improv Club and GSA! He has incorporated comics, board games, card games, and improv exercises into a variety of lessons. Jason has shared his experiences across the country at conventions, and loves helping teachers create smart fun in their classrooms.