Joao is Vice President of Customer Experience at Renaissance Learning, one of the largest companies serving K12 students in the country.  He received his Bachelor’s of Arts at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst where he focused his studies on the law’s disproportionate impact on society’s socioeconomically disadvantaged population.  It was there that he realized education’s power to change the trajectory of someone’s life.  Joao served as department head and lead teacher at a career and technical education high school.  Teaching computer information systems, web design and web development.  Completely revamping the program’s curriculum for the modern age and writing competencies for Massachusetts Department of Education.  He went on to lead two digital product design/ux teams as a Director before joining Renaissance Learning.  Joao is passionate about exposing under-resourced student and adult populations to the possibilities of a career as a creative technologist. Frequently teaching courses at continuing education schools and community centers.