Ah! What’s Missing from Education

Dr. Melissa Schmitz will be presenting her TEDx Talk “Aha! What’s Missing From Education”

Sunday, March 15, 2026  at Battle Mountain High School  in Edwards, Colorado.

Get Tickets Here

https://www.tedxvailyouth.com/

Dr. Mel Shares What Inspired the Talk

I am addicted to the Aha moment. The spark that induces the pure joy of creative learning. You’ve seen it. The glow of gliding on a bike for the first time. The moment of understanding a complex concept. The instant you unravel a mystery. As a teacher, I was curious about how to guide that learning journey. This motivated me to know everything about how humans learn. And that led me to the science of creativity.

Thanks to advances in technology, neuroscientists and psychologist better understand how the human brain works. Intelligence is only part of how we learn and develop. Optimal learning also requires creative intelligence. Creativity scientists, like me, have uncovered new and exciting approaches to education. My job is to turn this science into practical applications. That work has inspired this talk.

Aha! What’s Missing from Education uses song, science, and story to share what anyone can do to start building creativity today. Join us at TEDxVail to hone your creativity.

Dr. Mel’s Bio

Melissa Schmitz is proud to have taught theater and music at Vail Mountain School in Vail, Co.

Melissa Schmitz is an award-winning educator recognized for increasing academic success and motivating educational change. She has over 25 years of experience as a public and private educator. Receiving a bachelor’s degree in music from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, a master’s degree in education from the University of Tennessee, and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership and Management from Drexel University, Dr. Schmitz is an experienced leader capable of organizational development. Currently, she is the senior educational consultant and owner of WISE HD, LLC – a workplace for innovative, sustainable, education and human development.  WISE HD specializes in creativity and innovation skillsets for individuals, businesses, and organizations.

Dr. Schmitz is actively involved in shaping the future of mind, brain, and education science. She is a collaborator with the Freddie Reisman Center for Translational Research in Creativity and Motivation at Drexel University’s School of Education. This program is dedicated to addressing the disconnect between knowledge of creativity and societal beliefs that affect how creativity is stifled rather than nurture in organizational settings. In addition, she is an Associate Researcher with ELaBS – an Education, Learning and Brain Research collaborative at Drexel University’s School of Education. Dr. Schmitz also serves as the Director of Communications for the Global Creativity Initiative (GCI) an emerging international organization whose purpose is to seek, archive, celebrate, and share global examples of creativity, related research, innovations, and their motivations.