Your cart is currently empty!
About Silverquicken
Who We Are
We’re a team of educators, puzzle creators, writers, graphic designers, artists, producers, and more. Our strengths and backgrounds are different, but we all share a love of puzzles, games, and stories. And we all believe that the best way to teach kids is through play.
That’s why everything we build is both fun and rigorous. It’s why we focus on not just thinking skills, but feeling skills too. And it’s why we believe that explicit instruction around complex problem solving, creativity, and teamwork – through fun and exciting challenges – is exactly what kids need today, in order to become the Solvers, Creators, and Leaders we need them to be tomorrow.
Our Story
Chris and Leslie have been friends for more years that we care to admit! In grad school we were two of the only education-focused MBA students, working in early K-12 ed-tech ventures, representing the student body as curriculum representatives, and working with local schools in Durham, NC. After separate careers with various education companies, we reconnected in 2020 when our own young kids were struggling with academic and social engagement.
In the wake of the pandemic and with the rise of “screenagers,” we realized that what kids have lost is far more than just math, science, or social studies. They’ve lost the ability to think critically about novel problems. To work collaboratively with others and persevere toward solutions. To come up with new ideas and extend learning beyond what’s being taught.
At the same time, our world has gotten more and more complex and difficult to navigate. The problems our children will face during their lifetimes are dire. These problems will require novel ideas, creative solutions, and the ability to collaborate across geographies, ideologies, and life experiences. Put simply: Now, more than ever, our kids need real problem-solving, creativity and teamwork skills.
But you can’t force-feed these skills. You have to cultivate them. And you’ve got to start early.
That’s where Silverquicken comes in. Our programs excite and inspire children to stretch themselves. As kids tackle our tough challenges, they don’t just gain knowledge and skills. They become young Solvers, Creators, and Leaders.
Chris Ryan
Cofounder and CEO
Teacher, author, curriculum developer, and entrepreneur, Chris Ryan is the CEO and cofounder of Silverquicken. He spent the last 17 years helping grow a boutique education startup from “one room schoolhouse” to the world’s largest provider of GMAT test-preparation services, after close to a decade of consulting and teaching high school chemistry and physics. He has authored, co-authored, and edited numerous books, including The 5-lb Book of ACT Practice Problems, Case Studies & Cocktails (a guide to life at business school) and the Tunisian section of Let’s Go: Italy. With an MBA from the Fuqua School of Business (Duke) and a BA in Physics from Harvard University, Chris strives to help students awaken the curiosity and wonder of learning.
Leslie Kerner
Cofounder and COO
Educator, curriculum designer, parent, and community builder, Leslie Kerner is the COO and cofounder of Silverquicken. She has spent the last 17 years developing K-12 education products and services. At Amplify Education, she worked closely with teachers and administrators around the country to bring them solutions that help their students succeed. In the process, she led a team of over 150 people to grow their business line into Amplify’s most profitable revenue stream. She has also founded two community service programs that provide support to families in need and teach kids how to give back to their communities. With an MBA from the Fuqua School of Business (Duke) and a BA from Northwestern University, Leslie focuses on the growth of organizations and individuals.
Israt Pasha
Designer/Video Producer
A passionate media production specialist, Israt Pasha is a Video Producer at Silverquicken. She assists in designing media content and produces Silverquicken Puzzle of the Week videos. Israt has spent the last ten years working on instructional design and educational content that serves students of all ages. Her work includes brand design, graphic design, web design, motion graphics, interactive ed-tech, podcast production, and video production. With a BS in Web Design and a BA in English Writing from Simmons University, Israt uses both her technical and creative skills to bring new and innovative ideas to life. You can see more of Israt’s work at pashabilities.com.
Liz Holloway
Kit Production Associate
A recent graduate from Virginia Tech, Elizabeth works as Silverquicken’s kit operations associate. With a BA in International Studies and minors in Spanish, Women and Gender Studies, and Leadership for Social Change, she firmly believes education is the key to inspiring positive sustainable change in the world. Thus, she is ecstatic to be working with Silverquicken
to help show kids what they are capable of when placed in a positive learning environment with an emphasis on fun. With a love for fantasy, science fiction, and art, Elizabeth uses her creative skills to bring fresh ideas and a personal touch to the Silverquicken kits. When she isn’t working with Silverquicken, Elizabeth loves to cook, play the piano, read, play with her two dogs, or paint.
Jamie Ramsburg
Educator
Educator, parent, volunteer, and theater professional, Jamie Ramsburg believes every child has the potential to do great things and it’s her goal to unlock that potential in each student she meets. She earned her MT in Secondary Teaching from The University of Richmond and her MFA from New School University. She is a proud Silverquicken teacher and curriculum consultant who tries to infuse fun and theatrics into everything she does, in and out of the classroom.
Sam Nguyen
Teacher and Content Developer
Sam Nguyen, a gifted education specialist with over 10 years of experience, is dedicated to helping students explore their passions and deepen their learning. With a B.A. and M.Ed. in Elementary Education, focused on Math from North Carolina State University, and a certification in Academic and Intellectually Gifted Education from Duke, Sam has worked as a coach, curriculum designer, and teacher. She has also presented at state conferences on equity and student engagement.
We work with many other wonderful educators around the country and abroad who use our materials and teach our programs. They provide us crucial feedback and constantly help us improve our offerings. They bring Silverquicken to life for our kids.
We also work with fabulous creators, including puzzle writers, story writers, and illustrators, who flesh out our imaginative worlds and develop our challenges. They, too, bring Silverquicken to life for our kids.