Playground: Inspiring and Integrating Creativity!
How do you integrate creative practices such as critical thinking, play, and imagination into student learning? How can technology and AI support creative practices? How can you use digital media and storytelling to empower student voice? Join the creativity-focused playground and learn from educators who are thinking about how they can enhance and integrate creativity for their students and staff. There will be hands-on demonstrations, talks, and opportunities to imagine and play!
Outcomes:,
Playground, Walter E Washington Convention Center
Instructional Strategies, Educational Tools & Technology, STEM & STEAM Education, Student Engagement & Motivation
Playground
Curriculum, Instruction, Assessment
All Roles
Presented by
Lead Teacher
Creativity CoLaboratory Charter School
Amanda Fromm (she/her) is the Lead Teacher at Creativity CoLaboratory Charter School, an innovative, arts-integrated middle school in New Jersey dedicated to supporting the whole child with a hands-on approach to real world learning. With over a decade of experience in the classroom, Amanda is passionate about exploring the possibilities of what school can look like for our students, and firmly believes that positive changes will start with remarkable teachers and staff already on the ground working with today's youth.
Supervisor of Library Media Programs and Instructional Technology
Washington County Public Schools
Dr. Ann Anders is a PreK-12 Instructional Leader and an adjunct professor in Research and Design advocating for innovation & excellence. She has developed a comprehensive Library Media Curriculum, PreK-12. Her dedication to infusing Computer Science in PreK-5 and district focus on AI reflects her passion to prepare students for success in today's digital landscape. She has worked collaboratively with ISTE to develop a Digital Citizenship Roadmap to support district leaders. With a background in Special Education and Gifted and Talented Programs, Dr. Anders is driven by the belief that every student deserves equitable access to a cutting-edge education.
Accessibility Advocate
FieldingNotes
Katie Fielding is an experienced STEM Coach in Virginia with 20 years in public education. With a background as a science teacher and instructional technology coach, she specializes in creating accessible STEM classrooms. Katie is an advocate for accessibility, creativity, and Universal Design for Learning (UDL), and has been recognized as the VSTE Coach of the Year. She holds various certifications, including ISTE Certified Educator and Trainer, Google Innovator, and Microsoft Innovative Educator Expert. Katie is also involved in equity and professional services committees with the Virginia ISTE Affiliate VSTE.
Executive Leader of Education
Appel Farm Arts & Music Center
Kristina Hill (she/her) Kristina is a neurodivergent leader dedicated to inspiring educators and professionals to practice and engage playfully and creatively. She began her career in education as a Speech Therapist for autistic children, where she rediscovered her love of the arts, taking an arts-integrated approach to therapy. Recognizing the increased engagement, connection, and joy possible for students and teachers when creative approaches are employed, Kristina has spent the last 22 years following her curiosity and love for learning, teaching and coaching others in a variety of youth-centered institutions and organizations.
EdTech Coach
Washington County Public Schools
Dr. Leah Pongratz is an experienced elementary educator with a passion for the integration of educational technology and robotics into instruction. She currently serves as an EdTech Coach for Washington County Public Schools, Maryland, empowering teachers to effectively utilize EdTech as a means of achieving equitable learning experiences across all elementary schools. Leah holds a National Board Certification in Early/Middle Childhood Literacy and wholeheartedly believes in infusing EdTech into core curriculum areas to make content accessible for all.
Associate Professor of Education
University of Mary Washington
Dr. Melissa Wells is an associate professor in the College of Education at the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, VA. Her teaching and research interests include literacy, critical theory, arts integration, technology, and family engagement. She has co-authored two books focused on equity in education: "Foundations of American Education: A Critical Lens" (Wells & Clayton, 2021) which is an OER, and "Re-envisioning Family Engagement and Literacy in Early Childhood Classrooms: 'Porque así ya conocemos'” (López-Robertson & Wells, 2023). Prior to becoming a professor, Melissa taught in public schools in South Carolina for eight years.
Author, Speaker, Consultant
Michael Hernandez Consulting
ASCD & ISTE Author
Michael is an award-winning teacher, speaker, and consultant in Los Angeles whose work focuses on digital and civic literacy, social justice, and student-centered learning experiences. His professional development workshops have helped educators around the world to design curriculum that fosters intellectual agility and emotional flexibility within the context of a global community. He has been recognized by Apple, National Geographic, Forbes, SXSW EDU, PBS, and NPR, and his new book, Storytelling With Purpose: Digital Projects To Ignite Student Curiosity, offers solutions to some of our most pressing issues like student engagement and artificial intelligence.
Author
Class Tech Tips, LLC
ASCD & ISTE Author
Dr. Monica Burns is an EdTech and Curriculum Consultant, author of EdTech Essentials (ASCD) and former New York City public school teacher. She works with schools and organizations around the world to support PreK-20 educators with thoughtful technology integration. Monica’s website ClassTechTips.com and Easy EdTech Podcast help educators place “tasks before apps” by promoting deeper learning with technology.
Technology Integration Specialist
Smithtown School District
ASCD & ISTE Author
Tim Needles is an artist, educator, performer, and author of STEAM Power from ISTE. He’s a TEDx Talk speaker, a technology integration specialist, and teaches art, film, and emerging media at Smithtown School District and Five Towns College. He’s been featured on NPR, New York Times, Columbus Museum of Art and Norman Rockwell Museum. He won the ISTE PLN’s Technology in Action Award & Creativity Award, NAEA’s Art Educator Award & ArtEdTech Outstanding Teaching Award, and the Rauschenberg Power of Art Award. He’s a board member of NYSCATE & NYSATA, ISTE Community leader, NASA Solar System Ambassador, and Connected Arts Network PLC leader.
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Playground, Walter E Washington Convention Center
Instructional Strategies, Educational Tools & Technology, STEM & STEAM Education, Student Engagement & Motivation
Playground
Curriculum, Instruction, Assessment
All Roles