Education Technology Summit - List of Speakers
Key Speakers:
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Ron Canuel,Chief Executive Officer,Canadian Education Association |
Dr. Michael Salvatori,OCT, Registrar and Chief Executive Officer,Ontario College of Teachers |
Professor Steve Higgins,Director of Research, School of Education,Durham University (Durham, UK) |
Vincent Jansen,Director of Information Technology,Lower Canada College |
Dianna Scates,Superintendent of Information/Communication Technology and Secondary Operations,Trillium Lakelands District School Board |
Hear from these leaders
Alyssa Brierley, Policy Analyst and External Relations Officer, Ontario College of Teachers
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Ms. Brierley is a Policy Analyst and External Relations Officer at the Ontario College of Teachers. Alyssa is a lawyer who completed her law degree at Osgoode Hall and her articles with Torys LLP, where she worked in the area of corporate and commercial litigation. Her current role with the College is focused on regulatory policy development, governance and outreach to College and other education and regulatory stakeholders. Prior to attending law school, Alyssa worked in the insurance, financial services and telecommunications industries in the areas of finance and project management. She is also currently a Ph.D. candidate in the Political Science department at York University.
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Arana Shapiro, Co-Director of School, Quest to Learn (New York)
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Arana has been working in the field of education since 1999. She started teaching in the Inglewood Public School District, where she taught for first grade. In Inglewood, Arana served on the district curriculum review team, helping to develop and implement new curriculum in this small district. Upon moving to New York City, Arana began working at Teachers College (TC), Columbia University's Early Childhood Education Program. At TC, Arana helped develop the Early Childhood Education department's new student teacher program by visiting New York City public school classrooms and finding appropriate placement and mentorship for TC students. It was during her work at Teachers College when Arana began working with a group of educators to develop curriculum for a new school, The School at Columbia University and subsequently became a founding faculty member of The School in 2003. Arana's desire to bring new media technologies into the classroom prompted her to migrate from the classroom to the technology team at The School and later to the Lead Educational Technologist position at the Ross Institute, where she integrated technology into K-12 classrooms at both The Ross School in East Hampton and Ross Global Academy Charter School. In addition, Arana was a reading specialist for Groundwork for Youth in East New York Public Schools. She has presented research at many national education conferences, including AERA and NCTM. She received her Masters of Arts in Education with an emphasis in Second Language Learning and Acquisition from Pepperdine University, and did coursework in TC's Communication and Education program. Currently, Arana is pursuing her Master's in School Leadership from Bank Street.
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Bill Lemon, Secondary School Principal, Waterloo Region DSB
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Bill, in addition to his duties as Principal at Preston High School, has served as the program lead for the Futures Forum Project and implementation team. He is facilitator of communications, actions and liaison involving school and central staff directly involved in implementing and expanding the Futures Forum.
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Brenda Blancher, Superintendant of Education, Grand Erie District School Board
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Brenda Blancher is a Superintendent of Education with the Grand Erie District School Board. In 2009 she co-authored a report on the state of educational technology in her school board. This report led Grand Erie to contract with the K-12 Education Division of IBM Canada to help provide direction regarding technology in the classroom. In September 2010, under Brenda's leadership, Grand Erie embarked on an ambitious five-year plan to provide relevant educational technology to staff and students. This initiative is not just about providing the technology but also about engaging all stakeholders and supporting the technology with a focused professional development plan. Brenda is passionate about the need for educators to engage learners and to allow students the opportunities to expand their learning beyond the walls of the classroom. Brenda believes we can improve student engagement and achievement by embedding technology into daily teaching and learning to ensure that education is a relevant, collaborative, and interactive experience.
