Columnists

Meet the grown-ups who are helping guide our editorial calendar at InkandescentKids.com. If you’d like to have a column, let us know: Hope Katz Gibbs, publisher, hope@hopegibbs.com • Ellen Smith, editor@InkandescentKids.com

Author Christopher Chambers has written two Marvel books: Captain Marvel: The Shield of Sam Wilson, and Black Panther: Tales of Wakanda.

A Washington, D.C. native, a lecturer at Georgetown University, Chair of the International Conflict Resolution Center, and General Counsel to a not-for-profit benefiting small colleges and HBCUs: Student Housing of America.

Chris is the President of Mystery Writers of America-Middle Atlantic Chapter, a board of directors member for Bouchercon: World Mystery Convention, and Private Eye Writers of America.

Learn more about Chris and all of his books: ChrisChambersNoir.com • ChrisChambers.tv

Sarah Collins, MSOT, OTR/L, is an occupational therapist, homeschool mom, author, and founder of HomeschoolOT. With more than 17 years of experience supporting children and families, she helps parents understand how learning, movement, sensory processing, executive functioning, and daily life skills work together. Since beginning her own homeschool journey in 2017, Sarah has combined her professional expertise with real-life experience, helping families create learning environments that honor each child’s unique strengths and challenges. Through HomeschoolOT and The OT is IN podcast, she shares practical strategies that help parents move beyond curriculum choices and better understand how their children learn best. Sarah believes that homeschooling is not about recreating school at home. It is about helping children grow into capable, confident learners while building strong family relationships along the way. Learn more: homeschoolot.com • Click here to read Sarah’s column in Inkandescent Kids magazine.

Rev. Dr. Robert Flanagan is an esteemed Episcopal priest and author who has dedicated his life to spiritual transformation and caring for others. With a profound connection to his faith and an unwavering commitment to helping those in need, he has touched countless lives through his ministry, writings, and teachings.

He has served as a priest in the Episcopal Diocese of New York since 2003. He also holds a doctor of ministry in Christian Spirituality and is Chaplain at General Theological Seminary in New York City. He has served for over ten years as a state and federal advocate for and regional board member of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. Bob’s latest book, The Letters of an Unexpected Mystic, is a 2023 Selah Book Award finalist. Bob and his wife, Lanie, live in Litchfield County, Connecticut.

Learn more about Bob and his award-winning books, Courage to Thrive: Courage2Thrive.com • Courage2Thrive.tv

Chef Kim Katz is an award-winning restaurateur with decades of experience making delicious dishes for kids and grown-ups! She has owned Avenida restaurant in Chestnut Hill, PA, and the 100-year-old gourmet shop Delaware Market in Gladwin, PA. We are excited to bring you some of Chef Kim’s recipes, ranked #1 by Philadelphia magazine for kid food! Cooking captured her imagination at age 7 when her mother enrolled her in a department store class. Within a few years, she was reading culinary magazines and adding unusual ingredients to her mother’s grocery list. Chef Kim’s love of culinary arts hasn’t faded, and she counts herself lucky to pour her passion into Zallie Family Markets. During her career that’s spanned 30-plus years, Chef Kim has worked in California restaurants and food markets, and was second-in-command at The Striped Bass and head chef at Beaujolais in Philadelphia. Those experiences developed her skills in serving fish a zillion ways and perfecting the art of French cuisine. She and Edgar also owned and operated a Latin American restaurant in Mount Airy. “I have learned how to prepare four-star meals, and I have mastered what it means to truly take care of your guests,” Chef Kim said. “But I also understand how to guide and nurture other chefs, especially kids! It’s never too early in your life to learn how to prepare a delicious dish for yourself and your family. I look forward to cooking with you on InkandescentKids.com.” Click here to read Chef Kim’s column in Inkandescent Kids magazine.

