TCI Team

Bert Bower
Founder and CEO

Bert Bower has truly experienced the classroom from every perspective. He began his career as a classroom aide, then taught social studies for eight years, and finally earned a PhD in Curriculum and Teacher Education from Stanford University. For the past 20 years he has been crafting innovative K–12 social studies programs by collaborating with teachers and trying out new ideas in the classroom. His goal is to defeat the “silent violence” of stand-and-deliver teaching that leaves youth passive and bored by creating programs that teach students to ponder and participate. Bert combines proven teaching strategies with cutting-edge technology to successfully reach all learners in the diverse classroom, even the students who sit in the back of the classroom and rarely speak. Bert knows his goals are lofty, but he has witnessed the success of TCI programs around the country.

Amy Larson
Chief Operating Officer

Amy Larson oversees the day-to-day operations of TCI and is essential to bringing TCI to an increasing number of classrooms each year. Her self-described non-traditional life path helps guide the very non-traditional TCI through the minefield of growing a business in a competitive marketplace. About working with TCI, she says “I wanted to use my business skills to make positive contributions in the world. I love our mission.” Amy empowers our key managers to make innovative decisions, a key success factor to our fast business growth. She also takes the mission of positive change into her private life, where, with her husband and three sons, she volunteers with various youth organizations that give kids a range of quality opportunities. Her biggest accomplishment is having the energy (and humor) to live in an all male household with her husband and three sons. They keep Amy smiling all day and she wouldn’t have it any other way.

Nancy Bredin
Director of Outreach

“Student success in the classroom!” is the rallying cry of our Director of Outreach, Nancy Bredin. As a teacher, her instructional model and approach to teaching were part of a published research study at Michigan State University, showing that student involvement and interactive instruction increase student retention and result in higher test scores. Her years of teaching introduced her to TCI through piloting TCI’s first basal program, History Alive! America’s Past. She then became the K–5 Curriculum Specialist for her district and a trainer of the TCI Approach. Nancy applies her endless energy and enthusiasm to training teachers on how to get the most out of TCI materials and, especially, the TCI strategies. Hundreds of teachers all over the United States have her to thank for helping them create student success in the classroom!

Maria Favata
Director of Software

Our Director of Software, Maria Favata, has been in the high tech world for years. Although Maria thrived in the industry, she yearned for a role where she could use her talents for a greater purpose. Lucky for us, she found TCI. Maria is the driver behind TCI Tech (TeachTCI and LearnTCI). She describes her job as “creating transformational classroom technology that pushes the envelope a little.” On any given afternoon you can find Maria, phone pressed to her ear, tirelessly reaching out to teachers using TCI Tech, finding out what they like and their ideas for improving our technology. So if you are ever using TeachTCI and have an idea, hit that “Feedback” button. Maybe someday you just might get a phone call or e-mail from Maria.

Ellen Hardy
Director of Operations

Ellen Hardy describes her job as “supporting the people who run the day-to-day operations, and planning for the long run so we have the resources we need to support our customers.” She finds her work rewarding because of the positive mission of the company and the extraordinary staff who are “deeply committed to creating great products while honoring a cooperative, supportive work environment.” Ellen brings her long love of history and a desire to work in the publishing industry to TCI. She also holds a sensible approach to her division’s goals: “We know how busy teachers and administrators are, so we work hard at providing speedy, reliable delivery and quality support. We want to give everyone more time to focus in the classroom.” Her local school district recently adopted TCI, so she is very excited that her son will learn using TCI materials. “It will be a very rewarding moment.”

Mitzi Anderson
Director of People

Mitzi Anderson grew up in an educational environment: her mother taught elementary school for 33 years, and Mitzi remembers helping her get the classroom ready every fall. Mitzi earned a BA degree in Education and a California teaching credential, working as a substitute teacher while earning her MBA. When she came to work at TCI, she recognized immediately the value of the TCI Approach for both students and teachers. As the Director of People, she combines her abilities as a “people” person with her love of history and teaching. “I love helping people reach their potential. Working in Human Resources is like the adult version of the classroom; different people have different needs, and I work to find the best solution for everyone. TCI’s mission is similar; we work to reach all students in the classroom.”