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McHenry County ROE Excellence in Education 2026
Type: Technology clear filter
Thursday, June 18
 

9:00am CDT

AI as Your Creative Thought Partner: Storytelling in Google Workspace
Thursday June 18, 2026 9:00am - 9:50am CDT
Room 367
Transform how students demonstrate their learning by turning standard Google tools into a vibrant creative studio. In this session, we will use Google Gemini as a collaborative thought partner to help students move from initial ideas to structured project plans. Participants will then learn to bridge those brainstorms into visual and cinematic projects using the specialized features of Google Vids, Slides, and Drawings. This is a hands-on, interactive workshop where you will step into the role of a student creator to build a multimedia project from the ground up. You will discover how to weave these tools together to help students communicate their unique perspectives and academic mastery with more confidence. Please bring a laptop or Chromebook and be ready to dive into the creative process with your Google Workspace account.
Speakers
avatar for Ben Sondegroth

Ben Sondegroth

Lead Regional EdTech Coordinator, LTC Illinois
Ben began his career as a history teacher in Morrison, IL, where he initiated and coordinated the district’s iPad and Chromebook integration. During this time, he developed a passion for sharing exciting new ways to leverage technology in education with other teachers.That passion... Read More →
Thursday June 18, 2026 9:00am - 9:50am CDT
Room 367
  Technology

9:00am CDT

Diffit for Teachers
Thursday June 18, 2026 9:00am - 9:50am CDT
Room 369
Using AI powered differentiation for teachers to meet student needs and improve teacher productivity.
Speakers
avatar for Katie Brown

Katie Brown

Literacy Specialist/Learning Coach, District 156
Hi! I’m Katie, a Reading Interventionist and Learning/Literacy Coach at McHenry High School in Illinois. I have 16 years of teaching experience and began my career with a degree in Special Education. I later earned my Master’s in Reading and became a Reading Specialist. In my... Read More →
Thursday June 18, 2026 9:00am - 9:50am CDT
Room 369
  Technology

9:00am CDT

How to Make Digital Materials Accessible for ALL Students
Thursday June 18, 2026 9:00am - 9:50am CDT
Room 404
With the rapid shift to digital learning, ensuring every student can access your materials is more important than ever. In this session, you’ll explore simple, high-impact accessibility practices that fit naturally into your workflow. Expect to leave with ready-to-use tools that benefit all learners—not just those with identified needs.
Speakers
avatar for Debra (Debi) Ryan

Debra (Debi) Ryan

Augmentative and Alternative Facilitator; Speech Pathologist, District 158, Huntley


avatar for Erin Wagner

Erin Wagner

Assistive Technology Facilitator, Huntley District 158
Thursday June 18, 2026 9:00am - 9:50am CDT
Room 404
  Technology

9:00am CDT

Technology in the Classroom
Thursday June 18, 2026 9:00am - 9:50am CDT
Room 283
Classroomscreen is a free, online digital whiteboard tool for teachers, offering customizable widgets like timers, random name pickers, traffic lights, and drawing tools to manage activities, set expectations, and boost student engagement in both physical and virtual classrooms. It helps streamline routines and add visual elements like instructions, polls, and media to a central display, making lessons more organized and interactive without needing student accounts. https://classroomscreen.com/
Speakers
avatar for Kim Kosmen

Kim Kosmen

Reading Specialist, McHenry District 15
Thursday June 18, 2026 9:00am - 9:50am CDT
Room 283
  Technology

10:00am CDT

Design with Purpose: 5 High-Impact Canva Projects for Educators
Thursday June 18, 2026 10:00am - 10:50am CDT
Room 367
Transform your instructional materials from functional to engaging without the steep learning curve of professional design software. This interactive breakout session focuses on the five most effective ways to utilize Canva in a school setting, including the creation of dynamic presentations and collaborative student projects. We will examine how to leverage the platform's accessibility features and templates to produce high-quality resources in a fraction of the time.
Speakers
avatar for Ben Sondegroth

Ben Sondegroth

Lead Regional EdTech Coordinator, LTC Illinois
Ben began his career as a history teacher in Morrison, IL, where he initiated and coordinated the district’s iPad and Chromebook integration. During this time, he developed a passion for sharing exciting new ways to leverage technology in education with other teachers.That passion... Read More →
Thursday June 18, 2026 10:00am - 10:50am CDT
Room 367
  Technology

10:00am CDT

Diffit for Teachers
Thursday June 18, 2026 10:00am - 10:50am CDT
Room 369
Using AI powered differentiation for teachers to meet student needs and improve teacher productivity.
Speakers
avatar for Katie Brown

