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The Opportunity Group is currently comprised of eight consultants. Our experience covers preK-12 classroom
instruction, as well as site and district administration. Several of us also have experience in regional and state level administration.
Scroll down this page to learn more about us.
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Susan Brooks-Young has been involved in the field
of instructional technology since 1979. She was one of the original technology users in the district where she taught and
has continued to explore ways in which technology can be used to facilitate student learning. She has worked as computer mentor,
technology trainer, and technology curriculum specialist.
Prior to establishing her own consulting firm,
Susan was a teacher, site administrator, and technology specialist in a county office of education in a career that spanned
more than 23 years. Since 1986, she has published articles and software reviews in a variety of education journals. She is
also author of eight books which focus on education technology and leadership.
Susan works with educators internationally, focusing
on practical technology-based strategies for personal productivity and effective technology implementation in schools, including
mobile technologies running iOS or Android OS. She is available
for keynotes, conference sessions and workshops, and local or regional training.
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Ryan Imbriale
is the Principal of Patapsco High School & Center for the Arts in Dundalk, MD. Prior to becoming a school-based
administrator, Ryan was the e-Learning Specialist for the Baltimore County Public Schools. In this role, Ryan worked
with online stakeholders including vendors, school administrators, instructors, parents, students, mentors, and the community.
Before
coming to Baltimore County Ryan was Facilitator of the Maryland Students Online Consortium, working with 17 Maryland school
systems to review, pilot, evaluate, modify, and recommend online courses for students, as well as Program Coordinator for
Professional Development at The Johns Hopkins University Center for Technology in Education.
Ryan has
extensive experience presenting to audiences on online learning, technology infusion, curriculum design, and effective professional
development. Additionally, he teaches graduate classes for The Johns Hopkins University in curriculum leadership, school leadership,
and advanced instructional strategies.
Ryan is
a Past-President of MICCA (now MSET), Maryland's ISTE Affiliate, and he is a former member of the Board of Directors for ISTE,
the International Society for Technology in Education. In 2008, Ryan was named one of its "20 to Watch" educators by
the National School Boards Association (NSBA) and in 2009 Ryan was awarded the Making IT Happen award, honoring educational
technology leaders around the world for their commitment and innovation. In 2010, Tech & Learning magazine
named Ryan one of the future leaders in its 100@30 as part of the magazine’s 30th anniversary celebration.
The list includes the 100 most important people in education technology from the past, present, and future.
For more information, read Ryan's resume.
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Dan
has over 40 years of experience in public education in Colorado.
Dan
is currently the Executive Director and Director of Professional Development for eNetColorado, a statewide partnership of over 70 school districts and organizations
working together to identify, collect, house, and deploy professional development
resources to Colorado educators.
Dan
has also created and delivered online classes through the National School Boards Association Online Learning Center and has
been an online facilitator and trainer for a number International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) Institutes and
staff development projects working with K-12 administrators and teachers. He
is also a National Senior Trainer and staff developer for the Intel Teach program, an adjunct faculty member at the University
of Denver and has created and delivered a class called “Educational Leadership in a Digital Age” which is part
of the university's graduate outreach program for professional educators.
He
most recently served for two years as the director of Educational Technology
and Innovation for the Colorado Department of Education (CDE) and was responsible for assisting and supporting staff in effective
use of 21st Century tools and collaboration strategies. He assisted CDE in identifying professional development strategies for the implementation of the next
generation of content, standards, curriculum, instruction and assessment.
For more information, read Dan's resume.
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Chris O'Neal is a former elementary and middle
school teacher originally teaching in the Calcasieu Parish School System in Louisiana, where he received numerous Teacher
of the Year honors. After leaving the classroom, Chris went on to work in the Curriculum and Instruction office for the school
district as a technology coordinator. He went on to work at the State Department of Education in Louisiana for 5 years, focusing
on grant management, policy and planning issues, district support, and eventually becoming the state director of educational
technology.
Chris is now working at the University
of Virginia in conjunction with the Virginia Department of Education providing professional development to school administrators
across the state. In addition, he teaches classes for the University of Virginia in both a traditional and online format.
Chris also provides leadership professional
development, content development, and consulting for ISTE (International Society for Technology in Education) and the George
Lucas Educational Foundation, and conducts educational leadership institutes, workshops, and evaluations for several districts
around the country.
