End: Monday, June 17, 2024 - 04:30 pm
BISMARCK, N.D. – Gov. Doug Burgum will welcome educators, administrators, students and community leaders to the eighth annual Governor’s Summit on Innovative Education on Monday, June 17, at the National Energy Center of Excellence at Bismarck State College.
The daylong summit begins at 9 a.m. CT Monday with a keynote address from Burgum that will outline North Dakota’s progress on supporting innovative education during the eight years of his administration and look at current and future efforts.
The theme of the event is "Navigating the Future: AI's Role in Education." Participants will learn how to maximize artificial intelligence, hear from leading industry experts and identify strategies that empower educators to use AI as a tool to transform the classroom.
This year’s keynote speakers include:
- Pat Yongpradit (yung-PRAH-dit), the chief academic officer for Code.org, a nonprofit dedicated to promoting computer science education. Yongpradit is an international voice on computer science education and advises education systems around the world. Notably, he has led the development of the K-12 Computer Science Framework, the annual State of Computer Science report, and is now leading TeachAI, a global initiative to provide guidance on integrating AI in education. He has been recognized as a Microsoft Worldwide Innovative Educator and is featured in the book, “American Teacher: Heroes in the Classroom.”
- Matt Kirchner (KIRK-ner), an international speaker, author, business leader and podcast host on topics of interest to educators, public policy makers and employers. Kirchner, who also spoke at the 2023 summit, hosts the weekly TechEd Podcast featuring leaders in industry and education and serves as president of ATS/LAB Midwest, a leading distributor of world-class curriculum, eLearning and training equipment. Kirchner also writes monthly leadership columns appearing in Products Finishing and Production Machining magazines and is the author of “Teaching the Industrial Internet of Things: Preparing Students and Learners for Industry 4.0.” He is a certified public accountant and has served in executive roles for multiple companies, including as CEO of American Finishing Resources from 2008 to 2015.
- Melody Schopp (shop), director of education industry consulting at North Carolina-based data and AI provider SAS. Schopp served as South Dakota Secretary of Education from 2011 to 2017 and also has 24 years of classroom experience in Lemmon, S.D. Following her career in state government, she launched a national education consulting business. In her current role, she supports Education Practice to support education leaders and states in solutions-based analytics to improve student outcomes. She also previously served as president of the national Council of Chief State School Officers, as treasurer of the Education Commission of the States and on the board of directors of Jobs for America’s Graduates.
The #InnovativeND Awards will be presented during the summit. Video of the summit will be livestreamed at www.governor.nd.gov.