2017 Workshop Presenters
Dr. Lesley G. Wirt serves as the Associate Director for the Northeast Leadership Academy at North Carolina State University. She earned her undergraduate degrees in psychology and early childhood education from James Madison University. She taught elementary school for two years in Virginia. She then decided to work in higher education and received both her master and doctoral degrees in Higher Education Administration from North Carolina State University. She has worked at NC State University and Edgecombe Community College recruiting prospective students, advising new and current students, tracking student achievement, planning programs, and enhancing student retention and success. She is excited to work for NC State University and with NELA.
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Dr. Lisa Bass is an assistant professor of Educational Leadership and Policy at North Carolina State University. Before coming to North Carolina State University, she was an assistant professor at the University of Oklahoma and completed postdoctoral research at the University of Vermont. She has a joint doctorate in Educational Leadership and Policy and Comparative and International Education. She has two master’s degrees: the first in Business Administration and the second in Teaching. Her bachelor’s degree is in Economics. Lisa enjoys comparing educational systems internationally, and has traveled to Mexico, Ghana, Brazil, Hong Kong, and South Africa. Her primary research interest, however, is urban school reform through alternative approaches to schooling. She focuses her work on combatting the harmful effects of Poverty in Education, the Ethics of Caring and Mindfulness in Education. Her goal is to positively impact education and educational outcomes for disenfranchised youth.
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Bethany V. Smith is the Director of METRC: Media and Education Technology Resource Center for theCollege of Education at NC State University in Raleigh, NC. Bethany began her career as a High School Teacher in Technology Education and after spending a few years in the private sector returned to the College of Education where she has been since 2003. Her passion is to assist current and future educators integrate technology effectively in their classroom. As Director of METRC, Bethany facilitates workshops in the college, teaches an undergraduate class on on technology integration as well as works with faculty and staff on their teaching practices. She also travels the state and country giving presentations and facilitating workshops on various educational technology topics. View more information at her website http://transparentlearning.weebly.com/
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Emma Braaten
Instructional Technology Team Lead NC Department of Public Instruction, District and School Transformation [email protected] @ebliterate |
Emma Braaten is the Digital Learning Initiative Specialist with the NC Department of Public Instruction, Digital Teaching and Learning. She works collaboratively with educators across the state to support the effective implementation of digital-age teaching and learning practices, including personalized learning. Her passion as a digital leader in education continues to be the blending of best instructional practices, content standards, and technology to make learning more accessible for students. Emma is working toward her PhD at North Carolina State University in Teacher Education and Learning Science.
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Mark Samberg
Technology Innovation Lead Friday Institute NC State University [email protected] @mjsamberg |
Mark Samberg joined the Friday Institute in May of 2013. As Technology Innovation Lead, Mark works with the project teams to identify, select, and implement technology solutions into the work of the teams across the Institute. Prior to joining the FI, Mark was the Chief Technology Officer for Bertie County Schools, an Instructional Technology Specialist in Currituck County Schools and Hertford County schools, and a math teacher and the designer/developer of the SAM/SPAN applications in Wake County Schools. Mark has completed the Certified Educational Chief Technology Officer program through the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, holds B.S. degrees in Mathematics Education and Computer Science from NC State University, and a M.Ed. in Instructional Technology from East Carolina University.
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Freda Clifton
Principal Louisburg High School Franklin County |
Freda Clifton is currently the Principal of Louisburg High School in Franklin County. On July 1, 2016, she will become the Director of Professional Learning for Franklin County Schools. As Director, her main responsibilities will include Beginning Teacher Support and Professional Learning for FCS. She seeks to provide guidance and support for educators as they continue to grow, learn, and reflect on the implementation of best practices to ensure all students graduate with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed.
Freda earned her BS in History and Secondary Education from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University and her MSA from North Carolina State University. |
Yanisha Mann, MEd.
Edgecombe County Public Schools Director of Home Base |
Ms. Mann is the current Director of Home Base for Edgecombe County Public Schools. As a NC Teaching Fellow she completed her undergraduate degree in K-6 Education in 2000 from the College of Education at UNCC Charlotte. After teaching in Washington County Schools for 4 years she then became an Instructional Technology Specialist. In this role she assisted teachers district wide with the inclusion of technology into their daily teaching. After receiving her Masters in Curriculum and Instruction from Grand Canyon University, she also returned again to complete her Master in Educational Leadership. She then worked as an Assistant Principal at Plymouth High School before becoming a principal at Pines Elementary School where they had double digit gains in her first year.
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LaTricia W. Townsend, Ed.D.
Senior Research Scholar Friday Institute for Educational Innovation NC State University |
Dr. Townsend is a Senior Research Scholar on the Evaluation Team at the Friday Institute for Educational Innovation at North Carolina State University. She has over 20 years of experience in the field of education. Her current work focuses on improving educational outcomes for students enrolled in K-12 schools and community colleges. She also serves as an adjunct professor in the College of Education.
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Cathy Williams, Ed.D. currently serves as the Cohort VI Director, but has been a part of the NELA Instructional Team since the very beginning. She was born in raised in Chicago, Illinois and began her teaching career in North Carolina in 1990. She retired in 2014 after spending nine years as a classroom teacher, three years as a Central Office administrator, and twelve years as a school administrator. Dr. Williams earned her Master’s Degree in 2002 and her Ed.D. in 2011, both in school leadership, from North Carolina State University. She is the mother of four adult daughters and has six grandchildren.
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Cari DelMariani, M.Ed.
Director of Programs Kramden Institute |
Cari DelMariani joined Kramden Institute, a Durham-based non-profit, in 2010. As the Director of Programs, she works to develop and implement programs aimed at creating a digitally inclusive community. These programs provide residents with not only access to technology tools, but provide technology education and promote engagement in STEM. Cari is originally from the Midwest and formerly worked in program development and management in both the nonprofit and higher education sectors. She has a B.S. in History and Political Science and M.Ed in Educational Leadership from Grand Valley State University.
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