NCED Connect Symposium 2025: Full Schedule

Welcome to the NC ED Connect Symposium!

10:00am EST

Video Recording Options from the Classroom to the Boardroom LIMITED

Tuesday January 21, 2025 10:00am - 11:50am EST

Education today requires visual representations of knowledge for students and staff to learn with high interest and flexibility. Students and staff can learn from each other in the classroom and through professional development by using the tools covered in this class including Canva for Education, TechSmith, Google Meets, Screencast for Chromebooks, and more.

Speakers

Jeff Gavin

Instructional Technology Facilitator, Lincoln County Schools

Jeff Gavin has been the Instructional Technology Facilitator for Lincoln County Schools since August 2021. In this role, he supports professional development in technology and the implementation of instructional technology for all staff. His experience includes work as a Media... Read More →

Tuesday January 21, 2025 10:00am - 11:50am EST
Room 51 - Colony A (Level 3)

Educators Leadership Coaches and SLMC Leadership Coaches and SLMC

12:00pm EST

Traditional to Transformative: Realizing the Promise of NC Portrait of a Graduate in the Age of Intelligence LIMITED

Tuesday January 21, 2025 12:00pm - 12:50pm EST

Room 51 - Colony A (Level 3)

This interactive session explores the journey from conventional educational practices to innovative, future-ready approaches aligned with the NC Portrait of a Graduate. Through interactive discussions and activities, participants will examine four critical pedagogical shifts essential for fostering student success in an AI-driven world.

Speakers

Vera Cubero

Emerging Technologies Consultant

Tuesday January 21, 2025 12:00pm - 12:50pm EST
Room 51 - Colony A (Level 3)

Educators Leadership Leadership Coaches and SLMC Coaches and SLMC

1:00pm EST

Common Assessments in Schoolnet Workshop LIMITED

Tuesday January 21, 2025 1:00pm - 2:50pm EST

Room 51 - Colony A (Level 3)

Brush up on your Schoolnet skills! This workshop will provide a view of assessments in Schoolnet at the classroom, school, and district levels. First, we will walk through creating and assigning assessments. Second, we will dive into reviewing student data, the student perspective and student data tracking.Presenters: Catherine Simone, Rebecca Stokes, and Amanda Phillips

Speakers

Rebecca Stokes

Instructional Improvement Systems Consultant, NCDPI

Rebecca works at DPI as a Professional Development Specialist and Product manager for Schoolnet. She has been in education for 16 years serving as a Classroom Teacher, Digital Literacy Coach, and Instructional Technology Facilitator. Rebecca is passionate about helping classroom... Read More →

Amanda Phillips

Education Technology Support Consultant, Pearson

Amanda Phillips is a Project Coordinator for Pearson. She works with North Carolina schools and districts, supporting and responding to Service Now Cases for Schoolnet.

Catherine Simone

Project manager, Pearson

Catherine Simone is the Project Manger from Pearson for North Carolina's Instructional Improvement System. As a former teacher and school administrator, she supports North Carolina's schools and districts in utilizing formative and interim assessment platforms.

Tuesday January 21, 2025 1:00pm - 2:50pm EST
Room 51 - Colony A (Level 3)

Educators Leadership Leadership Coaches and SLMC

3:00pm EST

The Good, Bad, & Ugly: AI for Education Leaders LIMITED

Tuesday January 21, 2025 3:00pm - 4:50pm EST

Room 51 - Colony A (Level 3)

This session provides a balanced exploration of AI’s impact on education, offering insights into its current applications, potential benefits, and emerging concerns. Leaders will gain an understanding of AI’s transformative possibilities alongside the ethical, social, and practical challenges it presents. Prepare to engage in discussions on the future of AI in education and leave with actionable insights to guide its responsible integration.

Speakers

Vera Cubero

Emerging Technologies Consultant

Tuesday January 21, 2025 3:00pm - 4:50pm EST
Room 51 - Colony A (Level 3)

Leadership Leadership Coaches and SLMC Educators Coaches and SLMC

9:00am EST

The Good, Bad, & Ugly: AI for Education Leaders LIMITED

Wednesday January 22, 2025 9:00am - 10:50am EST

Room 51 - Colony A (Level 3)

Speakers

Vera Cubero

Emerging Technologies Consultant

Wednesday January 22, 2025 9:00am - 10:50am EST
Room 51 - Colony A (Level 3)

Leadership Leadership Coaches and SLMC Educators Coaches and SLMC

11:00am EST

Cracking the Learning Code with Depth of Knowledge LIMITED

Wednesday January 22, 2025 11:00am - 12:50pm EST

Room 51 - Colony A (Level 3)

Turn the key to a deeper understanding of Depth of Knowledge (DOK). In this session, we’ll explore what DOK is and what it isn’t, breaking down the different levels and common misconceptions. Learn why DOK is essential for student learning and how it can transform your teaching practice through aligning standards, assessments, lesson plans, and activities to Depth of Knowledge.

