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Welcome to the 2025 Upstate Technology Conference!

Registering for a Sched account or selecting classes is for participant convenience only and DOES NOT grant admittance into the conference or individual sessions. All participants must be registered for the conference through Eventbrite and sessions are first-come, first-serve at the conference.
Type: *Featured Speaker* clear filter
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Tuesday, July 15
 

8:30am EDT

Amplify Student Voice & Choice
Tuesday July 15, 2025 8:30am - 9:30am EDT
Media Center
Teaching students how to amplify their voices to create student choice opportunities in their own education is crucial. Come learn how to transform some of the tech tools you already use in the classroom (and some new tools too) to teach the standards while amplifying student voices to create student choice opportunities.
Session Resources
Speakers
avatar for Dr. Desiree Alexander

Dr. Desiree Alexander

Founder CEO, Louisiana
Dr. Desiree Alexander is an award-winning, multi-degreed educator, speaker, and author who has been in the educational field since 2002. She is the Founder CEO of Educator Alexander Consulting, LLC and the Deputy Director for the Associated Professional Educators of Louisiana. She... Read More →
Tuesday July 15, 2025 8:30am - 9:30am EDT
Media Center
  *Featured Speaker*

8:30am EDT

Class Website #GlowUp Part 1
Tuesday July 15, 2025 8:30am - 9:30am EDT
203
PART 1 of 2: Most educators have some kind of online platform or website through which they communicate with parents, post newsletters, or share pictures. But what if we turned that website into a hub of information and resources that could be used in the classroom and at home - for students and parents?! Join me as we discuss the importance of engaging design and give your class website a "glow-up." We'll be creating unique designs for your individual website theme through Canva, building pages on Google Sites, and adding unique resources for students. Because of the wealth of content included in this session, Attendees should plan for a fun, fast-paced, hands-on approach to incorporating technology in everyday education.
Session Resources
Speakers
avatar for Sela C Estelle

Sela C Estelle

Elementary Teacher, Greenville County
Sela is a fifth grade teacher in Greenville County Schools with a graduate degree in educational technology. Through her small business, she works to help bridge the gap between educational resources and high-quality graphic design. She supports educators by creating resources with... Read More →
Tuesday July 15, 2025 8:30am - 9:30am EDT
203
  *Featured Speaker*

9:45am EDT

Class Website #GlowUp Part 2
Tuesday July 15, 2025 9:45am - 10:45am EDT
203
PART 2 of 2: Most educators have some kind of online platform or website through which they communicate with parents, post newsletters, or share pictures. But what if we turned that website into a hub of information and resources that could be used in the classroom and at home - for students and parents?! Join me as we discuss the importance of engaging design and give your class website a "glow-up." We'll be creating unique designs for your individual website theme through Canva, building pages on Google Sites, and adding unique resources for students. Because of the wealth of content included in this session, Attendees should plan for a fun, fast-paced, hands-on approach to incorporating technology in everyday education.
Session Resources
Speakers
avatar for Sela C Estelle

Sela C Estelle

Elementary Teacher, Greenville County
Sela is a fifth grade teacher in Greenville County Schools with a graduate degree in educational technology. Through her small business, she works to help bridge the gap between educational resources and high-quality graphic design. She supports educators by creating resources with... Read More →
Tuesday July 15, 2025 9:45am - 10:45am EDT
203
  *Featured Speaker*

9:45am EDT

Digital Breakouts Using Google Forms & Google Sites
Tuesday July 15, 2025 9:45am - 10:45am EDT
Media Center
Have you heard of an escape room? Well, help your students escape mundane lessons by creating free digital breakouts to use in your classroom. Come learn how to use Google Forms and Google Sites to create free digital breakout games that encourage collaboration, stimulate problem solving, nurture content knowledge development and have fun while doing it! Break out of the same routine with a free digital breakout.
Session Resources
Speakers
avatar for Dr. Desiree Alexander

