Pioneers Program - Pioneer Team

Jennifer Toney is a #PAProudEducator and member of the KTI Star Class of 2019 who has been teaching since 2006. She is a third-grade teacher at the Sharpsville Area School District, where she focuses on digital and analog blended learning approaches to all things literacy in her departmentalized, S.T.R.E.A.M.S.- infused gamified classroom. She taught for several years in kindergarten, first, and second-grade primary classrooms. Jen is a Pennsylvania 2025 Teacher of the Year finalist and is the current PAECT Professional Development Committee Chair, as well as a Northwest Region board member. In her free time, she enjoys reading, traveling with her husband, and spending time relaxing with friends, family, and furbabies.

📬 Contact Jen at: jen.toney@paect.org

Follow Jen on Bluesky @jentoney.bsky.social

Jessie Barberry is a former special education teacher and administrator with 17 years of experience specializing in serving students with behavior disorders and autism. In 2018, Jessica was recognized as a Pennsylvania State Technology Advocate Redefining Schools (STAR) for developing robotics and computer science curriculum for students with behavioral challenges. Jessie is a proud Lead Learner alum of the Keystone Technology Innovator’s (KTI) Virtual Summit, an annual week-long teacher professional development conference on emerging pedagogy and technology trends. Currently, she serves as the K-12 Operations Project Manager with National Geographic Learning, specializing in STEM and Social Studies course creation for state curriculum adoptions.

Jordan Caldwell spent ten years in the classroom, teaching 7th and 8th grade ELA. In July 2024, she was hired as an elementary principal/federal programs coordinator in Northcentral Pennsylvania. In July 2024, she attended KTI in Shippensburg, PA, and fell in love with what PAECT stands for. In August 2024, she became the Professional Development representative for the Northcentral Region of PAECT. Outside of PAECT, she is the President of PCTELA, a school board director in her hometown, and a grad student finishing her second master's in educational technology. She is also a mom to a 12-year-old son, Logan.

📬Contact Jordan at jlcaldwell31@gmail.com

Follow Jordan on BlueSky @jlcaldwell.bsky.social

Dayna Laur is a twice nationally board-certified teacher who spent 14 years in the high school social studies classroom. Dayna was named the 2011 PA Civics Teacher of the Year and honored nationally as a 2012 Microsoft 360 Education Hero. In 2014, Dayna co-founded Project ARC, a public benefit corporation recognized with education impact model status. Dayna is globally recognized for designing authentic project-learning experiences (APLEs) and has published five books on the topic. She holds a B.A. in History, an M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction, an M.S. in 21st Century Teaching and Learning, and an Ed.D. in Instructional Systems Design and Technology. Dayna is a member of the PAECT PD committee and the Southcentral Region board. In her free time, she enjoys running, international traveling, and watching her daughters play sports.

📬 Contact Dayna at dayna.laur@paect.org

Follow Dayna on Bluesky @daylynn.bsky.social

Meredith Miller has been working in education since 2014. She is a career-changer who switched to the education field after serving as a classroom volunteer in her daughters' elementary school. Meredith has served in several roles, including a Title 1 aide, a Learning Support paraprofessional, an online teacher for 3rd and 4th grades, and a 3rd grade classroom teacher in the Catasauqua Area School District. She is a KTI Star, Class of 2023, where her PAECT journey started. Within PAECT, she is a member of the Professional Development Committee and a member-at-large for the Northeast region. Meredith is currently in the final year of her second master's degree in Educational Technology. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends, traveling, and reading.

📬 Contact Meredith at: meredith.miller@paect.org

Follow Meredith on Bluesky @millerm.bsky.social

Hillary Stevens has been working at East Stroudsburg Area School District since 2008 as a 6th-8th general music teacher, choir director, and theater director. She has always enjoyed helping students become more aware of their love of music. During Covid, she built up her YouTube channel and has really enjoyed music mixing and virtual choirs. Her life changed when she attended KTI in 2017. She got her Instructional Technology Certificate in 2022 and has been helping people integrate new tech ideas ever since. Mrs. Stevens enjoys singing, dancing, and spending time with her daughter, Lily, and her husband. Follow Hillary on X @hillybeal23 or @nepaect; Facebook @Hilly Bee Stevens or @NEPAECT; Instagram @hillygoose023, or @nepaect

📬 Contact Hillary at: hillary.stevens@paect.org

Follow Hillary on Bluesky @hillstevens23.bsky.social

Holly Wieczorkowski taught for 19 years in the traditional in-person setting before deciding to start a new chapter for the 2024-2025 school year with fully online education!. Her PAECT journey started at KTI 2023, where she collaborated with innovators who challenged her thinking and teaching. Within PAECT, she serves on the Professional Development Committee and as Assistant Regional Director for the Southwest Region. She currently teaches English 10 and has numerous past years in special education and postsecondary education. In her free time, she loves reading, walking with her husky, Miss Aspen Persnickety, and connecting with friends.

📬 Contact Holly at: holly.mcgillwieczorkowski@paect.org

Follow Holly on Bluesky @hollymcwiz.bsky.social