EduGrowth Presenters

EduGrowth 2026

A conference FOR educators BY educators.

July 11, 2026

Meet Our Presenters

Don Bott has spent more than four decades as a high school educator and publication adviser. He is a native Stocktonian, a lifelong public schools advocate and a believer in all students. His success is largely the result of optimism, which is far more research-based than many know.

Brian Briggs

Title: Catch the Vibe: Building Your Own Classroom Games and Tools (No Coding Required)

Pillar: Relevance

Brian Briggs is Director of Technology for Washington Unified School District. A CITE Certified CTO with almost 30 years in education, he bridges infrastructure and instruction. A Google Certified Innovator and LEGO Education Ambassador, Brian focuses on student creation. He co-hosts the Check This Out podcast, exploring pedagogy and emerging tech.

Dr. Carol Brooks

Carol Brooks

Title: Courageous Leadership for Equitable Outcomes

Pillar: Relationships

Dr. Carol Brooks is an experienced educational leader with 30 years of service as a special education teacher and administrator across preK-12 and higher education settings. She enjoys coaching teachers and administrators to strengthen their relational practices in schools and the broader community, with a focus on equity.

Nick Casey

Title: What They Don’t Tell You in the Principal Interview: Relationships Are the Job

Pillar: Relationships

Nick Casey is a dedicated elementary principal with over 10 years of leadership experience, following his early career as a kindergarten teacher. Named 2025 Principal of the Year for his district, he is known for building strong, positive relationships with students and staff, fostering a supportive and thriving school community.

Fred Cochran

Fred Cochran is the Coordinator for Continuous Improvement and Support at the San Joaquin County Office of Education. With 27 years of experience as a teacher, instructional coach, site administrator, and adjunct instructor, he serves as a regional leader for Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) and a Universal Design for Learning (UDL) Implementation Specialist. Fred provides professional learning for early childhood and TK–12 educators, co-facilitates the CA UDL Coalition Network, serves on the CA UDL Coalition Steering Committee, and supports the California Coalition for Inclusive Learning (CCIL)

Jon Corippo

John Corippo

Jon Corippo is a globally recognized educator, author, speaker, and co-creator of EduProtocols. With more than 20 years in education, he is known for helping teachers increase engagement, collaboration, and learning through practical, research-based instructional strategies. A sought-after presenter and self-described EduRebel, Jon inspires educators to put pedagogy first while thoughtfully integrating technology and AI to create meaningful learning experiences for all students.

Dr. Jillian Damon

Jillian Damon, Ed.D.

Title: Supporting New CTE Teachers: The Site Administrator’s Role in Retention

Pillar: Relevance

Title: Strengthening Retention Through Mentorship: The Administrator’s Role in Supporting Mentors

Pillar: Relationships

Dr. Jillian Damon is Director of Educator Preparation Programs at the Tehama County Department of Education. She leads Teacher Induction and CTE credentialing, partnering with schools across rural Northern California. With 17 years in the classroom and 7 in administration, she focuses on mentorship, administrator capacity, and system-level approaches to teacher retention.

Sally Glusing

Title: Trust at Work

Pillar: Relationships

Sally Glusing joined the San Joaquin County Office of Education in 2007, after several years as a teacher and teacher leader in Stockton. Over the past 19 years, her work has centered on district and school support through professional learning and improvement partnerships. Currently, Sally serves alongside a division of 30 inspirational and impactful leaders within SJCOE’s Educational Services department.

Mark Godi

Title: What We Miss When We Look For Growth

Pillar: Reflection

Mark Godi is a veteran educator, former journalist and accreditation specialist with a deep passion for helping young people find their voice and their path. He currently teaches visual art and ceramics at Linden High School, where he has built a thriving arts program known for its creativity, community impact, and student-centered growth. Before entering education, Mark spent a decade in journalism, where he developed a keen eye for storytelling, nuance, and the human condition—skills that now inform both his teaching and leadership style. He recently released his first book, Slowbuilt: Education, Growth, and Grace.

Omneya Gomaa

Title: ELD-Math Intervention: A Middle school teacher’s reflective journey

Pillar: Reflection

Omneya Gomaa is a Math Intervention Teacher at San Juan Unified, Sacramento. Believing in “it takes a village”, she strives in building community inside and outside of the classroom. As a Math Recovery Specialist, she helps her students bridge learning gaps. As a student equity advocate, she collaborates with organizations creating partnerships aiming for student success. Omneya has a Masters in Curriculum and Instruction with a focus on Math education.

