The Speakers
Beth Staats
eLibrary Minnesota: Research Tools for All Ages and Disciplines
Presentation: 15-15:50
Beth Staats received her M.A. in Library and Information Science from UW- Madison and he been working for Minitex as a Reference Outreach & Instruction Librarian for the past several years. Beth spends much of her time working with eLibrary Minnesota and Ebooks Minnesota, two valuable information resources available at no cost to Minnesota residents.
Chris Reynolds
SPED Chat
Collaborative Conversation: 11-11:50
Chris Reynolds is a former Special Education teacher and has worked with students of varying abilities for over 20 years. In that time, Chris has witnessed the positive impact multiple methods of instruction delivery and differentiated instruction can have for students with disabilities. Chris currently serves the State of Minnesota as the Nontraditional Education Programs Specialist at the Department of Education in the Division of Special Education, providing support to Minnesota’s Online, Charter, and Nonpublic Schools within the context of Special Education.
Dan McGuire
Creating Connections with Discussion in Online Classrooms
Presentation: 12-12:50
Dan taught 3rd and 4th grades in the Minneapolis Public Schools. He currently provides funding and support for teachers to increase their skill in using OER course on open source LMSs. He curated the elementary science courses and reviewed other science courses for the Minnesota Partnership for Collaborative Curriculum.
Jenny Ahern
Engaging and Connecting with Learners in an
Asynchronous Online Environment
Presentation: 13-13:50
Jenny has a B.S. in Mathematics from the University of Minnesota-Duluth and a B.A. in Communications from Macalester College. She will complete her M.S. in Mathematics in Fall 2020. This is her 10th year teaching high school mathematics, and her 5th year teaching online. She believes that supporting students in an online school requires building relationships with students, giving meaningful feedback on their work, and encouraging mathematical thinking. When not teaching, she enjoys running, hiking, and studying genealogy.
Joe Schingen
Engaging and Connecting with Learners in an
Asynchronous Online Environment
Presentation: 13-13:50
Joe is an award-winning educator with 20 years of teaching experience at the secondary level. Additionally, he has been facilitating learning communities for the St. Mary’s University of Minnesota M.Ed Teaching and Learning Program for 13 years. Currently he is teaching online English at AEO, an online high school he helped to create. Joe is passionate about ed equity, brain-based teaching and learning, and pushing the front edges of educational best practices.
Jon Fila
Supporting LGBTQ+ Learners
Collaborative Conversation: 15-15:50
Jon has been working to bring change to Education for over twenty years. He has worked at multiple levels of private and public schools. He has taught at the college level and primarily focuses his work on learners who require supports other than what are offered by traditional environments. He has presented around the country and internationally. He has provided workshops to school districts across the U.S. and creates instructional content for his own classes, other organizations (MN Dept. of Education; the Sacramento County Office of Education; American Institute for Research; MN Partnership for Collaborative Curriculum; Outreach and Technical Assistance Network; Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education (OCTAE), and others). Jon’s areas of focus are equity, accessibility, course design and how open educational resources (OER) fit into addressing those concerns.
Kelly Dietrich
SPED Chat
Collaborative Conversation: 11-11:50
Kelly Dietrich holds an M.A. in special education from Bethel University and will complete her EdD in educational leadership in Spring 2021. Dietrich has served in online and charter school programs as an educator and administrator for twenty years. She currently provides leadership to charter schools in the area of special education, serving as a Director of Special Education with Indigo Education. Dietrich has the unique experience of teaching and leading in online and hybrid programs, as well as face-to-face, in both general and special education roles. She has been involved in the development of online learning in Minnesota through service on the governor's Minnesota Online and Digital Learning Council, MN Online Learning Alliance, and is currently completing her doctoral dissertation in the area of best practices in online learning for students with disabilities in K-12. Dietrich also participates in Minnesota's CEEDAR Center group (Collaboration for Effective Educator Development, Accountability, and Reform), MASE professional development, and the Council of Exceptional Children. She is passionate about bringing unique, relevant student programming together that allows students to shine.
