DIVISION 3 LEADER & COACH

Almost a decade ago, Meghan returned to ASU to pursue her bachelor’s degree in psychology, with a focus on health. However, she was also fascinated by subjects such as Effective Thinking, Cognitive Psychology of Academic Success, and Developmental Psychology. While attending school, she volunteered as a classroom aide and served on the PTA at her children’s K-8 school. During this time, she noticed a need for more creativity for her daughter and the school as a whole.

As a child, she participated in Odyssey of the Mind (“OM”), a creative problem-solving competition program, which inspired her to approach the school’s administration with a proposal to let her start a program for their students. With the school’s support and parent volunteer coaches from divers backgrounds, they established three teams consisting of approximately twenty students in 2nd-8th grade. Teams met after school and on weekends, where they designed, built, and showcased innovative solutions to complex, year-long problems at Regional, State, and World Final Tournaments. Over four years, the teams consistently won Regional and State OM competitions, qualifying them to compete at the World Finals. While the awards were gratifying, the most significant accomplishments were the individual triumphs, friendships, resilience, and creativity that she observed, nurtured, and celebrated through problem-solving.

When her daughter began high school last year, they both were inspired to continue, this time with a broader mission. With help, they decided to create a nonprofit community club. Along with former teammates, coaches, and some fantastic new additions, she founded the Creative Innovator’s Project (CIP), to provide opportunities for creativity and problem-solving for children—not only in competitions and schools but also within our community.

When she is not working on the Creative Innovator’s Project, she focuses on her other passions for heath and wellness through her work as a coach, educator, and content creator. She is also the proud mom to two high school students at Liberty High School, a wife to a very patient husband who tolerates her creative chaos, and a caretaker for a menagerie of animals that help maintain her sanity and groundedness.

DIVISION 2 LEADER & COACH

Nancy is the Division 2 Head, Coach, and Vice President of Creative Innovators. A dedicated mom of three amazing children, Nancy first became involved with Odyssey of the Mind four years ago when her kids attended Lake Pleasant Elementary. What began as a curiosity quickly became a passion, and she officially joined as a Division 2 coach three years ago. Now in her third coaching season, all three of her children are active and enthusiastic members of the Creative Innovators team.

In addition to her work with Creative Innovators, Nancy is a homeschool mom, professional photographer, and business owner of Nancy Zayas Photography. She also helps manage her children’s micro sprint racing careers—creating content, connecting with sponsors, and keeping the wheels turning behind the scenes. Her life is centered around encouraging creativity, collaboration, and confidence in young people. Nancy believes deeply in the mission of Creative Innovators, a program that helps kids grow into imaginative thinkers, effective teammates, and empowered problem-solvers.

DIVISION 1 LEADER & COACH

Devon is a former Special Education teacher with a Master’s degree in Curriculum Design from Northern Arizona University. Throughout her teaching career, she worked with students facing a wide range of challenges—including learning disabilities, ADHD, autism, oppositional defiant disorder (ODD), and cognitive or medical differences caused by birth conditions or brain trauma. Her passion was always creating meaningful, real-world learning experiences tailored to each child’s unique needs, interests, and ways of thinking.

As a mom of two girls, Devon began to see the disconnect between traditional schooling and what her own children truly needed. After long school days, her daughter often came home drained, overstimulated, and disengaged. Devon wasn’t searching for just another activity—she wanted something that would refill her child’s imagination, spark her confidence, and celebrate her weird, wild creativity.

When a friend introduced her to Creative Innovators, Devon immediately recognized that this was the kind of environment she had been looking for—not just for her kids, but for families like hers.

Today, Devon combines her educational expertise and personal parenting experience to help shape the vision and communication behind Creative Innovators’ programs. She is committed to creating a space where families feel seen and supported, and where every child walks away feeling confident, capable, and like they truly belong.

DIVISION 2 ASSISTANT COACH

 Sarah is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker with a masters in social work from the University of St. Thomas and St. Catherine University in Minnesota.  Sarah has experience providing therapy, assessments, and case management to children and families experiencing mental health challenges, neurodevelopmental disorders, and stressors/trauma.  Sarah’s approach is trauma informed, strengths based, and solution focused.  Over the years Sarah has supported individuals and families with navigating challenges by building on their strengths, developing their own solutions to problems, tapping into their own resilience , and achieving meaningful progress toward their goals. 

Outside of work, Sarah is the parent to an amazing 11 year old. After Sarah's son became involved in Odyssey of the Mind at his school, Sarah was inspired to volunteer as a coach when the Creative Innovator's Project was formed.  Sarah hopes to bring her skills as a social worker to her role as a coach to support, empower, and teach her son and his teammates how to use their problem solving skills, creativity, and teamwork to navigate challenges and make an impact in the world.

TREASURER

Now a sophomore at Liberty High School in Peoria, AZ, Brinley has loved solving problems since she first participated in Odyssey of the Mind in 2019 as a 4th grader. She is a founder of the Creative Innovators Project and currently Treasurer of the club. 

Brinley is drawn to Odyssey of the Mind for the challenges and opportunities it presents to get out of her comfort zone. She's created many friendships over the years and looks forward to team meetings every week.

Her favorite club activities include building props and sets, designing creations, writing scripts, and team leadership. She also enjoys solving spontaneous problems that challenge her ability to think on her feet and work quickly with her teammates. Brinley's other passions include playing the piano and sprinting on the Liberty track team. 

PRESIDENT

VICE PRESIDENT

SECRETARY

COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER