Alan C. November

Alan November is an international leader in education technology. He began his career as an oceanography teacher and dorm counselor at an island reform school for boys in Boston Harbor. He has been director of an alternative high school, computer coordinator, technology consultant, and university lecturer. He has helped schools, governments and industry leaders improve the quality of education through technology.

Audiences enjoy Alan’s humor and wit as he pushes the boundaries of how to improve teaching and learning. His areas of expertise include planning across curriculum, staff development, new school design, community building and leadership development. He has delivered keynotes and workshops in all fifty states, across Canada, and throughout the UK, Europe, Asia and Central America.

Alan was named one of the nation’s fifteen most influential thinkers of the decade by Tech and Learning magazine. His writing includes numerous articles and best-selling books. Alan’s most recent book “Who Owns the Learning?” is on the New York Times education best sellers list for 2013. Alan was co-founder of the Stanford Institute for Educational Leadership Through Technology and is most proud of being selected as one of the original five national Christa McAuliffe Educators.

Each summer Alan leads the Building Learning Communities summer conference with world-class presenters and educators from more than 25 countries.

Isa Kaftal Zimmerman

Isa Kaftal Zimmerman has been Superintendent and Assistant Superintendent of Schools, High School Principal and Assistant Principal, Junior High School teacher and Division Director of the Technology in Education Program as well Associate Professor at Lesley University and Senior Fellow in STEM at the UMass Donahue Institute, and the UMass President’s Office. She was a pioneer in bringing technology to schools for instruction and productivity in MA and started the MASS (Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents) Technology Task Force. She has chaired/participated in several state and national committees.  She was President of MASCD twice and is currently the Executive Director. Among other publications, she co-authored a book entitled “Designing and Teaching Online Courses” (Teachers College Press). She received her BA from Cornell University and her MAT and Ed. D. from Harvard University. She received a MassCUE Pathfinder Award in 1994.

Dr. Zimmerman founded IKZAdvisors, a consultancy focused on providing expertise on STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) PK through 16 for educators, the business and policy communities, students and parents.

Eileen Belastock

Eileen Belastock is currently the Director for Academic Technology at Mount Greylock Regional School Disrict in Williamstown MA. As a former high school math teacher and principal, she has been involved in numerous technology initiatives such as 1:1 iPads for grade 8-12 students as well as online and blended learning environments for high schools. Eileen is both a Google Level 2 Certified Educator and a Microsoft Innovative Educator. She has presented both in and out of the district on a variety of technology integration initiatives that highlight the importance of professional development and support for both teachers and students. Eileen holds a BA in Accounting from Suffolk University and a Masters in Ed Leadership from Bridgewater State University. She has been a board member of the Math and Computer Science organization at BSC which provides math and computer science professional development to K-12 educators. More recently she is a member of the MassCue Conference Committee as well as the ISTE Mobile Learning Network Committee.

Cathy Collins

Ms. Collins has worked as a Media Specialist/Librarian for 15 years. She is currently a library media specialist at Sharon High School, where she has worked for the past six years. She holds Masters Degrees in Education and Library Science, with additional credentials in educational leadership. She is currently completing doctoral studies at Northeastern University. Ms. Collins has published her writing in various journals including “Library Media Connection,” “NEA Today,” education-related blogs and websites including AASL’s “Knowledge Quest.” She is a 2012 Reynolds High School Journalism Institute Fellow and served as a project consultant for the E-Book, “Searchlights and Sunglasses: Journalism in the Digital Age.” She received a “Teachers for Global Classrooms” fellowship from the U.S. State Dept. in 2014 and is the recipient of AASL’s Intellectual Freedom Award (2014). She is also a Massachusetts Library System Executive Board Member and has served on the MassCUE Board as PD Chair since 2013. Most recently, she joined the ISTE STEM PLN Leadership Team as PD Chair. She was named an MSLA “Super Librarian” in 2015, and earned National Board Certification as a Library/Media Teacher in 2009. She received the HNA “Teacher of the Year” award in 2015 for excellence in teaching about China, and served on the DESE Science Ambassador Team through 2016. In her spare time, she enjoys nature walks, reading, world travel and yoga. She also enjoys co-leading a Makerspace SIG through MassCUE. She is passionate about the use of technology as a tool to connect students to the world and each other.