2022 NERIC Regional Technology Awareness Day: Full Schedule

Welcome to NERIC’s 33rd Annual Regional Technology Awareness Day!

Our theme is The Road Ahead - Engaging Students to be Future Ready.

We hope you enjoy the day collaborating with colleagues and use #TechADay on Twitter to share your experiences!

CTLE professional development credits are offered for this event to those who register through Frontline. This registration step is the ONLY way credits can be obtained. We will have a CTLE station set up at the entrance of the vendor expo.

7:45am EST

Breakfast and Vendor Visits

Friday December 16, 2022 7:45am - 8:45am EST
Exhibition Hall, Floor 2

Breakfast

8:00am EST

Vendor Showcase

Friday December 16, 2022 8:00am - 3:00pm EST
Exhibition Hall, Floor 2

Vendor Showcase

8:45am EST

Welcome, Introductions & Drone Soccer Demo

Friday December 16, 2022 8:45am - 9:15am EST
Exhibition Hall, Floor 2

Welcome Introductions & Drone Soccer Demo

9:15am EST

Keynote Address

Speakers

Kevin Roose

Kevin Roose is an award-winning technology columnist for The New York Times and the best-selling author of three books, Futureproof, Young Money, and The Unlikely Disciple. His column, "The Shift," examines the intersection of tech, business, and culture. He is a regular guest on... Read More →

Friday December 16, 2022 9:15am - 10:15am EST
Exhibition Hall, Floor 2

Keynote Address

10:15am EST

Tech Playground

Friday December 16, 2022 10:15am - 12:30pm EST

Tech Playground

10:30am EST

Authentic Assessment: Out With the Old, In With the New

In 2022, kids live in the world of Netflix, Grubhub, TikTok and multi-millionaire YouTubers. However, some classrooms today still limit students to worksheets, "essay only" writing and multiple choice assessments. In an ever-changing, tech-forward world, why have assessments not evolved with those who sit for them? This session will demonstrate how authentic tasks can increase student engagement while offering teachers a deeper understanding of student learning. Presenters will showcase various types of assessments and explain how the pedagogical shift enriches student achievement.

Speakers

Rick DeCarr

Instructional Technology Coach, Schenectady City SD

Rick DeCarr is a 15-year veteran in the Schenectady City School District. Rick has taught 5th and 6th grade and is now an Instructional Technology Coach. He is a National Board Certified Teacher and Google Certified Trainer. Rick has presented at various conferences at the local... Read More →

Michael Sheridan

Instructional Technology Coach, Schenectady City SD

Michael Sheridan has been teaching in Schenectady City School District for 17 years, starting as a classroom teacher, transitioning into a media specialist and finally, as an Instructional Technology Coach. He is a National Board Certified Teacher and Google Certified Trainer. He... Read More →

Andy Yauchler

Instructional Technology Coach, Schenectady City SD

Andy Yauchler has taught for 23 years, the first 17 as an elementary educator and the most recent six as the Technology Integration and Media Specialist for the Schenectady high schools. He is now an Instructional Technology Coach for Schenectady Schools.

Friday December 16, 2022 10:30am - 11:15am EST
Room 6, Floor 1

Session 1

10:30am EST

ClassLink - One Portal w/ SSO, MFA, Plus Secure Rostering, ID Management, Analytics and Data Transparency

The last few years have been a game-changer in education! One portal, including MFA for students, staff and teachers, is paramount. The portal includes: data/analytics reporting to make PD, purchase and curricular decisions; automated rostering and data security; ID management/directory account creation – instant access and better security; access, data sharing and accountability – what DPOs need to know.

Speakers

Sylvi Joseph

Director of Technology, Scotia-Glenville CSD

Sylvi Joseph just recently joined Scotia-Glenville Central School District as their Director of Technology this past July. From 2018 until June of 2022, Sylvi served as the Director of Technology for Cohoes City School District, where he led the district with an eye toward the future... Read More →

Lauren Luckert

Director of Technology/DPO, Northville CSD

Lauren Luckert joined the Northville Central School District as Director of Technology and Data Protection Officer in July 2020. Prior, she oversaw the Data Integration Group at NERIC, developing procedures and policies around data movement for the RIC. She joined NERIC in 2015 as... Read More →

Bob Chappell

ClassLink

Bob Chappell is ClassLink’s VP Of Instructional Technology. For over 30 years, Bob has worked with leading K-12 educational technology companies and schools. He has also led program development on state, local and federal programs and authored an integrated adult technology gui... Read More →

Nicole Holehan

ClassLink

Nicole Holehan is an experienced educator with a demonstrated history of working in the education management industry. Nicole is a strong education professional skilled in Research, K-12 Education, Microsoft and Google products, Educational Leadership, Instructional Technology, Classroom... Read More →

Friday December 16, 2022 10:30am - 11:15am EST
Room 5, Floor 1

Session 1

10:30am EST

CVLA: A Unique Virtual Learning Experience

The Cooperative Virtual Learning Academy provides an option for students to learn in a way that didn’t exist or was difficult to access prior to the pandemic. It opened eyes to a new way of learning that was successful for a population of students, some of whom struggled in a traditional classroom environment, while others were consistently absent and disengaged. Creating a virtual environment that is inviting, community-centered and addresses the needs of students helps meet them at their level and increases engagement. In CVLA, we have students across NYS who reside in rural, urban and suburban settings. Our classes have students from multiple districts, creating an environment that is intrinsically diverse, equitable and inclusive. Students are encouraged to share experiences, take risks and learn from each other. It is through this organic sharing from students about their varied life experiences that makes CVLA unique and special. Throughout the presentation, we will review our successes and challenges during the first year, lessons learned and how we’ve expanded programming to meet the needs of our students.

Speakers

Carrie Sunkes

Executive Principal, Capital Region BOCES

Carrie Sunkes has spent the past 20 years in the field of education, tackling various roles. Her career began in the North Colonie Central School District, where she taught accelerated math and Academic Intervention Services in math for four years. She then took a position at Burnt... Read More →

Jaime Gibbs

Guidance Counselor, Capital Region BOCES

Jessica Lorio

Guidance Counselor, Capital Region BOCES

Rachel Romanowicz

Friday December 16, 2022 10:30am - 11:15am EST
Room 2, Floor 1

Session 1

10:30am EST

Future Proof Author Visit

Speakers

Mike Doughty

Kevin Roose

Friday December 16, 2022 10:30am - 11:15am EST
Room 1, Floor 1

Session 1

10:30am EST

Hacking Humans

Have you ever wondered why humans are so vulnerable when it comes to technology? Come join us for a dive into the world of Hacking Humans. It's not that the bad guys are so tech smart; it's that they study human behavior and then exploit it.

Speakers

Don Harple

Information Security Manager, Capital Region BOCES

Ryan Rose

Senior Information Security Analyst, Capital Region BOCES

Ryan is an Information Security Professional. He has an MS from Boston University, BS from Siena College and SSCP from ISC2. Ryan has worked in the realm of information security, compliance and information technology for over 10 years. At his previous company, Ryan led vulnerability... Read More →

Monica Statile

Program Manager, Capital Region BOCES

Monica Statile is the Program Manager for Data Security and Privacy for Northeastern Regional Information Center. As a member of the statewide group RIC One DPSS, Monica has been deeply involved with ED Law 2-d and Part 121 of the regulations since 2015. Monica started her career... Read More →

Friday December 16, 2022 10:30am - 11:15am EST
Room 3, Floor 1

Session 1

10:30am EST

Implementing the New NYS CS & DF Standards is Easy and Fun!

There are so many opportunities to make implementing the new NYS Computer Science & Digital Fluency Standards fun for students and easy for teachers! Come learn about how our elementary students are exploring the new standards through a variety of digital tools, including coding programs and robots.

Speakers

Stephanie Berlind

Bethlehem CSD

Stephanie Berlind is the K-12 Instructional Technology Specialist at Bethlehem Central School District. This is her third year in the position, having taught secondary social studies for 10 years before that. She is a passionate educator who values student-centered learning and meaningful... Read More →

Cailie Hafener

Bethlehem CSD

Cailie Hafener is the Library Media Specialist at Hamagrael Elementary in Bethlehem Central School District. After eight years of serving as a school librarian on Long Island, she is thrilled to be back in the Capital District and excited to bring her experiences and passions to BCSD... Read More →

Bethlehem Students

Friday December 16, 2022 10:30am - 11:15am EST
Room 4, Floor 1

Session 1

11:30am EST

K-12 Leader’s Guide to Combatting Ransomware and Other Cybersecurity Threats

In this session, we will take an introspective look at the importance of security operations in K-12. Join us to gain an understanding of the latest security tools and SOC services available to our schools to monitor, detect and prevent ransomware incidents. Come with an open mind and walk away with a better approach to safeguarding your data in the ever-changing threat landscape.

