Glen Simpson

Instructional Designer and Owner of GS Professional Consulting LLC

About

I’m an instructional designer who turns technical content into clear, practical training people actually use.

For 6+ years I’ve built eLearning, instructional video, job aids, and instructor-led materials for adult and K-12 audiences. My adult training is built in Articulate Storyline 360 and Rise 360; my K-12 courses at StrongMind are built in the company’s proprietary authoring tools. I work closely with subject matter experts from needs analysis through final sign-off.

At StrongMind, I co-created course templates that are now built into the course development tool and used by 15–20 designers, and co-developed an instructional video framework that has produced 100+ videos and is still the company standard.

Through my consulting business, I build training for trade associations, including safety training for new employees in rubber products manufacturing and a project management crash course for managers and supervisors.

My background is in math and physics (B.S. in Mathematics, minor in Physics) and teaching (M.Ed., 4.0 GPA). Training fellow teachers on new technology is what pointed me toward adult learning. I believe that no matter the subject or the audience, training can’t be boring if it’s going to work.

Work Experience

Instructional Designer and Owner

GS Professional Consulting LLC
2022 – Present

• Design and build custom training for trade associations, from needs analysis through final SME sign-off
• Safety training for new employees in rubber products manufacturing (Association of Rubber Products Manufacturers)
• Project management crash course for managers and supervisors, built with a certified project manager as SME
• Project-based video production course for print journalists (Arizona Newspapers Association, now Arizona Media Association)
• Interactive eLearning in Articulate Storyline 360 and Rise 360, including scenario-based activities
• Scripting, storyboarding, voiceover, and video editing for client courses
• ILT slide decks, facilitator guides, job aids, and learner feedback surveys
• SCORM publishing, LMS setup and testing, and WCAG accessibility checks

Instructional Designer

StrongMind
2020 – Present

• Instructional designer, SME, and author for 30–40 middle and high school math, science, and ASL courses, built in StrongMind’s proprietary authoring tools
• Co-created course templates now built into the course development tool and used by 15–20 designers
• Co-developed the instructional video framework behind 100+ videos, still the standard for curriculum and creative teams
• Designed and led a live virtual scriptwriting workshop for 30–40 offshore content developers, cutting revision rounds from 3–4 to typically one
• Math and science SME: wrote content, designed interactives, created instructional media, corrected errors
• Helped develop the prompts still used to AI-generate content, assessment items, and media suggestions; built custom GPT tools and prompt libraries
• Only non-manager in an engineer-led cohort using Cursor to code and ship updates to the course-building tool
• Helped write the instructional sections of the company style guide; reviewed scripts, voiceovers, graphics, and animations for quality
• Co-prototyped a learning object repository; now an expert reviewer as the company builds it

Physics Teacher

North Dallas High School, Dallas ISD
2018 – 2019

• Developed curriculum aligned with Texas and national standards, with clear learning objectives and measurable outcomes
• Designed formative and summative assessments and used the results to adjust instruction
• Created and facilitated engaging learning experiences, incorporating diverse instructional methods to accommodate various learning styles.

Physics Teacher

Marana High School, Marana USD
2014 – 2018

• Developed curricula for multiple physics courses aligned with Arizona and College Board standards, adopted district-wide
• Designed the district’s AP Physics 1 curriculum in my first year, when the College Board retired AP Physics B
• Built the district’s AP Physics 2 curriculum, approved by the Marana USD School Board
• Trained fellow teachers on Google Classroom and newly adopted district technology
• Started and coached the school’s FIRST Robotics team
• Co-launched the school’s first science fair in partnership with SARSEF
• Taught Conceptual, Honors, and AP Physics with accommodations for 504, IEP, and English learner students

Student Teacher

Dobson High School, Mesa Public Schools
2014

With the guidance of a mentor teacher, I took responsibility for classroom management, unit and lesson planning for 2 Physics classes. In addition, I provided assistance and taught lessons in Chemistry and AP Physics.

Student Teaching Intern

Poston Junior High School, Mesa Public Schools
2013

With the guidance of a mentor teacher, I learned, assisted, created and taught specific lessons in 8th grade general science. I actively participated in the Science department meetings and assisted with the special astronomy night.

Professional Services Associate

Synygy
2010 – 2012

• Built the commission compensation tool for GE’s global Energy Distribution division, covering first- and third-party sales partners worldwide
• Planned, built, tested, and supported compensation programs as part of the GE client team
• Designed, tested, and documented process changes and communicated them to the client and team
• Coordinated with international teams across time zones to deliver 24/7 client support

Education

Master of Education, Secondary Education

Arizona State University
2013 – 2014

4.0 GPA Completed in 14 months through the TEAMS program at the Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College, including a full year of student teaching.

Bachelor of Science in Mathematics, minor in Physics

The University of Arizona
2006 – 2010

Mathematics Courses:

• Calculus 1
• Calculus 2
• Vector Calculus
• Introduction to Linear Algebra
• Analysis of Ordinary Differential Equations

• Formal Mathematical Reasoning and Writing
• Introduction to Probability Theory
• Linear Algebra
• Theory of Complex Variables
• Introduction to Abstract Algebra

• Real Analysis of One Variable
• Real Analysis of Several Variables
• Second Course in Abstract Algebra

Physics Courses:

• Introductory Mechanics
• Introductory Optics and Thermodynamics
• Introductory Electricity and Magnetism
• Introductory Relativity and Quantum Physics

• Mathematical Techniques in Physics
• Theoretical Mechanics I
• Optics

• Quantum Theory I
• Quantum Theory II
• General Relativity