Stephanie Howell

Title: From Problems to Solutions: Applying Design Thinking

Pillar: Rigor

Stephanie Howell is an education strategist and best-selling co-author of Control the Chaos: Creating Order in the Classroom and Teaching Executive Functioning Skills. As CEO of Gold EDU and Control the Chaos EDU, she works with schools to build coaching systems that translate into real classroom practice. Stephanie has spoken at conferences around the world and holds master’s degrees in Curriculum and Instruction and Educational Leadership. Her work has earned her recognition as a Google Innovator, Microsoft Innovative Educator, and ISTE 20 to Watch, as well as a spot on an ISTE Distinguished District team.

Shaun Hurtado

Title: 75 Culture and 75 Leadership

Pillar: Reflection

Title: Leading With Culture – Creating Schools All Students Want to Attend

Pillar: Relationships

Shaun Hurtado has served in TK–12 leadership roles across urban, rural, and suburban districts, building positive school cultures where students and staff thrive. He presents at conferences and leads professional development on leadership and culture. Passionate about instructional leadership, he focuses on improving outcomes, supporting wellness, and developing strong leaders.

Ann Kozma

Title: The Ultimate Student Voice Toolkit

Pillar: Reflection

Ann Kozma is an Education Evangelist at Adobe who champions creativity in teaching and learning. With 25+ years in education, she empowers educators and students to explore, create, and innovate. Known for her energy and community focus, she embraces a #BetterTogether mindset.

Enrique Lopez

Enrique Lopez, a father of three and avid Dodgers fan, joined SJCOE in 2005. Rising from substitute assistant to Principal of Redwood School and Young Adult programs, Enrique is a dedicated leader. He focuses on supporting students, staff, and families with a “Students First” heart and a passion for special education.

Steve Martinez

Title: From Problems to Solutions: Applying Design Thinking

Pillar: Rigor

Title: Fast and Mysterious: Student Detective Curiosity

Pillar: Relevance

Title: Blunder Busters: Become Mistake Detectives

Pillar: Relationships

Steve Martinez began serving as the Pre-Service & Community Liaison Coordinator at Teachers College of San Joaquin in 2025. A former Social Science teacher with a passion for educational technology, Steve has presented a wide range of topics, including Project-Based Learning, Design Thinking, Digital Notebooking, Blended Learning, and the Flipped Classroom. In 2022, he was honored as the Emerging Teacher of the Year at CUE Spring CUE.

Steve also served as the Teaching and Learning Coordinator for the Pacific Northwest at Kami, where he supported educators in integrating digital tools into their classrooms. Outside of his professional work, he co-hosts the Under the Hat Podcast, sharing insights, interviews, and reflections on teaching and learning.

Steve holds a Bachelor’s degree in Social Science and a Master’s in Education from California State University, Stanislaus. His academic background, combined with his classroom and EdTech experience, fuels his passion for empowering educators and reimagining the future of learning.

Robert Mayfield

Title: Random Emojis. Real Writing. Rotation That Works

Pillar: Rigor

Title: AI-Literate Learners: Building Critical Thinkers in the Age of AI

Pillar: Relevance

Title: From Boring to Engaging: Using AI to Rethink Curriculum

Pillar: Relevance

Title: Writing with EduProtocols: Intro to Random Emoji Power Paragraph

Pillar: Rigor

Robert Mayfield is a Language and Literacy Coordinator at SJCOE and former classroom teacher with 20 years of experience. He also teaches EdTech in the TCSJ Residency Program. His work focuses on small group learning and EduProtocols to increase engagement, strengthen literacy, and elevate student thinking, with AI integration explored through his teaching and presentations.

Danielle McPherson

Danielle McPherson has served with the San Joaquin County Office of Education for over 10 years, beginning as an instructional assistant, then teacher, and now Special Education Director. She oversees Extensive Support Needs programs in the Tracy area, supporting students, staff, and families while promoting inclusive, high-quality educational opportunities.

June McTeer

Title: Coffee & Inclusion: Starting a student-led coffee cart in your ESN class

Pillar: Relevance

Bio coming soon.

Dr. Hannah M. Miller Niane

Hannah Niane

Title: Impact of Technology Deserts on Learning

Pillar: Relevance

Dr. Hannah Niane (“Dr. Hannah”) is an educator, strategist, and community advocate advancing educational equity. She holds a doctorate in Educational Leadership (Educational Technology) from the University of Phoenix. A dynamic presenter, she shares practical strategies on edtech integration, inclusive learning, community-centered leadership, and empowering student changemakers.

