Sutherland Institute announced an upcoming event, “Innovations for Growing Education Choice.”
The panel, to be held Wednesday evening, Jan. 24, is the third of four in a series hosted by Sutherland Institute addressing a range of education topics. As seating is limited, preregistration is encouraged.
“Innovations for Growing Education Choice” will discuss the need for a variety of learning paths for students. Panelists (details below) will include the founder and CEO of My Tech High (an innovative, online, public school program), a current high school principal, a mother and public advocate for education choice, and the director of industry and talent initiatives for the Utah Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED). These individuals are willing to share personal stories, successes and challenges with education choice. Members of the public are encouraged to share this event on Facebook.
The final panel in Sutherland’s series will address innovations for students with special needs and will be held in March.
From Sutherland Education Policy Director Christine Cooke (panel moderator):
“Part of the reason this panel is so important is that it expands what we mean by ‘education choice.’ It’s not just choosing a private school – it’s students choosing courses, services, career pathways, and the time, pace, and place of learning. The innovators on this panel will show a range of ways to treat students like the individuals they are.”
EVENT DETAILS
WHEN: Wednesday, Jan. 24, 7:30 – 8:30 p.m.
WHERE: Utah State Capitol, East Senate Building, Copper Room, 350 State St., Salt Lake City, Utah 84111
PANELISTS:
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Matt Bowman grew up with a love of learning and has spent the last 25 years involved with education, online learning, public school choice, technology, and entrepreneurship. In 2009, Matt became the founder and CEO of My Tech High, an innovative, online public school program focused on tech and entrepreneurship. Administered by districts and charter schools, the full-time My Tech High program works closely with parents to provide a high-quality, personalized education experience to students in grades K-12. Matt is a Utah-certified teacher who holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in education. He is also an alumnus of Stanford’s executive business management program.
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Kenneth Grover has worked in the Salt Lake City School District for over 20 years. During this time he has worked as a teacher, high school principal and director. Kenneth started Innovations High featuring “anytime, anywhere” learning; full instructional integration with the local community college; career-path support; mastery-based education; college & career readiness; real-time progress monitoring for students and parents; and self-directed learning. He has inspired, trained, and collaborated with educators from around the country to understand and implement scalable personalized learning in their schools. Kenneth’s education contributions have been featured by TEDx, The Gallup Group, EdNext, Clayton Christensen Institute for Disruptive Innovation, and more.
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Katherine Visser has a son with special needs, 13, and a daughter, 10, both of whom are Arizona Empowerment Scholarship Account recipients. Her son was one of the first 75 students to receive the ESA in its first semester. Her daughter receives the scholarship as a sibling of a qualified student. Her family has used the scholarship funds for both private school placement and customizing an education from home. She attended the University of Northern Colorado and graduated with a degree in music education. Ms. Visser has experience in the public school setting teaching band, choir, general music and private lessons from preschool though 12th grades in Colorado, Alaska and Arizona. She has worked in classrooms as an instructional assistant and volunteer.
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Kimberlee Carlile is director of industry and talent initiatives for the Utah Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED). Carlile is currently the state lead on Talent Ready Utah, Gov. Gary Herbert’s initiative to increase industry and educational partnerships in Utah. Carlile has helped implement pathway programs in three different Utah industries: aerospace manufacturing, diesel technology and medical innovation. Prior to her time at GOED, Carlile worked as an enrollment recruiter for Utah Valley University, where she also received her bachelor’s degree in communications with a minor in business management and certificate in leadership. Carlile’s experience in education communications has helped move the state’s workforce development initiatives into the spotlight.
