Meet Tammy Worcester Tang

Tammy Worcester Tang has over twenty-five years of educational experience. She began her career in the classroom, teaching nearly every grade from kindergarten through middle school. Currently, Tammy works for ESSDACK, an educational service center in Kansas, as an Instructional Technology Specialist, providing staff development and training in the area of technology integration. Tammy is extremely innovative and resourceful and specializes in finding unique and creative ways to use traditional computer tools in the classroom. Her website, “Tammy’s Technology Tips for Teachers” (www.tammyworcester.com) is a popular online resource for teachers around the world. Tammy is also the author of nearly a dozen best-selling technology resource books that are published and marketed nationally.

Meet David Warlick

David Warlick is a 35 year educator.  He has been a classroom teacher, district administrator and staff consultant with the North Carolina State Department of Public Instruction. For the past fifteen years, Mr. Warlick has operated The Landmark Project, a consulting and innovations firm in Raleigh, North Carolina.

David’s attribution web site, Citation Machine, serves nearly a million page views a day and his classroom blogging service has served more than a quarter of a million teachers and students.

Mr. Warlick is the author of four books about instructional technology and contemporary literacy and has spoken to audiences throughout the U.S., Canada, Europe, Asia, Australia, the Middle East, and South America.  He was recently named one of the ten most influential people in educational technology by Technology & Learning Magazine.

What makes David Warlick a highly effective and sought-after speaker is that, at heart, he is a teacher with a contagious passion and enthusiasm for helping people discover a brand new world of teaching and learning.

Meet Kathy Schrock

Kathy Schrock has been a school district Director of Technology, an instructional technology specialist, a middle school, academic, museum, and public library librarian, and is currently an online adjunct graduate-level professor at two universities and an independent educational technologist. Kathy has been involved with technology to support teaching and learning since the early 1990's, and is an Adobe Education Leader, a Google Certified Teacher, a Sony Education Ambassador, and a Discovery Education STAR and a DEN Guru. In 1995, she created her award-winning site, Kathy Schrock's Guide for Educators, to help teachers easily wade through the many resources on the Web. In 1999, Kathy partnered with Discovery Education and she maintained the site until late 2012, when the site was retired.IHer passions are online tools to support classroom instruction, the role of emerging technologies in the classroom, infographics, tablets in the classroom, copyright and intellectual property, and gadgets of any type! You can find her on Twitter (@kathyschrock), Skype (kathyschrock), Google+, and on many other social networks!

Meet Dean Phillips

Dean Phillips, co-founder of BeyondtheChalk, is a licensed educator in the state of Montana, has had teaching and leadership experiences in all levels of education. He completed his undergraduate degrees in History and broad field Social Studies at Washington State University where he also obtained his teaching credentials. Soon after graduating, Dean went back to school where he received his Elementary Education degree. In the not so distant past, Dean also completed his Masters Degree in Education, with an emphasis in emerging technologies and technology integration from Walden University. Dean also has had the opportunity to share his skills and knowledge with pre-service teachers at Montana State University. Although he commutes only one day a week, he enjoys sharing ideas and learning from students enrolled in Foundations for Educational Technology. Dean also teaches various classes through Montana State's Extended University, offering the opportunity for teachers who are in the classroom to continue to earn credits and engage in relevant and exciting discussions about class topics and exciting changes occurring in education.

Meet Ginger Lewman

Ginger is an education consultant with ESSDACK, an non-profit educational service center in Hutchinson, Kansas. She specializes in Project Based Learning, Technology Integration, Gifted and High-Ability Learners, and Creativity. She is formerly the Director of Turning Point Learning Center’s f2f Program where, for half a decade, she worked to create the LifePractice PBL Model. At TPLC, she helped to createe a rich learning environment utilizing Project Based Learning and 1:1 laptops with a Democratic approach to learning. Ginger provides dynamic and hands-on learning for those interested in providing engaging learning opportunities.

