Spring Conference 2020

Social Media Ambassadors

Meet this year’s Social Media Ambassadors for this fantastic event! Be sure to follow on social media for the latest info on this year/s Spring Leadership Conference!

Rochelle Cooper

Rochelle Cooper has been a certified MA educator for 18 years. She received her undergraduate degree in English from Holy Cross College and her Master’s Degree in Teaching from Simmons College. Rochelle began her teaching career as a special education 1:1 paraprofessional and spent the next 11 years as a 5th grade classroom teacher at Lynnfield Middle School.  Since 2011, Rochelle’s “educator” path has taken on a new dimension in her work as a Digital Learning Consultant. In this role, Rochelle works with districts, schools and educators to assist with technology training and integration. She is also the curator and facilitator of many online courses and professional development opportunities for educators – offered through both MassCUE and Salem State Collaborative. Rochelle is the Learning Services Assistant for MassCUE  (Massachusetts Computer Using Educators) — an organization specializing in ongoing, high-quality professional learning opportunities for educators. 

Abbey Dick

Abbey Dick is the English Department Coordinator for grades 5-12 for the Chelmsford Public Schools. Prior to this role, she taught middle and high school English classes and worked as a Literacy Specialist for the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. This is her 18th year in education. Her current interests include professional development, blended learning, differentiation, and standards-based learning. She’s an avid edcamper and enjoys leading the ASL Club at Chelmsford High School. Follow Abbey on Twitter @abbeydick.

Beth Haselton

Beth Haselton is the elementary technology teacher, grades 2-5,  for the Seekonk Public Schools. Prior to this role she taught 4th grade for North Attleboro Public Schools for 10 years.  Beth embraces the blended learning philosophy and believes technology allows all children to demonstrate what they know. She is passionate about sharing her knowledge of technology with colleagues and has provided several PD opportunities while working in North Attleboro.  This fall Beth had the opportunity to share her love of Google extensions at the fall MassCUE conference. You can follow Beth on Twitter @MrsHaselton.

A Personalized Approach to School Change

Shawn Rubin, Chief Education Officer, Highlander Institute

Quabbin’s Pathway to Personalization 

Beginning with an implementation overview, Quabbin School District leaders, teachers, and students will share their Pathway to Personalization story. This session will include videos, artifacts of the Design Team process and student and teacher testimonies. The Design Team will plan time to respond to questions from the audience. 

Dr. Sheila Muir 

Sheila has been involved in public education since 1991.  Most of her 27-year career has been spent working for the Quabbin Regional School District. She started as a substitute teacher, served as a middle school science and mathematics teacher, Dean of Academic Affairs at the middle and high school levels, Pk-12 Director of Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment, and Assistant Superintendent.   Dr. Muir has extensive experience leading school and district change. She is passionate about recognizing the unique needs of all students and educators, and providing authentic, meaningful learning opportunities that lead to student success. 

Colleen Mucha 

As one of the two Directors of Learning, Teaching, and Support, Colleen provides leadership to five elementary schools in the Quabbin Regional School District.  Colleen is responsible for professional learning, curriculum development and implementation.  Previously, Colleen was an elementary principal, a literacy coach, and a classroom teacher. In her time as an elementary principal, her school was awarded commendation status and she was selected as the Massachusetts administrator representative to work with Leading Educators to design a Teacher Leadership toolkit.  Colleen believes that leadership and teacher voice is critical to sustained change. 

Adam Couturier 

As one of the two Directors of Learning, Teaching, and Support, Adam provides leadership to the Middle and High School of Quabbin Regional School District.  Mr. Couturier was a 2016 Pioneer Valley Teacher of Excellence award winner as a result of his work in Springfield, MA. He served as a teacher, Social Studies Department Chair, and as a Middle Years Programme Coordinator at an International Baccalaureate school. In addition to this, he wrote curriculum and curricular resources for the National Parks Service as a member of the NPS Teacher Corps. at the Springfield Armory National Historic Site, Springfield Public Schools, Southbridge Middle and High Schools, and now at QRSD. In addition, Mr. Couturier is a frequent contributor to Scholastic’s EduBlog and podcast highlighting currents in literacy.  Adam is passionate about integrating technology in the classroom in order to impact student achievement. 