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Concepcion Alvar, Headmistress, Marymount School of New York
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Concepcion has been the Headmistress of Marymount School of New York since 2004. Throughout her time at Marymount, Concepcion has been aligned with several independent school organizations including the National Coalition of Girls Schools (NCGS), Guild of Independent Schools, New York State Association of Independent Schools (NYSAIS) and the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS). She is also on the Implementation Committee of the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary International Network of Schools. She serves on the board of St. Hilda's & St. Hugh's School, Marymount High School in Los Angeles and the New York State Association of Independent Schools. Concepcion played an active role in Marymount School's 1998 Strategic Plan to double the School's enrollment and purchase a Middle School building. She then led the Strategic Planning in 2008 and spearheaded efforts to acquire a third building for program enhancements for Lower, Middle and Upper Schools. An educator for over four decades, Concepcion has also taught in Asia and the Middle East. She obtained her Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education at Maryknoll College in the Philippines and earned her Master of Arts with a major in Special Education from Columbia University, Teachers College in New York. Her related studies in communication arts, theology, and sociology have complemented her work experience in a variety of fields. She had been involved in film, radio, television, newspaper publications, community health, family education programs, educational television as well as curriculum and staff development.
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Craig DiFolco, Media Lab Coordinator & Speech/Drama Teacher, Marymount School of New York
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Craig DiFolco received his B.A. from Williams College, where he was awarded the Gilbert Gabriel Prize for his notable contribution to the advancement of theatre. Before joining the staff of Marymount as a Speech/Drama teacher, he was a teaching artist at the renowned George Street Playhouse in New Jersey. He received his MFA from Columbia University's film program and in addition to serving as Marymount's Media Lab Coordinator, he has written and/or directed several projects including Leap Year, which was recognized by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science's prestigious Nicholl Fellowship in Screenwriting; the new media project, iChannel, which was seen by over 2 million viewers; and his first feature film, The Last Day of August. Craig has also worked extensively in production, as an assistant to Hunting Lane Films, where he worked on the Academy-Award nominated Half-Nelson and Blue Valentine.
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Dr. Denise Lowe, Instructional Design Team Lead, Center for Distributed Learning, University of Central Florida
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Dr. Denise Lowe holds an EdD in Organizational Leadership – Higher Education from Nova Southeastern University (2006); a MEd in the field of Guidance and Counseling from Boston University (1990); and a BS in Psychology from UNC-Pembroke (1980). She is also a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC, NC). Dr. Lowe became interested in the field of instructional design as an outgrowth of her online experiences, both as an educator and student. Her desire to create varied learning environments that foster student/faculty growth and learning led her to the University of Central Florida. Prior to coming to UCF from North Carolina, Dr. Lowe maintained a private counseling agency after working for years as a counselor/supervisor in government and public agencies. This work included business consultations, seminar development, educational materials development, and teaching both traditional and online courses at two universities. She also produced and hosted educational television programming, and appeared as guest speaker on local radio talk shows. As a faculty member, Dr. Lowe teaches courses in organizational communication, leadership development, and conflict management. She is an Instructional Design Team Lead at UCF and promotes best practices in online teaching and development.
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Dianna Scates, Superintendant of Information/Communication Technology and Secondary Operations, Trillium Lakelands District School Board
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Dianna Scates is currently the Superintendent of Information/Communication Technology and Secondary Operations with Trillium Lakelands District School Board. Dianna has held various roles with Trilium Lakelands District School Board including:
Come and hear how TLDSB has leveraged the use and deployment of technology for innovative change.
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Dino Miele, Chief Information Officer, District School Board of Niagara
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Dino Miele is the Chief Information Officer at the District School Board of Niagara. He is a seasoned senior manager who holds a Certified Electronic Technologist diploma from Niagara College, as well as an Information Technology Management, Sociology and Masters of Education degree from Brock University in St. Catharines, ON. With 32 years experience in all facets of Information Technology, Dino is a recognized leader known for crafting the requisite strategic vision to achieve organizational objectives. Dino offers a unique blend of executive and academic acumen, a global understanding of both academic and business processes in an Ontario school board environment. His vision is to build continuity and capacity with technology “for learning” in today’s 21st century classrooms. His research interests include preparing teachers to effectively utilize technology as one of the many strategies in improving student achievement, and the influence of digital media on teaching and learning. With a focus on strategic solutions analysis Dino would like to further the technological comfort and confidence of all staff in school boards to a comfort and confidence environment. Technology should be transparent to the business, teaching and learning day of all district school board staff. Today's K-12 environment should be open, collaborative and innovative.