Meet Kevin Honeycutt

Kevin is currently serving his ninth year as a Technology Integration Specialist at ESSDACK, an educational service center based in Hutchinson, Kansas. During his classroom tenure, he developed project-based approaches to learning that infused technology and problem solving skills. Kevin has developed online safety, anti-bullying and cyber-bullying curriculum which he shares with parents, teachers and students around the country. He certifies instructors in this curriculum and supports trainers as they go out and do this important work. His recent book Don’t Stay Under The Couch Starbuck and The Bully is the centerpiece of his Pre-K-6 curriculum. He continues to work with schools to develop innovative, engaging curriculum to better prepare learners for the world they will face when they graduate. He is passionate about meeting the needs of at-risk learners and works with kids in juvenile detention, developing approaches to re-engage the "lost" learner. Kevin travels the country and the world speaking at conferences and working with educators at the grassroots level and likes to promote a "tradigital" approach to education.

Meet Leslie Fisher

Leslie Fisher's interest in technology began while studying music at the University of Southern California. She quickly realized the value of utilizing computers for music mixing and recording. She grabbed her 300 baud modem, jumped on the Internet (before anyone really called it the internet) and started looking for music resources. She soon realized she was spending more time discovering technology than playing music so she changed her major and tried to figure out what geeky thing she could do for the rest of her life. After graduating from USC with a Business and Marketing degree in 1989 and a quick stint as a Trainer, Leslie joined Apple Computer in 1992. When the Internet took off in 1994, Leslie was one of the first Apple employees assigned to study Internet growth and implementation. Fisher Technologies Inc. is now a worldwide company (meaning one employee named Leslie gets to travel the world teaching) specializing in presenting technology solutions for educators as well as Digital Photography, editing and workflow.

Meet Jeff Crews

Jeff Crews, co-founder of BeyondtheChalk, received his bachelors degree from The University of Montana in Broad field science and biology.  Jeff completed his master's in technology education from Lesley University and later received his Doctorate from The University of Montana in Curriculum and Instruction with an emphasis on science and technology. Jeff serves as adjunct faculty for Lesley University where he travels to different location around the country to teach masters' level classes to teachers pursuing an advanced degree. He also has serve as adjunct for The University of Montana where he taught the elementary science methods and the instructional technology courses. These experiences have reinforced the importance of sound professional development within our teaching corps both old and new. 

Meet Richard Byrne

Richard Byrne is best known in the educational technology community for his award-winning blog Free Technology for Teachers. On a daily basis Richard’s blog "Free Technology for Teachers" reaches a subscriber base of more than 57,000 educators. In addition to writing Free Technology for Teachers, Richard also maintains iPad Apps for School, Android for Schools, and PracticalEdTech.com. Richard’s printed work includes a monthly column for School Library Journal, contributing author to What School Leaders Need to Know About Digital Technologies and Social Media, and columns for Teacher Librarian. Richard has been invited to speak at conferences and at schools across North America, Europe, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East. Richard’s work is focused on helping teachers effectively use free technology resources in their classrooms. Richard lives in Greenwood, Maine with his loyal dogs Max and Morrison.

Nominate an outstanding teacher, leader, or media specialist.

Each year NCTIES recognizes outstanding individuals who have shown outstanding achievement and leadership in implementing technology to improve education.

2014 Outstanding Teacher Award

Nominations Open through January 5, 2014

This award recognizes and honors one teacher who has demonstrated outstanding achievement and leadership in implementing technology to improve education. Award recipients are selected from a pool of nominations submitted to NCTIES from around the state of North Carolina. 

Nominees are evaluated using a set of selection criteria (below) for the award category. Winner will be announced in March at the NCTIES conference.

The educators selected to receive this award will be:

• Honored at the NCTIES Conference, March 6-8, 2014, in Raleigh, NC
• Awarded  $2500, with a $500.00 honorarium given to the teacher and up to $2000.00 reimbursement toward award recipient's expenses for registration, meals and travel for the ISTE conference 2015. (Based upon the state per Diem of $56 per day for meals.  All receipts must be submitted for a refund.)
• Featured in NCTIES publications and on the Web site

For more information, please visit: http://www.ncties.org/recognition/teacher/index.html

2014 Outstanding Leader Award
Nominations Open through January 5, 2014

This award recognizes and honors one leader who has demonstrated outstanding achievement and leadership in implementing technology to improve education. Award recipients are selected from a pool of nominations submitted to NCTIES from around the state of North Carolina. 

