aiEDU/OESCA Ohio AI Summits

Kenneth Shelton – Keynote Speaker

An award-winning educational professional, Ken holds a master’s degree in education with a focus on Educational Technology and New Media Design and Production. He has more than 20 years of hands-on teaching experience, with a significant part of his career devoted to shaping young minds through the lens of technology. As part of his active involvement with the Educational Technology Community, Ken is an Apple Distinguished Educator, a Microsoft Innovative Educator Expert, and a Google Certified Innovator. He has worked extensively at the policy level with several State Departments of Education, Ministries of Education, non-Profits, and was appointed to the Education Technology Task Force formed by a previous California State Superintendent of Public Instruction.

Ken regularly gives keynotes presentations, consults, and leads workshops, covering a variety of Educational Technology, Equity, and Inclusion, Anti-Bias/Anti-Racist, Multimedia Literacy, Cultural Intelligences, Visual Storytelling, and Instructional Design topics. He is the International Society for Technology in Education 2022 Making IT Happen Award winner and the International Society for Technology in Education Digital Equity Professional Learning Network 2018 Excellence Award Winner. Because of his extensive and broad impact, Ken has also been named by EdTech Magazine as an influencer to follow.

Russ Bennett

Russ Bennett is a Director of Leadership Services for the Educational Service Center (ESC) of Northeast Ohio. Prior to joining the ESC, Mr. Bennett served as superintendent of the Aurora City School District. He has been an educator for over 34 years, serving the last 10 as superintendent. Prior to becoming a superintendent, he served as the Middle School Principal at Harmon Middle School in Aurora for nine years. He also served as the assistant principal for 1 year and was a science teacher, science department head, and a health and physical education teacher as well. While serving as principal, the Aurora Board of Education also named him Assistant Superintendent for Continuous Improvement. In this capacity he helped lead curriculum improvements as well as lead strategic planning and guided Aurora through the Baldridge certification process. Mr. Bennett has been on the Executive Board of the Buckeye Association of School Administrators and has been a chair of the Report Card Committee and the Technology Committee. He has twice chaired the Portage Area Schools Consortium, an insurance consortium of 24 school districts and ESCs.

Jimi Cannon

James “Jimi” Cannon is a professional learning and literacy specialist with Scholastic Classroom and Community Group. He is pleased to work with a team of like-minded professionals and experts in the field of literacy education. In his role, Jimi assists districts in creating systemic professional-learning plans and provides instructional coaching in all areas of literacy for Pre–K through 6th grade. Some of his areas of expertise are in guided reading, small-group instruction, balanced literacy, and early literacy. Jimi graduated from Trevecca Nazarene College with honors in 1982 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Professional Education and a minor in Elementary Education. After receiving an English degree at California State University, he went on to receive a master’s degree in Reading in 2005 from National Louis University, School of Education. He has also steeped himself in best practices and research in professional learning through Learning Forward’s (formerly National Staff Development Council) Academy, where he sought to find ways for external consultants to evaluate the professional learning they offer.

Denise Caccavari

Denise Caccavari is a seasoned IT professional with 25 years of experience leading complex technology initiatives across various industries. Denise'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. She 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. Denise holds a B.A. in Latin American Studies from the College of William and Mary and Master of Global Commerce and Policy from the International Institute at George Mason University.

Brian Callahan

Brian Callahan is an Educational Consultant with the State Support Team (SST) Region 3 at the Educational Service Center (ESC) of Northeast Ohio. He is responsible for supporting school districts by developing and facilitating professional development and providing technical assistance for school personnel. His areas of focus include Positive Behavior Intervention Supports (PBIS) and the Ohio Improvement Process (OIP). Brian spent seven years teaching in the classroom setting. He provided instructions to students in both elementary and secondary settings during his time as an educator. In 2018, Brian moved into building administration and served in the districts of Field Local Schools and Streetsboro City Schools, respectively. Currently, Brian is seeking a doctoral degree in Educational Leadership.

