Who will be at IT? Check out the line-up!
Follow IT on FACEBOOK.
Follow IT on Twitter too @ITConf11
Presenter Wiki
Most importantly, we hope YOU will be at IT! You can join several hundred educators that are just like you, professionals that like to be challenged with new ideas and bring the best to students in your school. Our line-up for speakers is unmatched.
Check out who is coming...we know they'll challenge you, inspire you, and transform you.
The Key Note Speaker...
Be transformed by…different perspectives @ IT
Dr. Yong Zhao
Yong Zhao is University Distinguished Professor at the College of Education, Michigan State University, where he also serves as the founding director of the Center for Teaching and Technology, executive director of the Confucius Institute, as well as the US-China Center for Research on Educational Excellence. He is a fellow of the International Academy for Education. His research interests include computer gaming and education, diffusion of innovations, teacher adoption of technology, computer-assisted language learning, and globalization and education.
Zhao has extensive international experiences. He has consulted with government and educational agencies and spoken on educational issues in many countries on six continents. His current work focuses on designing 21st Century Schools in the context of globalization and the digital revolution.
Zhao was born in China’s Sichuan Province. He received his B.A. in English Language Education from Sichuan Institute of Foreign Languages in Chongqing, China in 1986. After teaching English in China for six years, he came to Linfield College as a visiting scholar in 1992. He then began his graduate studies at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1993. He received his A.M. in Education in 1994 and Ph.D. in 1996. He joined the faculty at MSU in 1996 after working as the Language Center Coordinator at Willamette University and a language specialist at Hamilton College.
Check out Dr. Zhao's website...
http://zhao.educ.msu.edu/
Dr. Yong Zhao
Yong Zhao is University Distinguished Professor at the College of Education, Michigan State University, where he also serves as the founding director of the Center for Teaching and Technology, executive director of the Confucius Institute, as well as the US-China Center for Research on Educational Excellence. He is a fellow of the International Academy for Education. His research interests include computer gaming and education, diffusion of innovations, teacher adoption of technology, computer-assisted language learning, and globalization and education.
Zhao has extensive international experiences. He has consulted with government and educational agencies and spoken on educational issues in many countries on six continents. His current work focuses on designing 21st Century Schools in the context of globalization and the digital revolution.
Zhao was born in China’s Sichuan Province. He received his B.A. in English Language Education from Sichuan Institute of Foreign Languages in Chongqing, China in 1986. After teaching English in China for six years, he came to Linfield College as a visiting scholar in 1992. He then began his graduate studies at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1993. He received his A.M. in Education in 1994 and Ph.D. in 1996. He joined the faculty at MSU in 1996 after working as the Language Center Coordinator at Willamette University and a language specialist at Hamilton College.
Check out Dr. Zhao's website...
http://zhao.educ.msu.edu/
Alfred Solis
Director of New Media for the Buck Institute
Alfred Solis went to college at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo where he graduated with Honors in Mechanical Engineering. Alfred then chose a career with Andersen Consulting, currently Accenture, doing business/internet consulting and later joined a Bay Area Venture Fund, CreateLabs.
After September 11th, Alfred changed his career to embark on his greatest challenge of teaching students Math & Physics at High Tech High (HTH) in San Diego. He used his industry experience to create Project Based Learning (PBL) that reflected corporate best practices. Alfred transitioned to Professional Development & Dissemination for the HTH, while introducing PBL to after school programs for Beyond The Bell Branch (BTBB) of Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD). Alfred's classroom has been visited by Bill Gates, Oprah Winfrey and numerous international dignitaries in the field of educational reform.
At BIE, Alfred is responsible for expanding BIE's Web 2.0 presence and other technologies to support and enhance the PBL experience.
http://www.bie.org
Director of New Media for the Buck Institute
Alfred Solis went to college at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo where he graduated with Honors in Mechanical Engineering. Alfred then chose a career with Andersen Consulting, currently Accenture, doing business/internet consulting and later joined a Bay Area Venture Fund, CreateLabs.
