Jenna Shaw
Jenna Shaw is passionate about changing the educational landscape through innovation, creation, and technology integration. She is interested in all aspects of learning and unlearning. Jenna has a Bachelor’s degree in English Language and Literature from University of Maryland-College Park and a Master’s of Art in Teaching from Johns Hopkins University. Jenna grew up in the Baltimore area and currently teaches middle school language arts at Patterson Park Public Charter School. At PPPCS, Jenna is the middle school Lead Teacher, and has served as the Teacher-at-Large on the Board of Directors, coached the National Academic League, and oversaw the student Bird's Eye View elective. Most recently she became the co-chair of the Committee for Innovative Teaching and leads the committee for Hands-On, Interdisciplinary, Thematic Instruction. Jenna also served a 2012 EdTech fellow with the Digital Harbor Foundation.
Jenna particularly enjoys working with other teachers and has developed a number of professional development opportunities that help connect teachers around Baltimore City. She has also worked with An Estuary to help develop the profession of teaching, working with teachers from around the country. Before teaching, Jenna spent time volunteering in the Maryland prison system and studying anthropology in South Africa. In her free time, Jenna enjoys reading, traveling, blogging, and dancing.
Jenna particularly enjoys working with other teachers and has developed a number of professional development opportunities that help connect teachers around Baltimore City. She has also worked with An Estuary to help develop the profession of teaching, working with teachers from around the country. Before teaching, Jenna spent time volunteering in the Maryland prison system and studying anthropology in South Africa. In her free time, Jenna enjoys reading, traveling, blogging, and dancing.
Manuel S. Herrera
Over the past 13 years Manuel has had the opportunity to serve many learners through several leadership roles in education. From the beginning of his career as a middle school Special Education teacher in Austin, Texas Manuel has advocated for students to be given the opportunity to use technology as a way to create, connect and learn. In 2009, he began working as an Instructional Technology Specialist in Austin supporting educators across his district. After relocating to the St. Louis area, he became a Technology Professional Development Coach and then naturally the District Instructional Technology Coordinator. Manuel believes that by allowing students to explore their own interests and exposing them to new environments, they are given the opportunity to create their own learning.
Currently, Manuel is the Coordinator of 1:1 Programming for the Affton School District located in south St. Louis. He is a member of the leadership team for the non-profit ConnectEd Learning and he serves on the board for the Educational Technology Association of St. Louis. Manuel has earned his M.Ed Administration and has presented at several educational conferences across the state including METC, MOREnet, EdCamp, ActivEducator and RCET-SW. Connect with him on Twitter via @manuelherrera33
Currently, Manuel is the Coordinator of 1:1 Programming for the Affton School District located in south St. Louis. He is a member of the leadership team for the non-profit ConnectEd Learning and he serves on the board for the Educational Technology Association of St. Louis. Manuel has earned his M.Ed Administration and has presented at several educational conferences across the state including METC, MOREnet, EdCamp, ActivEducator and RCET-SW. Connect with him on Twitter via @manuelherrera33
Brad Gustafson
Brad Gustafson is the principal at Greenwood Elementary in Minnesota. He believes in collaborating with others to cultivate creativity in students, and break down barriers that inhibit classrooms from connecting to the world.
An innovative administrator, he’s pioneered efforts to transform pedagogy to reflect current-best practices in a digital age. He’s the co-creator of the World Book Talk, a collaborative project promoting literacy and 21stcentury skills using augmented reality as a platform for student creation. His weekly podcast, “30 Second Take,” engages two guest hosts in a digital duel focused on issues critical to education. He conceptualized the Digital Leadership Challenge, a game-changing approach to personalized professional development. He is committed to leveraging technology to provide students an amplified voice, authentic audience, and global awareness.
Brad earned Bachelor of Science and Master’s Degrees from St. Cloud State University. He earned a Specialist Degree in Educational Administration from Minnesota State University, Mankato. He’s a Doctoral student at Bethel University where his research is focused on Digital Leadership. Brad’s blog, Adjusting Course, was recognized as a finalist for Best Administrator Blog by the EduBlog Awards in 2013. He was nominated by the Academy of Education Arts and Sciences for a 2014 Bammy Award in the category of Elementary School Principal.
