aiEDU/OESCA Ohio AI Summits

Dan Fitzpatrick, The AI Educator

The author of the bestselling book, The AI Classroom: The Ultimate Guide to Artificial Intelligence in Education, Dan imparts invaluable insights and tactics for harnessing AI in Education.

A former teacher and high school leader, Dan’s work has earned him accolades such as the Tech Champion Award at the Dynamite Awards in 2022, and recognition in the latest EdTech50 awards. Dan holds an M.A., PGCE, and Post Graduate Diploma in Design Thinking & Innovation.

This year alone, he has trained 15K+ educators worldwide in the integration of AI into education and partnered with small business leaders and marketing professionals to enhance their practices using AI. He features on prominent media platforms such as Sky News, Good Morning Britain, BBC Radio 4, ITV News, and This World on WION, where he discusses the potential of AI in education and beyond.

Dan’s unwavering commitment to the advancement of AI in education has made him a highly sought-after strategist and thought leader, inspiring educators, professionals, and organizations worldwide.

Craig Burford, Executive Director, OESCA

Craig Burford is a highly-motivated, experienced professional with proven record of success in government relations and association management. Skilled in communicating effectively with diverse constituencies.

Specialties: Non Profit Administration, Advocacy Strategy, Government Relations, Public Policy Analysis and Management Strategy, and Public Affairs.

Randy Lucas

Superintendent, ECOESC

Randy Lucas, Superintendent of East Central Ohio Educational Service Center (ECOESC), grew up in Byesville, Ohio, and graduated from Meadowbrook High School in 1987. He earned a Bachelor's from Ohio State University in 1993 and a Master’s in Educational Administration from Franciscan University. Randy began his teaching career at Maysville Middle School and later taught and coached at Meadowbrook Middle and High Schools. He became Principal at St. Clairsville Elementary in 2000 and obtained his Superintendent’s License in 2002. Randy served as Superintendent of Barnesville Schools before joining ECOESC as Deputy Superintendent in 2016, becoming Superintendent in 2017.

Randy has been involved in various professional organizations, including BASA, OESCA, and CORAS, and has received multiple leadership awards. He is married to Cindy, a teacher, and they live in Buffalo, Ohio, with their two sons. The family is active in St. Michael Byzantine Catholic Church in Pleasant City.

Dr. Pramod Abichandani, Ph.D

Dr. Pramod Abichandani, Ph.D. is an Assistant Professor in Electrical and Computer Engineering and Computer Science at the New Jersey Institute of Technology. His $5M+ funded-research focuses on Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) and computer-vision-based AI. As the Director of the Robotics and Data Lab (RADLab) at NJIT, he spearheads pioneering initiatives at the intersection of robotics and data science. Dr. Abichandani is a NSF-funded researcher of STEM and CS education for middle and high school students. Passionate about bridging the gap between cutting-edge research and accessible education, he uses drones to ignite students' interest in AI and real-world applications.

Rebecca Dwenger

Instructional Technology Consultant

Hamilton County ESC

Rebecca Dwenger, with over 25 years in education, is an Instructional Technology Consultant at Hamilton County Education Service Center. Specializing in instructional design, AI, and differentiation, she leverages cutting-edge technology to enhance productivity and learning for educators and administrators. Beginning as a classroom teacher for 18 years and later as a Response to Intervention Coach, Rebecca's expertise has grown, leading her to present at numerous conferences like ISTE, FETC, and OETC. Her innovative approach, exemplified by successful pilot programs incorporating voice assistants, has significantly boosted student engagement and communication skills. With a master's in Instructional Design & Technology from Miami University, a bachelor's in education, and multiple certifications, Rebecca remains a valuable asset in educational technology.

