- Sheila Adams & Cassie Stymiest ~ NHSTE
- Chris Martin ~ NHSAA
- Thomas Rup ~ NHCTO
- Jennifer Haskins ~ NHASP
- Erin Henderson & Jeanna Wagner ~ NHSLMA
Sheila Adams & Cassie Stymiest ~ NHSTE
T2-01 Oceans of Opportunity: Building STEAM Skills & Confidence with Miniboats ~ Tuesday @ 10:00-10:50am
Discover the ocean like never before "come hear how students from Rye Junior High assembled and launched their very own uncrewed miniature sailboat ("miniboat") and tracked it as it sailed unassisted across the Atlantic Ocean. With a GPS transmitter onboard, students were able to follow their 21st Century "Message in a Bottle" through the Educational Passages website. Lead teacher, Sheila Adams, will share how she used the miniboat to build student confidence and connect with ocean currents, geography, map reading, and more. She will also share how unique opportunities allowed the students to virtually connect with other organizations and people during the pandemic, including a very special launch story. Cassie Stymiest, of Educational Passages, will share how she helped these students make final preparations to their boats when they were learning remotely, and also share how miniboats just like the Rye Riptides are being built by students and connecting people all around the world. Find out how you can join the journey, use the boat track in your classroom, integrate ocean data and research, or build your very own miniboat too!
Sheila Adams
Ms. Sheila Adams has been a middle school teacher for over 40 years on the seacoast of NH. She taught science and technology in grades 5-8 and all the core content areas throughout that time span. She has also been a teacher trainer, advisor in cooperative learning programs and teacher support groups, and co-creator of the Belize-UNH Teacher Program (25 years). She is currently on the board of NHSTE and has twice been president. Sheila presents frequently at the state and local levels on a variety of edtech and science topics, teaching strategies and tools. She is a certified Makey Makey trainer and for many years, she hosted a tech club afterschool for her students.
Cassie Stymiest
Ms. Cassie Stymiest is the Execu2ve Director of Educa2onal Passages, a nonprofit that connects students around the world to the ocean and each other. Ms. Stymiest has 13 years of experience coordina2ng ocean monitoring systems and integra2ng data both in and out of the classroom. Current focus is on empowering students to build, launch, track, and recover miniature sailboats with GPS trackers that sail the ocean currents and wind around the globe. Is also Outreach Chair for the Na2onal Marine Educators Associa2on (NMEA), on the Board of Directors for the Gulf of Maine Marine Educa2on Associa2on (GOMMEA), and is Past Chair of the New England Ocean Science Educa2on Collabora2ve (NEOSEC). Ms. Stymiest holds a Bachelor of Science in Marine Sciences with a minor in Crea2ve Arts, and a Cer2ficate in Project Management.
Chris Martin, Superintendent, SAU 87 Mascenic Regional SD ~ NHSAA
W1-01 From the 80's Music Room to the Superintendency ~ Wednesday @ 8:30-9:20am
Follow Dr. Martin's journey from her first encounter with a Mac Classic and MIDI music to leading a school district with multiple online platforms, one to one computing, technology integration, and learning to keep pace with the ever evolving world of technology. A jack of all trades and master of none, the presenter knows enough about the use of technology in education and leadership to have a favorable impact on a learning organization. Warning: this interactive session will be light and include humor!
Chris Martin
With more than thirty years of experience in education, Dr. Martin has been a teacher, fine arts curriculum director, principal, and assistant superintendent of schools, and now superintendent of the Mascenic Regional School District, SAU 87. This self-taught technology geek claims no expertise in the field, rather a keen interest in being a successful user as it benefits kids. Dr. Martin’s research interests include the various challenges and opportunities of working with students from diverse backgrounds, grading and assessment, and anything that improves the lives of students in her care.
