Closing Mainstage

My name is Shahd Abdalla and I am an upcoming senior attending Science Leadership Academy. I am also in SLA’s CTE Engineering program where I dive into different types of engineering studies and how to problem solve through-out my STEM career. Furthermore, I am Educon Co-Chair, which is an event that hosts an open discussion about the principles of teaching by individuals all around the country. My interests include reading, making new friends, and spreading positivity!

Chris Lehmann is the founding principal and CEO of the Science Leadership Academy and the Science Leadership Academy Schools network in Philadelphia. An award-winning educator, Lehmann serves on the board of the Philadelphia Learning Collaborative, EduColor, the Philadelphia Area Disc Alliance, and on the advisory board of the Drexel School of Education.

Shavonne has been an educator since 2005. Prior to becoming a principal, Shavonne served as a school-based teacher leader, department chair, and instructional dean. Shavonne also served as principal at Foundation Collegiate Academy where she raised the graduation rate from 88% to 96%, maintained 100% student acceptance rate to four-year colleges for three consecutive years, and increased teacher retention from 54% to 85%. Shavonne became the principal of Vaux Big Picture High School in summer of 2019 and increased the percentage of students obtaining internships from 45% to 70%. She received the Distinguished Principal award in 2021.

Amanda Nguyen is the Conference Co-Chair for ACTEM (Maine’s ISTE Affiliate). She supports programming and partnerships that create opportunities for learners to thrive in innovative and career-focused pathways. She is a former high school math/science teacher and administrator. She has created and implemented several professional learning and teacher leadership programs for educators. She earned her B.A. from Bowdoin College and M.Ed. focused on Technology, Innovation, and Education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. She is the 2021 ACTEM ACHIEVE award winner (the Making IT Happen award from Maine) an ISTE 20 to Watch awardee, and ISTE Community Leader.

Rachelle Dené Poth is a STEAM and Spanish teacher, author, consultant, attorney and presenter. Also an ISTE Certified Educator, Poth holds a Juris Doctor from Duquesne University School of Law and master's in instructional technology. Poth is the author of seven books. She’s a past president of ISTE TEN, recipient of ISTE Making IT Happen Award. Poth was named one of 30 K-12 IT Influencers for 2021, the 2017 Outstanding Teacher of the Year by PAECT, and one of “20 to Watch” educators by the NSBA. She writes for Getting Smart, Defined Learning, NEO LMS, and hosts the “ThriveinEDU” podcast

As a hardworking and passionate progressive educator, I built the design for the new Vaux Big Picture High School. I love working with high school aged youth, but I am also adept at thinking through complex problems to build programs toward success. It is my role to ensure that our schools maintain approaches in all facets of their work that align with the central tenets of Big Picture Learning: relationships, relevance, and rigor.

Kevin Roose is an award-winning technology columnist for The New York Times and the bestselling author of three books, Futureproof, Young Money and The Unlikely Disciple. His column, “The Shift,” examines the intersection of tech, business and culture. He’ll bring his take on the importance and impact of AI technologies like ChatGPT to the ISTELive Mainstage.