About Me

I am an educator, consultant, author, attorney and keynote speaker. I love the work that I do as a Consultant and  as a Spanish and STEAM: What’s nExT in Emerging Technology Teacher at Riverview Junior Senior High School in Oakmont, PA. I earned my Juris Doctor Degree from Duquesne University School of Law and have a Doctorate in Instructional Technology. 

 I  have presented at the state, national, and international levels. I have spoken at conferences including AMLE, ASCD, BETT, CUE, FETC, Future Ready Nebraska, ICE, IDEAcon, iNACOL, InnEdCo, ISTE, MACUL, MASS CUE, NETA, PETE&C, PSMLA, Southern Oregon EdTech Conference, Spring CUE, USM Summer Spark, TETC, Upstate Tech Conference, and VSTE on many topics. My main areas of focus for the past 7 years have been AI and AI and the Law.  I also am focusing more on cybersecurity.  Additional topics include assessments, SEL, emerging technology (AI, AR/VR), blockchain, metaverse, innovation, STEM and technology integration.

 I am an ISTE Certified Educator.  I served as the President of the ISTE Teacher Education Network for two years and now serve as the past-president. I have also served on the leadership team for the ISTE Mobile Learning Network. I am an ISTE Community Leader.

I was selected as an AI Innovator for the ASU GSV AI Show in 2025, one of the 10 Women Edtech K-12 Influencers for 2025. In 2024, I was selected as an EdTech Trendsetter Winner 2024 by EdTech Digest. I was named one of 30 K-12 IT Influencers for 2021

During the ISTE 2019 Conference, I received the Making IT Happen Award. I have received three Presidential Gold Awards for volunteer service to education for having done more than 500 hours each year in 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021. I received two silver awards and one bronze.   

 In 2017, I was selected as the 2017 Outstanding Teacher of the Year by PAECT (the Pennsylvania Association for Educational Communications in Technology, the PA affiliate of ISTE) and by the NSBA as one of the "20 to Watch" educators. 

I am a Nearpod Pionear, Microsoft Innovative Educator Expert, and Google Certified Educator Levels I and II.  I am also involved in several Ambassador Communities such as Brisk, Diffit, MagicSchool AI and others.

I am the author of ten books.  My newest book, "What The Tech? An educator's guide to AI, AR/VR, the Metaverse and more. My prior book, "How to Teach AI" was released in July 2024. My other books are 'In Other Words: Quotes that Push Our Thinking" and "Unconventional Ways to Thrive in EDU," both published by EduMatch. "The Future is Now: Looking Back to Move Ahead," published by EduGladiators,   "Chart A New Course: A Guide to Teaching Essential Skills for Tomorrow's World" which is through ISTE, "True Story Lessons That One Kid Taught Us" has stories from 38 educators about that one kid who made a difference.  My newest book is "Your World Language Classroom: Strategies for In-person and Digital Instruction. My next book, "Things I Wish...... Knew." Additional books are "Are We Ready For the Future?" 

I have contributed to ten other books, including a chapter in Education Write Now, Volume 3. The collaborative EduMatch books “Snapshot in Education for 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019, “Gamify Literacy” from ISTE and "Stories in EDU" as well as "Grow Your Why."

I am a columnist for CheckIT Learning, Getting Smart, Defined Learning, Edutopia, and.  My personal blog site is www.Rdene915.com. Please check out my THRIVEinEDU podcast. 

I have a THRIVEinEDU community on Facebook and welcome educators to join our ThriveinEDU community. 

I hosted a podcast on the BAM Radio Network, for Defined Learning, focused on PBL Strategies. 

Professional Development: I provide PD for schools, individuals, or groups, virtually or in-person. 

I enjoy presenting on a variety of education topics, edtech trends, and emerging technologies.  The main areas I present are Artificial Intelligence, with over 7 years of experience,  AI and the Law, Cybersecurity, SEL, STEM and Emerging Technologies. Please see the presentations page.

For information about having me as a keynote speaker at your event, present sessions, or webinars, please see my Conferences and Presentations page or check out some of the podcast episodes where I was a guest.

Head to my blog: www.Rdene915.com to learn more and review testimonials from companies and individuals that I have worked with.

Learn more about my work with ALP.