Amanda is an 11-year educator and two time Teacher of the Year recipient and serves as  Paper’s Sr. Customer Success Manager for the East Mississippi Center for Educational Development Consortium. As the EMCED’s Sr. CSM, she conducts professional development for teachers of various disciplines, strategizes with district administrators to construct and execute yearly goals, and guides teachers as they creatively embed PAPER into their daily classroom routines. 

Amanda has transformed her experience and success as a general education and inclusion teacher into professional development, parent universities, Title I meetings, faculty meetings, and districtwide assemblies for hundreds of educators.

Amanda is presenting the following session in Long Beach:

• PAPER: Unlocking the Classroom Benefits of 24/7 Academic Support 

Come say Hi to Amanda at the PAPER booth!

Amy is a Microsoft Innovative Educator Expert, Microsoft Global Mentor, and a Google Certified Trainer and Google Certified Educator. She is a distinguished educator who encourages and motivates others to reach far beyond the classroom walls to make learning more meaningful and inspiring. Her expertise in both Microsoft and Google tools helps keep a finger on the pulse of the edtech community. Amy loves to work alongside educators to show them the power in leveraging technology to support the learning that is already taking place in the classroom, and she is truly passionate about purposeful technology integrations, meaningful PD, and making global connections. Amy is a Microsoft Certified Educator and a Microsoft Innovative Educator Expert. She is also a Google Certified Trainer, Google Level 1 & Level 2 Certified Educator, and a Newsela Certified Educator.

Amy is presenting the following sessions in both Long Beach and Jackson:

• What's Up Doc: Beyond Basics

• Microsoft Accessibility Rules

• STEAM-Y Coding for All

• Microsoft & Google: Two of a Kind

Come say Hi to Amy at the friEdTech booth!!

Blaine is an experienced presenter with a background as an educator spanning over 13 years, who has transitioned into the dynamic realm of edTech. Currently serving as one of the esteemed Senior Customer Success Managers for PAPER in Mississippi, she plays a vital role in the state-wide initiative, in partnership with MDE, to deliver round-the-clock academic support to students in grades 3-12. Blaine's academic credentials include a Master's degree in Educational Leadership from Delta State University, coupled with a Bachelor's degree in Secondary Education. Moreover, she has reached the advanced stage of her Doctorate in Educational Leadership at Mississippi State University, having completed all requirements except the dissertation.

Throughout her tenure in education, Blaine has assumed diverse roles, including Classroom Teacher, Lead Teacher, Assistant Principal, and Principal, all within the same building. With a strong commitment to alleviating teacher burnout, she is deeply passionate about introducing time-saving and energy-conserving resources that support the needs of every student. Blaine's mission revolves around empowering educators to preserve their well-being while nurturing the academic growth of their students, ultimately enhancing the educational experience for all. 

Blaine is presenting the following session in both Long Beach and Jackson:

• PAPER: Unlocking the Classroom Benefits of 24/7 Academic Support 

Come say Hi to Blaine at the PAPER booth!

Brooke has over 17 years of experience working in public education in Mississippi. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Southern Mississippi in Library and Information Sciences. Her strong background in leadership, reading instruction, and technology propelled her career to the Mississippi Department of Education. Brooke loves collaborating with teachers and helping students take their learning to the next level with high quality digital tools that help to ensure student growth.  She also has a Google Certification and Microsoft Certification. 

Brooke is presenting the following session in Long Beach:

• Talkback with Feedback: Differentiate Learning with Quizalize

Danielle joined Newsela in 2022 as a Strategic Professional Learning Manager. Prior to joining Newsela, she held roles within her Texas school district as a technology design specialist, instructional coach, and elementary teacher. Danielle has 20+ years experience and is passionate about connecting with and supporting educators.

Danielle is presenting the following session in Long Beach:

• Building and Supporting Student Motivation with Newsela 

Come say Hi to Danielle at the Newsela booth in Long Beach!

Dilcey is a highly experienced and dedicated Customer Success Manager at Newsela with over 15 years of experience in the ED Tech space. Dilcey has a wealth of knowledge and expertise in helping teachers and students achieve their educational goals. Prior to her current role, Dilcey was an ELA (English Language Arts) teacher, where she developed a passion for using technology to enhance the learning experience for her students. As a Customer Success Manager at Newsela, Dilcey is committed to ensuring that all of her clients have a positive and productive experience using Newsela's platform. She works closely with teachers, administrators, and other stakeholders to understand their unique needs and goals, and provides them with personalized guidance and support to help them achieve success.

