In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized (subject to certain rules and regulations).

York School
9501
Monterey, California, 93940-6522
United States

Audrey Bailey '18

Audrey is currently a senior, and takes part in various extracurricular activities. She is involved in field hockey, soccer, and lacrosse, with lacrosse being her favorite of the three. She has always loved traveling, but her interest peaked after going to Ghana over the summer. In her free time, Audrey enjoys creating art, taking hikes with her dogs, and listening to music with her friends.

Bryce Hodges '19

Bryce is a junior at York school, plays guitar and the Ukulele, and holds an Advanced Open Water Diver Certification from PADI. He spends most of his free time dreaming of Burning Man and driving around talking to interesting people. Bryce enjoys traveling and holds stamps from almost 30 countries in his passport.

Helena Bartkowski '19

Helena loves discussing social and political issues. She is an activist and participates in two political clubs on the York campus. In her nearly non-existent free time, she likes to watch humorous political commentary, and randomly embark on feminist rants.

James Harper '03

James Harper is motivated by what can change the world. Trained as an engineer, experienced as a STEM educator and a mechanical design engineer, and aspiring to be an applied sociologist, James focuses on engineering sustainable societies in developing communities and educating youth in the western world about related topics. He's worked primarily on infrastructure development projects in rural India and Cambodia, and his ongoing PhD research will take him back to Cambodia to study how human behavior affects sanitation infrastructure. Outside of work, he's volunteered extensively for mountain rescue and enjoys hiking and traveling with his wife and two rescued pit bulls.

James Newman

In 1990, Dr. James Newman was selected into NASA's astronaut program, leading to four space flight missions aboard the space shuttles Discovery, Endeavour, and Columbia. While in space, Dr. Newman orbited the earth 679 times across 17.1 million miles. After three years at the International Space Station (ISS) Program Office in Moscow serving as NASA’s Director, Human Space Flight Program, Dr. Newman transitioned to the Naval Postgraduate School as a NASA Visiting Professor. He subsequently transferred from NASA in 2008 to the Department of the Navy to accept a tenure-track professorship at NPS, where he is currently the Chairman of the Space Systems Academic Group. Dr. Newman is also the proud parent of two York graduates, Nick ’14 and Ellie ’15 and current student, Katie ’18.

Jeff Hanna

Jeff apparently finds academic institutions comforting, at least as a day job. He joined York in 2014 after completing his PhD at Caltech followed by a Postdoc research position at MIT, which basically means he's good at learning things and brings the same mindset to teaching. Apart from teaching algebra and calculus and physics, Jeff coaches cross country and track, he is the lead mentor for York's award-winning robotics team, he spends nearly every free period helping students even if they aren't his own, and he has a really cute dog.

Lisa Cisneros '97

Ever since Lisa Cisneros was young, she's wanted to advocate for people. Lisa's passion is working with the LGBTQ community in rural, low-income, immigrant communities of California. By working for CA Rural Legal Assistance, Lisa is the strong voice for those suffering from discrimination. In her '97 yearbook, Lisa quoted Alice Walker, "Every time I conjure up a rock, I throw it." And that's exactly what Lisa is doing! Her previous work has seen her represent employees in large class action law suits, clerk for a federal judge, file an amicus brief before the Supreme Court, and become a member of California's Fair Employment & Housing Council.

Tom Siletto '19

Tom is part musician part athlete, which leaves little time for homework. He lives in Carmel Valley, which is nice, yet kind of a bummer since he is sensitive to the sun and burns easily. Carmel Valley is also far from the beach where Tom enjoys spending his time frolicking in the water and sand.