Department: Electives/Support Staff

Mr. Bertan is the Owner and Director of Technology Education for Computer Explorers. An expert in educational technology for children, he joins the TDS team with over thirty-six years of teaching experience.  Mr. Bertan earned his BA in Early Childhood Education  from the University of South Carolina and his M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction, with an emphasis on Integrating Technology into the Curriculum, from George Mason University, Fairfax, VA.  He began in education as an elementary school teacher where he took his first computer course and immediately began to apply this knowledge in the classroom.  Shortly thereafter, he wrote and was awarded a grant to run an afterschool computer lab for at-risk elementary students.  After five years, he was appointed the position of Elementary Technology Resource Specialist where his focus was on evaluating software, writing a curriculum that integrated technology in the classroom, and teaching nearly 1000 students each week.  Later, Mr. Bertan developed and implemented a summer elementary technology camp.  In 1992, Mr. Bertan left his teaching position to start the COMPUTERTOTS Computer Explorers franchise in Pinellas/Hillsborough County.

Today, Mr. Bertan offers TechStars STEM opportunities for preschool through middle school throughout the Tampa Bay area and as part of the TDS teaching faculty, teaches enrichment and elective classes to 6th-8th grade students.  Mr. Bertan enjoys camping and baseball and is the proud father of two sons and a daughter.

Crystal has over 20 years of teaching, curriculum writing, and performing arts experience. She has been an instructor at the Straz Center, Ruth Eckerd Hall, the Mahaffey Theater, and U.S.F.. She earned a B.A. in Theatre from U.S.F. and is certified to teach Drama, English, and Social Science. She has trained at the SAK Comedy Lab in Orlando, the Applied Improvisation Network, and the Improv Olympic in Chicago. In addition to teaching drama at TDS, she teaches several performing art electives (e.g., Improv) and shares her flare for creative design as the Director of Social Media.  Currently, she is the Artistic Director and lead trainer at the Box Theater in Tampa. In her free time, she enjoys laughing and making others laugh, fishing, and doing anything creative.

Denise serves as a Teacher’s Assistant at Bowman Academy Preschool during the day and as a HW lab instructor and after care provider in the afternoon.  Denise has been a member of the TDS After Care Team for over 10 years.  She is an invaluable support person who assists the admin team with projects, works as a teacher assistant during special events, and supervises children during evening parent presentations.  In her free time, she enjoys going to the movies and spending time with her sons.