Future Ready Conference
June 2- June 3, 2025
8:00 am to 3:30 pm
In-Person:
Nebraska Department of Education | 500 South 84th Street, Lincoln, NE 68510
Lunch is provided for in-person participants
Virtual Option Available
*Please note that the in-person option is limited to the first 100 participants.
Conference Highlights
Breakout Session Strands: Administrators, Librarians, Educators, and Canvas
The Future Ready Conference is a statewide partnership between the Nebraska Department of Education (NDE), Educational Service Units (ESU’s), and the Educational Service Unit Coordinating Council (ESUCC). The Future Ready Framework is Nebraska’s PK-12 Digital Learning Plan, and the annual Future Ready Conference is held in conjunction with the framework to equip educators to help prepare students for future success.
Keynote Speaker
Katie Novak
Katie Novak, Ed.D., is an internationally renowned education consultant, author, graduate instructor at the University of Pennsylvania, and a former Assistant Superintendent of Schools in Massachusetts. With 20 years of experience in teaching and administration, an earned doctorate in curriculum and teaching, and fifteen published books, with over 280K books sold worldwide, Katie designs and presents workshops both nationally and internationally focusing on the implementation of inclusive practices, Universal Design for Learning (UDL), multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS), and universally designed leadership. Novak’s work has impacted educators worldwide as her contributions and collaborations have built upon the foundation for an educational framework that is critical for student success.
Dr. Novak is the author of the best-selling books, UDL Now! A Teacher’s Guide to Applying Universal Design for Learning in Today’s Classrooms, Innovate Inside the Box, with George Couros, Equity by Design, with Mirko Chardin, and The Shift to Student-Led with Catlin Tucker.
Feature Speaker
Dr. Nikki Robertson-Griffin
Dr. Nikki Robertson-Griffin is a veteran educator, school librarian, Instructional Technology Facilitator, ISTE Librarians Network Past President, author of the ISTE book Connected Librarians: Tap Social Media to Enhance Professional Development and Student Learning, and Level 1 and Level 2 Google Certified Educator and a Certified Google Trainer. Nikki is passionate about 1:1 Digital Initiatives, collaboration with other education professionals, and assisting students in becoming well informed, critically thinking digital citizens. Nikki has also collaborated in the creation of and moderation of free national and global professional development designed specifically for the unique needs of school librarians, including #TLChat LIVE! Twitter Chat Sessions, and TL News Night, a LIVE Internet show presented in news show format featuring a Wrap up of “This Month in School Libraries” and deeper discussion of topical school library issues with special guest experts. Nikki is the recipient of several honors, including an ASLA Ann Marie Pipkin Technology Award, the AASL Bound to Stay Bound Grant, and was named as the 2018 Program Pioneer Social Media Superstar by the American Association of School Librarians.
Event Partners
