Registration and Morning Refreshments in the Exhibit Area

Opening Remarks

Jennifer Porter, President, Arizona Technology in Education Association

Keynote

Phil Hansen, Artist, Speaker, Author and Innovator

Break

Concurrent Sessions

Level Up Your Leadership: Essential Skills for Tech Professionals

As network engineers, system engineers, and site technicians, you’re the backbone of our digital world. Your technical expertise is undeniable, but what about your leadership potential? This engaging presentation will equip you with practical strategies to cultivate essential leadership skills, regardless of your current role. Understand how to identify your leadership strengths and areas for development and create a personalized plan for ongoing skills enhancement.

Diana Hawari, Chief Information Officer, Dysart Unified School District

Jennifer Porter, President, Arizona Technology in Education Association

Nan Williams, Arizona Technology in Education Association

Tune In To Tech: Creating an Elementary Radio Station

Learn how an elementary school in PVUSD brought student radio to life! This session highlights a unique ed-tech project where 5th and 6th graders at a Title I elementary school created their own station from the ground up. You’ll hear from students on how they wrote news, PSAs and commercials, and created jingles and background music using digital skills. See how this IT Department, Gifted Ed and NVAA collaboration fosters young talent and 21st century literacies.

Karen Mensing, Technology Integration Facilitator, Paradise Valley Unified School District

Instructional Technology Coaching with Purpose: Helping Educators Use AI to Design for Neurodiverse Learners

Explore how instructional technology coaches can help guide educators in leveraging AI tools to design responsive, inclusive learning experiences for neurodiverse students. This session highlights practical coaching strategies, real-world examples, and ethical considerations – focusing on how educators can utilize AI to differentiate instructions, create accessible materials, and support diverse learning needs within existing usage policies.

Melissa Lundquist, Instructional Technology Specialist, Chandler Unified School District

Building Future Prosperity by Engaging Young Minds in Cybersecurity

By helping young people connect to a cybersecurity mindset, school districts can help kids to understand how their actions online can impact their futures.  IT teams at school districts can help kids to acquire the necessary skills to become cybersecurity aware.

Brett Scott, Cyber Range Master, TDSynnex

Doing More With Less…and Still Being Able to Sleep at Night

In this session, we will discuss how districts across the state are consolidating resources across the Technology department while still addressing the most important cybersecurity concerns, they face today.  You will hear from Tech leaders and learn how they are automating and streamlining processes, limiting the amount of personal identifiable information shared with education partners and using data to make informed decisions about learning resources.

Ruben Montoya, Director of Technology, Litchfield Elementary School District

Lauren Owens, Executive Director of Technology, Agua Fria Unified High School District

Lunch

Lunch and Learn General Session

AI or Bust? Navigating AI Integration in Schools

A facilitated discussion about the pros and cons of using AI to support student learning. Facilitators will present a variety of research to aid in the discussion while fostering an environment for conversation and perspective in the room to be considered.

Cris Bowen, LTI Specialist, Flagstaff Unified School District

Renda Fisk, LTI Coordinator, Flagstaff Unified School District

Heather Zeigler, Assistant Director of Learning, Technology & Innovation, Flagstaff Unified School District

Break

Concurrent Sessions

Birds of a Feather Roundtable Tech Talks:

Level Up Your Learning: Building a Robust ESports Environment

ESports is rapidly growing in high schools, offering exciting opportunities for student engagement, teamwork, and skill development. However, establishing and supporting a competitive ESports environment presents unique challenges for K-12 technology departments. This collaborative session will delve into the multifaceted aspects of building a successful ESports program, focusing on practical solutions and shared best practices.

Jon Castelhano, Chief Technology Officer, Gilbert Public Schools

Enterprise Service Management

This will be a collaborative session discussing the different methods of system integrations and how to create operational efficiencies that create real value for IT teams and the districts and schools they serve.

Dean Farer, Chief Information Officer, Yuma Union High School District

Brandan Krizay, Director of Technology, Yuma Union High School District

Building AI-Enhanced Learning Ecosystems: Implementation Strategies for K-12

A practical guide for education IT leaders on integrating AI tools into existing technology infrastructure. This session will cover assessment frameworks for AI readiness, implementation roadmaps, staff training approaches, data governance considerations, and measuring educational impact.