After September 11th, Alfred changed his career to embark on his greatest challenge of teaching students Math & Physics at High Tech High (HTH) in San Diego. He used his industry experience to create Project Based Learning (PBL) that reflected corporate best practices. Alfred transitioned to Professional Development & Dissemination for the HTH, while introducing PBL to after school programs for Beyond The Bell Branch (BTBB) of Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD). Alfred's classroom has been visited by Bill Gates, Oprah Winfrey and numerous international dignitaries in the field of educational reform.
At BIE, Alfred is responsible for expanding BIE's Web 2.0 presence and other technologies to support and enhance the PBL experience.
http://www.bie.org
Rich Ognibene
Chemistry and Physics, Fairport Central School
Rich Ognibene was a recipient of the 2009 Horace Mann Award for Teaching Excellence. He was also the 2008 New York State Teacher of the Year. Rich just completed his 24th year of teaching; he currently teaches Chemistry and Physics at Fairport High School. He has also been an adjunct professor of chemistry at Monroe Community College. Besides teaching science, Rich is a leader of Brotherhood-Sisterhood Week, a district-wide program designed to teach the values of civility, respect, and embracing of human differences. During his career, Rich has been a class advisor, a mentor teacher, a gay-straight alliance advisor, a senior trip chaperone and a vice-president for the teachers’ union. Rich received the 2006 Fairport Crystal Apple Award and the 2002 American Chemical Society Teacher of the Year Award.
Chemistry and Physics, Fairport Central School
Rich Ognibene was a recipient of the 2009 Horace Mann Award for Teaching Excellence. He was also the 2008 New York State Teacher of the Year. Rich just completed his 24th year of teaching; he currently teaches Chemistry and Physics at Fairport High School. He has also been an adjunct professor of chemistry at Monroe Community College. Besides teaching science, Rich is a leader of Brotherhood-Sisterhood Week, a district-wide program designed to teach the values of civility, respect, and embracing of human differences. During his career, Rich has been a class advisor, a mentor teacher, a gay-straight alliance advisor, a senior trip chaperone and a vice-president for the teachers’ union. Rich received the 2006 Fairport Crystal Apple Award and the 2002 American Chemical Society Teacher of the Year Award.
Local Classroom Practitioners...
Be challenged by…classroom teachers @ IT
Check out our line up of amazing classroom practitioners! Experience learning from their perspective in one hour Teacher-to-Teacher sessions.
Kristin Howlett-Overholt, MS Earth Science, Clarence Central Schools
For the past seven years, Kristin has served as an Earth Science teacher at Clarence Middle School. She has instructed a range of courses including a co-taught seventh grade inclusion setting to an advanced Earth Science curriculum. This diverse background of teaching experiences has afforded her the opportunity to become well versed in all areas of the middle school science curricula.
Madonna Figura, English 9-12, Wellsville Central School
Madonna Figura has been teaching English at Wellsville High School for the past ten years. She teaches English with a heavy emphasis on media literacy and digital story telling and received a 2008 EMTA grant to bring "green screen" technology to Wellsville. Prior to becoming a teacher, Madonna was a television news producer and manager.
Nadine Ocasio, 11&12 Social Studies, West Seneca Central Schools
Nadine has been teaching since 2004. For five years prior Nadine was a sales trainer for Ingram Micro. Her job responsibilities included an intense six week New Hire program on the technology that was sold and how to use the specialized computer systems. It was due to this experience that part of her teaching philosophy includes preparing kids for jobs in the 21st century by utilizing technology in the classroom as well as various other 21st century pedagogical practices.
Check out our line up of amazing classroom practitioners! Experience learning from their perspective in one hour Teacher-to-Teacher sessions.
Kristin Howlett-Overholt, MS Earth Science, Clarence Central Schools
For the past seven years, Kristin has served as an Earth Science teacher at Clarence Middle School. She has instructed a range of courses including a co-taught seventh grade inclusion setting to an advanced Earth Science curriculum. This diverse background of teaching experiences has afforded her the opportunity to become well versed in all areas of the middle school science curricula.
Madonna Figura, English 9-12, Wellsville Central School
Madonna Figura has been teaching English at Wellsville High School for the past ten years. She teaches English with a heavy emphasis on media literacy and digital story telling and received a 2008 EMTA grant to bring "green screen" technology to Wellsville. Prior to becoming a teacher, Madonna was a television news producer and manager.