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Heather Tumbach, Teacher, Richard S. Fowler Catholic Junior High School
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Heather Tumbach is in her fifth year of teaching having graduated from the University of Alberta. She is the lead teacher in the schools Power Up 2 Learn initiative as well as the Alberta Initiative for School Improvement lead teacher for the school. Her expertise is in infusing technology into instruction with the right educational approach.
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Jaymes Dec, FabLab Administrator & Technology Integrator, Marymount School of New York
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Before joining the Marymount faculty, Jaymes was Program Manager at GreenFab, a National Science Foundation funded high school program for students from the South Bronx that taught science, technology, engineering and math skills through classes on sustainable design and green technologies. He also taught robotics and video game design after-school to students in kindergarten through middle-school. Jaymes studied economics and mathematics at New York University. Jaymes also completed a Masters degree from the Interactive Telecommunications Program at NYU where he concentrated in physical computing, game design and wearable technologies. He was an Assistant Adjunct Professor at NYU, co-teaching a course on technology education. Jaymes is a partner in HTINK, a technology education cooperative and founder of City Hunt, a special events company based in New York City. Through City Hunt, he has produced hundreds of team building scavenger hunts for clients in Europe, Asia, and North America.
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Jim Babbage, Solutions Consultant - Adobe Canada Education, Adobe Systems
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Jim Babbage's passion to share knowledge, take photographs, and manipulate images led him to long-lasting careers in those areas as both a college professor and creative professional. Jim is a regular contributor to Community MX, where he's written hundreds of articles on Fireworks, Dreamweaver, Photoshop, and general web and photography topics and has spoken at Adobe MAX and D2WC. Jim has also written 5 books for Peachpit Press, focused on Adobe Fireworks. Currently, Jim is a Solutions Consultant for Adobe, supporting the Canadian educational sales team.
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John Shanks, Chief Information Officer, Upper Grand District School Board
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John is an IT professional with 30 years experience in both the private and public sectors. He holds degrees in Music and Computer Science from the University of Western Ontario and an MBA from the Richard Ivey School of Business. In addition to the formal post secondary degrees, John also holds certificates in Records Management and several technology industry standards and networking. Prior to coming to education, John provided strategic IT and corporate governance organizational services in large financial institutions and the Defence industry. In 2004, he joined the ranks of public education providing strategic senior technology leadership as the Chief Information Officer with the Simcoe County District School Board. In 2005, John joined the Upper Grand District School Board as the CIO to develop and deliver strategic IT planning and services for students and staff. In addition to work in the Board, John has provided leadership and development skills participating as a founding member of the Ontario Privacy and Information Management in Education steering committee, resourcing the Ontario Public School Board Association's technology committee, and serving as the Upper Grand's Managing Information for Student Achievement leader for 6 years.
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Kim Keena, Coordinator, Learning Services, Waterloo Region DSB
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Kim has been involved with the Futures Forum Project from the beginning and currently provides ongoing support through the implementation process. Her role has primarily focused on supporting curriculum implementation, assessment practices and instructional decision making. Kim has been a champion for more responsive, engaging instruction and learning in the WRDSB and public education.
