AI: Embracing the Opportunity

Matthew J. Murphy, Ed.D. has been Superintendent of the Ramsey Public Schools since 2012. Before that, he served as the Chief School Administrator in the River Vale Public Schools. Prior to becoming a superintendent, he served as the Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction, Director of Elementary Education, and Principal in the Westwood Regional School District. He began his career in Wyckoff, New Jersey as a teacher, a building-based technology coordinator, and a vice principal. Dr. Murphy is also an adjunct professor at Ramapo College where he teaches in the Educational Leadership program which emphasizes the role a leader has in curricula and supervision. Dr. Murphy earned his doctorate and professional diploma from Fordham University. He earned a master’s of science/technology in education from Long Island University and a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from the University of Rhode Island.

Chandra Orrill, Ph.D. is an educational researcher with expertise in mathematics education and instructional technology. Before joining Rethink Learning Labs, Dr. Orrill was a Professor in STEM Education at UMass Dartmouth where she led the Kaput Center for Research and Innovation in STEM Education for several years. Dr. Orrill is passionate about working with teachers to create inquiry-oriented, technology-based, and discussion-oriented learning spaces for mathematics and computational thinking. Dr. Orrill has served as principal investigator or co-principal investigator on over $13 million in grants over the past 20 years. She is published in mathematics education and learning sciences journals and is active in professional organizations in math education and the learning sciences.

P. Erik Gundersen, Ed.D. is the Superintendent of Schools for Suffern Central School District in New York State. Dr. Gundersen began his career as a physics teacher in the Pascack Valley Regional High School District where he became Director of Curriculum and Instruction before rising to be Superintendent for 10 years before joining Suffern. He is a gifted educational leader and a member of the League of Innovative Schools.

Larry Cocco is the Senior Professional Learning Consultant for edWeb.net. Larry is a digital learning expert whose goal is to actively promote and facilitate the transformation of educational practices through the design and implementation of 21st-century teaching strategies, professional learning, and learning environments. His previous positions include Senior Program Manager, State Education Data Systems at Public Consulting Group; Senior Program Consultant for Sustainable Jersey Digital Schools; and Director of Educational Technology for the New Jersey Department of Education. He served on the Board of Directors for the State Educational Technology Directors Association (SETDA) and was recognized in 2014 as their State Leader of the Year. In 2021, Larry received the ClassLink Visionary Technology Leader Award. His additional experience includes Associate Vice President for Government Relations at NJEdge.net, Principal K-12 Technology Consultant for Office Depot’s Education Division, and Media Integration Project Director at Jersey City Public Schools. He serves on the Digital Equity Plan Working Group for the New Jersey Office of Broadband Connectivity, and annually as a judge for the Milken-Penn GSE Education Business Plan Competition. Larry has an M.A. in educational communication and technology from NYU.