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Future-Ready Classrooms: Innovating Early Learning with Digital Tools, AI, and Data-Informed Instruction
Tuesday, February 10, 2026 @ 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm EST
Presented by Meghan Manfra, Ph.D., Professor in the College of Education at NC State University, Faculty Director of AI Literacy at NC State Data Science and AI Academy, and Research Affiliate at UNC Center for Information, Technology, and Public Life; Carrie Rogers, Founder and CEO, Digital Respons-Ability and Digital Citizenship Foundation; and Kathy Hollowell-Makle, Principal Education Consultant, Makle Consulting Group, LLC
Moderated by Nicole Nesheim, Ph.D., Chief Academic Officer, Hatch Early Learning
Sponsored by Hatch Early Learning – The Early Learning Experts
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In this edWebinar, the presenters explore how digital learning tools and AI are further transforming early childhood classrooms in the current landscape. They discuss strategies to supplement core curricula with adaptive assessment and progress monitoring tools, and highlight 2026 trends shaping instructional design, family engagement, and funding priorities in early learning. Key themes include equity in digital access, teacher support, AI literacy for educators, and personalized learning trends.
Viewers leave with practical, classroom-ready insights that can be applied immediately. This recorded edWebinar is of interest to PreK-3 teachers, school leaders, district leaders, and education technology leaders.
About the Presenters
Meghan Manfra, Ph.D., is a Professor in the Department of Teacher Education and Learning Sciences in the College of Education and Faculty Director for AI Literacy in the Data Science and AI Academy at NC State University. She is a research affiliate with the UNC Center for Information, Technology, and Public Life and the founder of Action in Professional Learning. She partners with individuals and organizations to drive data-informed improvement and is the author of Action Research for Classrooms, Schools, and Communities (Sage) and Fighting Fake News for Teens and Adolescents: Navigating Social Media and Creating Healthy Digital Futures (Bloomsbury), and the editor of the Handbook of Social Studies Research (Wiley). Dr. Manfra’s Spencer Foundation research grant focuses on refining action research methodologies, and her Library of Congress Consortium grant aims at improving digital instruction. She was the National Technology Leadership Initiative Fellowship recipient for her contributions to education and technology.
Carrie Rogers, MPA, MLIS, is the founder of Digital Respons-Ability, a mission-based company that works with educators, parents, and students to teach digital citizenship. Carrie is the author of nine books, three directed to parents and caregivers. She is currently editing an academic series with Bloomsbury on digital citizenship education and trends, and lives in Utah with her family.
Kathy Hollowell-Makle is the Principal Consultant at the Makle Consulting Group. She has 25+ years of professional experience and academic achievements as a passionate administrator, early childhood educator, and policy influencer. Kathy applies extensive knowledge of current matters facing the early childhood education field and infuses a community- and family-based approach to improve educational access and success for all. In her free time, she enjoys traveling the world and bragging about her two children.
About the Moderator
Nicole Nesheim, Ph.D., has dedicated her career to advancing education through school leadership, advocacy, family advising, and research. She has experience in PreK through higher education and currently serves as Chief Academic Officer at Hatch Early Learning. With deep expertise in educational leadership, policy, and edtech innovation, she brings a strategic, research-driven lens to the conversation.
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Hatch Early Learning is the trusted leader in early education, providing administrators and teachers with actionable data on student readiness in multiple domains. Our research-based solutions offer valuable insights into student progress, enabling informed decision making and targeted interventions in online and offline settings. Streamline paperwork, save teacher time, collaborate more effectively with families, and foster a supportive educational environment with our intuitive platforms. Join Hatch Early Learning to empower educators, enhance student outcomes, and unlock the full potential of your early learners.
