November 8
1:00-7:30 PM EST
STEAM Forward
From hybrid learning to augmented reality, teaching STEAM is evolving rapidly. STEAM Forward is an online conference that brings together innovative thinkers, bold creativity, and the latest trends in edtech, with virtual sessions on hybrid/remote teaching, technology integration, STEAM best practices, hands-on STEAM applications, and more.
Sign up for each session separately to customize your schedule.
Featured Keynote
Danielle Feinberg
Danielle Feinberg is a Visual Effects Supervisor at Pixar Animation Studios. Feinberg began her career at Pixar in 1997, after receiving her BA in computer science from Harvard University. Her first position was on the movie A Bug’s Life as a render wrangler, an entry level, problem-solving position, and she soon was leading the otherwise all-male department. Feinberg got her first taste of lighting during this time and fell in love with creating the final image for film. She went on to light many of Pixar’s films, including Toy Story 2, Monsters, Inc., the Oscar-winning Finding Nemo and The Incredibles. Another Oscar winner, Wall•E, was Feinberg’s first movie directing the lighting in her role as Director of Photography for Lighting. It was heaven for someone whose greatest inspiration is using technology to make art. She went on to oversee the lighting on two more Oscar-winning films, Brave (featuring Pixar’s first film with a girl as the main character) and Coco. Feinberg is currently working on Pixar’s 2022 release Turning Red, where she has taken on the role of Visual Effects Supervisor.
Feinberg gives talks to girls of all ages, encouraging them to pursue code, math and science by demonstrating to them the magic found in combining art and technology to create movies. In 2016, she was able to bring that message to a broader audience with her TED talk that was part of the PBS “Science and Wonder” presentation for TED Talks Live. It was named one of the top TED talks of 2016.
Featured Speakers
Brianne Allen
Education Consultant Brianne Allen is an Education Consultant for NY, NJ, and New England. She earned bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from SUNY Fredonia and a master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Florida Atlantic University. In her 15 years of teaching, Brianne taught First Grade, Middle School Mathematics, and Middle School Special Education. While working at Promethean, Brianne combines her passion for education and classroom experiences to help teachers enhance student learning with technology.
Eric Sykes
Education Consultant Eric Sykes is the Educational Consultant for Promethean in Charleston County School District in South Carolina. He received his bachelor’s degree in Spanish and K-12 Foreign Language Education from the College of Charleston and his English for Speakers of Other Languages Certification from the University of South Carolina. He began his teaching career on the island of Roatán, Honduras where he taught middle school. Upon returning to the United States, he took his passion for language acquisition and began teaching as an ESOL teacher at the high school level. Now, he channels that same passion for education to drive his support for the faculty and staff of Charleston County.
Sheila Wolsker
Education Consultant Sheila Wolsker, a former teacher of 10 years, is the Promethean Education Consultant for Michigan, Ohio, and Indiana. She has a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education with minors in Language Arts and Social Studies. Sheila also has a master’s degree in Literacy. At Promethean, Sheila is now able to blend her love of technology with her passion for teaching to help educators use technology to its fullest potential. In her free time, you will find Sheila and her husband, Justin, rooting on their three children either at baseball fields or cheer competitions!
Matt Barfield
Head of regional professional developent Matt Barfield graduated from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte with a degree in Elementary Education and worked 9 years in a rural district in NC. After finding a love of working with teachers in his district, Matt ventured outside of his school district and began to work in the professional development field across the Carolinas. For ten years, Matt has been working with Promethean, Inc. to help teachers integrate instructional technology in the classroom. Matt is a father, a husband, a teacher, an instructional technology integrator, an Apple Distinguished Educator, and a professional development guru for Promethean, Inc.
Julie Porter
Education Consultant Julie Porter is an Education Consultant for Promethean. Before that, she worked as a K-8 music/art/theater teacher in Denver, CO. Julie also freelances as an editor and illustrator. She lives in Chula Vista, California, with her husband Bob, grown-up daughter Lilia, and many pets.
Anna Tressler
Education Consultant Anna Tressler has been an Educational Consultant with Promethean for the past two years. Prior to working with Promethean, she worked as a Digital Learning Specialist and taught first grade for Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD in Carrollton, TX. Anna is originally from Frederick, MD and has been living in Dallas, TX for nine years. She enjoys learning new ways to empower both teachers and students through technology.
Lucy Geringer
Education Consultant Lucy Geringer is a current Education Consultant at Promethean who has been supporting the Promethean team in New York since 2016. She received her Bachelor of Arts from Emory University where she majored in Psychology and Spanish. She then continued her education by moving to New York City to attend Teachers College at Columbia University where she completed her Master of Education degree studying Special Education and General Education with a focus on Intellectual Disabilities and Autism. Since joining Promethean, Lucy has created various training materials to support a range of educational environments, helped facilitate district wide professional development plans, and led virtual demonstrations with the Promethean Live team.
Melissa Schneider
Education Consultant Melissa Schneider came into teaching with a Secondary English Education Masters…but her very first year of teaching, she was placed in 6th, 7th and 8th grade science! Though she struggled some as a first-year teacher, this is where her love for Science and ELA started. After a decade of classroom teaching experience and some time as a Science coach, Melissa wants to share that thoughtful science instruction guides students to understanding that reading, writing, and talking are all essential practices of science.
STEAM Forward Sessions
To sign up for an individual session, click on the see details and register.
All times are EST