Show Teachers the Love!

Best known as Dustin on the hit Netflix series Stranger Things, Gaten Matarazzo has become one of the standout young actors of his generation. He began his career on Broadway in Priscilla Queen of the Desert and later earned praise for performances in Les Misérables, Dear Evan Hansen, Sweeney Todd, and Parade. Recognized by The Hollywood Reporter as one of the top 30 stars under 30, he continues to balance screen and stage work. Recently, Gaten voiced Sig Greebling in Disney+’s LEGO Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy and its sequel Pieces of the Past. He also starred in Pizza Movie for Hulu and will voice Lucky in the upcoming Animal Farm. Looking ahead, he hopes to expand into directing and continue shaping a lasting career in entertainment.

Phillip Done taught elementary school for thirty-three years and was the recipient of the prestigious Charles Schwab Distinguished Teacher Award, a Teacher of the Year in California, and a nominee for Disney’s American Teacher Award. He has taught in public and private schools in the United States and internationally. Additionally, Done has worked as an on-set teacher for child actors in television and film. A staunch supporter of teachers, Done is the author of the celebrated The Art of Teaching Children (Simon & Schuster), 32 Third Graders and One Class Bunny, and Close Encounters of the Third-Grade Kind. His writing about education has also appeared in Time, Real Simple, Instructor, Parent, NEA Today, and Reader’s Digest.

Rahul Shah is an award-winning saxophonist based in New York City. Having recently graduated from the Manhattan School of Music, he is currently a resident saxophone, flute, and clarinet instructor at several private schools around the city. Alongside his current position, Rahul maintains a full performing and private teaching schedule with notable performances at venues across the city. Most recently, Rahul made his international debut having received first place at the 2024 Carinthia International Jazz Saxophone Competition.

Eric Stern is a jazz pianist, composer, and arranger who has quickly emerged as a rising star in the NYC jazz scene. Praised by BroadwayWorld for his "breakneck speed," he is a graduate of both the Frost School of Music and the Manhattan School of Music. His accolades include the Bösendorfer prize at the American Jazz Pianist Competition, a Downbeat Award, and a 2025 win at the Detroit Collegiate Combo Competition. Eric performs regularly with Grammy-winning bassist John Benitez and Oscar Hernandez’s mambo-style band, La Carabali. Currently, he leads his own Cuban Jazz Project, collaborates with the hip-hop collective Good Lives Crew, and has several high-profile recordings slated for release in 2026.

Gavin Gray is a dynamic bassist known for his lyrical, energetic playing. He began with classical training before shifting his focus to jazz, winning Outstanding Bassist at Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Essentially Ellington competition. A National YoungArts Winner, he studied at the Eastman School of Music and was later named an Outstanding Soloist by Downbeat Magazine. Gavin has performed internationally, including at the Guimarães Jazz Festival and Rochester Jazz Festival, and performed with artists including Laufey and Bobby Militello. Now based in NYC, he is performing regularly in the city’s vibrant jazz scene.

Samuel began playing drums at age seven, a passion that eventually led him to Berklee College of Music to study under the legendary Ralph Peterson Jr. During his time in Boston, he performed at the Bern and DC Jazz Festivals and became a staple at Wally’s Jazz Café, collaborating with artists like Jason Palmer and Noah Preminger. Now based in New York City, Samuel has performed with an elite roster of jazz luminaries, including Steve Wilson, Curtis Lundy, and Dezron Douglas. In 2023, he was selected for the prestigious Jazz Aspen Snowmass Academy under the mentorship of Christian McBride. An internationally touring artist, Samuel has performed across the United States, Canada, Russia, and throughout Europe.

Lennie Simo, known as "Lenstrumental", is a 26-year-old born and raised in Lawrence, MA. Lennie started pen-tapping in the sixth grade, when it was a popular trend in classrooms, cafeterias, and other places. He is now a natural viral sensation with over 600 million views on TikTok & Instagram. He has appeared on MTV’s Amazingness, ABC’s Good Morning America, Italy's Got Talent, Hoje em Dia, The Jennifer Hudson Show, De Extremo a Extremo, Complex Media, and Beatclub.