The Schedule

Friday, August 8, 2025

Opening Keynotes (Wa-Hi Commons)

Barrier Busting Edtech Tools: Designing for all Learners

Jeff Horwitz 

In today’s classrooms, there is an increasingly wide range of learners walking in our doors each day. Jeff Horwitz will explore how educators can harness the power of educational technology to remove barriers and design learning experiences that are flexible, inclusive, and empowering.

Grounded in the principles of Universal Design for Learning (UDL), this session will showcase barrier-busting edtech tools that help students access content, express understanding, and engage meaningfully—regardless of language, ability, or background. Jeff will highlight tools that are free or low-cost, easy to implement, and capable of transforming instruction the very next day. Participants will leave with a refreshed mindset and a toolkit full of digital resources to support all learners—without adding to teacher workload.

Whether you’re a teacher, coach, leader, or tech director, you’ll walk away inspired to design with flexibility and equity in mind.

Jeff Horwitz is a 20-year educator and administrator in independent schools in St. Louis. He’s a passionate advocate for high‑quality, student‑centered education—holding Learning Designed Level 1 and 2 Universal Design for Learning (UDL) credentials. As a former K–3 teacher, project-based learning advocate, and instructional technologist, Jeff has designed 21st-century curricula, built Makerspaces, introduced standards-based grading, and led strategic change initiatives. He’s presented at ISTE, BLC, and METC, and contributed to numerous education publications. Jeff places high value on student social‑emotional growth, empathy, and collaboration. When he’s not at school, he’s with his two children, cooking, golfing, or playing music.

Engage, Express, Empower: Using Kami to Support UDL to Reach Every Learner

Michelle Manning

In this foundational session, Walla Walla educators will get a hands-on introduction to the core tools of Kami and explore how they align with the principles of Universal Design for Learning. From text-to-speech and annotation to multimedia feedback and collaboration features, we'll highlight how Kami supports diverse learners and flexible instruction. This session is all about planting the seeds—providing you with practical ideas and a clear connection between Kami’s features and UDL. In the afternoon, we’ll go deeper and “water” these concepts with applied strategies, examples, and classroom-ready workflows.

Michelle Manning brings over 30 years of educational experience as a Technology Integration Specialist and acclaimed presenter. A Google Certified Coach and Educator, Kami Hero, and multiple-time BOCES Technology Award winner, Michelle passionately integrates technology to enhance personalization, accessibility, and student voice  . She’s spoken at ISTE Live and Kami Connect, and regularly supports educators in using Kami, Edpuzzle, BrainPOP, and other tools to boost engagement, reduce teacher workload, and make technology a digital co-teacher  .

Suggested Audience: ALL – Clock Hours: EQUITY 2.0