Connect with him on Twitter via @GustafsonBrad
An innovative administrator, he’s pioneered efforts to transform pedagogy to reflect current-best practices in a digital age. He’s the co-creator of the World Book Talk, a collaborative project promoting literacy and 21stcentury skills using augmented reality as a platform for student creation. His weekly podcast, “30 Second Take,” engages two guest hosts in a digital duel focused on issues critical to education. He conceptualized the Digital Leadership Challenge, a game-changing approach to personalized professional development. He is committed to leveraging technology to provide students an amplified voice, authentic audience, and global awareness.
Brad earned Bachelor of Science and Master’s Degrees from St. Cloud State University. He earned a Specialist Degree in Educational Administration from Minnesota State University, Mankato. He’s a Doctoral student at Bethel University where his research is focused on Digital Leadership. Brad’s blog, Adjusting Course, was recognized as a finalist for Best Administrator Blog by the EduBlog Awards in 2013. He was nominated by the Academy of Education Arts and Sciences for a 2014 Bammy Award in the category of Elementary School Principal.
Connect with him on Twitter via @GustafsonBrad
Billy Spicer
Billy currently teaches in Lake Zurich Community Unit School District 95 in suburban Chicago. As a member of the Demonstration Classroom project, he spends 50% of his time in a 5th grade classroom, with the other 50% serving as a technology integration specialist. He enjoys facilitating a passion for literacy, passionate learning, and social media to discover creative ways for students to meet their individual learning needs. Previous to teaching 5th grade, Billy spent time teaching in 3rd and 4th grade, as well as in special education at the middle school level. He recently spent time in the Bahamas with the Shedd Aquarium where he lived on a research vessel for a week conducting scientific inquiry. Before returning to the Chicago area he worked at Walt Disney World as a member of the Animal Programs department in entertaining, educating, and inspiring conservation action. With a deep and committed effort to helping learners understand the transformational power of technology, he believes students must be given ample opportunities to leverage new tools in their journey of purposeful learning.
Billy has earned a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Illinois State University and a Master’s degree in Literacy and Reading from Benedictine University. In his (spare?) time he enjoys being a coffee snob, attending concerts, and being a member of the Chicago Bulls and Chicago Bears drumline.
Billy tweets @MrBillySpicer & with his 5th grade students @SpiceBurgerIF
Billy has earned a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Illinois State University and a Master’s degree in Literacy and Reading from Benedictine University. In his (spare?) time he enjoys being a coffee snob, attending concerts, and being a member of the Chicago Bulls and Chicago Bears drumline.
Billy tweets @MrBillySpicer & with his 5th grade students @SpiceBurgerIF
Dustin Klenke
Dustin Klenke has come to education as a profession by a non-traditional path. His initial attempt at a degree was in aerospace engineering from Missouri University of Science and Technology. Although this degree was never earned, the lessons learned there would prove invaluable to future success. His second attempt at a degree was in commercial aviation at Central Missouri State University. Through this course of study Dustin earned his private pilot’s license, but ultimately dropped out of college to begin his career in finance.
After numerous unfulfilling positions in finance as well as other service industries, Dustin Klenke found and committed himself to his true passion: science education. Since returning to college full-time Dustin has graduated magna cum laude from the University of Missouri – St. Louis with a bachelor’s of science in education with an area of emphasis in physics and a minor in philosophy. Dustin’s mission is to teach students to appreciate the wonders of the world which surround them as well as expose them to the wide range of possibilities afforded by our ever-increasing technology.
His current position is as a science teacher at Union High School in Union Missouri where he teaches physics, robotics and biology. He also runs an evening study hall in the school library several nights a week. He is interested in future implementation of gamification across curriculum. In his mind, the root of all play is learning. In his free time, Dustin enjoys disc-golf as well as horseback riding and flying.
