Cathleen Richardson – (Keynote) / 8:30 – 9:00 AM
Cathleen Richardson has been a pioneer educational technology specialist for over 20 years. She has worn many hats from being a classroom educator to currently spearheading a national education initiative at Apple, Inc. She understands the current educational landscape and has her finger on the pulse of the future of education. Informing and conversing daily with policy-makers, superintendents, presidents, non-profit organizations, and the public-at-large, Cathleen strives to achieve best practice technology infusion into teaching and learning with high energy.
Whether she is addressing a gymnasium full of educators or sitting in an executive briefing session with a superintendent, Cathleen’s message is the same. Technology can help transform education and make learning personal for all. Today, Cathleen is at the forefront of mobile device technology and digital content integration that promotes personalized learning and impacts learning in and outside of the classroom. Her expertise in the fields of Standards & Assessment, Curriculum & Instruction, Personalized Learning, and 1:1 mobile device integration have made her a highly sought after keynote speaker. Cathleen has spoken at over 1,000 local, regional, and national conferences. She is deeply committed to helping learners of all ages understand the transformational power technology plays as a vehicle and platform for their success in school and beyond.
Her outspoken and passionate advocacy for innovative education, her intimate knowledge of teaching and learning, down-to-earth style, and powerful message of transformation in the education space has gained her national recognition. Cathleen is a former Board of Trustee for the National Coalition of Girls’ Schools and served on the Advisory Board for Tech&Learning. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Media from Clark Atlanta University, where she has been a guest lecturer. She has also earned a Master of Arts in Instructional Technology from Troy State University.
When she is at home in Atlanta, Georgia she enjoys her personal affiliations. Cathleen is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. – Nu Lambda Omega Chapter, the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Inc. – MECCA Chapter, the Atlanta Chapter of Jack and Jill of America, Inc., and is the Troop Leader for Girl Scout Troop 18947. She is very active in her local community and was recently recognized as Fulton County School District’s Volunteer of the Year. Cathleen and her husband Ty are the proud parents of three children and she enjoys traveling, fashion, decorating, arts and crafts, and entertaining.
Kristen Brooks – Session 1 / 9:45 – 10:30 AM
Kristen Brooks an Instructional Technology Specialist in the Cherokee County School District, still gets excited about her career working with teachers and students. She is veteran teacher of education for 25 years in CCSD with the last 15 years specifically in Educational Technology. Brooks created the first K-5 Technology Lab and K-5 iPad Lab in her district. She loves working with students but now spends her days empowering teachers to create standards-based lesson plans incorporating innovative technology. Her educational mantra for teachers and students is always to “Create more than you Consume”. Brooks is also a Featured Speaker/Presenter at Educational Technology Conferences, an Apple Distinguished Educator, Microsoft Innovative Educator Expert, Global Minecraft Mentor, Adobe Campus Leader, and PBS Digital Innovator.
Tamika Durrah – Session 2 / 10:45 – 11:30 AM
Tamika received her Bachelor’s degree from Clayton State University in biology, and her Master’s degree from Kennesaw State University in Instructional Technology. For the past 2 years, she has worked as an Education Technology Specialist for Kennesaw State University. Prior to her current role at Kennesaw, she was an elementary classroom teacher for 10 years where she managed a classroom that she converted into a city called Durrahville. In Durrahville, technology integration was a vital component that allowed her students (the citizens) and her (the mayor) to have authentic learning experiences daily. She is a Nearpod Certified Trainer and a Nearpod Pioneer.
Lunch / 11:45 – 12:45 PM
Andrea Tseng-Rioux – Session 3 / 1:00 – 1:45 PM
Andrea Tseng-Rioux has served as an Apple Professional Learning Specialist in Minnesota coaching educators from Kindergarden to eighth grade. Previously, she was an Instructional Technology Specialist for 5 years managing the first 1:1 iPad deployment in Fulton County Schools. She also led the district instructional coaching team, Vanguard, consisting of 350+ technology focused education coaches. Prior to instructional technology, she was an innovator in the middle school science classroom for six years. In 2017, Andrea was recognized as an Apple Distinguished Educator. Andrea earned her B.S. in Middle School Education from Brenau University and her M.Ed. in Instructional Technology from Kennesaw State University.
When not working, you will find her and her husband at the local dropzone! They met at a skydiving event and have both individually completed more than 500 skydives over the last 10 years.
Helen Maddox – Session 4 / 2:00 – 2:45 PM
Helen Maddox is the Instructional Technology Coach for the Bagwell College of Education (BCOE) at Kennesaw State University (KSU). She has a B.B.A. with a concentration in Computer Information Systems, and her Masters in Instructional Technology (ITEC) from Kennesaw State University. With over 30 years in the computer industry, she moved to education in 2000 and served as a Technology Support Specialist in GA public schools, then moved KSU in 2012. Today she collaborates with BCOE faculty and supports pre-service teachers on designing technology-infused learning activities that support student voice and choice. She served as co-collaborator on the Universal Design Model Lab initiative where today attendees learn about blending assistive and instructional technologies with the philosophies of Universal Design for Learning. In her current role she also serves as the BCOE ITEC Innovation Lab Coordinator and designs, leads, and models creative and innovative practices that includes maker activities and design thinking.
Jeffrey Powell – Closing Keynote / 3:00 – 3:45 PM
As one of northeast Mississippi’s go-to experts when it comes to Apple products, Northeast Mississippi Community College’s Jeffrey Powell has quickly become one of the trusted names when instructors have questions about technology in the classrooms.
From speeches at the Creating Futures Through Technology Conference (CFTTC) on the Mississippi Gulf Coast to a mobile learning workshop, Powell has travelled the southeastern United States giving insight into what it takes for teachers to stay on the cutting edge of technological advancements in the educational arena.
Powell, a native of the small town of Tishomingo in the very northeastern corner of Mississippi, has served as webmaster for the college since the turn of the century and has developed a passion for technology that the Northeast alum passes on to others.
Powell has helped to lead Northeast in the area of technology as it pertains to Apple products with the introduction of the Mobile Learning Conference eleven years ago.