Andre FirmePublic speaking & teaching
Researching, writing, and delivering public addresses on nuanced spiritual and practical subjects; conducting personal Bible studies; and adapting complex ideas for varied audiences.
About / The through line
THE THROUGH
LINE
At first glance, my career can look like several different careers.
Teacher. Technologist. Musician. Designer. Photographer. Builder.
But I've come to realize that I've been doing essentially the same thing all along: taking something complicated and finding a more human way to communicate it.
A practice shaped by people
Eleven years of learning how people learn.
My work began in elementary classrooms, where clarity is not an aesthetic preference—it is the difference between an idea connecting and disappearing. Over eleven years, I taught, led an after-school program, supported colleagues as a district educational technology leader, facilitated professional development, and contributed to curriculum, pacing, and assessment work.
That experience gave me a durable point of view: meaningful innovation starts with attention. Listen first. Understand the context. Then build the clearest bridge between where people are and where they want to go.
Today, I bring that lens to educational technology, AI-assisted products, learning experiences, media, and interdisciplinary creative work.
Faith-based volunteer service
LEADERSHIP
IN SERVICE.
My work with Jehovah's Witnesses is unpaid volunteer service, but it has been one of the richest environments in which I have learned to lead, teach, listen, and operate thoughtfully under responsibility.
Pastoral leadership
Serving as a congregation elder, including confidential shepherding, mentoring, collaborative decision-making, and supporting individuals and families with empathy and sound judgment.
Facilities & technical training
Supporting the Local Design/Construction department as a Maintenance Trainer Assistant, with experience in AV installation, systems operation, volunteer instruction, and facility stewardship.
Live event technology
Serving conventions as an audio operator, video switcher and PTZ camera controller, and Technical Director—coordinating people and systems where preparation, calm communication, and reliability matter.
Correctional-facility ministry
Supporting prison ministry as a Facility Coordinator Assistant, navigating institutional requirements, communication, scheduling, and the human realities of community-based education in a secure environment.
Community outreach
Participating in sustained public outreach and one-to-one teaching—building trust across backgrounds and helping people progress through patient, respectful conversation.
Descriptions focus on transferable responsibilities and omit confidential pastoral, personal, and security-sensitive information.
Selected foundations
Experience
Elementary educator, 11 years
After-school program leadership
District educational technology leadership
Professional development facilitation
Curriculum, pacing & assessment
Education
AA, Mathematics
Hartnell College
BA, Contemporary Music
California State University, Monterey Bay
MS, Instructional Technology
Grand Canyon University
Practice
Google Certified Educator
Creative technology & AI
Photography & filmmaking
Music & sound
Design & storytelling
The résumé is the concise version.
The more interesting version is in the work.