Nominees are evaluated using a set of selection criteria (below) for the award category. Winner will be announced in March at the NCTIES conference. (Award winners will be notified by February 1, 2014

The educators selected to receive this award will be:

• Honored at the NCTIES Conference, March 6-8, 2014, in Raleigh, NC
• Awarded  $2500, with a $500.00 honorarium given to the teacher and up to $2000.00 reimbursement toward award recipient's expenses for registration, meals and travel for the ISTE conference 2015. (Based upon the state per Diem of $56 per day for meals.  All receipts must be submitted for a refund.)
• Featured in NCTIES publications and on the Web site

For more information, please visit: http://www.ncties.org/recognition/leader/index.html

2014 Media Specialist Technology Innovation Award
The purpose of this award is to identify, promote, and sustain excellence in collaborative and innovative technology-based projects driven by the school library media center in support of curricular and instructional needs in elementary, middle, and high schools. 

Nominations Open through January 5, 2014

Entry Information
The award will be presented to a team of a school librarian and a collaborating teacher—one primary school (PreK-5), or its equivalent, and/or one secondary school (6-12), or its equivalent—at NCTIES conference March 5-7, 2014 in Raleigh, NC.

For more information, please visit: http://www.ncties.org/recognition/innovation/index.html

Meet Adam Bellow: Keynote Speaker

Adam Bellow is one of today’s leading speakers on educational technology and infusing technology to aid school reformation. He is the founder of both eduTecher and eduClipper. In addition to these free resources, Adam launched the popular Change the World student-focused charity campaign.

Bellow was honored by ISTE in 2010 as an emerging leader and then again in 2011 when he was named Outstanding Young Educator of the year. Bellow has been a sought after speaker in the education and educational technology circuit over the past few years because of his particular high-speed delivery which blends humor and rapid fire visuals in a style that re-defines slide-aided presentation. He has given memorable talks and keynotes at conferences such as ISTE, #140edu, and TEDxNYED amongst others.

Bellow is currently serving as CEO of eduClipper, the edtech startup that he founded in 2012. eduClipper is a free web tool focused on helping students and teachers find, share, and build valid learning experiences in a K-12 safe educational social platform.

Visit the featured speakers page to see the others presenting at #NCTIES14.  

Hotel Booking Links

The booking links for the Marriott City Center and the Sheraton Raleigh Hotel are now live.

Use this link to book your stay at the Marriott: http://cwp.marriott.com/rdumc/ncties2014

Use this link to book your stay at the Sheraton: https://www.starwoodmeeting.com/StarGroupsWeb/booking/reservation?id=1309205301&key=E9C07

Marriott City Center

Connected to the new convention center, our downtown Raleigh hotel features guest rooms and suites with luxurious bedding, wireless Internet, and 37-inch flat-panel plasma TV.

Valet parking is available free to Marriott guests attending NCTIES for one vehicle per room each day in the city parking lot. Be sure to remind hotel staff at check in that parking (for one car) and Internet access are included as part of the agreement with NCTIES. A hotel staff member must park your car for you in the valet lot. We highly recommend car pooling to minimize parking expenses. Parking in the area runs $10 to $15 per day for any additional vehicle.

Please be aware: Once all the rooms in our block have been reserved, there may still be rooms at the Marriott‘s regular, higher price, but parking and Internet will not be included in that price.

500 Fayetteville Street

Raleigh, North Carolina 27601

Phone: 919-833-1120

Fax: 919-833-8912

www.marriottraleigh.com

Use this link to book your stay at the Marriott: http://cwp.marriott.com/rdumc/ncties2014

Sheraton Raleigh Hotel

Warm, maple-trimmed walls and a sun-filled atrium greet you at the Sheraton Raleigh Hotel. When you arrive, you will not only see but feel the comfort all around the hotel. 

Parking is available free to Sheraton guests attending NCTIES. The parking deck is located directly across Salisbury Street from the hotel. Standard passenger vehicles only are allowed in the parking garage. Be sure to remind hotel staff at check in that parking and Internet access are included as part of the agreement with NCTIES.

