OUR NEW ENGLAND WINNERS & FINALISTS

Congratulations to the winners and finalists of the New England Tech & Learning Innovative Leader Awards who attended our Regional Leadership Summit on May 6, 2022, at The Connors Center, Dover where our winners were crowned.

Our deserving winners and finalists are all mentioned below, in our article on the Tech & Learning website and interviews with our winners will be published in an upcoming issue of Tech & Learning - keep your eyes peeled!

Our winners...

Andrew Wallace
Director of Technology, South Portland Maine Schools

Andrew Wallace has been the technology director for South Portland Schools in Maine for the past 19 years. He is President of the Maine Educational Technology Directors Association (METDA) and represents Maine schools on the National Center for Educational Statistics (NCES) Forum. A former librarian and current instructor at the University of Maine’s Graduate College of Education, Wallace is interested in spreading the Learning Commons model, and helping to imagine and create effective learning spaces. 

Kimberly Ramos
Technology Instructional Coach, North Kingstown School Dept.

Kim Ramos was a classroom teacher for 20+ years. In 2014, she transitioned into the role of Technology Instructional Coach for the North Kingstown School Dept. in North Kingstown, RI. In addition to supporting teachers & students in their classrooms, she is responsible for creating and delivering technology-related professional development across the district. Kim has presented at many conferences and received several awards. She is also a Highlander Institute Fuse Fellow and the current president of RISTE. When she’s not advocating for blended learning, she can be found either on the golf course or at Fenway Park, cheering on the Red Sox.

Dr. Alena Zachery-Ross
Superintendent, Ypsilanti Community Schools

Alena Zachery-Ross, Superintendent of Ypsilanti Community Schools (YCS), a visionary leader that leads by example. Mrs. Zachery-Ross champions the education of all students with conviction, compassion, and determination. Student achievement is at the core of her work and leads by being visible and is unapologetic about the importance of doing the right work. Mrs. Zachery-Ross is an instructional leader with a comprehensive background in elementary and secondary instruction, curriculum development, culturally responsive education, group facilitation, Adaptive Schools/ Cognitive Coaching, community relations, and data analysis. As the former Superintendent of Schools for Okemos Public Schools and the Muskegon Heights Public School Academy System, Mrs. Zachery-Ross led many successful initiatives that resulted in positive outcomes. Mrs. Zachery-Ross has served as Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction, Elementary and Middle School Principal, School Psychologist, Teacher Consultant, Elementary Teacher, and School Psychologist. Mrs. Zachery-Ross received a Bachelor’s Degree in Special Education/Psychology in 1995 and a Masters of Arts in Education Psychology in 1999. She earned a certificate from the AASA National Superintendent’s Certification Program in 2018 and earned Educational Doctorate in Educational Leadership at Michigan State University, May 2021. Mrs. Zachery-Ross is a prominent speaker, educational consultant, and transformational coach who facilitates professional learning throughout the United States. Mrs. Zachery-Ross is the Pastor of Lane Memorial CME Church and a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

Laurie Guyon
Coordinator for Model Schools, WSWHE BOCES

Laurie Guyon is the Coordinator for Model Schools at WSWHE BOCES in Saratoga Springs, New York, and a trainer with NYSCATE.  She is the Capital Region Director for NYSCATE and a part of their social media team and their Volunteer Hall of Fame. She is a chapter co-author of Professional Development is a Plan, Not a Fix in the book  What teacher educators should have learned from 2020. Laurie was named CoSN’s NextGen: Emerging EdTech Leaders in 2020 and earned the Spotlight Award at BOCES. Laurie was part of the NYSED authoring committee for the Computer Science and Digital Fluency standards and is a member of the NYSED CAP for those standards.  Laurie is a mentor for the DigCit Institute Global Impactor Program. She is an ISTE Certified Educator, Google Cloud Certified,  Google Certified Educator, and Trainer. Laurie is a Common Sense Ambassador, Buncee Ambassador and Educator, Seesaw Ambassador and Pioneer, Nearpod PioNear, Flipgrid Ambassador, Sphero Hero, Kami Hero, BreakoutEDU Authorized Trainer, Genially Ambassador, Wakelet Ambassador, 3D Bear Ambassador, IORAD Ambassador, Osmo Ambassador, and a Screencastify Master Screencaster and Wonderoplois Wonderologist. She has presented at many conferences and taught workshops at Skidmore College and the Greater Capital District Teacher Center.  Laurie is an adjunct professor for SUNY Plattsburgh, where she teaches Digital Age Learning in the SBL program.

Our finalists...

  • Anthony Emmons
    High School STEM Supervisor, Randolph Township Schools
     
  • James Rand & Kyle Gunderman
    Educator and Esports Coach & Infrastructure Manager, Griswold High School
     
  • Kerry Gallagher
    Assistant Principal for Teaching and Learning, St. John's Prep

     
  • Dr. Matthew Joseph
    Executive Director of Teaching and Learning, Providence Public Schools
     
  • Dr. Michael Gaskell
    Principal, Hammarskjold Middle School

 

  • Dr. Michael Terrell Conner
    Former Superintendent, Middletown Public Schools