Come say Hi to Dilcey at the Newsela booth in Long Beach!

Diane Fisher, Ph.D. is a Professor Emerita from The University of Southern Mississippi where she served as Associate Dean in the College of Education and Psychology. As a business teacher educator, Dr. Fisher taught methods courses and supervised students for almost 20 years. She was awarded the Teacher of the Year Leadership Award from both the Southern Business Education Association and the National Business Education Association as well as the John Robert Gregg Award in Business Education. She has published numerous articles and presented at several state and national conferences. Dr. Fisher is past President of the National Business Education Association, the National Association of Business Teacher Educators, and the Mississippi Business Education Association. She is currently a Digital Learning Coach with the Mississippi Department of Education. 

Dr. Fisher is presenting the following session in Long Beach:

• Getting Critical: Encouraging Critical Thinking with EdPuzzle

Elizabeth has been in education for 20 years and feels privileged to have taught both middle and high school English during her 11 years in the classroom. She has truly loved working with adult learners over the last decade, coordinating professional development events, including digital learning conferences. like the MS Connects Summit. With extensive experience managing district and state-wide ed tech professional development plans from conception to execution to iteration, she is a skilled interpersonal communicator able to lead, train, and motivate others to be their professional best. She currently serves as the Senior Director of Project Management for friEdTech and has the esteemed pleasure of working with MDE to provide high quality professional development opportunities for Mississippi educators through friEdTech's partnership with MS Connects. Elizabeth believes humor and purposeful tech integration are keys to making learning more engaging and personalized and has a personal passion for making a positive impact wherever she goes. Elizabeth is a Google Level 1 & Level 2 Certified Educator.

Come say Hi to Elizabeth at the friEdTech booth in Long Beach and Jackson!

Fred worked for one of the largest districts in the smallest state of Rhode Island before joining CDW Amplified for Education in 2019.  In the 17 years there, he spent a combined time in the classroom and in the technology department. His mastery in the Google Admin Console earned him the reputation of being the district's Google Guru.  Fred has three children, two girls and a boy.  He enjoys traveling and trying local breweries wherever he ends up.  

Fred is presenting the following sessions in Long Beach and Jackson:

• Google Admin Best Practices 

• Chromebook Best Practices

• Mississippi Common Tech Issues

*recommended audience: Tech Directors or similar

Come say Hi to Fred at the Amplified IT booth!

Gina South Pepperman spent 22 years as a classroom teacher before joining the Mississippi Department of Education Digital Learning Program in June 2021 as a Regional Coordinator for Digital Learning. She has also served as a methods facilitator for Mississippi State University: Research and Curriculum Unit in the areas of ICT1 and Computer Science: Discoveries (Code.org).  She holds a Master of Science Degree in Instructional Technology. Her areas of expertise are middle school computer science and social studies. She is a charismatic and dependable facilitator who provides teachers and students with the necessary tools to achieve their academic goals. Gina and her husband spend their free time following their two sons as they compete across the state in band, tennis, cross country, soccer, and baseball.   

Gina is presenting the following session in Long Beach:

• Empowering Learners with Canva

Heather is a former teacher and administrator turned Digital Learning Coach. She absolutely adores helping educators learn new tricks and tools to make their lives easier. 

Heather also has her Google Certification, Microsoft Certification, and Apple Certification. 

Heather is presenting the following session in Jackson:

• Q is for Quizizz: Quick, Quality Quizzes

Jasmine understands the value of putting yourself in a position to win. The former stateside and international educator and Mississippi State University Track & Field Academic All-American now serves as Paper’s Sr. Customer Success Manager in the Gulf Coast Education Initiative Consortium (GCEIC).

As a Mississippi native, Jasmine sees Paper as a key puzzle piece in connecting the state’s academic legacy, potential, and efforts to its steadily increasing national standings. To help make that vision reality, she supports academic communities as they integrate the 24/7 online tutoring platform into daily use in the classroom and beyond.

Jasmine is presenting the following session in Long Beach:

• PAPER: Unlocking the Classroom Benefits of 24/7 Academic Support 

Come say Hi to Jasmine at the PAPER booth!