421 South Salisbury Street

Raleigh, North Carolina 27601

Phone 919-834-9900

Fax 919-833-1217

www.sheraton.com

Use this link to book your stay at the Sheraton: https://www.starwoodmeeting.com/StarGroupsWeb/booking/reservation?id=1309205301&key=E9C07

Meet the Region 5 Candidates

Donna Martin, Program Specialist in the Guilford County School System

My current role in the Guilford County School System is that of Program Specialist serving five elementary schools participating in the Mission Possible TIF III Grant.  I was specifically selected by two schools due to the recognitions I received during the multiple leadership roles in the district that directly pertain to the integration of instructional technology.  Basically, the core component of my job is to serve as an instructional coach.  I coach teachers in two elementary magnet schools; Montileu Academy of Technology and Bluford STEM Academy.  As Montlieu is the first one-to-one school in our district, my skills have come in handy while coaching best practices.  Although my first responsibility is to address pedagogy, my understanding and creative ideas of how technology can enhance learning is recognized and appreciated by the teachers and administration.

My skills were first recognized as a classroom teacher with a passion for student learning utilizing technology.  I was quickly invited to serve as a technology specialist in a Science and Technology school where I served for seven years.  During that time I presented many times at the state technology conference and led an October computer learning month initiative across the state.  I was also an active member of the Region 5 technology educator group. 

Afterwards, I moved to the district level as a technology specialist and continued to serve elementary schools and one middle school.  I conducted many workshops in our district during that time as well as at state conferences, including NCTies.  My colleagues and I were honored as we were selected as the top presenters at the conference for two consecutive years.  During those years, I was also awarded the North Carolina Technology Educator Award by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction.  I also served as technology liaison for new schools opening in Guilford County.  Pilot Elementary, a new school, was named as an Apple Distinguished school.  Montlieu Academy of Technology, a school that I currently serve, was named this year as an Apple Distinguished school.

I was later promoted to serve as Instructional Technology Integration Specialist assigned to work with the district’s K-12 curriculum specialists in the district’s curriculum department in efforts to assist them with the integration of technology.  I designed a laboratory equipped with cutting edge technology for these specialists and trained them accordingly.  I continued to participate in NCTies events as well as other state conferences such as FETC, NECC and ISTE.  As a matter of fact, I am headed to ISTE this June! 

I have participated on interview teams for technology specialists and have even created district-level digital report cards that required the understanding of advanced functions.  I have also enjoyed participating on technology educator award panels and reviewing technology grant submissions.  Two summers ago, I was named as an Apple Distinguished Educator and attended the Apple Academy in Cupertino CA just before Steve Jobs passed away.  If I remember correctly, only about 75 people across the nation were selected to attend that year.  I was so honored!!

Although my current role does not have “technology” in its title, I am still actively involved in seeking the best instructional practices to benefit student learning.  In this case, technology is always on the forefront.  I have attended NCTies for many years and would love to be a part of the executive board in order to serve such a dedicated organization that benefits our teachers and students.

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Sam Walker, Technology Facilitator in Winston-Salem/Forsyth County School System

Here's a snapshot of my education, work history, and involvement with NCTIES.

• Named North Carolina Technology in Education Society Instructional Technology Specialist/Educator of the Year – March 2010. NCTIES Award Winners 2010

• NCTIES concurrent session presenter 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013

• Invited and scheduled to co-present with Kelly Mendoza of Common Sense Media at ISTE 2013 in San Antonio, Texas about the importance of teaching digital citizenship at the elementary level 

• NCTIES Preconference co-presenter ActivInspire with former Winston-Salem/Forsyth Couty School Director of Instructional Technology Marlo Gaddis and Matt Barfield of Promethean 2009

• Headed the creation of a Social Media Best Practices and Education Goal in Kimmel Farm’s current and ongoing School Improvement Plans.

• Featured co-presenter at 2012 ASCD Conference (March, 2012, Philadelphia, PA) “Creating Social Media Policies for Schools” with Steven Anderson, Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools Director of Instructional Technology

• I serve as a consultant to CERTL (Center for Excellence in Research, Teaching and Learning - Wake Forest University Medical School) and led several digital projects to upgrade their database of Problem-Based Learning Library to a Moodle platform.