Speakers

Lauren Boucher

Consultant, NCDPI

Lauren Boucher has been in public education for over 18 years. She has taught 3rd grade, gifted education in grades K-8, and was a district level Digital Teaching and Learning Coach for more than 8 years. She joined the NCDPI as the Southeast Digital Teaching & Learning Consultant... Read More →

Wednesday January 22, 2025 11:00am - 12:50pm EST
Room 51 - Colony A (Level 3)

Educators Leadership Leadership Coaches and SLMC

1:00pm EST

Traditional to Transformative: Realizing the Promise of NC Portrait of a Graduate in the Age of Intelligence LIMITED

Wednesday January 22, 2025 1:00pm - 1:50pm EST

Room 51 - Colony A (Level 3)

Speakers

Vera Cubero

Emerging Technologies Consultant

Wednesday January 22, 2025 1:00pm - 1:50pm EST
Room 51 - Colony A (Level 3)

Educators Leadership Leadership Coaches and SLMC Coaches and SLMC

2:00pm EST

Cyber Threat Landscapes for PSUs from the NCDPI K-12 Cybersecurity Program Team LIMITED

Wednesday January 22, 2025 2:00pm - 2:50pm EST

Room 51 - Colony A (Level 3)

The NCDPI K-12 Cybersecurity Team will provide a general program overview, and update about current and future initiatives for PSU leaders. The session will include awareness about the current cyber threat landscape in K-12 and other disruptive technologies providing cybersecurity protections. Specifically, we will go into the evolving world of social engineering and phishing tactics that target K-12, and demystify complex topics like MFA, passwords, and passkeys. This session will also deliver this information from a PSU business/financial perspective to help understand cybersecurity from a more dynamic lens.

Speakers

Samuel Carter

Systems Architect, Friday Institute / North Carolina State University

Samuel is a Systems Architect in the Technology Infrastructure Lab at the Friday Institute where he supports the team in all matters of cybersecurity with the purpose of improving the security posture at PSUs and Community Colleges throughout North Carolina. He serves as a leader... Read More →

Tim Wease

PSU Cybersecurity Director

Tim Wease serves as the Director of Public School Units (PSU) Cybersecurity with NC Department of Public Instruction (DPI). Tim works to provide and manage a comprehensive offering of solutions and services for PSUs around NC to meet the program goal of helping all PSUs achieve essential... Read More →

Wednesday January 22, 2025 2:00pm - 2:50pm EST
Room 51 - Colony A (Level 3)

Leadership Leadership NCSIS Educators Coaches and SLMC Coaches and SLMC NCSIS

3:00pm EST

I Can Do WHAT with Google Sheets?!? LIMITED

Wednesday January 22, 2025 3:00pm - 3:50pm EST

Room 51 - Colony A (Level 3)

You're probably a pro at using Google Sheets, but is it time to take it to Ninja Status. Join Lauren Boucher to learn some new skills when it comes to the Sheets app of the Google for Education Suite. Lauren will share features and classroom implementation ideas for all grade levels. Leave inspired and empowered to become a Google Sheets Ninja!

Speakers

Lauren Boucher

Consultant, NCDPI

Wednesday January 22, 2025 3:00pm - 3:50pm EST
Room 51 - Colony A (Level 3)

Educators Leadership Leadership NCSIS NCSIS Coaches and SLMC Coaches and SLMC

4:00pm EST

I Can Do WHAT with Google Docs?!? LIMITED

Wednesday January 22, 2025 4:00pm - 4:50pm EST

Room 51 - Colony A (Level 3)

You're probably a pro at using Google Docs, but is it time to take it to Ninja Status? Join Lauren Boucher to learn some new skills when it comes to the Docs app of the Google for Education Suite. Lauren will share underutilized features, time-saving tips, and classroom implementation ideas for all grade levels. Leave inspired and empowered to become a Google Docs Master!

