no access to create a branch in the githubteacher repository. do I need to be added as a contributor?

[githubteacher]

Yes - to do so please comment here: #2

[hectorsector]

@kmarchen1 it looks like you were added, so I'll close out this issue but please feel free to open a new one or join us on Gitter if you have any more questions https://gitter.im/githubteacher/developers-jun-2016-americas