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Leah Hirsch, Teacher, Quest to Learn (New York)
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Leah Hirsch is a New York State Certified Teacher of Biology and has been a New York City public school teacher for the past seven years. At Quest to Learn she has also evolved into a designer of Game-Based Learning experiences, and a mentor teacher for educators new to this this curriculum model. Leah has a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Santa Cruz in American Studies. While at the University of Santa Cruz, she was a Merrill Scholar, a member of Phi Beta Kappa and a winner of the Chancellor's Award. Leah holds a Masters of Arts from Brooklyn College in Middle Childhood Science and Environmental Education, with a Biology specialization, and a Multisubject Credential from San Francisco State University in Multicultural Education. Leah first began her work with game-based curriculum as the Program Director for the Fresh Air Fund's Camp Hayden Marks in Fishkill, NY from 1999-2006; and continued it as the Afterschool Program Coordinator at the James Lick Middle School in San Francisco, CA. Leah has also worked as a 4th Grade Multisubject Teacher at PS 26 in Brooklyn, a Science Cluster Teacher, an 8th Grade Science Teacher and a 7th Grade Summer School Math Teacher. Leah's past presentations include the annual ESSA Conference (Elementary School Science Association); the annual SCONYC conference (Science Council of New York City), and Chicago Quest's Studio Q.
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Mark Carbone, Chief Information Officer, Information Technology Services, Waterloo Region DSB
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Mark serves as a member of the Futures Forum Steering Committee and is active in supporting and promoting technology enabled learning that responds to student needs and interests. Mark is also a member of the Ministry of Education software advisory team (OSAPAC), co-founding member of the Ontario ConnectEd Leaders Consortium (ontclc.ca) and an online coach with the Powerful Learning Practice organization.
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Mark Caruso, Territory Account Manager - Eastern Canada Education, Adobe Systems
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Mark has been at Adobe since 2004, working specifically within the Canadian education space since 2009 and focused on partnering with customers to address their enrollment, recruitment, retention, and student success initiatives.
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Mark Harper, Superintendent of Learning Services, Waterloo Region DSB
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Mark Harper is the Superintendent of Learning Services with the Waterloo Region DSB. He is past chairperson of the Ontario eLearning Consortium and the London Region E-Learning Partnership. He is a recipient of the Ontario Public Supervisory Officer Association Distinguished Leadership Award. Mark has been active for more than a decade in collaborating with others to promote and support a variety of learning opportunities for students including online and blended learning approaches. He has served as a speaker or facilitator at a variety of regional and international forums including iNACOL, OPSOA, OeLC and others.
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Max Cooke, Director of Communications, Canadian Education Association
Michael Duffy, Principal, Byron High School (Byron, MN)
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Michael Duffy began his education at Dakota State University in South Dakota, graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in Secondary Education with a double-major in Mathematics and Physical Science/Math Composite. He continued advancing his degree by receiving a Master of Education in Teacher Leadership from the University of Minnesota, his Superintendent Licensure Program at Winona State University, and also attended the Minnesota Principal Academy’s National Institute for School Leadership at the University of Minnesota. Michael Duffy spent 17 years in the classroom as a teacher in math and science. He has been a high school principal for 15 years; 12 of those as principal of Byron High School. His accomplishments there have included executing district-wide continuous improvement strategies, supervising the development of a textbook-free, electronic high school math curriculum, consulting on the implementation and measurement of a “reverse teaching” program in math, and coordinating a pilot program using personal computing devices (i.e. smart phones, and Ipods) by students in the classroom. He has also overseen the initiation of online learning and teaching by high school staff and students and implemented Professional Learning Communities and an advisor/advisee program called Seminar for high school students. The major highlights of his career include winning the National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence Award in 2010, Intel’s School of Distinction Award recognizing Byron High School as the top high school math program in the nation, and the Minnesota Association of Secondary School Principal’s Star of Innovation Award for 2010-2011.
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Dr. Michael Salvatori, OCT, Registrar and Chief Executive Officer, Ontario College of Teachers
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Dr. Michael Salvatori was appointed to the position of Registrar and Chief Executive Officer at the Ontario College of Teachers in June of 2009. Michael initially joined the College from the London Catholic District School Board where he worked as a vice-principal, principal, curriculum co-ordinator and elementary and secondary school teacher. He has also served as the College's Membership Services Director, Manager of Client Services and as an Accreditation Program Officer. Fluent in four languages, he has worn many hats in his career in education: teacher, vice-principal, principal, senior leadership team member at the College, assistant professor at Glendon College of York University, jointly appointed to the Faculty of Education and the Department of French Studies and now the College's Registrar. He earned a PhD in Curriculum, Teaching and Learning from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto. He also holds MEd and BEd degrees from the University of Western Ontario and a BA from the University of Toronto. He's the author and co-author of numerous textbooks and teacher resources.
