Tech & Learning’s Honor Role

Patricia Easton is executive vice president and provost at Claremont Graduate University. As a professor and researcher, she specializes in the history of modern philosophy, particularly the philosophy of Rene Descartes and the Cartesians of the 17th century. Her interests also include the philosophy of mind, the history of science, and the history of philosophy. Easton teaches courses and seminars in early modern philosophy as well as transdisciplinary courses. Easton received her BA in Psychology and Philosophy from Glendon College, York University, and her MA and PhD in Philosophy from the University of Western Ontario. She has received numerous awards from the Getty Foundation, the CGS/Ford Foundation, and the Mellon Foundation, among others. Easton has taught and mentored mostly graduate students for over 30 years, and a higher education administrator and leader for 20 years. She has held various administrative positions such as Dean of the School of Arts and Humanities (2002-2007), Associate Provost for Academic Planning (2010-2013); Vice Provost of Student and Enrollment Services (2013-2017) and her current position as Provost since 2017. Easton returns to the faculty in 2023, and is looking forward to sabbatical, as well as reading, writing, and teaching.

Patricia Trejo earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science with a Minor in Mass Communications from The University of Florida. Her Master’s Degree is in Educational Leadership from Nova Southeastern University, where she is also currently pursuing her doctoral degree. Mrs. Trejo has been in public education for 24 years serving as a Teacher, Learning Team Facilitator, Assistant Principal, and Principal. Currently, she serves as a Program Planner for Hispanic/Latino Studies, where she helps to infuse Hispanic contributions to the United States within the curriculum and instruction per Florida State Statute 1003.42 (p). Mrs. Trejo serves as the President for the Florida Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents, a graduate of the ALAS Superintendents Leadership Academy (Cohort X), the Co-Facilitator for the National ALAS Linking Latina Leaders Network and presents at the state and national level. Last year, she was the recipient of the 2021 the Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents (ALAS) Scholarship, sponsored by Curriculum Associates. Recently, Mrs. Trejo was honored with receiving the 2022 Hispanic Women of Distinction Award. This award recognizes the positive influence Latinas have in the South Florida community.

Dr. Allison Powell is the Chief Operating Officer of Evergreen Education group which leads the Digital Learning Collaborative (DLC), and former Vice President of iNACOL. Allison helped build the Clark County School District's Virtual HS & an online PD program for the NV school district. She completed her doctorate from Pepperdine University in educational technology & leadership and is the former Senior Learning Strategist for BloomBoard re-thinking PD and licensing.

Silver is a force in the education industry, serving as Vice President and General Manager of leading companies like Pearson and Lego. She leads with purpose and passion and she's sharing her story with us. Take a listen to learn how you too can lead your way to top positions by remaining focused on your personal mission.

You have not met two more vivacious and energetic women than Bobbi Kurshan and Kathy Hurley! These two ladies laid the ground work for all of the rest of us and we are eternally grateful. Launching their book InnovateHERS, Bobbi and Kathy will share what led them to write the book, the research behind the book, and they will give a glimpse inside the book by talking about some of the women they've profiled. Listen to the podcast and then read the book.

Arati has harnessed technology to create innovative learning programs for employees at Apple, Facebook, Google and Uber, worldwide. As Director of Learning Events at EdSurge and Director of the Learning Innovation Hub at Silicon Valley Education Foundation, Arati built strategy and toolsets to empower school leaders, edtech entrepreneurs and teachers to make thoughtful technology decisions for teaching and learning. Arati is a Trustee of the Saratoga Union School District Board since 2010, and was Board President for 2 years. Arati has a Masters in Education, Media and Technology from Boston University and Bachelors, Early Childhood Education from India.

Betsy has been an icon in the edtech space for years. She has covered some of the most amazing stories in education and through her work pushed the envelope of what we should consider when designing learning. Listen to this exciting episode sharing her most recent works and her passion for continuous learning!

A dynamic duo is just one of the definitions used to describe Fran and Mel from Philadelphia School District. Trailblazing IT ladies who have set the standard for curriculum and IT partnerships in school districts. Hear about their incredible journey through COVID and the exciting work they've been doing to connect each and every student in the city, no matter where they attend school. Equity to the third degree!

When you think of the future, the name Rebecca Ryan should ring a bell. A leading futurist and economist, Rebecca has worked with governments and school districts to design strategic plans focused on building a better tomorrow. Join us as we hear her insights and learn about foresight in this exciting episode on the future of education!

How might you step into the gap in both small and big ways? Melissa Dodd has served as the Chief Technology Officer for the San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) since 2015. Melissa Dodd has effectively increased equity of access to technology and learning opportunities enabled by technology for students for the past 18 years in leadership roles with the Boston Public Schools (BPS) and SFUSD. At SFUSD, Ms. Dodd is charged with leading the district’s technology vision and digital district plan, Building a Digital District. The plan articulates the SFUSD’s strategy to leverage technology to transform teaching, learning, and operations to realize the goals of Vision 2025 and the SFUSD graduate profile for each and every student to thrive in the 21st century.

Got love? Got leadership? Got love leadership? These are all embodied with this phenomenal leader, Dr. Aida Molina. This inspirational advocate, scholar, state school board member, and k-12 school leader shares a very personal story that will leave you reflecting and taking action in both your personal and professional life. How might you find your joy in the difficult, inspirational, and loving ways during your life journey?