Summer Beach

TMobile

Summer Beach is a champion for equity and helps to bridge the digital divide in Ohio with T-Mobile for Education. With 20 years of experience in public education and administration, she is passionate about creating and implementing dynamic and data-driven solutions that align with the mission, vision, values, and goals of school districts. Summer has an AA in Communication, a BS in Education, a MA in English, and is currently a doctoral candidate in education, with a focus on promoting diversity, inclusion, and equity for all students across intersections. She identifies as a servant leader, technology and AI enthusiast, and relationship builder. Summer has a heart for students and does not believe that a zip code should determine the quality of education and resources they have access to.

Jason Feig

Khan Academy

Dr. Jason Feig plays a crucial role in the District Partnerships team at Khan Academy. His goal is to help school districts, state education departments, and other educational organizations harness the power of Khanmigo, a groundbreaking AI-powered tool by Khan Academy. Jason's roots in education run deep. His journey began in the classroom, where he immersed himself in the world of teaching and later, school administration. His experience spans the spectrum of K-12 education, offering him invaluable insights into the diverse needs and challenges of students and educators alike.

Wren Hoffman

aiEDU

Wren is an educator with experience in teaching, coaching, professional development, leading, and program management. She brings more than 20 years in education to this position, with 13 of them teaching high school. Wren previously served as the Computer Science State Lead at the Iowa Department of Education and ran the SCRIPT program at CSforALL. Wren is currently the PD Lead at aiEDU where she designs, develops, and delivers professional learning for educators. She is a life-long learner with degrees in business and computer science, secondary education, educational technology, and education administration.

Denise Cacavari

Denise Cacavari, is a seasoned IT professional with 25 years of experience leading complex technology initiatives across various industries. Ms. Caccavari's early career was focused on the delivery of solutions designed to prioritize security and risk management in the finance sector. She is now the Director of Cybersecurity Solutions at Xpel by Forward Edge where she pursues her passion for creating secure digital ecosystems where education institutions thrive without compromising data integrity or privacy. Ms. Caccavari promotes the belief that cybersecurity is not just about technology; it’s about fostering a security-conscious culture that empowers educators, students, and staff to be active participants in safeguarding our digital environment.

NIC BROWN

Executive Director of Technology, ECOESC

Nic Brown is the Executive Director of Technology Services for the East Central Ohio ESC. Nic has over twenty [20] years of educational IT experience and in his current role, Nic oversees the IT department of over 25 public and government entities across 8 counties. His leadership and technical expertise have enabled the successful completion of numerous key projects, including the rollout and implementation of Cybersecurity initiatives. Nic is an AWS Certified Solution Architect with a key focus on cloud computing and security. Nic proactively assists his districts navigate the current cyber security landscape and incident response planning.

J.P. Feldner

OVESC

J.P. Feldner brings over 30 years of experience in education, having served in roles such as elementary and middle school teacher, elementary principal, middle school assistant principal, sports information director, and district technology director. Currently, J.P. is a Director at the OVESC, where he enjoys supporting their member districts in various capacities.

Matt Giovanniello

Frenalytics

Matt Giovanniello is the CEO and co-founder of Frenalytics, an award-winning personalized learning and IEP data collection platform for staff & students in special education and English Language Learner environments. Inspired by Matt's grandmother who suffered a severe stroke, FrenalyticsEDU enables schools to streamline progress monitoring and deliver engaging, individualized, and age-appropriate lessons & AI-generated assessments to students of all abilities.

In 2023, Matt and his team proudly participated in Digital Promise's VITAL Prize Challenge, where they were named a winning team for their novel research and product advancements that support underserved learners. Matt has presented his team's research and EdTech solutions around the country, including at the ASU+GSV Summit and the Institute for Education Innovation (IEI)'s summits for innovative education leaders.

Outside of Frenalytics, Matt offers pro-bono advising to underrepresented founders in HealthTech & EdTech and mentors student-founded startups at his alma mater, Boston College.

Teresa Schuerman

OVESC

Teresa is a seasoned educator with over four decades of experience, primarily in high school technology education. A graduate of Bowling Green State University, she currently serves as a Technology Integration Specialist at the Ohio Valley ESC. In this role, Teresa supports teachers and students by providing technology expertise and guidance.

