PERSONALIZED LEARNING CONFERENCE

  • Register Now!
  • About
    • About PLCON
    • #PLCON19
  • Sessions
  • Speakers
  • Site Visits
    • Kenowa Hills
    • Kent Innovation High
  • Exhibitors
  • Register Now!
  • About
    • About PLCON
    • #PLCON19
  • Sessions
  • Speakers
  • Site Visits
    • Kenowa Hills
    • Kent Innovation High
  • Exhibitors

THE PERSONALIZED LEARNING CONFERENCE

May 7, 2019 | Speakers
Register Now
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Dave Richards, Ph.D
Keynote Speaker
Former Superintendent of Fraser Public Schools
President of Core2Edge
Presenting
Keynote: Redefining Learning to Reach Every Child, Every Day
Implementing Personalized Learning from a District and Classroom Perspective​  
Leadership Round Table
David Richards, Ph.D., is the President of Core2Edge, LLC, a K-12 education consulting organization which helps educational leaders transform their learning communities to meet the needs of today’s students in preparation for their tomorrow. In addition, Dr. Richards is a Co-Founder and Lead Strategist for Safe Scan Solutions, a software solution which supports student campus mobility and the expansion of anytime, anywhere learning. Before entering consulting, Dr. Richards’ K12 career roles included superintendent, high school principal, chief technology officer, and high school computer science teacher. He has contributed to multiple articles, books, podcasts, and panels on leadership and district transformation.

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Kelly Amshey
Assistant Principal
Rockford Public Schools
Presenting
Personalized Discipline and Attendance Interventions
Kelly is an enthusiastic educator of 18 years, including 9 years as a high school science teacher in Kentwood Public Schools and 9 years as an assistant principal in Rockford Public Schools.  Kelly is passionate about working with students and their families on all issues that promote student education and success.

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Rusty Anderson
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Education Consultant
Kent ISD
Presenting
It Isn't About You ... Putting Your Students First
Rusty Anderson is passionate about education and advocates for productive student learning and experiences at the local, regional and state level.  In his role of mathematics consultant, Rusty continues to push for mathematics experiences that allow students to learn content and also other skills that will promote a positive and productive life experience.  

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Rashell Bowerman
Education Consultant
Michigan Department Education
Presenting
Personalizing the Michigan Merit Curriculum (MMC) Graduation Requirements to Meet the Needs of Every Learner
Rashell Bowerman is an Educational Consultant with the Michigan Department of Education. With an emphasis in the areas of instruction and intervention, her position allows her to support Michigan’s school districts as they strive to improve outcomes for all students.  Previous positions held include teaching at the university level as well as within the k-12 public education system.  Her strong background in special education supports work at the department with initiatives such as multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS), competency-based pathways (CBP), and the personal curriculum (PC) among others.

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Steve Elam
PLCON Sponsor
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Assistant Director
Algebra Nation
Presenting
Introduction to Algebra Nation, a FREE Personalized Learning Resource
Steve Elam from Algebra Nation is presenting a FREE cool math resource that can help your students close their Pre-Algebra skills gap. Come check out On-Ramp from Algebra Nation and get your students on the FREE-way to Algebra 1 success.


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Aric Foster
National Board Certified Teacher
ELA Teacher & Learning Consultant
Armada High School & STEM and Flower Learning Consultants
Presenting
Healthy Grading Practices: Philosophy & Implementation
Aric Foster has been teaching English and coaching wrestling for 18 years in Armada, Michigan. He is also a contributing author of Hacking Assessment & Start. Right. Now., an adjunct professor at Concordia University, Student Intern Liaison at Oakland University, and co-founder of STEM & Flower Learning Consultants. ​

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Heather Gauck
National Board Certified Teacher
Resource Teacher K-3
Grand Rapids Public Schools
Presenting
Personalized Learning: How to put students at the wheel of their learning​
Heather Gauck, a special education teacher has taught for Grand Rapids Public Schools for more than two decades. She is passionate about giving a voice to the usual voiceless students who struggle daily with school.  Technology that is integrated appropriately can open up a world of support, excitement and higher standards for all learners and educators.

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Meaghan Guathier
Director of Instruction
Alpena Public Schools
Presenting
Our Journey: Blending Project Based Learning  and Competency Based Learning
Personalized learning is a journey that every teacher approaches differently. This session will highlight the work of Alpena Public Schools - successes, challenges, and our vision for moving forward.

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Tracy Horodyski
2017 Michigan Teacher of the Year
Instructional Coach
Kenowa Hills Public Schools
Presenting
The Paradox of Personalized Learning 
Tracy taught grades 3-6, as well as reading intervention K-3, before serving in her current role as a high school instructional coach. "The shift" to making learning "...more about them and less about me," was something she was continuously in pursuit of and was only able to more fully realize once the long-range vision for students became clear. Realizing this vision required help from her students and colleagues as she worked at (and continues to work at) breaking old habits and developing new ones in order to intentionally shift ownership of learning to the learners. ​

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Vicki Jansma
Wellness Coach & Supervisor
Retired School Social Worker at Kenowa Hills Public Schools
Presenting
Using the 5 Love Languages and 4 Tendencies to Engage Learners
After working as a school social worker for 32 years and serving as the district Wellness Chairperson, Vicki has moved into the next professional phase of her life in sharing how new interpersonal and self-care skills can equip us with the tools required for sustaining a life in educational service. Drawing from these two systems can improve your ability to teach those "hard to reach" students--and might even give you insight into your own thinking/habits. These lessons have been shared with several districts staff, and have been well-received and appreciated for both their inspiring and practical applications.