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Kevin McGillivray
has spent the last twelve years helping teachers and administrators connect curriculum and assessment to the use of technology
within the classroom and school. He has worked as a consultant on projects
for the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE), Open Systems Technologies, CORE BTS, and the Department
of Defense overseas school system. He has also directed a ten-year project
of technology integration in a large school district. His expertise includes:
· Applying technology to teaching and learning
· Applying technology to administrative applications that support
program decision-making and staff productivity
· Organizing and delivering professional development, particularly
focused on integrating technology into the curriculum
· Developing effective assessment strategies
· Effecting large scale, systemic change in a large school
organization
· Writing and speaking in support of the overall instructional
program and effective use of technology
Kevin is a recognized
presenter at State, National and International conferences including NECC, NCCE, CoSN, ASCD, and the Harvard Graduate School
of Education.
Kevin has designed
and facilitated teacher and administrator workshops, on-line courses for administrators and mentored teams of educators –
teachers and administrators – in educational change and improving teacher practices.
He has also developed and facilitated workshops and on-line courses in Data-Driven Decision Making for principals and
superintendents.
Prior to becoming an educational consultant, Kevin was an educator in the Oregon
Public Schools and the Department of Defense Dependent Schools
(DoDDS) in Germany.
For more information, read Kevin's resume.
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Gene Bias is an educator and trainer with proven leadership skills and experience in the
area of staff development focusing on technology integration and Project Based Learning. During his career with the Orange
County, Florida, Public Schools, the 12th largest district in the U.S., Bias was a resource teacher for the Technology
Development Unit and part of the team responsible for staff development in technology integration for 170+ schools and more
than 22,000 teachers and administrators. Bias also conducted staff development workshops where students and teachers teamed
up to learn together. Active in making presentations, conducting workshops and giving keynote addresses at state, national
and international conferences, Gene is currently an independent consultant focusing on the areas of staff development,
technology integration, and educational leadership. He conducts workshops for private and public organizations, schools,
school districts, and colleges and universities across the country and in Australia.
For more information, visit Gene's website.
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Rowland Baker’s educational
experience covers more than 30 years as a teacher, principal, Director of Technology, and as an Assistant Superintendent of
Curriculum, Instruction and Technology in a County Office of Education of about 45,000. He has also directed five statewide
technology projects for the California Department of Education. These projects ranged in scope from enhancing early reading
through technology to what school and district leaders need to know to lead 21st Century schools. The TICAL Project, which
he still directs, has received national recognition from the United States Department of Education.
Rowland was on
the original writing team to assist ISTE with the technology standards for administrators. In 2009, he was one of 8 educators
from the United States selected to attend the Edu-Summit in the Netherlands. In 2010, he was asked to represent California
on the National State Educator’s Technology Director’s Association. His
passion is to ensure our students are prepared for the 21st century in which they are entering. Rowland’s unique experience,
expertise and enthusiasm make him a valuable resource in working with school and district leadership.
For more information, read Rowland's resume.
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Gail Lovely is a former classroom
teacher of students 4 to 13 years old. Gail believes that teaching is her calling and a deep part of who she is. Gail taught
in schools for 9 years before moving into district and county-level positions in staff development and technology integration
in the classroom. She earned her Master’s Degree in Educational Computing from Pepperdine
University and was an Adjunct Professor there for many years, teaching
technology integration courses. After moving to Texas Gail returned briefly to university teaching at the University of Houston. Along the way Gail has
hosted an online community for teachers on Scholastic Network, founded the K2 Email List for Classroom Connect, and written
ongoing columns in Learning and Leading with Technology, Instructor Magazine, Electronic Learning, and Curriculum Administrator Magazine. Gail has provided content and interface development support and advice to several
educational publishers and companies, and more recently to the educational versions of several Web 2.0 tools
Gail has facilitated
professional development through ISTE (International Society for Technology in Education), Harcourt Learning Technologies,
Classroom Connect and others. She works with schools, school systems and private companies to design and deliver professional
development sessions. Gail focuses on the implementation of technologies, teaching strategies and the application of powerful
learning models. Embedded professional development, learning management in a collaborative, connected classroom, and developing
powerful learning environments are some areas of particular interest and expertise to Gail.
Gail is known
for her practical approach to education, her appreciation and admiration for teaching and learning and her skill at making
the complex understandable and the difficult manageable.
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The Opportunity Group
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