Nadine Ocasio, 11&12 Social Studies, West Seneca Central Schools
Nadine has been teaching since 2004. For five years prior Nadine was a sales trainer for Ingram Micro. Her job responsibilities included an intense six week New Hire program on the technology that was sold and how to use the specialized computer systems. It was due to this experience that part of her teaching philosophy includes preparing kids for jobs in the 21st century by utilizing technology in the classroom as well as various other 21st century pedagogical practices.
Brian Scully, Grade 7, Starpoint Central School
Biran is a fifth year teacher at Starpoint. He enjoys all kinds of new technology and its use in the classroom. Before his career in education Brian was a sports producer at WKBW in Buffalo. He has run O/N BOCES workshops for the last 2 years on CPS Clickers, Web 2.0 applications and SMART Board technologies.
Karen Kondrick, Grade 6, Ripley Central School
Karen Kondrick has taught at Ripley Central School for the last 7 years. She has spent this time creating a rigorous and enjoyable literacy environment for both her students and fellow teachers. She pushes herself to be a 21 st century teacher by attending and presenting professional development on ways to connect literacy with both technology, and content areas. She is a Western New York Writing Project Fellow, a National Board Certificate Candidate, and has presented at many local and state level conferences as well as at the National Science Teachers Association Conference. Her current position as a 6 th grade ELA teacher and the District Literacy Coach, allows her to implement the newest trends in literacy education and model them for others.
Barbara Tordella, Grade 6, Falconer Central School
Barbara Tordella is in her 23rd year of teaching at Falconer Central School. The last 17 years have been in grade 6 mathematics. She is the team leader for grade 6, representative for the local teachers' union, and a member of BIT (behavior intervention team). Barbara has had a videoconferencing collaboration with a collegue in another district for 3 years. She and this collegue presented a workshop on Improving Student Achievement through Videoconferencing at the 2009 NYSCATE technology conference in November.
Kevin Ryan, HS Principal and Rob Currin, HS English teacher, Alden Central School
Kevin Ryan is beginning his sixth year as the Principal of Alden High School. Previously, he was an administrator in the Ken-Ton and Orchard Park School districts. His career in education began in the English classroom where he spent ten years teaching in various private and public schools across WNY.
Rob Currin is in his fourth year of teaching English at Alden High School. He teaches English 11 and AP Literature and Composition. He graduated in 2005 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Secondary English Education from Buffalo State, and he is currently finishing up his Master’s Degree from the same institution.
Biran is a fifth year teacher at Starpoint. He enjoys all kinds of new technology and its use in the classroom. Before his career in education Brian was a sports producer at WKBW in Buffalo. He has run O/N BOCES workshops for the last 2 years on CPS Clickers, Web 2.0 applications and SMART Board technologies.
Karen Kondrick, Grade 6, Ripley Central School
Karen Kondrick has taught at Ripley Central School for the last 7 years. She has spent this time creating a rigorous and enjoyable literacy environment for both her students and fellow teachers. She pushes herself to be a 21 st century teacher by attending and presenting professional development on ways to connect literacy with both technology, and content areas. She is a Western New York Writing Project Fellow, a National Board Certificate Candidate, and has presented at many local and state level conferences as well as at the National Science Teachers Association Conference. Her current position as a 6 th grade ELA teacher and the District Literacy Coach, allows her to implement the newest trends in literacy education and model them for others.
Barbara Tordella, Grade 6, Falconer Central School
Barbara Tordella is in her 23rd year of teaching at Falconer Central School. The last 17 years have been in grade 6 mathematics. She is the team leader for grade 6, representative for the local teachers' union, and a member of BIT (behavior intervention team). Barbara has had a videoconferencing collaboration with a collegue in another district for 3 years. She and this collegue presented a workshop on Improving Student Achievement through Videoconferencing at the 2009 NYSCATE technology conference in November.
Kevin Ryan, HS Principal and Rob Currin, HS English teacher, Alden Central School
Kevin Ryan is beginning his sixth year as the Principal of Alden High School. Previously, he was an administrator in the Ken-Ton and Orchard Park School districts. His career in education began in the English classroom where he spent ten years teaching in various private and public schools across WNY.