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Steve Lavoie
Competency Based Education Coach
Kenowa Hills Public Schools
Presenting
The Journey Towards Proficiency - RSU 2 (Maine)
CBE 101: An Introduction to Competency Based Education
​Steve is a retired principal having spent his career in the public schools of the State of Maine. He spent 13 years as a building principal in RSU 2 which is a fully functional Pre-K - 12 Competency Based System. He has led 2 different middle/high schools through the transition from a traditional system to one that is competency based and personalized for it learners.

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Tanya Leon
Teacher | Educational Consultant | Speaker
​Fraser Public Schools

Presenting
​Personalizing the Learning Space: A Digital and Physical Redesign
Implementing Personalized Learning from a District and Classroom Perspective
Tanya Leon is a secondary English teacher who specializes in personalized competency-based learning in a 1:1 district. An Apple Distinguished Educator and educational consultant, Tanya is passionate about developing blended curriculum that strengthens 21st century skills and student motivation in a student-centered environment.

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Matt McCullough
Director of Innovation in Teaching and Learning
Schoolcraft Community Schools
Presenting
Strategic Partnerships With Your Community for Authentic Learning​
Matt McCullough, the Director of Innovation in Teaching and Learning with Schoolcraft Community Schools, develops partnerships with stakeholders across the state and nation to ensure students have access to high-quality instructional materials and learning facilitation/environments. Matt has led the building strategic partnerships with local businesses/nonprofits, developing district standards and proficiency scales for teaching and learning, and modeling and leading professional learning for educators and administrators which has driven Schoolcraft Community Schools to the #1 Middle School and High School in Kalamazoo County per the Michigan state school index. ​

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Amy Nelson
High School Math Teacher
Wayland High School
Presenting
Student Choice Improves Engagement, Accountability  and Ownership. 
Providing choices for my students has been a priority in my classes for about 10 years now.  I started creating menus for 7th grade students, then Algebra 1, and now Geometry.   These menus offer choices to learn, practice, apply, and write.  Recently, I have been transitioning the menus into Roadmaps which are a more visual way to offer choices.

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Kim Olson
Principal
FlexTech High School - Novi
Presenting
TFW You Own Your Learning: Student Self-Assessment Tools for Personalized Learning
Kim Olson is the Principal of FlexTech High School in Novi. FlexTech was nominated for its innovative approach by Michigan Department of Education through an initiative called the Canopy, spearheaded by the Christensen Institute and many national and regional partners. We are a 21st century school, specializing in project-based learning, competency-based assessment, one-to-one technology, the Maker movement, social and emotional learning, and authentic learning experiences.

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Sarah Pazur
Director of School Leadership
FlexTech Education
Presenting
TFW You Own Your Learning: Student Self-Assessment Tools for Personalized Learning
Sarah Pazur has served in the capacity of teacher, curriculum director and principal in three different project-based schools in Metro Detroit. Sarah is now the Director of School Leadership for a network of public school academies in Michigan.  Sarah is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in Educational Leadership at Oakland University. She is co-founder of FlexTech Education, a professional development organization specializing in project-based and competency-based learning and is currently a Deeper Learning Leadership Forum fellow. 

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Dwain Reynolds
Social Studies Facilitator
Kent Innovation High School
Presenting
Project Based Learning and Personalized Learning
Dwain Reynolds is a ninth grade world history facilitator at Kent Innovation High in Grand Rapids, MI. Kent Innovation High uses project based learning to encourage inquiry and inspire creativity. As a "lab" school, Kent Innovation High, serves as a learning laboratory for teachers and administrators who want to innovate back in their own schools.​

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Suzy Ruskusky
Augmentative & Alternative Communication Consultant
Kent ISD

Alissa Hofstee
Behavioral Supports Consultant
Kent ISD
Presenting
Project Based Learning and Personalized Learning
Both Alissa and Suzy have a passion for increasing respectful and purposeful inclusion experiences for all students. As a School Psychologist and Speech Language Pathologist, they work collaboratively to support the behavioral and communication needs of students throughout Kent County.

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Andrew Shauver
Instruction and Technology Coach
Ingham ISD

Presenting
The Truth About Formative Assessment
Andrew Shauver is an instructional coach for Ingham ISD specializing in tech-rich classrooms. Before that, he spent parts of 9 school years teaching secondary math and science. He believes that better lesson design is the key to improving teaching and learning in our classrooms.​

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Emily Sicilia
Professional Development Specialist
Michigan Virtual
Presenting
Personalized Learning? LMGTFY.​
Emily has been a classroom teacher (K-2), a reading and math intervention specialist (K-8), and a Reading Specialist/MTSS coordinator for a cyber school (7-12). She's been around the block and looks forward to learning and sharing with her fellow educators!

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Andrew Smith
Math Specialist
Kent ISD
Presenting
It Isn't About You ... Putting Your Students First​
Andrew is a former elementary educator who developed a strong passion for facilitating learning, fostering relationships and building conceptual understanding while learning alongside students in the classroom.  In his current role he has the opportunity to serve the students and teachers of Kent County with his team to support the teaching and learning of mathematics.​

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Craig Steenstra
Educational Technology Consultant
Kent ISD
Presenting
Handing Over the Keys: How You Can Help Students Drive Their Learning​
Craig works with educators in Kent County and throughout the state to enhance teaching and learning with a specialization in technology. He seeks to build systems that adapt to modern needs and provide equitable levels of learning to all students.

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Wendi Vogel
Science Consultant
​Kent ISD
Presenting
Student Culture and Formative Assessment
Join an open conversation around various types of formative assessments and consider how sociocultural assessment interventions may impact student learning around a few educational resources. We will consider and discuss examples of how assumptions may interfere with learning, as well as opportunities to engage in formative assessment while attending to culture.
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