These Louisiana luminaries will share their education expertise at FETC 2023

Louisiana thought leaders at FETC will provide insights on everything from tech-coaching to esports to using hip-hop as a literacy teaching tool.

You can cater an elaborate holiday party to celebrate teachers in your schools, but there are simpler—and arguably, more effective—ways to recognize their achievements on a daily basis. For instance, the graphic design app Canva contains dozens of award templates to which a teacher’s name, photo and achievements can be added, and then shared—all from a smartphone.

Bonnie Chelette
Bonnie Chelette

“Boom—gratitude in just a few taps on your screen,” says Bonnie Chelette, the Louisiana Department of Education’s director of educational technology. Chelette will share tips both time-saving and more intensive in her presentation, “Get a Grip … on Your Leadership,” at the 2023 Future of Education Technology® Conference in New Orleans Jan. 23-26.

You should also know that Chelette is among more than a dozen hometown (or home-state) experts and educators who will speak on a range of K-12 topics at the FETC next month. Lousiana’s best and brightest will provide insights on everything from using hip-hop as a teaching tool to tech coaching to esports.

“There are some absolute rock stars,” Chelette says of the roster of Louisiana luminaries. For her session, two of the most essential leadership strategies are showing gratitude and finding an efficient system for showing that gratitude, says Chelette, an FETC first-timer, who will present alongside Stephanie Rothstein, an education innovation leader at Santa Clara USD in California, and Melissa Summerford, lead learning guide at FriEdTech.

“Twenty-first-century leaders have to accept that they will be on their phone all day—and they have to find ways they can harness the power of the piece of tech they use the most,” she explains. “We all have supercomputers in our pockets; don’t wait until you get to a desktop to support your staff.”

FETC 2023

The Future of Education Technology® Conference takes place live and in-person Jan. 23-26, 2023, in New Orleans. Register now!

Another great way to support teachers is by providing professional development that allows them to build and make connections with their work. “Now more than ever, teachers value their time,” she adds. “They have exceeded any possible expectations anyone could have in navigating a brand-new educational landscape. We have to make professional development targeted, relevant, and meaningful.”

Here’s the list of Louisiana luminaries

Among the other Louisiana luminaries due to speak at FETC is longtime educator and K-12 consultant Desiree Alexander, who will lead several sessions, including presentations on using hip-hop to engage students in literacy instruction and tech productivity hacks for educators. Here are more local thought leaders who will share their insights at FETC:

  • Wiley Brazier V, executive director of We Greaux People: “Leading with Actionable Data” and “HyperDocs: Streamlining the Lesson Planning Process.”
  • Amanda Jones, teacher and librarian, Live Oak Middle School (Livingston Parish Public Schools): “Creating Virtual Tours: Journey with Jones” and “Technology Tips and Tricks for Librarians.”
  • Nikki Lavergne, Google innovator and assistant principal of LPLTC Virtual (Livingston Parish Public Schools): “Unconventional Professional Development” and “Shortcuts, Extensions and Sites for Teachers.”
  • Suresh Chiruguru, peer-coach/teacher leader/tech contact, Calcasieu Parish School District/LaGrange High School: “Problem Solving Through Computational Thinking”
  • Justin Broussard, magnet teacher, Park Forest Middle School (East Baton Rouge Parish Public Schools): “Math Moments: Harnessing Fun to Build Grit and Understanding”
  • J Spill Dieterich, librarian media specialist, Oakdale Middle School (Allen Parish School Board): “First You Make a Roux”

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Matt Zalaznick
Matt Zalaznick
Matt Zalaznick is a life-long journalist. Prior to writing for District Administration he worked in daily news all over the country, from the NYC suburbs to the Rocky Mountains, Silicon Valley and the U.S. Virgin Islands. He's also in a band.

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