Kara O’Connell 

As the Director of Implementation at the Highlander Institute, Kara oversees the Institute’s consulting work with schools and districts. Kara coordinates professional learning services, manages a team of Educational Strategies Specialists and works closely with partners to ensure the successful implementation of blended and personalized models. With a background in Special Ed. Administration and 6 years as a technology implementation specialist, Kara has experienced first hand the transformative impact of high quality, technology- enhanced classroom instruction. Kara lives in Massachusetts with her family. 

Melinda Lopez 

Melinda was born and raised in New York City and moved to Rhode Island to attend college. She received her B.A. in Psychology from Brown University and then her Teacher Certification from Roger Williams University. She has been an educator since 1994- working in both early childhood and elementary school settings. She is passionate about meeting all students where they are and supporting teachers in her new role at Highlander as an Educational Strategies Specialist. She lives in Johnston, RI and is blessed with her wonderful partner, her two sons, and her dog. 

Congratulations to this year’s recipients of the 2020 MassCUE/MASCD Spring Leadership Conference Administrator Scholarship!

Dan Ambrosio is a former Library Media Specialist for Fairfax County Public Schools and now serves as a District Technology Integration Specialist for Foxborough Public Schools. Dan is a site coordinator for Project Lead the Way as well as a club facilitator for Girls Who Code.

Tracey Kenney is the proud mother of 4 adult children and grandmother of 1 granddaughter. She is a passionate educator with 25 years in public education and the current Principal of Leicester High School.

Call for Proposals Open October 15, 2019 – December 13, 2019

The theme of the conference is from keynote Shawn Rubin and Cathy Sanford’s book “Pathways to Personalization: A Framework for School Change”. Describe what might you be doing in your school or in your classroom that could be considered related to these primary areas:

• Designing with the Community in Mind: All Voices at the Table
• Piloting Initiatives through Continuous Improvement
• Measuring Impact of School Redesign: What Does Success Look Like?
• Sustainable Scaling of Best Practices
• Personalizing Professional Learning for Educators

Apply ^[12]

View Sessions ^[1]

Registration is now open!

Register ^[13]

Presenter and Co-presenter Fees: Primary presenter is no charge and Co-presenter is $75. A presentation may have up to 4 presenters with each additional presenter (after 2 presenters) pays regular conference fee of $165.

Cancellation fee of $75 will be applied for any cancellations on or after February 27, 2020. Note that if an attendee who cancels after February 27, 2020 substitutes with another colleague then a cancellation fee will not be charged.

Special Offer: Register by 2/20/20 and receive a complimentary copy of Shawn Rubin’s book: Pathways to Personalization

Vendor Opportunities

We are looking for five (5) sponsors and two (2) keynote sponsors (morning and afternoon keynotes) for our conference on March 6, 2020. Sponsorships are available on a first come, first serve basis.

$3,000 Sponsorship – One opportunity left!*  • Banquet table for materials • Two complimentary registrations • Recognition before the morning keynote • Logo on Leadership Conference webpage 1 month prior and up to event

$3,500 Keynote Sponsorship – SOLD OUT*  • Larger banquet table in prominent area for materials • Three complimentary registrations • Advertisement on web based app • 2 minute time slot to address the participants before the morning or afternoon keynote • Logo on Leadership Conference webpage 6 weeks prior and up to event

*We have built into our morning and afternoon schedule an additional block of time with no sessions in order to encourage attendees to visit with our sponsors.

Expected Demographics The conference is made up of a cross section of education professionals from across the Commonwealth. There is a small population that attends from surrounding states. The attendance will close at 250 maximum. Expected attendees include Administration (Superintendents, Curriculum Directors, Dean of Students, Principals and Technology Directors), Educators (Integration Specialists, Classroom Teachers, Content Coordinators, etc.) and IT Directors. See the demographics at Information at a Glance ^[14].

Interested? Please contact Shelley Chamberlain ^[15], Executive Director of MassCUE, by January 24, 2020.

Keynote Sponsors

Table Sponsors