Jessica is in her twelfth year as an educator. She is currently a Digital Learning Coach with the Mississippi Department of Education. As a DLC, she helps to support a select group of teachers on implementing technology into their instruction. Prior to her current role, she was a classroom teacher for 10 years. She has always incorporated technology within her instruction to promote active learning and engagement. 

Jessica is presenting the following session in Long Beach:

• Seas the Day with Padlet

Jordan is the current Professional Development Specialist for Imagine Learning – MS. Jordan is a Mississippi Resident with her background in Curriculum and Instruction (Belhaven University) and Elementary Education and Literacy (Tougaloo College). Her time as an educator includes: Teacher Lead (Mathematics), teaching 5th-7th grade Mathematics, and working with MS Juvenile Correctional Facility as a tutor where she thrived on integrating technology. She has worked with MDE and MPB Classroom TV with two math segments that currently run on television throughout the state! She prides herself in being an “All-In” person who is willing to "Educate the Masses" in all she does. 

Jordan is presenting the following session in both Long Beach and Jackson:

• Imagine Math & Math Facts: Making a Difference in Mississippi

Come say Hi to Jordan at the Imagine Learning booth!

Dr. Willis is a State Math Coach Coordinator for the Mississippi Department of Education. I have worked in education for 7 years, and I enjoy using my skills to contribute to building educator and student capacity.  I graduated from the University of Mississippi with a bachelor's degree in elementary education and then my master’s in curriculum and instruction.  I later earned my specialist degree from Mississippi State University in educational leadership. When not working, I enjoy spending time with my husband, daughter, daughter-in-love, and my son. 

Dr. Willis is presenting the following session in Jackson:

• Does It Fit: Digital Evaluation Rubric 

Kristina is a former 14-year educator who now works in the wonderful world of edTech. She is currently one of the Senior Customer Success Managers in Mississippi for the company PAPER. PAPER partnered with MDE to provide 24/7 academic support to ALL students in grade 3-12 across the state! Kristina holds a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Missouri Baptist University and a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education. During her time in education, she has had the opportunity to work in a variety of roles across three different states: Missouri, Oregon, and Mississippi. During this time she has taught grades K-6, special education, served in leadership positions at the building and district levels, coached and mentored students, interns, colleagues, and admin. She also had the opportunity to write curriculum from scratch as well as restructure district-wide programs. 

Kristina is presenting the following session in Jackson:

• PAPER: Unlocking the Classroom Benefits of 24/7 Academic Support 

Come say Hi to Kristina at the PAPER booth!

Lindsey has been a digital learning coach for the past two years. Before that, she was a third and fourth grade math teacher for 10 years. 

Lindsey is presenting the following session in Jackson:

• Making Math Visual with Mathigon 

Lori started her career in education as a high school Business & Technology teacher. After nearly 10 years in the classroom, she made the leap to the district level to serve as an Educational Technology Specialist. Lori helped coach and train educators with the integration of technology through a district-wide 1:1 iPad program. Lori hopes to empower and engage educators to utilize technology meaningfully for themselves and their students.

Lori is an Apple Distinguished Educator, Apple Learning Coach, Apple Teacher (iPad, Mac, & Swift Playgrounds), Google Certified Trainer, Google Level 1 & 2 Certified Educator, Pear Deck Coach, Edpuzzle Coach, and Wakelet Ambassador.

Lori is presenting the following sessions in Long Beach and Jackson:

• Creative Corner: Intro to Adobe Express

• iPad Treasure: Unlock the Hiden Secrets

• Google Calendar & Tasks

• Happy Little Slides

Come say Hi to Lori at the friEdTech booth!

Melissa is the Education Specialist for News-O-Matic, with over 10 years of teaching experience. She holds a bachelor's degree in elementary education and a master's degree in literacy. Melissa is passionate about student engagement and developing students' background knowledge through innovative teaching strategies and technology integration. She is committed to helping educators create meaningful learning experiences that inspire students to become lifelong learners. 

Melisssa is presenting the following sessions in Long Beach and Jackson:

• Unleash the Power of Inquiry in Social Studies with News-O-Matic

Come say Hi to Melissa at the News-O-Matic booth!

