Presented by Katie Novak, Ed.D., Founder and Executive Director, Novak Educational Consulting; Mirko Chardin, Education Consultant, Novak Educational Consulting; Rachel Kruzel, Territory Director, Texthelp; and Joni Degner, Territory Director, Texthelp

Sponsored by Texthelp

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As schools across the globe create plans and set goals around diversity, equity, and inclusion, learner empowerment, universal design, and techquity are more important than ever.

Watch Katie Novak, Ed.D. and Mirko Chardin, along with Texthelpers Rachel Kruzel and Joni Degner, for part two of our two-part edWebinar series on techquity.  Explore new perspectives on techquity, universal design, and decision making that prioritize equity and mitigate disproportionality. Build on the background established in part one (although participation in our first edWebinar isn’t necessary) and explore methods to examine classroom practices and evaluate edtech solutions and your selection processes with a techquity lens.

This recorded edWebinar will be of interest to teachers and school and district leaders of all grade levels.

Prioritizing Equitable Access to Learning Through Technology – Part 1

About the Presenters

Katie Novak, Ed.D. is an internationally renowned education consultant, author, graduate instructor at the University of Pennsylvania, and a former assistant superintendent of schools in Massachusetts. With 19 years of experience in teaching and administration, an earned doctorate in curriculum and teaching, and eight published books, Dr. Novak designs and presents workshops both nationally and internationally focusing on the implementation of inclusive practices, Universal Design for Learning (UDL), Multi-Tiered Systems of Support, and universally designed leadership. Dr. Novak’s work has impacted educators worldwide as her contributions and collaborations have built upon the foundation for an educational framework that is critical for student success. Dr. Novak’s work has been highlighted in many publications including Edutopia, Cult of Pedagogy, Language Magazine, NAESP Principal Magazine, ADDitude Magazine, CommonWealth Magazine, The Inclusion Lab, Think Inclusive, Huffington Post, Principal Leadership Magazine, District Administration, ASCD Education Update, and School Administrator.

Mirko Chardin is the founding head of school of the Putnam Avenue Upper School in Cambridge, MA. Mirko’s work has involved all areas of school management and student support. His greatest experience and passion revolve around culturally connected teaching and learning, recruiting and retaining educators of color, restorative practice, and school culture. He is also a race, diversity and cultural proficiency facilitator and leadership coach for the Aspire Institute at Boston University’s New Wheelock College of Human Development and Education. He is a principal mentor for the Perone-Sizer Creative Leadership Institute, a Trustee at Wheaton College and is an active hip-hop artist, releasing the album Unhealthy Societies this past year. Mirko presents both locally and nationally on issues of cultural proficiency, equity and the use of personal narratives. He is also the co-author with Dr. Katie Novak of the newly released Equity by Design: Delivering on the Power and Promise of UDL.

Rachel Kruzel, ATP is the territory sales director for Texthelp supporting Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, and Missouri. She is a RESNA Certified Assistive Technology Professional. Rachel spent 10 years working as an assistive technology specialist in the disability resource offices at colleges and universities in Minnesota. During her time in higher ed, she built and developed assistive technology programs, implemented edtech across campus, and helped to lead the campus’s digital accessibility initiatives. Rachel is a national expert in the areas of assistive technology, digital accessibility, and implementation of technology to support student learning in higher ed, presenting both regionally and nationally on these topics and others.

Working shoulder to shoulder with learners and educators, Joni Degner is a recognized international expert on the implementation of UDL for schools, districts and institutions of opportunity. A member of the CAST Professional Learning Cadre and now full-time Texthelper, Joni is passionate about Universal Design for Learning for instructional designers, teachers and leadership. Having previously worked as UDL Facilitator for Bartholomew Consolidated School Corporation, Joni brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the edWebinar.

Closed captioning will be added to the recording within 2 weeks of the live presentation.

Join the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion community to network with educators, participate in online discussions, receive invitations to upcoming edWebinars, and view recordings of previous programs to earn CE certificates.

Hello, we’re Texthelp… We believe that literacy is every student’s passport to academic, social and professional success. It’s our genuine desire to help students understand, learn and express themselves. We create user-friendly literacy and learning solutions, that provide the support each student needs; through reading, writing, STEM and research. Texthelp software continues to be used daily by millions of students and educators throughout schools, colleges and universities worldwide.