Presenters

=MNOLA is excited to have the following individuals share their knowledge and experience at the MNOLA 2012 Conference. =

**DAVE BAKKE**
Dave Bakke is the Alternative Programs Specialist for the Minnesota Department of Education. He works with learning year programs that provide extended time revenue for area learning centers, alternative programs including credit recovery, middle level alternative programs and targeted services.

**STACY BENDER**
Stacy Bender, a licensed English teacher and guidance counselor, currently oversees the attendance department at Minnesota Virtual High School. In her seventh year of online education, Stacy has written curriculum and developed school-wide systems in many areas. Currently, she passionately focuses on attendance and truancy as she sees it to be critical to student achievement and success



**ANDREW BORNE**
Andrew Borne is a high school math teacher at Connections Academy. This is his 5th year teaching. Andrew has an interest in rich media and lowering the barriers of learning. Also of interest is how to transition from traditional physical books and calculators to portable "learn anywhere" technologies such as WIFI laptops, and more recently tablet platforms such as the iPad. Material and contents can be more richly transmitted via these new technologies, allowing a richer, wider learning experience. || ||


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**JON FILA**
Jon Fila is a Mobile/Online Learning Facilitator; Innovation Coach; Online Teacher & Moodle Strategist at District 287. He was a TIES 2011 Exceptional Teacher and winner of the TIES Technology Leadership Team Award in 2011. Jon has presented at over a dozen conferences relating to Technology Integration in Education. He is the co-creator and admin of MoodleShare, is a Certified Google Apps for Education Trainer and well-versed in other digital resources. As a member of the MN Learning Commons Jon helps to share content with educators around the world. Jon has been a teacher for 11 years in the private, public, ALC and college settings. ||

**BECKY GONZALES**
Becky has been a classroom teacher for five years spending the majority of her time with ELL students and low socio-economic settings. This is her first year joing the virtual community and she loves being part of the up and coming technological advances and trends in education.

**JULIE LECHMAN**
Julie has taught for over 20 years in various settings. It is Julie's first year with Connections Academy and she has been fortunate enough to be the elementary PACE teacher during a year of transition and redesigning of the PACE program. PACE is similar to a Title position designed to get struggling students up to grade level. Julie finds it very rewarding to watch students grow and achieve their potential.



**ANDREA MICHELS**
Andrea Michels is in her eleventh year of teaching. Her first six years were spent teaching Health and Physical Education at Maple Lake Secondary School. While at Maple Lake, she earned a Master’s Degree in Education from St. Mary’s University with her emphasis in community building and differentiation. Andrea joined BlueSky Online School in 2007 and works as both a Health and Physical Education Instructor and Teacher Supervisor for BlueSky School. Andrea is passionate about providing students with 21st Century learning experiences. Her emphasis is in providing differentiated instruction for her students, as a means to teaching to the individuals needs. ||  ||


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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Daniel Ondich is currently the Curriculum Coordinator at BlueSky Online where he has led the development and alignment of all content areas to local, state and national standards. He has over eight years experience teaching in traditional, alternative and blended programs and helped in developing a blended online program in another district. Dan has also led staff development and implementation support in two districts that implemented Google Apps for teachers and students. Additionally, Dan has a master's degree in Educational Administration and has conducted graduate level research in best practices for online learning. ||



<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">**LEAH SICKMANN**
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="il" style="background-color: rgba(255,255,255,0.917969); color: #222222;">Leah <span style="background-color: rgba(255,255,255,0.917969); color: #222222;"> Sickmann is a Middle School Science teacher for BlueSky Online. She began teaching at BlueSky in 2006. Prior to that time, she was a middle school teacher and Curriculum committee member at Blue Earth Middle School. She has experience working with at risk youth both in the online setting and Alternative school setting. During her time at BlueSky she has coordinated the alignment of the school's science curriculum to both the 2003 and 2009 standards. She has experience in both writing online curriculum and modifying existing curriculum to meet the needs of a diverse student population. || <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> ||

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">**SANDY STRAND**
<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">Sandy Strand began her career as a Vocational Evaluator in the Twin Cities area where she developed the evaluation program including performing transition evaluations and mobile evaluations throughout Minnesota and Wisconsin for Rehabilitation Services and Qualified Rehabilitation Counselors in workers compensation cases. From there, she began teaching in the area of Developmental and Cognitive Disabilities and Autism, as well as working with students with neurological and biological disabilities. Sandy served as a DCD Coordinator, district leader, and a Charter School Consultant in the area of DCD and Autism before becoming a Director of Special Education at Innovative Special Education Services of Minnesota. Sandy has worked with charter schools throughout the state on special education programming, compliance, financial issues, and dispute resolution. Sandy values her rich experience at ISES and the dedicated and unique people she works with daily throughout the state.


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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">**BRITT****ANY THOMFORDE**
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Brittany began her career as a Special Education Teacher in 2001 in the area of EBD for Kenyon-Wanamingo Public Schools. In 2007 she began her work as the Special Education Coordinator for BlueSky Online. It is here where Brittany found her passion for working with charter schools as well as for leadership. Brittany worked for BlueSky Online for four years prior to becoming a Special Education Director and coming to ISES. Brittany currently holds licensures in the area of Special Education Director, Special Education (EBD), and Social Studies 5-12. ||

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">**ERIN WANAT**
<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">Erin Wanat has been a director of special education for three years at ISES. Prior the the start of her career as a Director of Special Education, Erin worked as an independent consultant for schools in Minnesota. She assisted school with special education due process as well as grant implementation (RTI). Prior to consulting with schools, Erin was a special education teacher, both in MN and IL. Erin is currently enrolled at Bethel University's program for her Ed.D in Educational Administration.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">**Dr. SALLY WHERRY**
Dr. Sally Wherry supervises High School Initiatives and Online Learning programs at the Minnesota Department of Education. Her work includes designing, planning, coordinating and promoting initiatives leading to postsecondary success as well as providing leadership, professional development, and technical assistance to a variety of educational stakeholders. Before coming to MDE, she served as a secondary language arts teacher, gifted and talented coordinator, curriculum coordinator, and professional development specialist. She has also taught communication skills and creativity courses at the college level. She has earned a B.S. in Speech Pathology from Northwestern University, certificates in Learning Disabilities and Secondary English, an M.A. in Curriculum and Instruction, a certificate in Public Relations, and a doctorate in Educational Leadership from the University of St. Thomas.