Dr. Desiree Alexander

Founder CEO, Louisiana
Dr. Desiree Alexander is an award-winning, multi-degreed educator, speaker, and author who has been in the educational field since 2002. She is the Founder CEO of Educator Alexander Consulting, LLC and the Deputy Director for the Associated Professional Educators of Louisiana. She... Read More →
Tuesday July 15, 2025 9:45am - 10:45am EDT
Media Center
  *Featured Speaker*

9:45am EDT

Keepin’ It Reel With Canva
Tuesday July 15, 2025 9:45am - 10:45am EDT
201
Canva’s incredible design resources now include tools for video creation, editing. Educators can use these tools to create micro media shorts and reels to target student learning, peer collaboration, and community connections.In this session, we will create a workflow on how to create, edit, and host the impactful videos
Session Resources
Speakers
avatar for James Varlack

James Varlack

Instructional support, Texas
James Varlack is a Digital Learning Specialist with McAllen ISD in McAllen, TX. The Digital Learning Team provides instructional technology support for 21,000 students and 1600 teachers and staff. He currently loves eating Sour Patch and connecting with educators on Twitter.
Tuesday July 15, 2025 9:45am - 10:45am EDT
201
  *Featured Speaker*

9:45am EDT

Littles Can Collaborate (Even with Digital Tools)
Tuesday July 15, 2025 9:45am - 10:45am EDT
202
Are you preparing your young students for the future? How often do you give them the skills and for the future? Our young learners can collaborate, even with digital tools, if given the proper scaffolds. Discover ways to empower collaboration in your classroom using simple and powerful tech tools and best practices as you embark on a collaboration journey in your classroom.
Session Resources
Speakers
avatar for Debbie Tannenbaum

Debbie Tannenbaum

Instructional support, Fairfax County Public Schools
Recognized as a 2024 ISTE 20 to Watch award winner and a 2024 VATLL/VASCD Impact Winner, Debbie Tannenbaum is an ASCD Emerging Leader, ISTE Certified Educator,  ISTE Community Leader, author, blogger, and speaker. She offers schools a wealth of expertise. With over 20 years of experience... Read More →
Tuesday July 15, 2025 9:45am - 10:45am EDT
202
  *Featured Speaker*

11:00am EDT

Littles Can Collaborate (Even with Digital Tools)
Tuesday July 15, 2025 11:00am - 12:00pm EDT
202
Are you preparing your young students for the future? How often do you give them the skills and for the future? Our young learners can collaborate, even with digital tools, if given the proper scaffolds. Discover ways to empower collaboration in your classroom using simple and powerful tech tools and best practices as you embark on a collaboration journey in your classroom.
Session Resources
Speakers
avatar for Debbie Tannenbaum

Debbie Tannenbaum

Instructional support, Fairfax County Public Schools
Recognized as a 2024 ISTE 20 to Watch award winner and a 2024 VATLL/VASCD Impact Winner, Debbie Tannenbaum is an ASCD Emerging Leader, ISTE Certified Educator,  ISTE Community Leader, author, blogger, and speaker. She offers schools a wealth of expertise. With over 20 years of experience... Read More →
Tuesday July 15, 2025 11:00am - 12:00pm EDT
202
  *Featured Speaker*

11:00am EDT

Look at Me! - A Guide to Resource Design
Tuesday July 15, 2025 11:00am - 12:00pm EDT
203
Companies spend millions of dollars each year on attention-grabbing advertising and logo design. Newspapers incorporate eye-grabbing headlines, and web app designers notice the small details to make your experience engaging and user-friendly. Why shouldn't we, as educators, create our resources with the same motivation? Join me as we look at the elements of graphic design, explore various online platforms, and learn how you can create engaging, high-quality resources for your students!
Session Resources
Speakers
avatar for Sela C Estelle

