About+the+Founders

 #|#edtechchat - About the Founders


 * [[image:Murray_Headshot_TechLearn.jpg width="226" height="184"]] || Tom Murray serves as the Director of Technology and Cyber Education for the Quakertown Community School District in Bucks County, Pa. A former middle school assistant and elementary school principal, Murray is passionate about proper technology infusion and differentiated professional development. He was the 2012 recipient of the Blended Schools Network Leadership Award and was featured in Tech & Learning Magazine’s Leadership Profile in December of 2012. Murray’s QCSD cyber and blended learning programs have been highlighted by Forbes.com, T.H.E. Journal, Project Red, the Innosight Institute, iNACOL, and on Digital Learning Day 2013, among others. Murray serves on the advisory board for THE Journal and has co-founded and moderates both #|#sbgchat and #|#edtechchat. Connect with him on Twitter [|@thomascmurray] or at [|www.thomascmurray.com]. ||

Katrina Stevens serves as an education consultant with the Tuscany Group where she focuses on designing curricula; conducting differentiated professional development; designing, reviewing and integrating education technology; writing and managing grants; project and program management; and developing teachers and leaders in both public and independent school settings. With over 20 years teaching and administrative experience, she believes all children deserve high quality educational experiences. In her previous position as the ELA STEM Supervisor in Baltimore County Public Schools, Stevens coordinated multiple curricular, professional development and implementation programs to prepare teachers and the 105,000 students in the district for the CCSS and Next Generation Science Standards. She also served on the MSDE committees to design the new Maryland curriculum framework and the Maryland STEM Standards of Practice, and continues to serve as a designer and reviewer for MSDE and MPT. Prior to Baltimore County, Stevens served as Deputy Director for Johns Hopkins University Center for Talented Youth in Bermuda where she designed and implemented an island-wide acceleration and enrichment program and laboratory school for academically talented students. Previous to CTY Bermuda, Stevens worked in independent schools as a department chair, dorm dean and teacher. Stevens also cofounded an educational technology company. Stevens writes regularly for SmartBlog for Education, Edsurge, and for her own blog, Education Matters. Stevens cofounded and moderates both #|#edtechchat and #|#MDedchat. Connect with her on Twitter @katrinastevens1 or at www.KatrinaDStevens.com.

Susan M. Bearden is the Director of Information Technology at Holy Trinity Episcopal Academy in Melbourne, FL. As a technology leader, she strives to leverage technology to improve educational and business outcomes and provide teachers and students with the support, tools and training needed to help them become responsible digital citizens and 21st century learners. She has presented at a number of national and state conferences including ISTE, FETC, CoSN, and the Florida Council of Independent Schools (FCIS). A frequent guest blogger, she is a contributing author to the Huffington Post and was ranked #|#9 on their list of “The 50 Most Social CIOs on Twitter.” Bearden co-founded and moderates #|#edtechchat and is a board member of [|Get Social Brevard]. Connect with her on Twitter [|@s_bearden] and [|@HTEATech] or at [|www.susanmbearden.com]

Sharon Plante is Director of Technology at Eagle Hill - Southport in Southport, CT. Beginning her career working with students with learning disabilities, the road led to the use of technology to engage learners in alternative ways to support achievement. Technology is in her blood and the edtech avenue is an on going pursuit to address the needs of all learners, especially those with learning disabilities. Sharon continues to strive to utilize technology to support and enhance the development of skills and access to content, while implementing a BYOD and 1-1 iPad middle school program within @EHSSouthport. She has presented at Everyone Reading and [|ICON2013], while additionally organizing an inaugural #|#edcampehsthpt for Summer 2013 and working with [|Fairfield University]Educational Technology Program to develop a tech based professional development expert series, #|#edshareehsthpt this summer that is open to all educators. Sharon posts regularly to the Connecticut Association of Independent Schools, as well as Teacher Cast and her own blog She is excited to be a co-founder and moderator to #|#edtechchat. Connect with her on Twitter [|@iplante]

Alex J Podchaski serves as the Director of Technology at Oak Knoll School of the Holy Child in Summit, NJ. He was the first in New Jersey to earn the Certified Educational Technology Leader (CETL) designation from CoSN, which is based on a framework of essential skills for a K12 CTO. With over 20 years of higher education and K12 experience in technology planning and implementation, Alex brings a unique perspective in bringing technology into the world of learning. Alex co-founded and moderates #|#edtechchat and is involved with CoSN’s Small District initiative. Connect with him on Twitter [|@ajpodchaski].