Dr. Katie Ritter is the Director of Curriculum & Instruction at Forward Edge. She oversees a team of 10+ instructional design coaches. She recently graduated with a Doctorate of Education in Leadership and Learning in Organizations from Peabody College at Vanderbilt University in the fall of 2021. Her capstone research focused on instructional coach support and professional learning needs. She is also a Google Certified Innovator, Coach, and Trainer. Follow her on social media at @Katie_M_Ritter!

Originally from Dortmund, Germany, Matthäus Huelse moved to the U.S. to pursue higher education, earning multiple degrees. He serves as an Instructional Design Coach at Forward Edge, where he also leads AI operations. With a decade in K-12 education and technology, Matthäus is a catalyst for innovation. His focus at Forward Edge includes elevating AI literacy, developing custom tech solutions, and shaping AI policy. Recognized for his contributions, Matthäus has served as an Adjunct Professor and as the President of the Kentucky chapter of the American Association of Teachers of German. He is also multilingual, fluent in German, English, Polish, and proficient in Latin.