Scott and Megan's Bio

Megan Roberts is the Executive Director of iZone360 within the Office of Innovation, a division within the public school system of New York City. She and her team work to support the school-based development of innovative models of schooling and systems for sharing innovative schooling models and lessons learned with schools across the district.

She is a former teacher, school and district leader and her areas of focus are policies and practices of urban school reform, the deep dynamics of teaching and adult learning theory within the context of education. Megan earned her doctorate in Science Education & Urban Policy from Columbia University and has published articles and book chapters in both science education as well as educational leadership. Someday, she hopes to write her very own book. She hopes lots of people read it when she does. 

Dr. Scott Conti is the founding principal of New Design High School (NDHS).  The school, located in the Lower East Side of New York City, uses the concept of design to assist in meeting the holistic needs of adolescents, including the academic, intellectual, social, emotional and artistic sides of students.  He was born in the East Bay of Northern California.  A graduate of St. Mary's College of California, Conti decided to pursue a career in teaching high school social studies teaching at Mount Diablo High School in Concord, California.  He left the classroom to enter the Curriculum and Teaching doctoral program at Teachers College Columbia University.  Upon graduation, Conti was approached by the New York City Department of Education to develop a small public school in the Seward Park Campus.  Conti is entering his tenth year as a principal and has been constantly humbled at the process of developing a great urban school with an eye of educational innovation.  He is currently working on his first book entitled, "Vigor:  A New Design to Education."  He lives in Brooklyn, is married to a tall Dutch girl, has two newborn twins, an avid soccer player, always on his bike, loves his work and still slowly working toward enlightenment.