Wendy Hanasky

Dr. Wendy Hanasky serves as a consultant at the East Central Ohio Educational Service Center in St. Clairsville, Ohio. She is also the co-founder of ACE Digital. Dr. Hanasky has held both teaching and administrative positions at the high school, community college, and university level. She earened her doctorate in Technology Education. Dr. Hanasky has a particular focus on the integration of artificial intelligence into the classroom, aiming to empower students to realize their full academic potential while preparing them for their future careers.

James “Ike” Holzapfel

James “Ike” Holzapfel is a teaching and learning consultant with the Educational Service Center (ESC) of Northeast Ohio. During Ike’s 21-year career in education, his experience includes grades PK-12. Prior to joining the ESC, Ike worked in both public (17 years) and private (3 years) schools. He spent 10 years as a high school mathematics teacher at Tallmadge High School, two years as an assistant principal at Bolich Middle School in Cuyahoga Falls, five years as the building principal at Roberts Middle School in Cuyahoga Falls, and three years as the building principal at St. Joseph School – Randolph. While serving in public schools, his areas of focus included leveraging student data sources for continuous improvement, professional learning communities (PLCs), student empowerment via goal setting, development of common assessments, and positive behavioral interventions and supports (PBIS), to name a few. While serving private schools, Ike added experience to include working with the nonpublic data system (NPDS), EdChoice Grants, Title 1 programs, and individualized learning plans. He has worked with both member and non-member ESC districts on systems for data analysis, coaching teacher PLC teams, coaching building and central office level administrators, project-based learning (PBL), curriculum mapping, instructional coaching, and mathematics content design and delivery. Ike looks forward to increasing his level of support for districts while leading the ESC’s Instructional Coaching PLC, the AP network, and becoming an ODE Mathematical Modeling and Reasoning (MMR) trainer.

Christopher Infante

Christopher Infante serves as the Director of Engineering and Managed Services at Forward Edge, overseeing the Managed Services, Cybersecurity, and the Network Project teams. With over 25 years of IT industry experience spanning the Service Managed Block (SMB), Enterprise, and Education sectors, he brings a wealth of knowledge to the table including building a successful Managed Service Provider (SMP) before joining the Forward Edge team. During his tenure at Forward Edge, he has been instrumental in building and leading a team that started with just two engineers and is now a highly skilled group of over 20 professionals. Over the past decade, he has played a pivotal role in driving company growth, and he continues to ensure the highest levels of service excellence. In addition to his corporate experience, he has also dedicated time as an Adjunct Instructor for Kaplan College, where he had the privilege of teaching computer science. This experience along with a dedication to K-12 education has deepened his commitment to the development of future IT professionals. In addition to his role at Forward Edge, Chris serves on CompTIA's North American Executive Council and CompTIA's Cybersecurity ISAO Executive Steering Committee. Com

Amy Harker

Amy has dedicated her career to personalized learning, technology integration and learner-centered instruction, culminating in her role as one of Ohio's Personalized Learning Specialists in 2022. Recognized for her innovative classroom strategies, Amy was honored with the prestigious Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching during her tenure as a teacher. Serving 17 years as an administrator, she has led district wide transformative change efforts, collaborating with teams of educators in shaping instructional practices. She has shared her expertise through presentations across Ohio and nationally, with several outstanding organizations such as: the National Network of State Innovators, Assessment for Learning Project, Northern Cass Personalized Learning Institute, and the Mid-Atlantic Conference on Personalized Learning. As a national advisor for Future Ready Schools and a Deeper Learning Leadership fellow, she has contributed to shaping educational policies and practices on a broader scale. Additionally, as a delegate to the Future of Education Summit in Helsinki, Finland, she gained international insights to inform Ohio’s educational landscape. Amy’s hope is to inspire and empower all learners and help them to find their ‘why’.

Wren Hoffman

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.

Jake Miller

Jake started his role as an Ohio Personalized Learning Specialist in August 2022. Before taking on that role, Jake spent 5 years as a technology integration specialist and 14 years teaching math, science, and STEM. Jake has also worked extensively in the area of educational technology as a speaker, presenter, podcaster, blogger, and author of the book Educational Duct Tape: An EdTech Integration Mindset. Jake has presented at several local and national conferences, including ISTE, FETC, OETC, and at Google’s New York City location.