Leslie Charles

MVESC

Leslie Charles is the Digital Integration Coordinator at the Muskingum Valley Educational Service Center (MVESC) in Zanesville, Ohio. Since 2002, Leslie has been a pivotal figure in technology integration, helping teachers and students streamline their workloads and enhance educational outcomes. Recently, her work has focused on leveraging artificial intelligence to transform educational practices, enabling educators to become more efficient and effective. By integrating AI, Leslie helps educators free up valuable time to focus on the crucial task of fostering student growth.

Leslie has shared her expertise on AI in education at numerous conferences and school districts throughout Ohio, establishing herself as a leading voice in the AI field. Currently, she collaborates with AI Owl to provide “AI for Educators” training, an Ohio TechCred approved program that allows school districts to access state funding for AI training.

Under Leslie’s leadership, MVESC has collaborated with multiple districts and states to deliver innovative online courses and professional development programs. Her efforts have reached educators and students in over 42 U.S. states, as well as Canada, Mexico, Australia, and the Dominican Republic.

Leslie’s contributions have been recognized with numerous awards, including the Teachers’ Choice Awards and the CILC Professional Development Pinnacle Award. She is also an adjunct professor at Muskingum University. Leslie holds a B.S. in Elementary Education from The Ohio State University and an M.A. in Administrative Supervision from the University of Dayton.

Cas Maxwell

AI Owl

With an entrepreneurial spirit rooted in the hospitality industry, Cas Maxwell began his journey with a single pizza restaurant, which has grown into a thriving business with three restaurants and a bespoke wedding catering service. His fascination with Artificial Intelligence started with ChatGPT-3, turning into a professional pursuit focused on AI's transformative potential in education.

As a co-founder of AI OWL Cas is committed to empowering people with AI to make their jobs and lives more efficient. AI OWL's mission includes helping make Ohio the first AI-ready state by demonstrating AI's benefits in education and helping administrations view AI as a tool and a friend rather than the enemy.

Cas's unique blend of entrepreneurial experience and passion for AI positions him as a leader dedicated to using technology for positive change in the world.

Mike Yates, Senior Designer

The Reinvention Lab at Teach for America

PlayLabs

Mike is a Senior Designer at The Reinvention Lab at Teach for America (TFA) which is the team leading TFA into the future of learning. At the Lab Mike leads the AI efforts and a project within our post-secondary work. Mike is a husband and father of 4. He's also a photography, videography, theology, and bourbon enthusiast.

Ksenia Sokoloyanskaya

Fobizz

Ksenia has worked in both the United States and Germany over the last 20 years and is excited to bring fobizz to her home-state of Ohio. Coming from a family of educators, she has been passionate about solutions that help teachers save time, inspire creativity, increase classroom engagement, and improve the quality of life. She supports fobizz with her extensive experience in managing cross-border relationships and adapting solutions to local needs. Ksenia has a BA from Kenyon College in Ohio and an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.

Wyman Khuu, Senior Director of STEM for KIPP NYC Public Schools, KIPP

Wyman Khuu is the Senior Director of STEM for KIPP NYC supporting over 8000 students across elementary and middle schools. He has 7 years of experience teaching science and math. Wyman has been recognized for his and was honored with the national Harriett Ball Excellence in Teaching Award in 2020.

Wyman is deeply committed to providing equitable and authentic science opportunities, as well as driving innovation in education. He is particularly interested in leveraging computational thinking strategies to empower students to become not just users, but also shapers of technology in the future.

Outside of work, Wyman enjoys traveling, cycling, exploring new cuisines, and photography. In addition to his work in education, he runs a youth nonprofit volleyball organization.

Dirk Hedden

TMobile

Dirk Hedden is an experienced sales executive boasting over two decades of expertise. He is known as a thought leader, technology advisor, and AI powered sales and contact center specialist.

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