Rob Currin is in his fourth year of teaching English at Alden High School. He teaches English 11 and AP Literature and Composition. He graduated in 2005 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Secondary English Education from Buffalo State, and he is currently finishing up his Master’s Degree from the same institution.
Nancy Walters, 1st Grade, Fillmore Central School
Nancy Walters taught 4th grade for three years and a multi-aged class for one year in Ohio. After moving to New York, she has taught kindergarten, first and second grade at Fillmore Central School since 1991. Presently, she is teaching a first/second grade looping class which is her ideal setting. Her graduate work was done at SUNY Geneseo in Education focusing on reading and emergent literacy.
Frank LiCausi, K-5 Enrichment Teacher, Sweet Home Central Schools
Frank is currently in his 3rd year as enrichment teacher at Heritage Heights Elementary school in the Sweet Home School District. Prior to this, Frank taught 4th and 5th grade for 12 years. My work as the enrichment teacher has focused on using technology and differentiating instruction to teach critical and creative thinking.
Lauren Stuff & Tammy Martin, 4th & 5th Grade, Olean City Schools
Lauren is a third year teacher with the Olean City School District. She has degrees in both elementary and special education, and childhood literacy. She has been collaborating with classrooms in the Bahamas to coordinate distance learning opportunities, working to build a global connection for the entire district.
Tammy Martin is a graduate of St. Bonaventure University with a degree in Elementary Education. She concentrated her studies in Math, Science, Technology, and Social Studies. Tammy has taught 5th grade at Washington West Elementary School in Olean for the past six years. While teaching, Tammy conducts various workshops on using technology in the classroom.
Jill Hopcia & Melinda DiBernardo, 4th Grade & Enrichment Teacher, Sweet Home Central School
Jill Hopcia has been teaching for 17 years in the Sweet Home Central School District. She began her career teaching at the primary K/1 level for the first seven years and has spent the last ten years teaching at the 4/5 intermediate level. Melinda Dibernardo has been teaching in the district for ten years. She began her career teaching grades 1-3, and has served as the Enrichment Teacher for the entire Glendale School for the past seven years.
Jill and Melinda began working together on the Enhancing Education Through Technology grant from its conception, and became pioneers of Web 2.0 and 21st Century Learning for their building. Because of their efforts, four laptop carts were given to the school through grants. Both are a presence on their district's Technology Leadership Team. They have presented their classroom wikis for EETT. At the building level they created a Technology Council that is made up of selected students in grades 4 and 5 that are turn-key trainers and leaders in their classrooms. Jill and Melinda's 21st century instruction helps students and parents create and monitor work, while effectively and efficiently engaging and communicating. Children are inspired to become advocates of self-motivated learning.
Jeanne Skotnicki & Heather Fowler, Secondary English, West Seneca Central School
Jeanne & Heather have been collaborating since 2005. Each teacher has more than five years of experience teaching secondary English. The duo's classroom reflects their belief in the efficacy of project-based learning and student-centered activities. It is their goal to prepare their students for whatever challenges they may face after high school.
Mike Domino, High School Science, Alden Central School
Mike has been a high school science educator for four years. He has taught Regents Chemistry and Biology, as well as Environmental Science, an elective class which is focused on application of scientific principles and outdoor education. In addition to teaching, Mike is also the advisor to the ""Friends of the Planet" club, which focuses on taking positive environmental action in the school and the community.
Dan Mitchell & Kevin Mole, Middle and High School Social Studies, Scio Central School
Dan has taugh Social Studies, grades 7-12, at Scio Central School for eleven years. He has worked to continually incorperate technology into the Social Studies Curriculum and was involved heavily involved with the Teaching American History grant for three years.
Kevin, also a teacher in Scio, has taught 7th and 8th grade US History and 12th grade Participation in Government and Economics for two years.
Nancy Walters taught 4th grade for three years and a multi-aged class for one year in Ohio. After moving to New York, she has taught kindergarten, first and second grade at Fillmore Central School since 1991. Presently, she is teaching a first/second grade looping class which is her ideal setting. Her graduate work was done at SUNY Geneseo in Education focusing on reading and emergent literacy.