Jason Ondrus

Jason Ondrus is currently the assistant superintendent for business operations and personnel for the Barberton City School District. Jason, a lifetime resident of the district, has been with the Barberton City Schools for 28 years and began his career as a 6th grade teacher, where his passion for education was evident. His commitment to supporting and leading students and educators led him to leadership roles as an assistant principal, principal, director of personnel, and assistant superintendent. Jason was most recently named as the new superintendent for the Barberton City Schools, beginning on August 1, 2024.

Brett Roer

Brett Roer, the Ohio Regional Director for aiEDU, advocates for the equitable and safe integration of AI in schools to transform education. aiEDU, in partnership with Ohio Educational Service Centers (OESCA), is focused on creating a network of AI educators across the state to equip students for an AI-driven future and elevate Ohio to the forefront of K-12 AI education nationally. Following 16 years in New York City Public Schools as a school leader, college advisor, and teacher across Brooklyn, Queens, and The Bronx, Brett has spearheaded initiatives and fostered national partnerships for innovative ed-tech and non-profit educational organizations.

Kehlan Rutan

Kehlan has dedicated his career to advancing the operational integrity and security of K-12 technology environments and currently serves as the Senior Information Security Officer at Forward Edge. Kehlan has demonstrated his passion for cybersecurity over the last 10 years serving in multiple roles and culminating in his current leadership of the Xpel by Forward Edge SOC. Kehlan holds a B.S. in Computer Information Systems and certifications including Security+, CISSP.

Dr. Patrick Ward

Dr. Patrick Ward brings a wealth of experience and a passion for educational leadership. Dr. Ward has dedicated his career to empowering educators and fostering a positive school climate where all students can thrive. As the first-year Superintendent of the Willoughby-Eastlake City Schools, he is committed to collaborating with all stakeholders to develop a unified shared vision for the district. Dr. Ward's journey began in the classroom, where he excelled as a science teacher. His commitment to excellence led him to leadership roles as an assistant principal, associate principal, high school principal, curriculum director and, ultimately, superintendent. Dr. Ward's academic achievements are equally impressive. He holds two master’s degrees, one in K-12 Educational Leadership from Ursuline College, and one in Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment from Walden University. He also earned his Ph.D in Educational Leadership at Walden University with a focus on professional learning communities and school climate. This focus on collaboration and fostering a positive learning environment is a hallmark of Dr. Ward's leadership style. Dr. Ward's expertise extends beyond the walls of his own district. He is a fellow at the Center for Educational Leadership at Cleveland State University and a recognized leader in digital learning. He has presented on personalized learning at national conferences and served as an adjunct professor at Ursuline College, mentoring future educational leaders. He is the author, with Keith Kelly, Ph.D, of Straightening the Curve: Designing for Deep Learning and Creating Thriving Learning Communities. The book challenges all educators to explore a different way of teaching and learning that disrupts the traditional methods of education. Dr. Ward's core belief is that successful schools empower educators and build strong relationships. He is a strong advocate for building collaborative structures and aligning all efforts to maximize student learning through customized experiences.

Ian Zhu

In 2021, Ian launched a non-profit at the height of the pandemic that developed and delivered remote SEL and PBL curriculum to elementary students. One fourth grade student wrote about her experience with racism and still conveyed a rather optimistic view of the future. Ian realized that there’s so much more to who our students are beyond their grades and test scores.

Ian founded SchoolJoy in 2022 believing that the technology systems schools use focus primarily on capturing students’ academic achievements but are lacking in terms of developing the whole child. Students need to feel seen for who they are, who they want to be, and their experiences with the world. The world also needs to feel more personal, and safe, for every learner.

SchoolJoy now serves more than 80,000 learners and thousands of teachers and provides a unified individualized learning system that incorporates who students are, where they want to go, and what and how they want to learn. Ian holds a B.A. in Economics from UC Berkeley and has over 12 years of experience in enterprise software and consulting industries.

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