Speakers

Don Harple

Information Security Manager, Capital Region BOCES

Douglas Stevens

Aspire

John Rossiter

Aspire

Friday December 16, 2022 11:30am - 12:15pm EST
Room 3, Floor 1

Session 2

11:30am EST

Let's Play! Fun Activities to Cover the CS/DF Standards

Spend some time exploring ways to integrate computer science and digital fluency into your classrooms in fun and engaging ways. This hands-on session will give you practical strategies and ideas to add some fun to your classroom while still covering your content.

Speakers

Laurie Guyon

Model Schools Coordinator, WSWHE BOCES

Laurie Guyon is the Coordinator for Model Schools at WSWHE BOCES in Saratoga Springs, New York, and a trainer with NYSCATE. She is the Capital Region Director for NYSCATE and a part of their social media team and their Volunteer Hall of Fame. Laurie won the ‘Best Overall Implementation... Read More →

Alison Winter

Instructional Support Specialist, WSWHE BOCES

Alison Winter is the Instructional Support Specialist, Integration of Technology into Instructional Practices at WSWHE BOCES. She is beginning her 14th year of teaching. Her most recent experience has been at Argyle Central School District as the 7th and 11th grade English teacher... Read More →

Friday December 16, 2022 11:30am - 12:15pm EST
Room 6, Floor 1

Session 2

11:30am EST

NYSED’s Ed Tech Updates and Digital Equity

The New York State Education Department is committed to advancing diversity, equity and inclusion in schools across the state. SED’s Office of Educational Design & Technology places a special focus on digital equity and those practices that help close the digital divide in schools. This presentation will update attendees with the latest statewide ed tech news and showcase how digital equity weaves throughout the work. Such topics include recent regulatory changes, the Computer Science and Digital Fluency Standards, certification and more.

Speakers

Paul Cardettino

Coordinator- Educational Design & Technology, NYSED

Paul Cardettino is the Coordinator of the Office of Educational Design and Technology at the New York State Education Department. Prior to arriving at NYSED, Paul was a social studies teacher, building administrator, staff developer and district Director of Technology. His ability... Read More →

Friday December 16, 2022 11:30am - 12:15pm EST
Room 2, Floor 1

Session 2

11:30am EST

Preparing Students and Schools for the Greener the Road Ahead - Electric Vehicles and the Green Energy Technology Pipeline

With the increase in green energy and electric vehicles, it's imperative to prepare students and schools for the shift in technology. In this session, we will explore electric vehicles, legislation surrounding green energy and electric vehicles, job creation, integration into Capital Region BOCES' curriculum and more.

Speakers

Jim Haas

Learning Coordinator

Jim Haas is the work-based learning coordinator for Capital Region BOCES Career and Technical School. Capital Region BOCES is one of 37 BOCES in NYS, with Capital Region BOCES as the fourth largest. We serve four counties (Albany, Schenectady, Schoharie and part of Saratoga) and 23... Read More →

Emily Burdikoff

Student, Capital Region BOCES

Kate Kruk

Director of Community Engagement, Livingston Energy Group

Kate Kruk is the Director of Community Engagement for Livingston Energy Group and has been driving an electric vehicle since 2015. Her passion to promote education in green technology is improving the necessary workforce pipeline needed to support the rapid evolution in the electric... Read More →

Friday December 16, 2022 11:30am - 12:15pm EST
Room 1, Floor 1

Session 2

11:30am EST

Reaching Students Both In and Out of the Classroom With Seesaw

Hear from teachers who use Seesaw on a regular basis to teach students both virtually and in-person. They'll share how students experience success and show what they know through the Seesaw tools. We'll also discuss how Seesaw connects families to the learning experience. Finally, we'll learn about Seesaw's latest updates and improvements to amplify student engagement and accomplishment.