Katie Brown

Literacy Specialist/Learning Coach, District 156
Hi! I’m Katie, a Reading Interventionist and Learning/Literacy Coach at McHenry High School in Illinois. I have 16 years of teaching experience and began my career with a degree in Special Education. I later earned my Master’s in Reading and became a Reading Specialist. In my... Read More →
Thursday June 18, 2026 10:00am - 10:50am CDT
Room 369
  Technology

10:00am CDT

MagicSchool AI for Every Educator: Simple Tools, Big Impact
Thursday June 18, 2026 10:00am - 10:50am CDT
Room 366
Discover how MagicSchool AI can help educators work smarter while fostering meaningful student learning. In this interactive session, teachers will explore practical strategies for integrating AI responsibly into lesson planning, differentiation, and classroom activities. Participants will learn how to guide students in evaluating AI-generated information, asking better questions, and using AI as a tool for creativity and inquiry. Educators will leave with ready-to-use prompts, classroom activities, and time-saving strategies they can implement immediately. No prior AI experience is required—just a willingness to explore new possibilities for teaching and learning.
Speakers
LS

Laura Servedio

Instructional Coach Coordinator, McHenry County Regional Office of Education
Thursday June 18, 2026 10:00am - 10:50am CDT
Room 366
  Technology

10:00am CDT

Teaching that Sticks: Leveraging AI for Long-Term Learning
Thursday June 18, 2026 10:00am - 10:50am CDT
Room 305
What happens when we combine the science of learning with the power of AI? In this session, we'll explore how retrieval, spacing and interleaving can be enhanced through the use of AI tools, including Google Gemini, MagicSchool AI, Canva, Diffit, and more! Teachers will leave the season with lesson plans and ideas that can be implemented in the classroom immediately.
Speakers
avatar for Steph Sukow

Steph Sukow

Educator, CHSD 155
Steph Sukow is a high school English teacher in the suburbs of Chicago for 17 years, who has been adjuncting college-level speech communications courses since 2016. In addition to teaching, she advocates for digital literacy and is passionate about using educational technology to... Read More →
Thursday June 18, 2026 10:00am - 10:50am CDT
Room 305
  Technology

10:00am CDT

Technology in the Classroom
Thursday June 18, 2026 10:00am - 10:50am CDT
Room 283
Classroomscreen is a free, online digital whiteboard tool for teachers, offering customizable widgets like timers, random name pickers, traffic lights, and drawing tools to manage activities, set expectations, and boost student engagement in both physical and virtual classrooms. It helps streamline routines and add visual elements like instructions, polls, and media to a central display, making lessons more organized and interactive without needing student accounts. https://classroomscreen.com/
Speakers
avatar for Kim Kosmen

Kim Kosmen

Reading Specialist, McHenry District 15
Thursday June 18, 2026 10:00am - 10:50am CDT
Room 283
  Technology

11:00am CDT

AI as Your Creative Thought Partner: Storytelling in Google Workspace
Thursday June 18, 2026 11:00am - 11:50am CDT
Room 367
Transform how students demonstrate their learning by turning standard Google tools into a vibrant creative studio. In this session, we will use Google Gemini as a collaborative thought partner to help students move from initial ideas to structured project plans. Participants will then learn to bridge those brainstorms into visual and cinematic projects using the specialized features of Google Vids, Slides, and Drawings. This is a hands-on, interactive workshop where you will step into the role of a student creator to build a multimedia project from the ground up. You will discover how to weave these tools together to help students communicate their unique perspectives and academic mastery with more confidence. Please bring a laptop or Chromebook and be ready to dive into the creative process with your Google Workspace account.
Speakers
avatar for Ben Sondegroth

Ben Sondegroth

Lead Regional EdTech Coordinator, LTC Illinois
Ben began his career as a history teacher in Morrison, IL, where he initiated and coordinated the district’s iPad and Chromebook integration. During this time, he developed a passion for sharing exciting new ways to leverage technology in education with other teachers.That passion... Read More →
Thursday June 18, 2026 11:00am - 11:50am CDT
Room 367
  Technology

11:00am CDT

Diffit for Teachers
Thursday June 18, 2026 11:00am - 11:50am CDT
Room 369
Using AI powered differentiation for teachers to meet student needs and improve teacher productivity.
Speakers
avatar for Katie Brown

Katie Brown

Literacy Specialist/Learning Coach, District 156
Hi! I’m Katie, a Reading Interventionist and Learning/Literacy Coach at McHenry High School in Illinois. I have 16 years of teaching experience and began my career with a degree in Special Education. I later earned my Master’s in Reading and became a Reading Specialist. In my... Read More →
Thursday June 18, 2026 11:00am - 11:50am CDT
Room 369
  Technology