Frank LiCausi, K-5 Enrichment Teacher, Sweet Home Central Schools
Frank is currently in his 3rd year as enrichment teacher at Heritage Heights Elementary school in the Sweet Home School District. Prior to this, Frank taught 4th and 5th grade for 12 years. My work as the enrichment teacher has focused on using technology and differentiating instruction to teach critical and creative thinking.
Lauren Stuff & Tammy Martin, 4th & 5th Grade, Olean City Schools
Lauren is a third year teacher with the Olean City School District. She has degrees in both elementary and special education, and childhood literacy. She has been collaborating with classrooms in the Bahamas to coordinate distance learning opportunities, working to build a global connection for the entire district.
Tammy Martin is a graduate of St. Bonaventure University with a degree in Elementary Education. She concentrated her studies in Math, Science, Technology, and Social Studies. Tammy has taught 5th grade at Washington West Elementary School in Olean for the past six years. While teaching, Tammy conducts various workshops on using technology in the classroom.
Jill Hopcia & Melinda DiBernardo, 4th Grade & Enrichment Teacher, Sweet Home Central School
Jill Hopcia has been teaching for 17 years in the Sweet Home Central School District. She began her career teaching at the primary K/1 level for the first seven years and has spent the last ten years teaching at the 4/5 intermediate level. Melinda Dibernardo has been teaching in the district for ten years. She began her career teaching grades 1-3, and has served as the Enrichment Teacher for the entire Glendale School for the past seven years.
Jill and Melinda began working together on the Enhancing Education Through Technology grant from its conception, and became pioneers of Web 2.0 and 21st Century Learning for their building. Because of their efforts, four laptop carts were given to the school through grants. Both are a presence on their district's Technology Leadership Team. They have presented their classroom wikis for EETT. At the building level they created a Technology Council that is made up of selected students in grades 4 and 5 that are turn-key trainers and leaders in their classrooms. Jill and Melinda's 21st century instruction helps students and parents create and monitor work, while effectively and efficiently engaging and communicating. Children are inspired to become advocates of self-motivated learning.
Jeanne Skotnicki & Heather Fowler, Secondary English, West Seneca Central School
Jeanne & Heather have been collaborating since 2005. Each teacher has more than five years of experience teaching secondary English. The duo's classroom reflects their belief in the efficacy of project-based learning and student-centered activities. It is their goal to prepare their students for whatever challenges they may face after high school.
Mike Domino, High School Science, Alden Central School
Mike has been a high school science educator for four years. He has taught Regents Chemistry and Biology, as well as Environmental Science, an elective class which is focused on application of scientific principles and outdoor education. In addition to teaching, Mike is also the advisor to the ""Friends of the Planet" club, which focuses on taking positive environmental action in the school and the community.
Dan Mitchell & Kevin Mole, Middle and High School Social Studies, Scio Central School
Dan has taugh Social Studies, grades 7-12, at Scio Central School for eleven years. He has worked to continually incorperate technology into the Social Studies Curriculum and was involved heavily involved with the Teaching American History grant for three years.
Kevin, also a teacher in Scio, has taught 7th and 8th grade US History and 12th grade Participation in Government and Economics for two years.
Brilliant Students and Community Members...
Be inspired by…students and community members @ IT
Kayla Ford, Senior, Wellsville Central School
"How can schools engauge the creative student?"
Bonnie Smith, Principal, West Valley Central School
"Love and Human Synergy"
Don Watkins, Educator, Franklinville Central School
"Be Open"
Paul Greenwood, Northwood Primary School, London, England
The Silver Creek Junior Jazzers and Black Knight Jazz Ensemble
"How can schools engauge the creative student?"
Bonnie Smith, Principal, West Valley Central School
"Love and Human Synergy"
Don Watkins, Educator, Franklinville Central School
"Be Open"
Paul Greenwood, Northwood Primary School, London, England
The Silver Creek Junior Jazzers and Black Knight Jazz Ensemble
Sponsored by the Joint Management Team of Western New York
Cattaraugus-Allegany BOCES • Erie 1 BOCES
Erie 2 BOCES • Orleans-Niagara BOCES
Cattaraugus-Allegany BOCES • Erie 1 BOCES
Erie 2 BOCES • Orleans-Niagara BOCES