Speakers

Meaghan Whitten

Integration Technology Specialist, Capital Region BOCES

Meaghan is an Integration of Technology Training Specialist with NERIC. Before moving into the ed tech world, she was a middle school ELA teacher for about 20 years. Now she spends her time supporting teachers who want to further enrich their classrooms and engage their learners... Read More →

Tobi Epstein

Seesaw

Gary White

Seesaw

Friday December 16, 2022 11:30am - 12:15pm EST
Room 5, Floor 1

Session 2

11:30am EST

Small School, Big Opportunities

Coxsackie-Athens CSD is committed to our vision and mission in providing students with big school opportunities in a small school setting. We have a multitude of opportunities to demonstrate college, career and life readiness; we utilize readiness indicators to reflect on the path for each student. Our five anchor strategies will be reviewed during the session, with a focus on Digital Conversion, Micro Badging, CTE opportunities (go-cart track), summer classes for advancement, Passport for good, and a diverse technology rich environment for students all lead in supporting students' personal path to success.

Speakers

Nicole Lindeman

Coxsackie-Athens CSD

Nicole Lindeman is in her 33rd year in education and completing her second year as Director of Technology at Coxsackie-Athens CSD. She has served as a science teacher, assistant principal, Director of Curriculum and Assessments and Director of Technology. Nicole has previously served... Read More →

Allison Leonardo

Coxsackie-Athens CSD

Allison Leonardo is in her 10th year in education and completing her first year as the Coordinator of Innovation at Coxsackie-Athens CSD. She has served as a History teacher, English Lab teacher and instructional coach. Allison has previously worked at Charleston County School District... Read More →

Friday December 16, 2022 11:30am - 12:15pm EST
Room 4, Floor 1

Session 2

12:30pm EST

Lunch

Friday December 16, 2022 12:30pm - 1:30pm EST
Exhibition Hall, Floor 2

Lunch

1:45pm EST

Engaging Students with Augmented Reality

With augmented reality, you and your students can discover experiences that you didn’t think possible. This session highlights how instructors can easily bring augmented reality apps into existing lessons to enhance student engagement and motivation across subject areas.

Speakers

Jennifer Harriton-Wilson

Education Technology Coordinator, PNW BOCES

Dr. Jennifer Harriton-Wilson is a strong advocate of using technology to help shape and sharpen pedagogical practices. She is the Education Technology Coordinator at PNW BOCES and is eager to learn from others.

Apple Education

Apple revolutionized personal technology with the introduction of the Macintosh computer in 1984. Since then, Apple has designed products and programs that help unleash the creative potential in every individual, no matter how they learn and what they love to do. Apple Education is... Read More →

Friday December 16, 2022 1:45pm - 2:30pm EST
Room 1, Floor 1

Session 3

1:45pm EST

How Clouds Improve School District Operations

This presentation will discuss NERIC's business drivers along with school district needs and how NERIC is considering cloud options. Our AWS partners will discuss ways in which the cloud is used successfully in K-12 and how they can help meet district business needs.

Speakers

Dave Versocki

Chief Technology Officer, Capital Region BOCES

Dave Versocki is the Chief Technology Officer for Capital Region BOCES/NERIC. He has been with the BOCES/NERIC for over 10 years in a variety of leadership positions. Dave’s current oversight includes NERIC’s Network/Server activities, VoIP and Security Operations, as well as... Read More →

Phil Gadsden

AWS

Phil Gadsden has spent the last 34 years in technology sales, most of which were working in K-12. Phil is responsible for NY State School Districts and BOCES (except for NY City) for AWS. Phil works to see technology successfully deployed to help improve students and educators. Phil... Read More →

Bob Palermo

AWS

Bob Palermo, Solution Architect, has used technology to build solutions for customers over the last 30 years. He started as a software engineer and is currently a Solution Architect for AWS. Bob is based in Saratoga Springs and has two graduates from the district and one in high... Read More →

Friday December 16, 2022 1:45pm - 2:30pm EST
Room 3, Floor 1

Session 3

1:45pm EST

Kami, More Than an Annotation Tool

A discussion on how using Kami makes learning more accessible for all learners.

Speakers

Jennifer Knapp

Education Tech Specialist, HFM BOCES

Jennifer Knapp is an Ed. Tech Specialist for the HFM BOCES Special Education Division. She has been teaching for 15 years, with a background in Elementary Education and Special Education. She loves helping others with technology and the ability it has to provide a fun and engaging... Read More →

Stephanie Carbone

Questar III BOCES

Stephanie Carbone is a Model Schools Specialist at Questar III BOCES. Her educational background in Speech-Language Pathology and Special Education provides the foundation for her passion for ensuring instructional technology is accessible to all.

