Advisor and Consultant

Brad Schenker is a business development, partnership, and sales executive, and the founder of Schenker Consulting Group LLC (SCG).  With nearly 30 years of experience across industries, he has spent the past decade focused on education technology, STEM learning and opportunities to improve human connection.  

In additional to his consulting practice, Brad is on the Board of Trustees for the Achieve Foundation of the South Orange and Maplewood School District.  He co-created a robotics summer camp and currently is the administrator and co-lead coach of four teams participating in the FIRST LEGO League.  The MAPSO Robotics Club was founded in 2019 when Brad and his daughters' GRAMMY-nominated school music teacher started an all-girls robotics team.  Their focus continues to be increasing participation within underrepresented communities.

Brad was on the U.S. leadership team at LEGO Education, as Head of Business Development, Sales Operations and Strategic Partnerships, where he led a team that supported direct sales and developed and managed relationships with organizations such as FIRST Robotics, National Afterschool Association, Digital Promise, Donorschoose.org and U.S. and Canadian resellers.     

Prior to LEGO Education, Brad was the Senior Director of Education Sales & Partnerships with littleBits Electronics ($70M in venture funding), where he led the direct sales and partner channel teams, while developed relationships with Google, the National PTA and Pearson Publishing.  

He started his career in various sales, marketing, and product management roles across a wide variety of industries including consumer electronics, video production, public relations, and entertainment.  

Brad studied improvisation and sketch comedy in NYC and received a certificate in corporate training from NYU's continuing education program.

SCG defines STEM, as the use of technology and computational thinking in classrooms.  As it's a relatively new area, few schools and fewer districts have clear STEM pathways, leading students to graduate high school with less than ideal skills needed for the workforce.  Purchasing decisions have been made at the building or individual teacher level, leading to uneven skills developing and inequity in districts.  Every district is unique and need customized STEM Pathways, not just the latest 'shiny object' seen at the last education conference. 

This problem is solved by SCG through synthesizing a baseline technology audit with a district's learning goals, available resources and timelines.  SCG then maps out a draft solution using this information along with industry research, recommended product and professional learning solutions. 

STUDENTS become more engaged and creative, building confidence by applying what they are learning to the real world.

TEACHERS and INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNOLOGISTS are given frameworks through professional learning pathways, providing best in class EdTech learning solutions while reducing their preparation hours and increasing choices they can make in the classroom.

CURRICULUM and PURCHASING DECISION-MAKERS will more quickly cut through the noise of hundreds of new technology choices that come out every year.  They will have confidence that the decisions they implement will be easy for teachers to learn, teach and facilitate, regardless of their experience levels.

DISTRICT ADMINISTRATORS are ensured that the STEM pathways the create following  research and evidenced-based results as its become more available, and ensure their dollars are spent wisely and consistently across their district buildings.

PARENTS  will have the comfort and knowledge that they are sending their children to a learning environment that will provide the skills needed to succeed in whatever future they choose after high school, whether that be college, the workforce, the military or volunteer programs.

Over 30 years of professional experience across industries with companies large and small,  providing a unique viewpoints when working with early stage/growth organizations and new business ventures.  

SCG has relationships with other consultancies focused on educational curriculum, professional development, consumer electronics and consumer channels to bring a holistic view to its clients.

New research, data and news articles released every day on the impact of STEM, computer science and computational thinking.  Here are a few of our favorites. We'd be happy to share more.

Digital Promise - Computational Thinking for an Inclusive World: A Resource for Educators to Learn and Lead

George Lucas Educational Foundation - A variety of briefs and white papers on project-based learning

STEM2Hub - Igniting the Future: The STEM Education Revolution

FIRST - For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST) has partnered with Brandeis University for a multi-year longitudinal to study measuring STEM-related impacts.