Sela C Estelle

Elementary Teacher, Greenville County
Sela is a fifth grade teacher in Greenville County Schools with a graduate degree in educational technology. Through her small business, she works to help bridge the gap between educational resources and high-quality graphic design. She supports educators by creating resources with... Read More →
Tuesday July 15, 2025 11:00am - 12:00pm EDT
203
  *Featured Speaker*

11:00am EDT

Strategies to Assess Prior Knowledge
Tuesday July 15, 2025 11:00am - 12:00pm EDT
201
Let's explore some ways you can use digital tools to tap into what your students already know before you dive into a new lesson.
Session Resources
Speakers
avatar for James Varlack

James Varlack

Instructional support, Texas
James Varlack is a Digital Learning Specialist with McAllen ISD in McAllen, TX. The Digital Learning Team provides instructional technology support for 21,000 students and 1600 teachers and staff. He currently loves eating Sour Patch and connecting with educators on Twitter.
Tuesday July 15, 2025 11:00am - 12:00pm EDT
201
  *Featured Speaker*

12:45pm EDT

Differentiation with Google Forms
Tuesday July 15, 2025 12:45pm - 1:45pm EDT
Media Center
You've used Google Forms for years...now what? Come learn fast tips, tricks and hacks to use Google Forms in ways you never have before! Learn how to differentiate using branching, password your sections, have your self-grading quizzes work even better and more! Let's go to the next level!
Session Resources
Speakers
avatar for Dr. Desiree Alexander

Dr. Desiree Alexander

Founder CEO, Louisiana
Dr. Desiree Alexander is an award-winning, multi-degreed educator, speaker, and author who has been in the educational field since 2002. She is the Founder CEO of Educator Alexander Consulting, LLC and the Deputy Director for the Associated Professional Educators of Louisiana. She... Read More →
Tuesday July 15, 2025 12:45pm - 1:45pm EDT
Media Center
  *Featured Speaker*

2:00pm EDT

#GCSVisionary Panel with Sela and Sloan
Tuesday July 15, 2025 2:00pm - 3:00pm EDT
203
Join us for an engaging panel discussion featuring two #GCSVisionaries, Sela Estelle and P. Sloan Joseph. In this interactive forum, our panelists will share their personal journeys, valuable lessons learned, and effective strategies for leveraging technology to build both personal and professional brands. Participants will have the opportunity to engage with the panelists by asking questions and sharing their own experiences. This session is designed to inspire and empower educators to pursue professional growth and leadership roles within the education and edtech fields. Get ready to be inspired to connect, learn, and foster a supportive community for educators across the Upstate! Key Takeaways: Insights on overcoming challenges in tech leadership Strategies for personal branding and professional development Interactive Q&A to address participant inquiries and experiences
Session Resources
Speakers
avatar for Sela C Estelle

Sela C Estelle

Elementary Teacher, Greenville County
Sela is a fifth grade teacher in Greenville County Schools with a graduate degree in educational technology. Through her small business, she works to help bridge the gap between educational resources and high-quality graphic design. She supports educators by creating resources with... Read More →
avatar for P. Sloan Joseph

P. Sloan Joseph

Instructional Coach, Hughes Academy
P. Sloan Joseph is an Instructional Coach, Educational Consultant, and keynote speaker from Greenville, SC with over twenty years of experience assisting K-12 public and private school educators. She specializes in the areas of school and classroom culture, student engagement, and... Read More →
Tuesday July 15, 2025 2:00pm - 3:00pm EDT
203
  *Featured Speaker*

2:00pm EDT

Do You Really Know How to Read&Write?
Tuesday July 15, 2025 2:00pm - 3:00pm EDT
Media Center
This simply amazing Google Chrome extension will amaze you with what how it can help you and your students! Text-to-speech, Voice Comments, Vocabulary List Builder, Speech Input, Fact Finder, Translator and so much more! You must see this exciting tool for yourself to believe it!
Session Resources
Speakers
avatar for Dr. Desiree Alexander

