Featured Speakers

Sunday, October 11, 2015  5:15 - 6:15 pm
Aram Kabodian, Teacher Consultant, Red Cedar Writing Project

Aram Kabodian teaches 7th and 8th grade English at MacDonald Middle School in East Lansing, Michigan. Aram is also a Teacher Consultant with the Red Cedar Writing Project, where he served as Technology Liaison for a time. He has taught students in middle school and high school for 24 years (English 16 years, Special Education 8 years). Aram continues to learn about the following technologies as he incorporates them into his teaching: digital storytelling, class wikis, google drive, personal blogging, tumblr, and digital writing portfolios. Besides his blog entries, Aram has published two pieces: “Lisa” (a poem in the Voices of Michigan anthology) and “Reflecting on the Move to Digital Writing Portfolios.” He also loves to sing, play soccer, and dance. Aram is married to Judy and they have two adult children named Rachel and Aaron.  

Sunday, October 11, 2015  7:00 - 8:00 pm  
Beth Rogers, Fifth Grade Teacher, Clarkston Community Schools

Beth Rogers is a fifth grade teacher for Clarkston Community Schools, where she has been teaching full time since 2006.  She is  blessed to teach Language Arts and Social Studies for her class and her teaching partner’s class, while her partner teaches all of their math and science. This enables them to focus on their passions and do the best they can for kids. Beth was chosen as Teacher of the Year for 2013-2014 in her district. She earned a B.S. in Education at Kent State University and a Master’s in Educational Technology at Michigan State University. 

Monday, October 12, 2015  4:00 - 5:00 pm
Eric Hammerstrom, Teacher Consultant, Northern Shores Writing Project

Eric Hammerstrom teaches Secondary Language Arts in Marquette, Michigan--his hometown.  For more than a decade, his course load has included “Scriptwriting,” a fine arts elective on writing for and producing videos. He has also served as an adjunct professor for ED 483--Educational Media and Technology at Northern Michigan University.

Eric spends free moments with his wife, Michelle, and 8-year-old daughter, Alexis, sailing and mountain biking in summer months and skiing the slopes and trails of Marquette when snow arrives.

Monday, October, 12, 2015  5:15 - 6:15 pm 
Jeremy Hyler, Co-Director of The Chippewa River Writing Project

Jeremy Hyler is a 7th/8th Grade Language Arts at  Fulton Middle School and has been a teacher for almost 14 years. He is one of the Co-Directors and a Teacher Consultant for the Chippewa River Writing Project  He is the Co-Author of Create, Compose, Connect: Reading, Writing, and Learning with Digital tools and a Contributing Author to: Using Technology to Enhance Writing: Innovative Approaches to Literacy Instructions (Chapter 24: Measuring Student Growth with Digital Portfolios and Preparing Teachers to Teach Writing Using Technology (Chapter 11: Write, Respond, Repeat: A Model for Teachers' Professional Writing Groups in a Digital Age). In addition he is an avid blogger and has been a guest blogger for MiddleWeb, Brilliant or Insane, and Teachthought. He is a Contributing Member of Michigan Reading Association, International Reading Association, Michigan Council of Teacher's of English, National Council of Teacher's of English, and the Michigan Association of Computer Users in Learning.

Tuesday, October 13, 2015  5:15 - 6:15 pm 
Rachelle Wynkoop, Supervisor Secondary Instruction & Professional Development, Port Huron Schools

Rachelle Wynkoop is the Secondary Supervisor of Instruction for Port Huron Schools. As a former library media specialist, she believes the integration of technology and the importance of literacy across the curriculum are the foundation of creating digital experiences for students in blended and online environments. Curriculum writing experience includes research and reading units for the SCCRESA WriteWell project, converting writing units to Moodle modules, as well as creating blended and online English and elective courses. As an online and distance learner and instructor, Rachelle has expertise in building relationships in online environments to support and facilitate the virtual learning experience. She can be found on Twitter (@rmwynkoop) as an active member of the #michED community.

Tuesday, October 13, 2015  7:00 - 8:00 pm 
Jianna Taylor, Teacher Consultant, Oakland Writing Project

Jianna Taylor is an ELA and Title 1 teacher at Orchard Lake Middle School in West Bloomfield.  She is a member of the AVID Site Team and Continuous School Improvement Team at her school, among other things.  She is also a MiELA Network Summer Institute facilitator and member of the Oakland Writing Project Core Leadership Team.  Jianna earned her bachelor’s degree from Oakland University and her master’s degree from the University of Michigan.  She also writes reviews of children’s books and young adult novels for the magazine Library Media Connection.

Wednesday, October 14, 2015  4:00 - 5:00 pm 
Andrea Zellner, Teacher Consultant, Red Cedar Writing Project

Andrea Zellner is a Tech Integration Specialist at Oakland Schools, working with the School District of the City of Pontiac. She is a Red Cedar Writing Project Teacher-Consultant, a former High School English and Biology teacher, as well as a doctoral candidate in the Ed Tech/Ed Psych program at Michigan State University.  For more, visit her website.

Wednesday, October 14, 2015  5:15 - 6:15 pm
Amber White, Teacher Consultant, Saginaw Bay Writing Project

Amber White is the Language Arts Curriculum Coordinator at Ruth Fox Elementary School in North Branch, Michigan. Much of her work with students, teachers, and parents has been informed by her involvement with the Saginaw Bay Writing Project, the Michigan Reading Association, and a collaborative learning partnership with Michigan State University. She is a contributing co-author to Using Technology to Enhance Writing: Innovative Approaches to Literacy Instruction. Her energy and time is spent exploring the thoughtful use of digital literacies, reading, writing, and modeling content literacy strategies to assist teachers in balancing student choice and interest in an era of assessment and high curricular demands.