Rae Mask, IT Supervisor, Balsz ESD

AI-Powered Threat Detection

In an era defined by increasingly sophisticated and rapidly evolving cyberthreats, traditional security methods are proving insufficient in detecting, analyzing, and mitigating advanced cyberattacks. As threat actors become more adept at evading conventional defenses, cybersecurity professionals require more robust and intelligent solutions. This session will examine the role of AI-powered threat detection technologies in transforming cybersecurity practices. Attendees will learn how leveraging AI can significantly enhance threat visibility, reduce incident response times, provide deeper insights into emerging threats, and ultimately build stronger, more proactive cyber resilience strategies.

Chris Hammer, Cybersecurity Architect, ANM

From Zero to Impact: Leading Instructional Tech Coaching for System-Wide Change

Explore how one district built a scalable Instructional Technology Coaching Team aligned to ISTE Standards. This session covers hiring, onboarding, cross-department collaboration, and success metrics. Learn how a small team supports 2,000 teachers across 42 schools using AI tools to streamline tasks and extend coaching reach. Walk away with templates, strategies, and a replicable framework to launch or refine a coaching program that delivers measurable impact across schools and departments.

Roxi Thompson, Lead Instructional Technology Coach, Peoria Unified School District

Cyber Learning Labs and Esports Facilities: Transforming Education Through AV

With the rapid growth of ESports and cyber education programs, effective audiovisual system integration is paramount in creating engaging and interactive environments. This workshop explores fundamentals of AV system design, implementation, and the range of AV technologies utilized in these modern hubs. Discover how AV over IP enhances and streamlines signal routing, cable management, control systems, and network infrastructure. Learn about the importance of annotation and touchscreen interaction, plus discover the crucial role collaborative spaces play for post-game reviews, coaching, and complementary activities. Explore strategies for designing future-proof systems that scale and adapt to evolving requirements and emerging technologies.

Gabe Giangualano, Esports Solution Manager, Extron

Artificial Intelligence Is Here To Stay: How Do We Equip Educational Leaders and Students with Top-Notch Skills

This presentation addresses the transformative impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on education and emphasizes the urgent needs for educational leaders and students to develop robust AI skills. As AI technologies continue to infiltrate various sectors, it is crucial for educators to understand and implement strategies that prepare learners for this new landscape.

Peter Hooper, Director of Technology, Fort Huachuca Accommodation School District

Break

Concurrent Sessions

The EduRoam Dream: Seamless Internet Connectivity for Education Institutions

Ready to rethink Wi-Fi in K-12? See how the Vail School District brought the EduRoam vision to life – connecting students and staff to secure internet across campuses, colleges, and communities. Learn how we tackled the tech, built game-changing partnerships, and advanced digital equity. As EduRoam adoption grows in Arizona, discover how your district can plus into the network and help shape the future of connected education statewide!

Mark Breen, Chief Technology Officer, Vail School District

Empowering Data-Driven Schools: A Collaborative Approach for Technology Leaders

In this session, we will delve into the technical challenges and opportunities related to data infrastructure, security, integration, and training while emphasizing why deep collaboration with district and school staff is essential for effective data utilization that truly impacts student outcomes.

Ryan Nelson, Director of Data and Research, Gilbert Public Schools

Peter Bartanen, Senior Data Analyst, Gilbert Public Schools

Michaela Fernandez, Data Analyst, Gilbert Public Schools

Justine Ingram, Data Strategist, Gilbert Public Schools

Artificial Intelligence Is Changing My Role, Now What?

The evolution of AI – from the generative content creation to autonomous agents and the eventual prospect of general AI is fundamentally altering our responsibilities as IT departments. This session will explore these shifts. We’ll examine practical strategies for adapting to these evolving technologies and proactively addressing the challenges and opportunities they present for K-12 IT leadership.

Jeff Billings, IT Director, Paradise Valley Unified School District

Balancing Security and Privacy in Education

Privacy and security are core components of supporting an education technology implementation.

Learn how Jamf partners with Apple for integrated endpoint security and mobile device management, ensuring privacy is built in to every aspect of the experience. IT teams will get the right tools and best practices to build a secure foundation by configuring devices to meet organizational and compliance standards. We'll also share how to identify and secure non-compliant devices quickly, as well as simplify security and identity management with automated workflows built-in to your MDM.

Future-Proofing Your Fleet: A Strategic Approach to Device Management

K-12 districts face numerous challenges in maintaining and repairing their device fleets. The session explores the crucial “why” behind long term budgeting and implementing a documented repair strategy, addressing common pain points experienced by district across the spectrum – from self-maintainers to those seeking comprehensive solutions.

End of Conference

Conference times, agenda and speakers are subject to change.