How might you use your experiences to heal yourself and heal community? Dr. Judy Elliott assists districts, cooperatives, schools, national organizations, state and federal departments of education in their efforts to update and realign systems and infrastructures around curriculum, instruction, assessment, data use, leadership and accountability that includes all students and renders a return on investment. It is no wonder she was appointed by Commissioner John King as the first ever New York State “Distinguished Educator.” Enjoy a phenomenal journey with this former Chief Academic Officer of the Los Angeles Unified School District, Chief of Teaching and Learning in the Portland Oregon Public Schools and Assistant Superintendent of Student Support Services in the Long Beach USD. Enjoy this principled leader’s journey as she traversed her love of the classroom with research and practice resulting in being widely published—and became a national guru on MTSS.

Nicole leads the transformative work in Cherokee County Public Schools Georgia. Her work includes digital transformation, literacy, and professional development through an extensive coaching model. Beyond that she is active in her community fighting homelessness and inequities! Take some time to listen to her inspirational interview.

Sarah is a wonderfully talented edtecker who inspires us through social media, develops us through her EduMatch project, and supports teachers throughout Prince George County Maryland. Hear her journey and be inspired!

If you've purchased any book on ISTE standards, chances are it was written by Susan Brooks-Young. An expert on not only the standards but also how to implement technology into your school programs from a principal's perspective, Susan will share her insight of 30-plus years leading the industry in education technology.

Former Chancellor Borrego shares, “I am proof that educators taking an interest in and believing in your potential can motivate you to do whatever you set your mind to do.” Over the course of her 30-year career as an innovative leader in higher education, Dr. Susan E. Borrego has remained above all else a passionate advocate for students and the individual’s ability to enact positive change. Born in Detroit, Sue grew up downriver from the city in a working-class family of auto and steel workers, bar tenders, and grocery store clerks. Sue became an emancipated minor at age 16. No one in Sue’s family had attended college, and she assumed that high school would be the end of her educational journey as well. Now, Dr. Borrego harnesses this lived experience and passion for making a difference in her work with institutions of higher learning. She helps university and college leadership integrate and align student advocacy with their institutional mission, vision, and vitality. Sue conducts and shares ongoing research into improving student learning and success, building organizational capacity, serving diverse and under-represented students, and addressing class issues to ensure greater educational equality. She helps individuals and organizations alike understand and tap into their own power to transform the lives of employees, customers, and entire communities, through innovative, bold leadership that opens rather than shuts doors.

Thank you for your service Kimberly Mitchell! As the Senior Vice President for Military, Veteran and Government Affairs at National University, she leads the innovative efforts at NU for military, veteran and military family educational and degree programs. Kim is a nationally recognized leading vocal advocate for our service members, veterans, military families and Gold Star Families and frequently speaks at non-profit, community, and corporate conferences in communities across the country. Adopted during the Vietnam War from an orphanage in DaNang in 1972, Kim is also recognized as an advocate for our Vietnam Veterans and Vietnam era veterans. She is a 2019 George W. Bush Presidential Center Stand-To Veterans Leadership Program Scholar. Kim holds a Bachelor’s degree from the United States Naval Academy in Ocean Engineering and a Master’s degree from The George Washington University in Organizational Management. Journey with this national hero and consider, how might you live a life of service in your learning community, nation, and global community?

Have you had a “phoenix moment” that can inspire others to be brave and use their voice to build again? Learn with this pioneer in the telehealth field. As an award winning associate professor, she developed Parents as Teachers @ USC Telehealth. This first partnership of its kind between a national home visitation model and a university-based telehealth clinic had propelled the way we experience healthcare—especially in the pandemic environment. Her research agenda focuses on the utilization of technological solutions to provide early childhood health, education, and parent support services. She has expertise in children’s mental health, child maltreatment prevention, family support interventions, and home visitation. Her research has been funded by the National Institutes of Health, the Parsons Foundation, Queenscare Foundation, and the Overdeck Foundation. Dr. Traube sits on the board of directors of Child 360 and the California Emerging Technology Fund. Dr. Traube received her doctorate and master's degree in social work from Columbia University, and is a licensed clinical social worker in California and New York.

Diane W. Doersch serves as a Director of Technology for the Verizon Innovative Learning Schools initiative at Digital Promise. She came from a career in public education, first as an elementary school teacher, then a middle school computer applications teacher, and finally director of technology in a Wisconsin school district with approximately 6,000 students. She then served as Chief Technology and Information Officer in one of the five largest school districts in the state. In that role, Diane helped develop a statewide data warehouse consortium for school districts, worked to transform her school district with laptops for educators and 1:1 devices for students, earned her Certified Educational Technology Leader (CETL) certification, and helped her school districts build fiber optic networks. Diane serves on the boards of the Consortium of School Networking (CoSN) and #EquityEDU, and is President of Women in Technology (WIT) Northeast Wisconsin. Diane is passionate about providing technology and opportunities to ALL students to be college, career, and community ready, inspired to succeed in our diverse world.

Lillian Kellogg has dedicated her career to education and has over 25 years of experience in working with schools and libraries in the field of educational technology. She is a member of the board of directors for the Partnership for 21st Century Skills (P21) and the Consortium for School Networking (CoSN) and a past board member of the Software and Information Industry Association (SIIA). She co-chairs CoSN's Empowering the 21st Century Superintendent initiative and also serves as a member of the Executive and Finance Committees for P21 and CoSN. As vice president of client services for ENA, Lillian oversaw marketing as well as strategic national association partnerships.