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Dr. Mitchell Salerno, Assistant Superintendent, The Master's Academy (Orlando)
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Dr. Mitchell Salerno is the Assistant Superintendent at The Master's Academy in Oviedo, Florida. Dr. Salerno is currently leading iConnecTMA, Florida's first high school iPad 1:1 program. iConnecTMA is an ambitious endeavor, seeking to teach students to be adaptable, to collaborate, to innovate, to create, to be productive, and to work with technology in an ethical manner. Beyond technology, Dr. Salerno is passionate about innovating the learning environment to meet students' needs, both developmentally and environmentally. He is the co-founder and vice-president of the Christian Coalition for Educational Innovation (CCEI) and has worked with schools to develop interim and dual enrollment programs. Most importantly, Dr. Salerno seeks to equip students to live out their calling and to create an educational environment centered on assisting students in this important task. Dr. Salerno received a B.S. in Chemistry from Wheaton College (IL), a M.S. Ed. in Secondary Education from Duquesne University, and an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership from Liberty University. He holds licensure in South Carolina and Pennsylvania as a teacher, an instructional technology specialist, and an administrator.
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Noble Kelly, President & Founder, Education Beyond Borders
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Noble Kelly has been a Business and ICT educator at the secondary level in British Columbia since 1991 and has a Post Baccalaureate in Educational Technology. Mr. Kelly has served as a coordinator of school and district-based ICT committees and has worked as a teacher mentor and trainer for the Simon Fraser University T.L.I.T.E (Teaching and Learning in an Information Technological Environment) Post Baccalaureate program. He has facilitated workshops to teachers as part of his role as a member of the Peace and Global Education action group for the British Columbia Teachers' Federation. He is also doing capacity-building and development work in South Africa, Ethiopia, Guyana, Tanzania and Kenya, with the main focus being education reform, teacher professional development and appropriate use and integration of ICT to engage learners within a cultural/local context. In 2007, Mr. Kelly founded Education Beyond Borders (www.educationbeyondborders.org), a non-profit NGO focused on advancing and supporting the movement for educators and advocates for quality education to do our part in supporting a collaborative and participatory approach with our colleagues and their students in disadvantaged regions in developing and implementing systemic strategies to foster quality education and learning globally. He, therefore, brings a unique perspective and vision for ICTs' role in enhancing learning through a development lens and addressing our accountability as educators to help close the increasing global educational and digital divide.
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Rob Warneke, Math Instructor, Byron High School (Byron, MN)
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Rob Warneke earned his B.A. in Mathematics and teaching licensure from St. Olaf College in 1990 and his Master’s in Education from St. Mary’s University in Winona in 2002. He has been a high school math instructor in the Byron district for eighteen years. Since 2004, Rob has been a member of the district/high school continuous improvement team. He became a data coach for the district in 2008; in this role he helps train teachers in best practices for data-driven decision making. In addition to training teachers, he also interprets data in order for the district to make data-driven decisions. Rob is also a member of the high school’s Professional Learning Community leadership committee which is designed to empower interaction among colleagues and offer staff development opportunities for all teachers. Rob was named the Rochester Area Math Science Partnership ‘Outstanding Educator’ in 2007 and the Byron Teacher of the Year in 2009 for his efforts in bringing purposeful technology into the classroom to differentiate the math curriculum. His department recently received the Intel Schools of Distinction award as the most innovative high school math program in the United States for overcoming a shortage in funding for new books. The main goal was to create a digital curriculum in which all materials were made available to students online. This solution allowed for the development and implementation of the ‘flipped’ classroom approach which is currently in use.
