ABOUT
Beyond a Brick was founded in 2012 with the idea to build up young minds through the use of LEGO® Education. LEGO® Education explores real world challenges and seek solutions by fostering and facilitating deficiencies found in a traditional classroom environment.
We at Beyond a Brick believe that learning is by doing. Through LEGO® Education, in addition to other tools, the world of STEM is brought to life by applying hands-on projects to real world challenges and creative solutions.
Paula Suchomski
Co-Founder
Paula is co-founder of Beyond a Brick. She graduated a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration, Finance with honors from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, Tennessee. She additionally earned a teaching certificate in mathematics from the University of Mary-Hardin Baylor in Belton, Texas.
Teaching upper level math for 30 years, Paula has taught at the middle school, high school, home school, community college, and private tutoring levels.
Paula is the Assistant Director to Operational Partners and Judge Advisor Tennessee FIRST® LEGO® League Tournament Committee. She has judged the Tennessee FIRST® LEGO® League Championship, as well as the FIRST® LEGO® League World Festival. On the international level, Paula has served as head project judge at the FIRST® LEGO® League World Festival in St. Louis, Missouri and Houston, Texas. She is also Department Head of STEM competitions at the Tennessee Valley Fair.
Paula is a proud mother of three, a retired military wife of 30 years, and enjoys teaching all ages.
Robin Marsh
Co-Founder
Robin Marsh is co-founder of Beyond a Brick. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, Tennessee. She additionally earned a certification at Carnegie Mellon Robot Academy in Robotic Instruction.
Considered a pioneer in the STEM LEGO® arena, Robin has taught kindergarten through 12th grade for seventeen years in robotics, coding, programming, innovation, and mechanisms.
Currently, she is the FIRST® Senior Mentor of the East Tennessee region. In this role, she is involved in developing the FIRST® Robotic Programs across the state of Tennessee. Robin has judged for many years at the Tennessee FIRST® LEGO® League Championship, as well as the FIRST® LEGO® League World Festival in Houston, Texas. Robin is the Director of the LEGO® competitions at the Tennessee Valley Fair. Inspiring all ages to enter careers geared toward the technology industry is something Robin thoroughly enjoys.
Robin is the proud mom of three grown children, and loves anything LEGO®.
Amanda Burnette
Educator
Amanda graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Education, grades K-8, and a Master of Arts degree in Educational Interdisciplinary Skills from Johnson University in Knoxville, Tennessee.
She taught second grade for two years and first grade for eight years. In 2015, she began her work with Beyond a Brick starting with educational classes, University of Tennessee's Summer KidsU Camp, and assisting with LEGO® robotics classes.
She has judged the Tennessee FIRST® LEGO® League Championship for several years and most recently served has Head Judge of Projects.
Amanda has been happily married for over a decade and has three children. She is always "BEYOND" excited to see the way LEGO® bricks inspires the creativity and depth of understanding in students of all ages.
CONTACT US
Knoxville, Tennessee
info@beyondabrick.com | 865-805-8818