Everyday Heroes: Empowering educator voices from our nebraska classrooms
June 13- June 14, 2022 | 8:00 am – 3:30m CDT Daily
In-Person: Lincoln Southwest High School 7001 S 14th Street
A Hybrid option will be available
Cost: $50.00 In-person | Virtual
Conference Highlights
- Keynote Speakers – John Spencer & Brandon Mowinkel
- Featured Speaker – Elissa Malespina
- Over 70 Breakout Sessions
- Breakout Session Strands: Administrators, Librarians, Educators, Equity & Wellness, 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 Speakers
John Spencer
John Spencer is a former middle school teacher and current college professor to transform schools into bastions of creativity and wonder. John wants to see teachers unleash their students’ creative potential so that kids can be makers, designers, artists, and engineers. He explores research, interviews educators, deconstruct systems, and studies real-world examples of design thinking in action. He shares what he is learning in books, blog posts, journal articles, free resources, animated videos, and podcasts.
Brandon Mowinkel
Everyone has a story…
In May of 2020–in the midst of a worldwide pandemic–Brandon Mowinkel set out on a journey of discovery across the state of Nebraska. When the majority of Americans were staying close to home, he ventured out to discover the state he had called home for 40 years and see it in a light no one had ever experienced. During this time, he not only photographed his journey but documented his journey through journaling. From both his photographs and journal entries the book “Five Days In May” emerged.
Elissa Malespina
Throughout Elissa’s over 23 year career in education, she has had the opportunity to work in the classroom as a high school history teacher, as a special education teacher for students with severe emotional, mental and physical challenges, and for the last more than 15 years as a teacher-librarian at Verona High School, Somerville Middle School, Highland Park High School, Columbia High School, and South Orange Middle School. She also worked as the Coordinating Supervisor of Educational Technology for the Parsippany-Troy Hills School District. Elissa’s varied experience gives her a unique perspective toward working with students and teachers, drives her passion for infusing new technology into the curriculum, and thinking outside the box to pique students’ interest and keep them engaged.
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Thank you to all that organized the #FRNebraska conference! It was two days of learning, connecting, and sharing experiences and new ideas!
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