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Ron Canuel, Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Education Association
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Ron Canuel is Chief Executive Officer of the Canadian Education Association. He has over 34 years of experience in the public education sector, most recently as Director General of the Eastern Townships School Board in Quebec, where he was the principal architect of one of the first Canadian district-wide wireless laptop computer program for students and teachers. Mr. Canuel has received numerous awards in recognition of this ongoing initiative, and has been a frequent presenter and lecturer at national and international conferences on change management, innovation in education, leadership, and technology in the classroom.
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Shawn Haggarty, Principal, Richard S. Fowler Catholic Junior High School
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Shawn Haggarty is in his 14th year as administrator with Greater St. Albert Catholic Schools. Currently he is Principal of Richard S. Fowler Catholic Junior High School. He attained his Masters in Educational Leadership through the University of Alberta. Much of his time is spent with his wife and two children.
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Professor Steve Higgins, Director of Research, School of Education, Durham University (Durham, UK)
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Steve’s research is in the area of the effective use of educational technology to support students’ learning and to support teachers’ professional development in schools. His current work is focusing on the potential of multi-touch technologies in a classroom setting to develop an integrated pedagogy to support group and individual learning in the SynergyNet project, an interdisciplinary study funded jointly by the UK’s Economic and Social Research Council and Engineering and Physical Science Research Council as part of their Teaching and Learning Research Programme to investigate Technology Enhanced Learning (TLRP-TEL). He led the first major UK evaluation of the impact of interactive whiteboards on the teaching of English and mathematics to 9-11 year olds, “Embedding ICT in the Literacy and Numeracy Strategies”, in 2002-05. A former elementary school teacher, he also has an interest in the use of research evidence to support the development of teaching in schools and the use of teaching strategies, which promote and develop students’ thinking and learning.
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Sumon Acharjee, Chief Information Officer, Sheridan College
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Sumon joined Sheridan College Institute of Technology and Advance Learning in August, 2008. He returned to Canada after working several years in the United States. He has over 18 years' experience in planning, developing, and implementing cutting edge information solutions in a diverse variety of industries including pharmaceutical (Novarits), consumer electronics (Sony), consumer products (Playtex), automotive (Collins & Aikman), food (Smithfield Foods), financial services (Origen Financial), and now education. Sumon has a Bachelors of Mathematics from the University of Waterloo and a Master's in Business Administration from Wilmington University. As a highly successful Leader in Information Technology, he fully comprehends the strategic importance of technology and innovation in achieving and maintaining competitive advantage in today's economic environment. Sumon has merged disparate technologies and personnel into team-centered units and expertise in motivation, cross-functional team training, innovation and retention of industry professionals.
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Vincent Jansen, Director of Information Technology, Lower Canada College
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I am presently Director of Information Services at Lower Canada College in Montreal, Canada. I have been involved in education for 29 years, fulfilling roles as leader, administrator, teacher, business analyst and consultant. I have worked in educational technology and curricular development in several private schools and in several international schools, located in Scotland, Kenya, Philippines and Belgium. As founder and CEO of Lunico, I provide consultancy, technology audits, strategic IT plans, workflow and learning metrics and business intelligence initiatives to the education sector and to the provincial organization - Learn Quebec. I have taught graduate courses at Bishop's University and presented at numerous conferences around the globe. I hold a Masters degree in Education Administration, along with Certification in Use of Emerging Technologies in Learning. My interest and expertise lies in establishing a vision for the integration of technological solutions thereby enhancing learning platforms, data management, visual thinking and workflow. With several years experience as a curriculum consultant and business analyst, I am able to view education through the lens of a teacher, administrator, curriculum planner, and technologist. I have a strong background in building learning communities, with global classroom initiatives and unique, innovative programs to provide greater learning opportunities for students. I continually stay connected to education research and future thinking in education, with new strategies for optimizing the potential for learning.
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