11:00am CDT

How to Make Digital Materials Accessible for ALL Students
Thursday June 18, 2026 11:00am - 11:50am CDT
Room 404
With the rapid shift to digital learning, ensuring every student can access your materials is more important than ever. In this session, you’ll explore simple, high-impact accessibility practices that fit naturally into your workflow. Expect to leave with ready-to-use tools that benefit all learners—not just those with identified needs.
Speakers
avatar for Debra (Debi) Ryan

Debra (Debi) Ryan

Augmentative and Alternative Facilitator; Speech Pathologist, District 158, Huntley


avatar for Erin Wagner

Erin Wagner

Assistive Technology Facilitator, Huntley District 158
Thursday June 18, 2026 11:00am - 11:50am CDT
Room 404
  Technology

11:00am CDT

MagicSchool AI for Every Educator: Simple Tools, Big Impact
Thursday June 18, 2026 11:00am - 11:50am CDT
Room 366
Discover how MagicSchool AI can help educators work smarter while fostering meaningful student learning. In this interactive session, teachers will explore practical strategies for integrating AI responsibly into lesson planning, differentiation, and classroom activities. Participants will learn how to guide students in evaluating AI-generated information, asking better questions, and using AI as a tool for creativity and inquiry. Educators will leave with ready-to-use prompts, classroom activities, and time-saving strategies they can implement immediately. No prior AI experience is required—just a willingness to explore new possibilities for teaching and learning.
Speakers
LS

Laura Servedio

Instructional Coach Coordinator, McHenry County Regional Office of Education
Thursday June 18, 2026 11:00am - 11:50am CDT
Room 366
  Technology

11:00am CDT

Teaching that Sticks: Leveraging AI for Long-Term Learning
Thursday June 18, 2026 11:00am - 11:50am CDT
Room 305
What happens when we combine the science of learning with the power of AI? In this session, we'll explore how retrieval, spacing and interleaving can be enhanced through the use of AI tools, including Google Gemini, MagicSchool AI, Canva, Diffit, and more! Teachers will leave the season with lesson plans and ideas that can be implemented in the classroom immediately.
Speakers
avatar for Steph Sukow

Steph Sukow

Educator, CHSD 155
Steph Sukow is a high school English teacher in the suburbs of Chicago for 17 years, who has been adjuncting college-level speech communications courses since 2016. In addition to teaching, she advocates for digital literacy and is passionate about using educational technology to... Read More →
Thursday June 18, 2026 11:00am - 11:50am CDT
Room 305
  Technology

11:00am CDT

Technology in the Classroom
Thursday June 18, 2026 11:00am - 11:50am CDT
Room 283
Classroomscreen is a free, online digital whiteboard tool for teachers, offering customizable widgets like timers, random name pickers, traffic lights, and drawing tools to manage activities, set expectations, and boost student engagement in both physical and virtual classrooms. It helps streamline routines and add visual elements like instructions, polls, and media to a central display, making lessons more organized and interactive without needing student accounts. https://classroomscreen.com/
Speakers
avatar for Kim Kosmen

Kim Kosmen

Reading Specialist, McHenry District 15
Thursday June 18, 2026 11:00am - 11:50am CDT
Room 283
  Technology

1:30pm CDT

Build It with Google Gemini Canvas Workspace
Thursday June 18, 2026 1:30pm - 2:20pm CDT
Room 366
Ready to go beyond the basics? In this session, we'll dig into how Google Gemini's Canvas Workspace can help you personalize learning, build lessons, resources, flashcards, study guides, interactive quizzes, slide decks, and more. AI does the heavy lifting so you can spend your energy on what matters most. Leave with materials that are high quality, relevant, and right for your context and the learners you serve. Whether you're starting from scratch or building off what you already have, you'll leave with something ready to use.
Speakers
avatar for Stephanie Cardella

Stephanie Cardella

Executive Director, AI Education Network, Leap Innovations
Stephanie Cardella is a seasoned instructional leader with over 20 years of experience in education, including executive roles focused on advancing personalized and competency-based learning. She has led district- and network-wide initiatives to implement personalized learning models... Read More →
Thursday June 18, 2026 1:30pm - 2:20pm CDT
Room 366
  Technology

1:30pm CDT

Design with Purpose: 5 High-Impact Canva Projects for Educators
Thursday June 18, 2026 1:30pm - 2:20pm CDT
Room 367
Transform your instructional materials from functional to engaging without the steep learning curve of professional design software. This interactive breakout session focuses on the five most effective ways to utilize Canva in a school setting, including the creation of dynamic presentations and collaborative student projects. We will examine how to leverage the platform's accessibility features and templates to produce high-quality resources in a fraction of the time.
Speakers
avatar for Ben Sondegroth