Dr. Desiree Alexander

Founder CEO, Louisiana
Dr. Desiree Alexander is an award-winning, multi-degreed educator, speaker, and author who has been in the educational field since 2002. She is the Founder CEO of Educator Alexander Consulting, LLC and the Deputy Director for the Associated Professional Educators of Louisiana. She... Read More →
Tuesday July 15, 2025 2:00pm - 3:00pm EDT
Media Center
  *Featured Speaker*

2:00pm EDT

Empowering Accessible and Engaging Learning using UDL and Tech Tools
Tuesday July 15, 2025 2:00pm - 3:00pm EDT
202
What opportunities do you provide for your students to share their voices? Are you communicating that their voices matter? How do you create learning experiences that empower learners? In this session, you will learn easy ways using technology tools such as Book Creator, Ludia, Pear Deck and Wixie to give your students opportunities to share their voices in interactive ways.
Session Resources
Speakers
avatar for Debbie Tannenbaum

Debbie Tannenbaum

Instructional support, Fairfax County Public Schools
Recognized as a 2024 ISTE 20 to Watch award winner and a 2024 VATLL/VASCD Impact Winner, Debbie Tannenbaum is an ASCD Emerging Leader, ISTE Certified Educator,  ISTE Community Leader, author, blogger, and speaker. She offers schools a wealth of expertise. With over 20 years of experience... Read More →
Tuesday July 15, 2025 2:00pm - 3:00pm EDT
202
  *Featured Speaker*

2:00pm EDT

The Forgotten Google Tool…Google Docs
Tuesday July 15, 2025 2:00pm - 3:00pm EDT
201
Often overlooked, Google Docs is a surprisingly versatile and powerful tool that can supercharge collaboration, streamline feedback, and foster deeper student engagement in ways you might not have imagined.
Session Resources
Speakers
avatar for James Varlack

James Varlack

Instructional support, Texas
James Varlack is a Digital Learning Specialist with McAllen ISD in McAllen, TX. The Digital Learning Team provides instructional technology support for 21,000 students and 1600 teachers and staff. He currently loves eating Sour Patch and connecting with educators on Twitter.
Tuesday July 15, 2025 2:00pm - 3:00pm EDT
201
  *Featured Speaker*

3:15pm EDT

Cloze Reading Activities with Google Docs & AI
Tuesday July 15, 2025 3:15pm - 4:15pm EDT
201
This session explores how to create engaging cloze reading activities using Google Docs. Participants will learn how to effectively remove words from a text and provide options for students to fill in the blanks, enhancing their reading comprehension and vocabulary skills.
Session Resources
Speakers
avatar for James Varlack

James Varlack

Instructional support, Texas
James Varlack is a Digital Learning Specialist with McAllen ISD in McAllen, TX. The Digital Learning Team provides instructional technology support for 21,000 students and 1600 teachers and staff. He currently loves eating Sour Patch and connecting with educators on Twitter.
Tuesday July 15, 2025 3:15pm - 4:15pm EDT
201
  *Featured Speaker*

3:15pm EDT

Empowering Accessible and Engaging Learning using UDL and Tech Tools
Tuesday July 15, 2025 3:15pm - 4:15pm EDT
202
What opportunities do you provide for your students to share their voices? Are you communicating that their voices matter? How do you create learning experiences that empower learners? In this session, you will learn easy ways using technology tools such as Book Creator, Ludia, Pear Deck and Wixie to give your students opportunities to share their voices in interactive ways.
Session Resources
Speakers
avatar for Debbie Tannenbaum

Debbie Tannenbaum

Instructional support, Fairfax County Public Schools
Recognized as a 2024 ISTE 20 to Watch award winner and a 2024 VATLL/VASCD Impact Winner, Debbie Tannenbaum is an ASCD Emerging Leader, ISTE Certified Educator,  ISTE Community Leader, author, blogger, and speaker. She offers schools a wealth of expertise. With over 20 years of experience... Read More →
Tuesday July 15, 2025 3:15pm - 4:15pm EDT
202
  *Featured Speaker*
 
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