Kaitlyn Hybl

Kami

Kaitlyn Hybl is a Kami Account Executive for the Northeast. Kaitlyn loves taking all she learned in her MEd program, specializing in instruction and curriculum, into her work for Kami. As a previous teacher herself, Kaitlyn loves giving back to the education community by introducing... Read More →

Oliver Tingling

Kami

Oliver Tingling primarily sees himself as an educator. From years of working on large accounts for Apple’s business team, he eventually found his calling to be a teacher when he took the opportunity to conduct product training for customers. From there, he left Apple to pursue a... Read More →

Friday December 16, 2022 1:45pm - 2:30pm EST
Room 5, Floor 1

Session 3

1:45pm EST

The Power of Doing

In a rapidly changing world, it remains vitally important for educators to remain adaptive and flexible to the needs of students while using tools to help them efficiently build mental models of the real world. Recent developments in learning and the brain show four distinct areas key to effective learning: attention, engagement, feedback and consolidation. At the middle school age, neuronal pathways for emotions are formed and myelinated, while concepts and abstractions begin forming in the brain. Educators must help students create fundamental mental models that can continually update as they go through the science curriculum. Attention, engagement and feedback all fall into the specific realm of education for effective learning and teaching. This presentation is designed to engage educators in the "Power of Doing."

Speakers

Chris Andersen

Teacher, Shenendehowa CSD

Chris has a love for all things at the intersection of Biology, Technology, and Education. This has led to more than a three-decade-long career in middle schools around the world. He is currently at Shenendehowa's Gowana MS teaching 6th-grade science. Other experiences include: grades... Read More →

Friday December 16, 2022 1:45pm - 2:30pm EST
Room 6, Floor 1

Session 3

1:45pm EST

Top 3 New Google Tools for 2023 - Practice Sets, Cast Moderator and Screencast

In this session, we will cover three new Google for Education tools that are being released this school year. With practice sets, educators can easily transform their teaching content into interactive assignments and use the autograding tool to reduce manual grading time. Practice sets also help teachers determine which concepts need more instruction time and who could use extra support, giving them quick performance insights to shape future lesson plans. Cast moderator allows any device with the Chrome browser to connect instantly and wirelessly to a projector. Screencast for Chromebook is a unique recording tool when compared to other screen recording apps like Screencastify and Loom.

Speakers

Bill Vacca

Instructional Tech Administrator, Mohonasen CSD

Bill is a Google for Edu Certified Coach, Trainer and Innovator. He is a Google Product Expert and Rocket League eSports Coach.

Tara Wolfanger

Teacher, Mohonasen CSD

Tara Wolfanger is a 5th-grade teacher at Mohonasen and a Google for Education Certified Educator and Trainer.

Friday December 16, 2022 1:45pm - 2:30pm EST
Room 4, Floor 1

Session 3

1:45pm EST

Tune in to PBL: The Podcast Project

Tech Valley High School is known for our commitment to Project Based Learning. One product that students produce multiple times during while at TVHS is a podcast. We will share some of the technology-based skills and scaffolding that help students produce high-quality recordings. Teachers from every subject and grade level are invited to learn how they can introduce this content-agnostic project in their classrooms.

Speakers

Sarah Hugger Fiess

School Outreach Coordinator, Tech Valley High School

Sarah Hugger Fiess started working at TVHS in the summer of 2016; she works with middle school students, runs TVHS camp programs, and provides professional development to teachers in the region. She holds degrees from The College of New Jersey and Teachers College at Columbia University... Read More →

Diana Weldon

Science Teacher, Tech Valley High School

Diana ‘Dee’ Weldon has taught at Tech Valley High School since the fall of 2009. She teaches Bioengineering, Chemistry, Forensic Science and Nanoscience. Bioengineering is integrated with Regents Living Environments. Diana earned a bachelor's in Chemical Engineering from MIT and... Read More →

Friday December 16, 2022 1:45pm - 2:30pm EST
Room 2, Floor 1

Session 3

2:30pm EST

Closing Remarks and Raffle

Friday December 16, 2022 2:30pm - 3:00pm EST
Exhibition Hall, Floor 2

Closing Remarks and Raffle