Matthew Schempp
Positive Assessment Practices
Presentation: 11-11:50; Collaborative Conversation: 12-12:50
Matthew has been teaching at BlueSky Online School for 7 years. He is an English Teacher, a Teacher Board Member, and Chair of the Curriculum committee.
Meagan Rathbun
Positive Assessment Practices
Presentation: 11-11:50; Collaborative Conversation: 12-12:50
Meagan Rathbun has 7 years in online education and is currently serving as the online learning coordinator for ISD 728. She brings a wealth of knowledge with her master's thesis focused on online formative assessment, and her doctoral dissertation focused on engaging students in online education.
Melissa Greene
Positive Assessment Practices
Presentation: 11-11:50; Collaborative Conversation: 12-12:50
Anti-racism in Action
Collaborative Conversation 14-14:50
Melissa Greene is an experienced online educator with over a decade of knowledge in developing and delivering instruction in the virtual setting. In addition to teaching online, Melissa works as curriculum writer and new teacher mentor. She is currently the Racial Equity Coordinator and a Special Education teacher at the Minnesota Online High School. She is also the lead curriculum writer for Lifeline Training Resources, an online training company. As a former foster parent at American Indian and Family Services, Melissa provided reunification support to families in her community. Melissa holds a B.U.S. in Psychology and Religion from Eastern New Mexico University and a Master of Special Education from Bemidj State University. She resides on the Leech Lake Indian Reservation in Northern Minnesota.
Renee Parchetta
CTE Collective
Collaborative Conversation 13-13:50
Renee’ is the Student Services director and High School Principal of BlueSky School. She has been working at BlueSky for 15 years. Before her work at BlueSky she worked in the St. Paul and Buffalo School Districts as a school counselor and social worker.
Renee holds a BS in Psychology and Physical Education, an MSE in Guidance and Counseling, and an Ed.S in Principal/Superintendent licensure.
Before her career in schools she held a Social Work and Mental Health practitioner license working cooperatively with schools and counties as an in-home therapist. This has enhanced her passion in SEL and Mental Health.
Shelli Matheson
Using Student Data in Meaningful Ways
Presentation: 10-10:50
Shelli Matheson started at Wolf Creek Online High School in 2012. She is passionate about mathematics education and encourages students to build confidence in their math skills and to overcome math anxiety. In addition to her role as the math interventionist, Matheson compiles, analyzes, and summarizes school and student data for various stakeholders.
Tracy Quanstrom
Using Student Data in Meaningful Ways
Presentation: 10-10:50
Tracy L. Quarnstrom has served as the director of Wolf Creek Online High school since 2003. Wolf Creek is Minnesota’s only hybrid online high school which offers students an online experience while still offering the advantages of face to face interactions several days per week. Quarnstrom has been very involved in the creation of online learning legislation in the state of Minnesota as well as in organizations that promote quality online choices for students and families. She served on the Minnesota Association of Charter Schools board of directors from 2009-2011 as well as on the government affairs committee. She was a founding member of the MNOLA (Minnesota Organization for K12 Online learning Alliance) group and served as a member of the legislative committee for several years. She has taught in an adjunct capacity for Hamline University teaching classes on the topic of leadership in organizations.
Sabrina Winkleman
SEL Strategies
Collaborative Conversation 10-10:50
Sabrina Winkleman is a seasoned educator with nearly fifteen years in the field (nine as a classroom teacher PK-5, five as a coaching specialist in a number of capacities: literacy, teacher evaluation, content integration, social emotional learning). Ms. Winkleman’s SEL expertise connects to classroom, coaching and district strategic planning experiences. She now serves as the Minnesota Department of Education’s Social Emotional Learning Specialist and supports districts statewide with systemic SEL in service of educational equity.
Wendy Wolfe
Bringing Virtual Learning to Life
Presentation 14-14:50
Grounded by 24 years as a Social Studies educator, Wendy has gone on to serve as a Technology Integrationist for Totino-Grace High School and Breck School, and is currently Coordinator of Concordia University St. Paul's MA for Education/Educational Technology Program. She is passionate about creating relevant, engaging learning experiences for students that fully leverage technology to support teaching and learning. Beyond the screen, Wendy loves spending time with family, sailing, and embarking on new adventures.