Joe and Kristin Merrill are classroom teachers, authors, and national presenters who are passionate about helping educators create learning that sticks. With over 30 years of combined experience across elementary and middle school, the Merrills have built their careers around one shared belief: students learn best when they create, collaborate, and connect.

Together, they are the authors of The InterACTIVE Class series, where they blend practical strategies with hands-on creativity and purposeful technology. Their work highlights real-classroom ideas that spark curiosity, amplify student voice, and help teachers design lessons that feel both meaningful and memorable.

Joe and Kristin travel the country speaking at schools and conferences, sharing innovative approaches that merge AI, pedagogy, and creative design. Their sessions offer research-supported practices, classroom-tested examples, and high-energy storytelling that empower teachers to reimagine what learning can look like.

While their roles at school differ—third grade and middle school—their mission remains the same: to support educators in creating interACTIVE classrooms where every student feels seen, engaged, and excited to learn. The Merrills’ influence continues to grow through their consulting, workshops, online content, and nationwide professional development work, inspiring thousands of educators to elevate creativity and innovation in their own classrooms.