Meet the New Board Members

Rhonda Thompson

My name is Rhonda Thompson, and I am honored to have been nominated for the position of Vice President of the Kentucky Society for Technology in Education (KySTE) board. Over the past three years, I have had the honor of fulfilling the role of the Region 6 KySTE representative. Since 2011, I have held the position of District Technology Coordinator/Chief Information Officer for Jackson County. Throughout this time, I have remained an active participant in KySTE, attending all Spring Conferences and a majority of the Fall Events. My tenure as a DTC/CIO has provided me with a profound understanding of KySTE's significance within our state. The resources and professional development opportunities facilitated by KySTE are invaluable to educators and administrators alike. As Vice President, I aspire to continue the exceptional initiatives that have characterized KySTE's history, while also striving to enhance our support for the K12 community in Kentucky.

Amy Johns (I)

I have had the privilege over the last ten years to serve the KySTE organization in a variety of capacities.  I have served as the Region 5 Representative, Secretary, Vice President, President (for 2 years), Past-President and currently again as Secretary.  During my tenure with the board I have most enjoyed having the opportunity to work with and support the amazing educators and technology support staff across our state.  I continue to be amazed at what our schools and districts are able to accomplish and at the sheer dedication of education staff to the success of all of our students.

As the incumbent, I am seeking re-election to the role of Secretary because I believe so strongly in the power of our state when we are connected and working together.  I know that KySTE embodies that belief and I seek to have an opportunity to continue to serve and learn from the educators in Kentucky.  As the Director of Technology for Fayette County Public Schools, a current KySTE board member, and a veteran educator of 27 years, I feel that I bring experience and connections to the board that can help KySTE continue to be a national leader in edtech.  I take this opportunity very seriously and humbly ask for the opportunity to continue serving the board and our state’s educators in this capacity.

David Lucas (I)

I have been your KySTE Outreach Coordinator for ten years now. The reason in which I am pursuing the nomination as the KySTE Outreach Coordinator is largely due to my concern for the continuation of technology in education. Technology was once considered the way of the future. We have now reached the future and must incorporate different methods into every classroom. Students must learn the proper uses of today’s advancements. Not only will technology keep students engaged, but it is also a means of reaching the once unreachable. These are just a few of the reasons I would like to represent the state as the KySTE Outreach Coordinator for two more years.

Susan Vincentz (I)

As the current Communications Officer for KySTE; I am excited to be nominated and have the possibility to serve another term in this role. We have increased our presence on social media in the last couple of years during my tenure as well as being in the process of updating our website for the 2024-2025 school year to make our information clear and easy to find for our users. I have also had the awesome opportunity to work with our Conference App to make things user-friendly for our attendees. 

I have been involved with the KySTE Board since 2011 in various capacities serving as Parliamentarian, Vice President, President, and Past President. After taking a couple of years off; I came back to the Board in 2022 to serve in the Communications role and thoroughly enjoy keeping our members informed. I am truly dedicated to the mission of KySTE and strive to promote it to the best of my ability.

In my full time job I serve as K-12 Technology Integration Specialist at Christian Academy School System in Louisville and serve as the Communications Director for my church specializing in social media and website promotion. I look forward to receiving your votes and serving KySTE again for this next election cycle! 

Amy Buss

I am eager to bring my passion for educational technology to the forefront as the Region 2 Representative of the Kentucky Society for Education (KySTE) board. With a deep-rooted belief in the transformative power of technology in education, I aim to advocate for initiatives that empower educators and students alike. I am honored by the nomination and hope to continue the outstanding representation of those who have served before me on the board.

Zachary Morris-Dean

Having the opportunity to join the KySTE board is something I have wanted to do for a long time. Since beginning my career in educational technology at Owensboro Middle School as a school technology coordinator in 2008, I have immersed myself in Kentucky's K12 EdTech. My journey has taken me from serving as a network technician in the district office in 2010 to becoming the network administrator at Carroll County Schools in 2012. My experience broadened significantly in 2021 when I joined STEP CG, where I collaborated with a diverse range of Kentucky's K12 school districts, enriching my perspective and expertise. Returning to Carroll County Schools as the Director of Technology in 2022, I continued to drive Carroll County’s EdTech position.

With over 15 years dedicated to Kentucky's K12 educational technology, my career is a testament to my passion and commitment to this field. I have volunteered many hours in supporting numerous districts to overcome their technical challenges, and now, I am eager to expand my contribution by serving on the Kentucky Society for Technology in Education (KySTE) Board. Representing Region 4 on the KySTE Board would be a significant milestone in my journey, allowing me to leverage my expertise for the broader benefit of Kentucky's educational community.

Amanda Ball

When I think about KySTE and the KySTE Conference/Board, I think of a group of like-minded, passionate educators, innovators, and tech enthusiasts...willing to try new things, and explore new cutting-edge ed-tech trends! As a member of the KySTE Board, I can use my organizational skills, educational background, and tech-saviness to help plan the huge KySTE events, while also supporting teachers and students by directly influencing the direction and initiatives of the KySTE organization. It's a chance to contribute my ideas and expertise toward enhancing technology integration in schools across Kentucky. Overall, being on the KySTE board offers a platform for me to make a meaningful impact in education and connect with others who share my enthusiasm for technology in learning. I am honored to be considered for the Region 6 KySTE Board Representative position.

Sarah Blackburn

As a dedicated member of the Kentucky Society for Technology in Education (KYSTE) for much of my 11-year teaching career, I have witnessed firsthand the transformative power of educational technology in the classroom. As a high school, then middle school science teacher, I delved into classroom technology to better reach my students and witnessed remarkable successes. As I progressed throughout my teaching career I continued to gravitate toward the realm of educational technology and eventually landed my current position as a Digital Learning Coach. Throughout this journey, I have come to deeply believe in the necessity of continually adapting to technological advancements in the educational landscape. The support and camaraderie I've experienced within the KYSTE community, particularly through its conferences, have been invaluable in my professional growth. Now, I am eager to contribute actively to this community by serving on the board. I am passionate about leveraging my experiences to help educators across our state harness the full potential of educational technology, empowering them to create dynamic and engaging learning environments for all students.