Thomas Rup, Director of Technology, SAU 14 Epping SD ~ NHCTO
T4-01 Touchdown! Successfully Partnering Being a Director & Coach ~ Tuesday @ 2:40-3:30pm
This year Thomas was able to reach two goals, becoming a Tech Director as well as a Head Football Coach. Join him as he shares what he discovered ~ how many lessons a Director can learn from being a coach and vice versa. Not only exhibiting the core values, but teaching both athletes and staff how to achieve goals through leadership and teamwork.
Thomas Rup
Tom Rup has been working in IT in education for 615 years, splitting between higher education and K-12. He has spent 5 years at Franklin Pierce University as the Infrastructure Manager and currently works as the Director of Technology for the Epping School Department. He is a Certified Google Administrator, Certified Google Trainer and Certified CompTIA Security+ Expert. Tom lives in Rochester NH with his wife and two sons. He can be regularly found out on the football field where he coaches the Rochester Little Raiders. He is a lover of all things Disney and spending time on the beach.
Jennifer Haskins, Career and Technical Education Director, Pinkerton Academy,
Derry & NHCTA President ~ NHASP
W4-02 CTE 101: The Future of Learning ~ Wednesday @ 2:40-3:30pm
Career and Technical Education is becoming increasingly popular in the US as people recognize how crucial such programming is to the country - student preparation for real-world work experiences - high levels of student and family satisfaction - pathways to post-secondary programming and workforce development. CTE has experienced a tremendous transformation over the last decade and that evolution continues. Join us for a comprehensive orientation to CTE and how such experiences offer insights into the future of learning.
Jennifer Haskins
Jennifer Haskins is a Career and Technical Education Director at Pinkerton Academy who works with students, parents, Counselors, and teachers to grow their understanding and plans for career education. After spending 10 years in the classroom and 10 years as an administrator Jennifer has a strong institutional understanding of public education and the benefits of Career and Technical Education within the state of New Hampshire. Jennifer is also president of the New Hampshire Career and Technical Education Administrators association and a member of the NH SkillsUSA board. Jennifer holds her Bachelor Degree in Secondary Mathematics and her Master's degree in Educational Administration. She is certified as a Secondary Mathematics Educator, Principal, and Career and Technical Education Director.
Erin Henderson, Library Media Specialist, Pelham HS Library and
Jeanna Wagner, Instructional Coach Pelham HS ~ NHSLMA
W3-01 Rethinking Digital Literacy: Adapting Practices for the 22nd Century ~ Wednesday @ 1:15-2:05pm
Despite being "digital natives," ALL students struggle with discerning the relevance of digital information that they find on the open Internet, AND a majority of our teachers struggle to teach the strategies students need to navigate this infinite stream of information. In this session, we will discuss the rapidly changing landscape of information literacy and will evaluate why some of the tried and true strategies that we've been teaching for web searches simply aren't adequate in today's digital environments. Most importantly, we will outline our ongoing, research-based pilot program in the Pelham School District to help both our teachers and our students to build the 22nd century learning skills necessary to master their digital ecosystem.
Erin Henderson
Beginning with a love of books at a young age and insatiable curiosity, Erin was destined to be a librarian. While earning a Master of Information from Rutgers University with a focus on school libraries; information literacy and the information landscape became a passion. Since 2018, Erin has been the library media specialist at Pelham High School, meeting students where they are with their information needs, and providing meaningful solutions. Erin’s work is currently focused on information literacy instruction for students and staff with an eye towards forward thinking collaboration. When not in the library, she enjoys reading, working in the gardens, and traveling with her family.
Jeanna Wagner
A Kentucky native, Jeanna spent the first nine years of her educational career teaching business education and coaching both girls and boys varsity basketball. After a move to New Hampshire, Jeanna taught nine more years as a high school business teacher at Pelham High School before transitioning into the tech integration realm, serving as the PHS Technology Integrator and Instructional Coach beginning in 2015. Jeanna is a Google for Education Certified Trainer and recently earned an EdD in Educational Technology, focusing her research on teacher perceptions of digital formative assessment and feedback. In her free time, Jeanna loves to travel with her spouse and makes it a point to take a segway tour wherever they are available.