Patricia Brown - Monday Keynote Speaker
(@msEdtechie) Patricia J. Brown, known as “MsEdtechie”, is a Technology Specialist with over 16 years experience in K-12, and and higher education. She breaks down traditional classroom walls by creating a culture that fosters collaboration, creativity, communication, and authentic learning. She is passionate about providing educators with practical techniques to integrate technology, and make global connections. Among her many accolades as an award winning educator, she was recently selected as a National School Board Association’s 20 to Watch, a 2016 Google Certified Innovator, a 2015 PBS Lead LearningMedia Digital Innovator, and In 2006, she was honored as Teacher of The Year. She is on the advisory panel for ISTE’s member magazine, Empowered Learner, and she serves as an ISTE Digital Equity, and Computer Science PLN Leader. She is a Google Certified Trainer, Common Sense & Graphite Certified, Code.org Facilitator, and also a member the Discovery Education Leadership Council, and Educolor. Her work has been featured in several publications including, Tech & Learning Magazine, Scholastic Administrator Magazine, Edtech Magazine, Entrsekt Magazine, and she was also a monthly columnist for Edsurge. She has been a featured speaker and presenter at several national conferences, as well as has facilitated hundreds of professional development workshops.
April 1st 9:30-10:30am Keynote, Banquet Hall
April 1st 12:45-1:45pm STEM is for ALL, Suite 5
Varian Johnson - Tuesday Author Keynote Speaker, Sponsored by Scholastic
(@varianjohnson) Varian Johnson is the author of several novels, including The Parker Inheritance, which received four starred reviews and was named a 2018 Boston Globe-Horn Book Award Honor Book, a Junior Library Guild selection, and a Spring 2018 Kids’ Indie Next List pick, among other accolades. His middle grade caper novel The Great Greene Heist has been named to over twenty-five state reading and best-of lists. In addition, Varian has written for Scholastic’s middle-grade fantasy series Spirit Animals and the American Girl stories. Some of his other novels and short stories are written for YA audiences. Varian was born in Florence, South Carolina, and attended the University of Oklahoma, where he received a BS in Civil Engineering. He later received an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from the Vermont College of Fine Arts. Varian now lives outside of Austin, Texas.
April 2nd 11:45am-12:45pm Keynote, Banquet Hall
April 2nd 1-2pm Book Signing, location tbd
Jessica Gunderson - Monday Author, Sponsored by Follett School Solutions
Jessica Gunderson grew up in the small town of Washburn, North Dakota. She has a bachelor’s degree from the University of North Dakota and an MFA in Creative Writing from Minnesota State University, Mankato. She has written more than fifty books for young readers. Her book Ropes of Revolution won the 2008 Moonbeam Award for best graphic novel. She currently lives in Madison, Wisconsin, with her husband and cat. www.titlewave.com
April 1st 3:15-3:45pm Book Giveaway/Signing, Follett booth - Jessica Gunderson (Capstone Publishing) will be signing and giving away 100 copies of her latest book “Sleeping beauty : An Interactive Fairy Tale Adventure”! (You Choose: Fractured Fairy Tales) available on www.titlewave.com (FLR #1122CP4)
Kevin Jarrett - Spotlight Speaker
(@kjarrett) Kevin Jarrett is an award-winning teacher educator, author, speaker, and respected STEM / Design Thinking / Maker Education consultant. He is grounded in the belief that giving learners the opportunity to imagine and create original solutions to real-world problems helps them develop the skills, dispositions, and adaptable mindset needed to thrive in an uncertain future. Kevin spent fifteen years in public education before transitioning into consulting; he now works with educators (nationally and internationally) designing innovative instructional programs that leverage hands-on, minds-on learning experiences. In addition to leading maker-centered professional learning, Kevin is a Google Certified Innovator & Trainer.
Jen Zurawski- Spotlight Speaker
(@tweets2jen) Jen is a Library Media/Instructional Technology Specialist for the School District of West De Pere. Jen has a passion for creatively blending the world of literacy and technology. She has presented at local, state, and national conferences on a variety of topics including Google Apps for Education, YouTube in the Classroom, and virtual reality. Jen is a Certified Google Education Trainer and a Seesaw Ambassador. You can find her on Twitter @tweets2jen or on Instagram @wwlibrary.
