2011 Conference Speakers
We are proud to announce that the following speakers have been confirmed for NETA 2011. Here is a little information about each one. Watch our web site for details as to which date and times they present.
Rushton Hurley
Thursday Keynote Speaker
Rushton Hurley has been a Japanese language teacher, a principal of an online high school, a teacher trainer, an educational technology researcher, and a school reform consultant who has worked and studied on three continents. He was one of the inaugural cohort of Google Certified Teachers and is now director of an educational nonprofit called Next Vista for Learning, which houses a library of free educational videos made by and for teachers and students everywhere at http://nextvista.org.
Rushton graduated from Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas, majoring in history with a minor in religion. His two master's degrees are in Education and East Asian Studies from Stanford University, where his research included using speech recognition technology with beginning students of Japanese in computer-based role-playing scenarios for developing language skills. In the late 1990's his work with teenagers at a high school in San José led him to begin using internet and video technologies to make learning more active, helping him reach students who had struggled under more traditional approaches.
Rushton trains teachers at schools, workshops, and conferences around the United States. His fun and thoughtful talks center on the connection between engaging learning and useful, affordable technology, as well as professional perspectives of teachers.
In addition to his regular work, he devotes time to the community as a Rotarian and in Santa Clara's international exchange efforts. In early 2005, he was awarded the Baha'I Unity of Humanity Award in San Antonio, Texas, for his work developing online and international programs for at-risk students. He also juggles, though he has never received an award for it.Tony Vincent
Friday Keynote Speaker
Tony Vincent started teaching fifth grade in Omaha, Nebraska twelve years ago when it wasn’t so easy to publish online. Knowing that students were motivated to see their work on the Web, Tony first had students write their book reviews on Amazon.com. Later his students spent each school year adding to their classroom site, Planet 5th. They published writing, photos, journals, art, videos, and more. Planet 5th became so popular that it received thousands of hits from around the world.
In 2004 Tony became Willowdale Elementary’s technology specialist. He worked with students in grades kindergarten through five and their teachers to integrate technology. He developed Radio WillowWeb in 2005, making it the first podcast from an American elementary school.
Tony left regular teaching at Willowdale to become an independent consultant in 2006. While he misses his former school, he’s had an amazing few years. Currently based in Phoenix, Arizona, Tony has worked with teachers and students from around the world.
Tony co-wrote Handhelds for Teachers & Administrators, a book about handheld computers, iPods, and podcasting. He presents at educational conferences and travels to schools to deliver workshops to teachers and students, focusing on free and inexpensive learning and communication tools. His websites include Learning in Hand, TonyVincent.net, Our City Podcast, and the Arizona K12 Center Technology Blog.
Richard Byrne
Friday Keynote Speaker
Richard Byrne is a high school social studies teacher and author of the award-winning blog Free Technology for Teachers. Richard Byrne has presented at conferences and at schools across North America. Richard’s work is focused on sharing free web-based resources that educators can use to enhance their students’ learning experiences.
Richard became a Google Certified Teacher in 2009. In 2010 he was the runner-up for ACTEM’s (Association of Computer Teachers and Educators in Maine) educator of the year award. Tech & Learning Magazine named Richard one of their “people to watch” in their 100@30 30th Anniversary celebration (http://techlearning.com/article/26660).
Each day Richard’s blog Free Technology for Teachers reaches a subscriber base of more than 27,000 educators. In addition to writing Free Technology for Teachers, Richard has written for Teacher Librarian, School Library Journal, and is a contributing author in a forthcoming book on technology for school administrators. Richard lives and works in the greater Portland, Maine area.
Karen Cator
Director of the Office of Educational Technology
Friday Keynote Speaker
Karen Cator is the Director of the Office of Educational Technology at the U.S. Department of Education. She has devoted her career to creating the best possible learning environments for this generation of students. Prior to joining the department, Cator directed Apple's leadership and advocacy efforts in education. In this role, she focused on the intersection of education policy and research, emerging technologies, and the reality faced by teachers, students and administrators.
Cator joined Apple in 1997 from the public education sector, most recently leading technology planning and implementation in Juneau, Alaska. She also served as Special Assistant for Telecommunications for the Lieutenant Governor of Alaska. Cator holds a Masters in school administration from the University of Oregon and Bachelors in early childhood education from Springfield College. She is the past chair of the Partnership for 21st Century Skills and has served on the several boards including the Software & Information Industry Association—Education.
Scott Marfilius
Thursday Featured Speaker, Assistive Technology
Mr. Marfilius has been working with individuals with disabilities for the past 26 years. The past 20 years has involved implementing assistive technology at various levels.
Scott continues to assist teams and individuals in assessing students assistive technology needs. His teaching certifications are in Early Childhood Handicap, Cognitive Disabilities, Emotional Disabilities, and Learning Disabilities. His M.A. is in Curriculum and Instruction.
Scott also works with universities and has assisted in reorganizing their curriculum to infuse technology throughout the teacher preparation experience. He also consults with individuals and businesses to determine adaptations that are needed in workplace settings.
He teaches in the CSUN Assistive Technology Applications Certificate Program and holds an ATACP certificate of learning from CSUN. Scott’s focus areas in assistive technology include computer access, and technologies that assist those with cognitive and learning disabilities.