Summer Tech Summit 2019Presenter Presenter Bio Image

Breanna Bowzer

Breanna Bowzer has been at WMS for the past four years where she has been able to hone in on her passion for effective and transformative technology usage in the classroom. She is also an advocate for digital innovation, Google infusions, and digital equity within educational settings. Breanna has presented at the district and national levels on a variety of ed tech topics to help all teachers integrate technology with meaning and purpose.

Jennifer Cusick

Jennifer Cusick is always trying to find new and exciting ways to engage her students. STEM education is something she is very passionate about and loves teaching. While teaching other things besides STEM she found it difficult to always engage her students. She found an incredible tool to not only engage her class, but uses it for her classroom management and in a way for my students to work together collaboratively. Join Jennier for a session on ClassCraft. It takes gamification to a new level; its fun, engaging, and her students love it! This is a website that students of all ages can use and enjoy in the classroom.

Maryann Hebda

Maryann Hebda teaches STEM to 5th through 8th graders as a gifted facilitator in USD 231. For the last five summers, she has taught Coding and Robotics classes, among many other STEM topics, for the district's summer enrichment program. Mrs. Hebda is a self-proclaimed tech geek, and enjoys using code, web design, digital Breakouts, Spheros, LittleBits, micro:bits and Raspberry Pi in the classroom.

Ariel Jankford

Technology is a passion of Ariel's and has been since she started teaching 10 years ago. She enjoys the challenge of finding innovative ways to incorporate technology while teaching 1st, 2nd, and 4th grade. Ariel has completed her master's at MNU in Technology Enhanced Teaching and will be completing my ISTE certification this summer. She have presented all over Kansas and Missouri on the 4 Cs of 21st Century Learning, Global Collaboration, Seesaw, Flipgrid, and Coding Through the Standards. As an elementary teacher, Ariel understands the challenge of covering a multitude of standards while also integrating technology standards in a meaningful way.

Cyrena Kellogg

Cyrena Kellogg's teaching career spans an impressive 20 years. She has always dabbled in tech and gadgets and for the last 15 years had a passion for video editing and movie making. The move to teacher computers 5 years ago completely submerged her in the world of ed tech. Since then she has fell in love with app smashing, innovative online programs and coding.

Kelly Louderback

Kelly Louderback has been teaching for 20 years. She enjoys finding ways to engage students using technology. Kelly feels using technology in the classroom is a great way to differentiate. She incorporates technology daily in her Social Studies classroom by using Google Classroom, WeVideo, PowToon, Pear Deck, Nearpod, Google Slides and many different apps. She recently attended a BER workshop learning about different ways to use Google Classroom to strengthen math instruction grades 6-12 that she would like to share with others.

Tracy Platt

Dr. Tracy Platt is the Technology Integration Specialist at USD 231. Tracy has a passion for integrating technology in education through inspiring and building capacity in others. She advocates for students to think critically, collaborate, communicate and be creative. It's about the task not the tool. Tracy has presented at various conferences and professional development sessions throughout the midwest.

Gail Ramirez

Gail Ramirez is a Curriculum Technology Integration Specialist for the Topeka 501 school district. She loves all things tech but specializes in STEM and coding and robotics. Gail teachers a 4-week summer enrichment program in Topeka and wrote the Pk-12 coding and robotics curriculum for the district. She has presented at various local, state, regional, and national conferences such as TCEA and ISTE.

Travis True

Travis True is the Curriculum & Technology Coordinator for USD 501 Topeka Public Schools in Topeka, Kansas. Prior to his current position, Travis was a Middle School computer lab teacher for 13 years. He received his degree in Elementary Education from Sterling College and his Masters in Instructional Design & Technology from Emporia State University. Travis works with teachers to help them successfully and seamlessly integrate technology into their lesson and everyday work life. Travis is Google Certified Educator Level 1 & Level 2, Google for Education Certified Trainer, Certified Promethean Trainer, Apple Learning Specialist, and a PearDeck Pearbassador. He is also on the Board of Directors for Mid-America Association for Computers in Education (MACE) the ISTE affiliate for Kansas.