Speakers

Lauren Boucher

Consultant, NCDPI

Wednesday January 22, 2025 4:00pm - 4:50pm EST
Room 51 - Colony A (Level 3)

Educators Leadership Leadership NCSIS NCSIS Coaches and SLMC Coaches and SLMC

9:00am EST

We'll Do You One Better LIMITED

Thursday January 23, 2025 9:00am - 9:50am EST

Room 51 - Colony A (Level 3)

Are you purchasing class sets of magazines, an online encyclopedia, or subscriptions for ebooks? Are you seeing students and teachers Googling research topics? If so, join us and I’ll do you one better! During this session, we’ll show you how to save your school/district funds and showcase best practices for research. We will collectively tap into a plethora of digital resources available to all North Carolina K-13 public school units.

Speakers

Jill Darrough

Section Chief Digital Learning Programs, NCDPI

Jill Darrough is the Digital Learning Programs Section Chief for the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. Her role is to support public school units, PSUs, and schools as they operationalize the North Carolina Digital Learning Plan. She has an amazing team of regional... Read More →

Thursday January 23, 2025 9:00am - 9:50am EST
Room 51 - Colony A (Level 3)

Educators Leadership Leadership Coaches and SLMC

10:00am EST

Digital Page Turners: Unlock the Power of NC Kids Digital Library LIMITED

Thursday January 23, 2025 10:00am - 10:50am EST

Room 51 - Colony A (Level 3)

Looking for innovative ways to engage young readers? Join us for an interactive session showcasing the NC Kids Digital Library: a treasure trove of eBooks, audiobooks, and Read-Alongs designed for grades K through 8. Discover how upgrading to the Libby app can transform your family’s digital reading experience with user-friendly features like offline reading, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto integration, and seamless management across devices, including Kindle. Whether you’re planning a Title I Night or a Parent Lunch & Learn, this session equips you with the tools and tips to help families dive into the world of digital reading. Bring a tablet or e-reader, public library card, and your Kindle account information if you'd like to "plearn" with us.

Speakers

Jill Darrough

Section Chief Digital Learning Programs, NCDPI

Thursday January 23, 2025 10:00am - 10:50am EST
Room 51 - Colony A (Level 3)

Educators Leadership Coaches and SLMC

11:00am EST

Let's Get Muddy! LIMITED

Thursday January 23, 2025 11:00am - 11:50am EST

Room 51 - Colony A (Level 3)

Do you want your students to work collaboratively instead of having one or two team members shouldering to bulk of the work? Learn first hand the difference between group work and a collaborative team. Delve into design challenges that demonstrate these methods. Participants will harness their abilities to work as a truly collaborative team. Join us to build today and utilize in your classroom tomorrow!

Speakers

Jill Darrough

Section Chief Digital Learning Programs, NCDPI

Thursday January 23, 2025 11:00am - 11:50am EST
Room 51 - Colony A (Level 3)

Educators Leadership Leadership Coaches and SLMC

1:00pm EST

Less Stress, More Success: AI Tools for Efficient Leaders LIMITED

Thursday January 23, 2025 1:00pm - 1:50pm EST

Room 51 - Colony A (Level 3)

In the fast-paced world of public education, effective time and task management is key to successful leadership. This professional development session introduces public school leaders to innovative AI tools designed to streamline workflows, enhance productivity, and reduce stress. Participants will explore how AI can simplify scheduling, automate routine tasks, and manage communications, freeing up time for what matters most—supporting students and staff. Through practical demonstrations and real-world examples, attendees will learn how to integrate AI solutions into daily operations, from calendar management to data analysis. This session aims to empower leaders with the knowledge and confidence to harness technology for improved efficiency, better decision-making, and reduced workload. Leave with actionable strategies and resources to optimize your day, allowing you to focus on leadership and educational excellence.

Speakers

Dr. Pam Batchelor

Executive Director of Technology and Innovation, Wilson County Schools

Dr. Batchelor is the Executive Director of Technology and Innovation for Wilson County Schools, where she drives the future of education by blending technology with creative teaching strategies. With a rich background as a secondary social studies teacher, district instructional coach... Read More →

Thursday January 23, 2025 1:00pm - 1:50pm EST
Room 51 - Colony A (Level 3)

Leadership Leadership Coaches and SLMC