Ben Sondegroth

Lead Regional EdTech Coordinator, LTC Illinois
Ben began his career as a history teacher in Morrison, IL, where he initiated and coordinated the district’s iPad and Chromebook integration. During this time, he developed a passion for sharing exciting new ways to leverage technology in education with other teachers.That passion... Read More →
Thursday June 18, 2026 1:30pm - 2:20pm CDT
Room 367
  Technology

1:30pm CDT

Diffit for Teachers
Thursday June 18, 2026 1:30pm - 2:20pm CDT
Room 369
Using AI powered differentiation for teachers to meet student needs and improve teacher productivity.
Speakers
avatar for Katie Brown

Katie Brown

Literacy Specialist/Learning Coach, District 156
Hi! I’m Katie, a Reading Interventionist and Learning/Literacy Coach at McHenry High School in Illinois. I have 16 years of teaching experience and began my career with a degree in Special Education. I later earned my Master’s in Reading and became a Reading Specialist. In my... Read More →
Thursday June 18, 2026 1:30pm - 2:20pm CDT
Room 369
  Technology

1:30pm CDT

Teaching that Sticks: Leveraging AI for Long-Term Learning
Thursday June 18, 2026 1:30pm - 2:20pm CDT
Room 305
What happens when we combine the science of learning with the power of AI? In this session, we'll explore how retrieval, spacing and interleaving can be enhanced through the use of AI tools, including Google Gemini, MagicSchool AI, Canva, Diffit, and more! Teachers will leave the season with lesson plans and ideas that can be implemented in the classroom immediately.
Speakers
avatar for Steph Sukow

Steph Sukow

Educator, CHSD 155
Steph Sukow is a high school English teacher in the suburbs of Chicago for 17 years, who has been adjuncting college-level speech communications courses since 2016. In addition to teaching, she advocates for digital literacy and is passionate about using educational technology to... Read More →
Thursday June 18, 2026 1:30pm - 2:20pm CDT
Room 305
  Technology

2:30pm CDT

From Insights to Action: Strengthening Your AI Roadmap
Thursday June 18, 2026 2:30pm - 3:20pm CDT
Room 366
AI is creating real opportunities for districts to strengthen teaching, support educators, and design learning that prepares students for the future. The leaders who will make the most of this moment are the ones who move with intention, ground their work in pedagogy, and learn from others doing the same.This session draws on what we are learning from leaders across the country who are in the middle of this work.  Through a regional convening of more than 100 leaders, educators, and partners, we have been tracking what is sticking, what is not, and what conditions set districts up for success. We will share those findings, explore five pillars of human-centered AI as a practical leadership framework, and create space for you to share your own strengths, challenges, and reflections alongside peers who are navigating the same terrain. Leave with sharper priorities and concrete next steps tailored to your context, your community, and where your district is headed.
Audience: School & District Leaders, Coaches
Speakers
avatar for Stephanie Cardella

Stephanie Cardella

Executive Director, AI Education Network, Leap Innovations
Stephanie Cardella is a seasoned instructional leader with over 20 years of experience in education, including executive roles focused on advancing personalized and competency-based learning. She has led district- and network-wide initiatives to implement personalized learning models... Read More →
Thursday June 18, 2026 2:30pm - 3:20pm CDT
Room 366
  Technology

2:30pm CDT

Teaching that Sticks: Leveraging AI for Long-Term Learning
Thursday June 18, 2026 2:30pm - 3:20pm CDT
Room 305
What happens when we combine the science of learning with the power of AI? In this session, we'll explore how retrieval, spacing and interleaving can be enhanced through the use of AI tools, including Google Gemini, MagicSchool AI, Canva, Diffit, and more! Teachers will leave the season with lesson plans and ideas that can be implemented in the classroom immediately.
Speakers
avatar for Steph Sukow

Steph Sukow

Educator, CHSD 155
Steph Sukow is a high school English teacher in the suburbs of Chicago for 17 years, who has been adjuncting college-level speech communications courses since 2016. In addition to teaching, she advocates for digital literacy and is passionate about using educational technology to... Read More →
Thursday June 18, 2026 2:30pm - 3:20pm CDT
Room 305
  Technology

2:30pm CDT

Technology in the Classroom
Thursday June 18, 2026 2:30pm - 3:20pm CDT
Room 283
Classroomscreen is a free, online digital whiteboard tool for teachers, offering customizable widgets like timers, random name pickers, traffic lights, and drawing tools to manage activities, set expectations, and boost student engagement in both physical and virtual classrooms. It helps streamline routines and add visual elements like instructions, polls, and media to a central display, making lessons more organized and interactive without needing student accounts. https://classroomscreen.com/
Speakers
avatar for Kim Kosmen

Kim Kosmen

Reading Specialist, McHenry District 15
Thursday June 18, 2026 2:30pm - 3:20pm CDT
Room 283
  Technology
 
McHenry County ROE Excellence in Education 2026
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