Lisa Moe

Title: And the Crowd Goes Wild! Breaking Barriers in Learning, Confidence, and Creativity

Pillar: Relevance

Lisa Moe is a 6th-grade teacher and 2026 Riverside County Teacher of the Year, known for transforming classrooms into spaces of creativity, confidence, and student voice. A national presenter, she supports educators in breaking barriers and designing inclusive learning where all students think deeply, create boldly, and see what they are capable of.

Ryan O'Donnell

Title: Vibe Coding in Action: Building Classroom Tools with AI

Pillar: Relevance

Title: Chromebooks as Game Boards: Game-Based Learning Reimagined

Pillar: Relationships

Ryan O’Donnell is a Video Production teacher at Rocklin High School with 25 years of experience in education. Known as “The Game Show Guy,” Ryan is passionate about student engagement and specializes in merging educational technology with games to create interactive learning experiences. He has presented these innovative strategies at workshops and conferences across the country.

Derek Oldfield

Title: Making Instruction Visible

Pillar: Reflection

Bio coming soon.

Scott Reiter

Title: Make Learning Stick: Transforming Any Curriculum with EduProtocols and Real-Time Feedback

Pillar: Relevance

Scott Reiter, a 2024 San Diego Unified Teacher of the Year, has dedicated over 25 years to fostering inclusive, high-energy learning environments across general and special education classrooms in San Diego. He holds an M.Ed. in Elementary Education from San Diego State University. Driven by his personal experience overcoming a childhood disability, Scott specializes in integrating creative, accessible instructional methods that engage diverse learners. He is a firm believer in the power of a growth mindset to unlock the potential of every student.

Aman Sahota

Title: Operationalizing Your Portrait of Graduate With Agents

Pillar: Rigor

Bio coming soon.

Jeremy Sederquist

Title: All Systems Go! Positive Classroom Culture and Achievement

Pillar: Rigor

Jeremy Sederquist has been teaching for the last 12 years and earned his Masters in STEM Education from TCSJ. He is currently teaching a STEM elective course and a math support class at Creekside Middle School in Patterson. He loves engaging his students in meaningful learning through powerful classroom systems fueled by positive reinforcement and gamification!

Megan Smith

Title: Storytelling in Science: A Tool for STEM Integration

Pillar: Relationships

Megan Smith, a STEM Coordinator at the San Joaquin County Office of Education, leads the statewide CAL-MSCS initiative to advance professional learning in STEM education. She is an instructor for TCSJ and serves as President-Elect of the California Association of Science Educators while pursuing her Ed.D. in Organizational Leadership.

Marnie Stockman & Nick Coniglio

Title: Why Your Best Students Still Can’t Answer “Tell Me About Yourself”

Pillar: Reflection

Title: The Recommendation Advantage: How One Process Shapes Futures— Yours and Your Students

Pillar: Relationships

Marnie Stockman, Ed.D., and Nick Coniglio are entrepreneurs and co-creators of Blue, a platform helping students build real-world skills, tell their story, and create opportunity. Former operators who built and sold an eight-figure company, they now partner with educators to equip students with the tools, confidence, and direction needed for life after graduation.

Anna Tafoya

Title: Intervention With Intention: Creating Sustainable Tier 2 Literacy Structures

Pillar: Rigor

Title: Peer Power: Using Cross-Age Mentoring to Strengthen Literacy and Leadership

Pillar: Relationships

Bio coming soon.

Michael Tominaga

Title: Safe for Whom? Multilingual Learners in School Safety

Pillar: Reflection

Michael Tominaga is an “Educator first” who has served as a classroom teacher and administrator in both dual immersion and mainstream settings. He brings expertise in English Language Development and supporting diverse learners, and is committed to building equitable systems that uplift students, families, and the broader community.

Jenna Valponi & Hailey Nussbaumer

Jenna Valponi

Title: Phonics for Big Kids

Pillar: Rigor

Jenna Valponi is a Reading and Language Literacy Specialist and Title I teacher at Ripon Elementary in Ripon. She’s been a teacher for 19 years and has taught kindergarten through 12th grade.

Hailey Nussbaumer is a new teacher, having taught 7th grade at Ripon Elementary for 2 years.

Sophie Youngs

Title: Fast and Mysterious: Student Detective Curiosity

Pillar: Relevance

Title: Blunder Busters: Become Mistake Detectives

Pillar: Relationships

Sophie Youngs, M.Ed. (Ed.D. Candidate), is an Instructional Architect and host of the Under the Hat podcast. A veteran leader and Data Guru, she presents on bridging technical grit with pedagogical soul. Sophie designs for the Zebras—learners at the edges—ensuring the whole herd thrives through intentional UDL advocacy.

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Registration will close on June 26, 2026

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