After numerous unfulfilling positions in finance as well as other service industries, Dustin Klenke found and committed himself to his true passion: science education. Since returning to college full-time Dustin has graduated magna cum laude from the University of Missouri – St. Louis with a bachelor’s of science in education with an area of emphasis in physics and a minor in philosophy. Dustin’s mission is to teach students to appreciate the wonders of the world which surround them as well as expose them to the wide range of possibilities afforded by our ever-increasing technology.
His current position is as a science teacher at Union High School in Union Missouri where he teaches physics, robotics and biology. He also runs an evening study hall in the school library several nights a week. He is interested in future implementation of gamification across curriculum. In his mind, the root of all play is learning. In his free time, Dustin enjoys disc-golf as well as horseback riding and flying.
Shawn Grimes
With over 15 years of experience in the IT field in various fields, it is Shawn’s job to make sure that the technology that is brought into the Tech Center is both accessible and relevant. Technology changes fast and if we want today’s youth to be ready for the tech careers of tomorrow, we need to be able to change with it. Shawn is constantly testing out new project ideas, equipment, and meeting with experts in the industry to see what skills are needed in today’s technology careers.
Shawn has spent the last 15+ years in the Information Technology field in the Baltimore Area. His wide expanse of technical skills include: Linux server administration, networking, web development with PHP, Perl scripting, cyber security, native iPhone/iPad app development, and mobile game development with Corona SDK. He has held high level engineer positions in the fields of federal government, healthcare, financial, and mobile app development firms.
He is the co-author on three iOS development books and has given a number of talks on mobile app development to professionals and youth alike. His passion for technology and gadgets is matched with his passion for seeing motivated youth succeed.
Shawn has spent the last 15+ years in the Information Technology field in the Baltimore Area. His wide expanse of technical skills include: Linux server administration, networking, web development with PHP, Perl scripting, cyber security, native iPhone/iPad app development, and mobile game development with Corona SDK. He has held high level engineer positions in the fields of federal government, healthcare, financial, and mobile app development firms.
He is the co-author on three iOS development books and has given a number of talks on mobile app development to professionals and youth alike. His passion for technology and gadgets is matched with his passion for seeing motivated youth succeed.
Brett Clark
Brett Clark is the Director of Technology for Greater Clark County Schools in Jeffersonville, IN. During his career Brett has also been an eLearning Coach and taught secondary math. He has a bachelor's degree in math education and a master's degree in education with a specialization in professional development. In his current position he oversees a large 1:1 Chromebook deployment that spans 19 schools, 10 grade levels, and over 8,000 students. He is a firm believer that technology should be invisible and the focus of every classroom should always be on learning.
Brett enjoys being a connector of dots. Connecting all learners to their passions and purpose.
You're likely to find Brett connecting with learners as a conference keynote speaker and presenter. The last two years he has also overseen the Greater Clark Connected Conference.
Connect with Brett on Twitter, @mrbrettclark, or on his blog, www.educationdreamer.com.
Brett enjoys being a connector of dots. Connecting all learners to their passions and purpose.
You're likely to find Brett connecting with learners as a conference keynote speaker and presenter. The last two years he has also overseen the Greater Clark Connected Conference.
Connect with Brett on Twitter, @mrbrettclark, or on his blog, www.educationdreamer.com.
Krissy Venosdale
Krissy Venosdale taught in Missouri for eleven years where she was trained to be a teacher by every elementary student she was lucky enough to teach. With a background in elementary education, gifted education, eMINTS, and an EdS in Technology in Schools, she believes in authentic learning experiences powered by great technology and fueled by student thinking. She has experienced moments where kids take learning to a level she couldn't see and it's what keeps her motivated to improve learning experiences for all children. Currently, she is an Innovation Coordinator at The Kinkaid School working with an inspiring staff and eager learners in Houston, Texas. She collects Sharpies, enjoys photography, dreams up global projects while sitting in the Houston traffic, and is inspired by educators around the world. She loves to make a mess while creating, and is trying to make the world a more positive place, one poster at a time. As a lifelong learner, she shares her thoughts and learning on her blog at venspired.com and loves to connect with others via Twitter @venspired.