Light the Way Foundation founder Janice Murphy: A visionary Senior Information Technology Executive with 17+ years of progressive leadership experience advancing enterprise IT strategy, operational excellence, and digital transformation across complex, mission-critical healthcare environments, Janice has the proven ability to architect resilient technology ecosystems that support 24/7 clinical, financial, and administrative operations while driving measurable improvements in performance, security, and cost efficiency.

As a strategic leader recognized for building and mentoring cross-functional teams and fostering collaboration among clinicians, physicians, executive leadership, and corporate stakeholders, she is adept at aligning technology investments with patient care delivery, regulatory compliance, and long-term organizational growth objectives.

A certified Lean Six Sigma Green Belt who applies data-driven process improvement methodologies to optimize workflows, enhance service delivery, and reduce operational waste. Trusted advisor to executive leadership with deep expertise in IT governance, cybersecurity oversight, regulatory compliance (HIPAA/HITECH), vendor strategy and contract negotiations, infrastructure modernization, and union workforce leadership within 24/7 hospital operations. Learn more: lightthewayfoundation.org

Author Dr. Peter Noonan, former Superintendent: After an extensive, nationwide search, the Falls Church City School Board selected Dr. Peter Noonan as the ninth Superintendent of Falls Church City Public Schools in May 2017. Dr. Noonan began his career as a special education teacher in New Mexico, where he was named Teacher of the Year in 1993. After 11 years in the Fairfax County Public Schools division, he served as Superintendent of Fairfax City Public Schools.

Peter was also the assistant principal at Langley High School, principal at Lanier Middle School and Centreville High School, and assistant superintendent for Cluster VII schools. And, he was the assistant superintendent for the Instructional Services Department, overseeing academic programs for the system’s 180,000 students. Dr. Noonan holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of New Mexico, and completed studies to obtain the education specialist designation in educational administration. Dr. Noonan has a doctorate in education from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech).

Upon his retirement in June 2025, Peter working with Inkandescent Publishing to write “The Secret Sauce,” a book about the magic of the Falls Church Public Schools. Click here to read the book.

Valary Oleinik is our gamification columnist: Half geek and half artist and 100% committed to helping people develop and deliver more engaging and effective learning experiences, Valary lives by the motto “learners deserve better.” Her decades of experience in workplace training and higher ed professional development and her innovative approach as a speaker and consultant on gamification of learning and creative problem solving have earned her the titles of “maven of new thinking” and the “MacGyver of training.” Valary is the Owner and Chief Disruptor of DandeLearn llc, where she offers one-on-one coaching, as well as workshops and keynotes. She is Past President of USDLA (United States Distance Learning Association), and a certified facilitator of The BOX Experience, a proven methodology for those times when thinking out of the box is not enough. Throughout her endeavors, she is assisted by her cat and bunny who are lousy typists but great at shredding papers. Learn more: valarywithawhy.com • Click here to read Valary’s column on Inkandescent Kids magazine

Author and international attoney Timothy Trainer proudly says that he is an Army brat. He was born into the Army in Japan and was a high school junior when his father retired from the Army. “Typical of Army or military brats of the time, I had attended 10 schools by the time of my high school graduation, and did not arrive in the United States until I was past my fifth birthday,” he shares. “After arriving in the United States, Army life meant living in various parts of the United States, on and off post, depending upon his father’s duty station.”

He earned a law degree and moved to the Washington, D.C., area in 1987. Since moving to the Washington, D.C., area, he has worked as an attorney in federal government agencies and in the private sector. He has traveled extensively around the world, including several trips to Vietnam.

This work is evidence that his break from the Army was not “permanent.” In the late 1990s, his father, who was reuniting regularly with men he had served with in B2-7, invited him to meet the guys when they met in Washington, D.C. This led to his father’s invitation to attend a summer reunion in 2003. Since 2003, Mr. Trainer has been a regular attendee of the B2-7 reunions in Washington, D.C., and at the summer gatherings at what he calls “Camp Gast.” Learn more about Tim and his books: TimothyTrainer.com