Nakeitha is a native of Grenada, MS and currently lives in Baton Rouge, LA. Nakeitha has been in the field of education for over 20 years working in multiple states to include MS, LA, PA, NV, and CA. Nakeitha has a history of success as classroom teacher, principal, district administrator, curriculum specialist, and professional development coordinator. She joined the Discovery Education family as the Nevada Project Manager of Strategic Accounts. Nakeitha currently serves as the Statewide and Strategic Partnerships Manager for Mississippi. Nakeitha’s focus has always been keeping classrooms innovative, engaging and student centered. She has over 14 years of experience presenting workshops on the local, state, and national level. In her role at Discovery Education, Nakeitha serves as the main point of contact for MS school districts implementing the Discovery Education Experience. Nakeitha will support districts’ implementation as well as schedule and deliver platform training and platform professional learning. Nakeitha holds a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education from Tougaloo College and Master of Science degree in Educational Administration and Supervision from Jackson State University.

Nakeitha is presenting the following session in Long Beach and Jackson:

• Discovery Education:  Your Daily Learning Platform

Rufus has 12 years of education experience and has served in the capacity of elementary, middle, and high school math teacher. He has also served in the administrative capacity as an instructional coach, elementary principal, and middle school principal. Rufus currently serves as the MDE State Math Coach Director. 

Rufus is presenting the following session in Long Beach and Jackson:

• Does It Fit: Digital Evaluation Rubric 

Samantha is on the Google for Education team. She has been with Google for nearly 9 years and is passionate about the advancements in technology within Education to better serve students and educators. She is super excited to join the Summer Summit in Mississippi on behalf of Google this year! 

Samantha is presenting the following session in Long Beach and Jackson:

• What's New for Google for Education

Come say Hi to Sam at the Google booth!

Sara is an experienced middle school math and secondary algebra teacher with a demonstrated history of working in curriculum and test question writing field.  She is skilled in lesson planning, educational technology, teacher training, K-12 math education, and algebra. Sara is a strong education professional with a bachelor's degree focused in education with math concentration from University of Mississippi. 

Come say Hi to Sara at the Math Nation booth!

Shantel began her career as a High School Theatre Tech Director and Social Studies teacher. Both positions fueled her passion for the Arts and History. She spent the past few years before joining the friEd Team as an Instructional Technology Specialist supporting teachers with their classroom tech needs. She was such an asset to teachers during the recent pandemic when teachers were working in both synchronous and asynchronous environments. Shantel also authored the friEdOnline course, Stack your Skills: Schoology Essentials. She believes most learners, regardless of their age, want to be seen and affirmed for who they are and the positive things they are doing.

Shantel is a Google Level 1 & Level 2 Certified Educator and a Google Certified Trainer. She is also a Microsoft Certified Educator and Newsela Certified Educator.

Shantel is presenting the following sessions in Long Beach and Jackson:

• Woo-hah, I Got You All in Check!

• Savvy with Google Sheets

• Microsoft & Google: Two of a Kind

Come say Hi to Shantel at the friEdTech booth!

Tamalyn is a Digital Learning Coach with the MS Department of Education. She earned her BS in biology and a Master's in Teaching from Jackson State University. She is a 2017 graduate/fellow of the Teacher Quality and Retention Program offered by the Thurgood Marshall College Fund. She has taught middle school science since 2013. Tamalyn is a Microsoft Innovative Educator and Trainer.

Tamalyn is presenting the following session in Long Beach:

• Quizizz is Where It Izizz!

Tanjanikia has been an educator in Mississippi for 19 years specializing in high school science. She has served as a classroom teacher, Magnet Resource Coach, Adjunct Professor, and Science Professional Development Coordinator throughout her career in education. While now serving as a Regional Digital Learning Coordinator with the Mississippi Department of Education and the University of Mississippi, she provides training and digital learning support to educators and administrators in the Delta region. Tanjanikia received her bachelor’s degree from Alcorn State University and master’s degree from Jackson State University. Currently, she holds a specialist’s degree in Educational Leadership from The University of Mississippi.

Tanjanikia is presenting the following session in Jackson:

• Q is for Quizizz: Quick, Quality Quizzes

Tara has 19 years experience in the world of education. A majority of her career has been in Special Education. Tech was always side gig until COVID brought it to the forefront and she transitioned to an Instructional Technology Specialist role. Now, Tara serves as one of MDE's team of Digital Learning Coaches. She holds a BA in Education of Deaf and Hard of Hearing, an M.Ed in School Leadership, and a brand new Ed.D in Education Leadership and Administration. Tara is a Google Certified Educator. 

Tara is presenting the following session in Jackson:

• Accessibility Chromed Out: Exploring Accessibility Features in Google Chrome