•  Member Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools District Media-Technology Advisory Committee

•  Guest Panelist/Co-Presenter at the 2012 North Carolina Association for Biomedical Research (NCABR) Annual STEM Conference, Raleigh, NC October 24, 2012

• Partnered with Winston-Salem/Forsyth County School’s Director of Instructional Technology to implement a new technology initiative (Teach21 -2007-2008) that called for ongoing professional development in appropriate use of technology, and significant classroom technology hardware upgrades.

• I have a BA from Elon University in Communications (1990)

• I have a MAT from Salem College in Elementary Education K-6 (1997)

• Presently enrolled in Appalachian State's Master of Arts Program - Instructional Technolgy/Computers (Degree Completion set for December 2013)

• Since 2005 I have served as a Technology Facilitator in the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County School System and helped open newly constructed Kimmel Farm Elementary in 2009.

Two Important Issues Worth Supporting

http://www.edtechactionnetwork.org/action/write-elected-officials
On February 5th, House Education & the Workforce Ranking Member George Miller (D-CA) introduced the Transforming Education Through Technology Act (H.R. 521). Endorsed strongly by CoSN and ISTE, this bill would establish a $500 million block grant program to support school technology infrastructure and professional learning needs and a $250 million competitive grant program to promote innovative technology programs in schools nationwide. With no dedicated federal funding for education technology and education technology professional learning since 2010, this legislation will help jump start the conversations we need to have to ensure that our students and educators are equipped with 21st Century skills. Ultimately, this legislation will take significant steps to make sure that our teachers are prepared to personalize student learning and schools have the infrastructure to deliver online assessments in 2014.


http://wh.gov/LVL7
Education, like every sector in America, is undergoing a digital transformation. As students and educators embrace personalized instruction, online and mobile learning, adaptive assessments and data-driven decision making, and develop critical thinking, collaboration, communication and digital citizenship skills, demands on school networks will continue to skyrocket. Unfortunately, unlike the business and healthcare sectors, K–12 investment in school broadband infrastructure has lagged. Even the successful E-Rate program cannot meet rapidly escalating school needs for increased bandwidth. The International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) recognizes that we as a nation must invest in school broadband connectivity to ensure our students graduate equipped for success. Act now!

Another Hotel Is Available

We now have another hotel available with group rates.

Hampton Inn & Suites

Raleigh Downtown

600 Glenwood Ave

Raleigh, NC 27603

The Hampton Inn & Suites Raleigh Downtown hotel is conveniently located in downtown Raleigh, NC, in the well-known Glenwood South District, full of fabulous restaurants & nightlife. Whether you’re here on business in the area or on a family vacation, you can count on our great value Raleigh, NC hotel to offer a full package of thoughtful amenities included with your stay.

Make yourself comfortable in a warm and inviting guest room with features to help you relax and stay productive. Get to work at the desk with ergonomic chair or work in comfort with the lap desk as you watch the 32-inch HDTV. It’s easy to stay in touch with the office and home with free high-speed internet access in every room.

  

A brand new (12/9/12) hotel located on the R line, the free downtown bus loop. 

$149/night PLUS $6/day parking includes free wifi, breakfast, and secured parking lot

A web page reservation link should be ready by January 14

Meanwhile, reservations may be made by telephone

919-825-4770

Group Name: NC TIES 2013

Group Code: NCT

Updated 

We have and a fourth hotel.

Clarion Raleigh Hotel State Capital  
320 Hillsborough Street
Raleigh, NC 27603

Rate: $99 per night. Free parking. Free high speed Wi-Fi is scheduled to be installed prior to arrival . (On the R line, the free downtown bus loop)  The hotel is under new management and undergoing an estimated $2.5 million renovation scheduled to be completed by July 2013. NCTIES has been assured that guests will be in renovated rooms and not inconvenienced by work elsewhere in the hotel.

RESERVATIONS:            
Method:  Individual Call In.  Guests may call 919-833-0501 to make reservations within the Group block until 30 days prior to arrival date (February 20, 2013). After this date, reservations will be taken based on availability.
Clarion Raleigh State Capital does not guarantee specific room type availability.