Bridging the Gap 2023 Conference Schedule

8:30 a.m.

Check-In/Breakfast

9:00 a.m.

for All Audiences
Auditorium
Welcome & Introduction
Suzanne Wilkison – NCABR

9:10 a.m.

for All Audiences
Auditorium
Opening Keynote:
Today’s AI for Tomorrow’s Classroom: An Educator’s Guide
Krista Glazewski – Executive Director, William and Ida Friday Institute for Educational Innovation and Associate Dean for Translational Research, College of Education, N.C. State University

10:20 a.m.

Concurrent Sessions

for High School Audiences 
Dogwood Room
Hands-On, Minds-On Instructional Practices
Scaffolded Inquiry: How to Know What You Don’t Know
Tani Caudle – Davie County High School
Matt Barker – Davie County High School
Karla Freeman – Davie County High School

for Middle School Audiences 
Congressional Room
Citizen Science
Promoting Authentic Learning Experiences Through Inquiry and Citizen Science
Rachael Polmanteer – Center for Inquiry-Based Learning
Melaine Rickard – Center for Inquiry-Based Learning
Todd Guentensberger – Center for Inquiry-Based Learning

for High School Audiences 
Board Room
STEM for All
From Mendelian Genetics to Polygenic Traits
Huei-Chen Lee – National Institute for Environmental Health Sciences

for High School Audiences 
Auditorium
STEM for All
EPA-RTP’s Summer Science Institute Strives to Close the STEM Accessibility Gap
AJ Blackburn – US Environmental Protection Agency
Kelly Witter – US Environmental Protection Agency

for All Audiences 
Jordan Room
Preparing and Teaching the Whole Child
Making STEM Education Work in K-1: Beginning, Middle and Beyond
Amy Fraboni – Greene County Schools
Andrea Aldridge – Greene County Schools
Jose Garcia – Greene County Schools

11:20 a.m.

Concurrent Sessions

for High School Audiences 
Dogwood Room
Hands-On, Minds-On Instructional Practices
Engaging Students Through the UN Sustainable Development Goals
Elizabeth Luna – Wake County Public Schools System
Terrill Hartenstein – Wake County Public Schools System

for Elementary School Audiences 
Congressional Room
Hands-On, Minds-On Instructional Practices
Family STEM Challenge
Jason Painter – The Science House
Todd Guentensberger – Center for Inquiry-Based Learning
Rachael Polmanteer – Center for Inquiry-Based Learning

for Elementary School Audiences 
Board Room
Citizen Science
Propel Learning Beyond Earth: ARISS (Amateur Radio on the International Space Station) Proposals & Growing Tomato Seeds from Space!
Josh Hunter – Wake County Public School System

for Middle School Audiences 
Auditorium
Hands-On, Minds-On Instructional Practices
Vaping: Exploring the Current Science
Jason Carter – The Science House

for All Audiences 
Jordan Room
Teacher Delight
Positioning Partnerships for Funding
Pamela Lovin – Hasse and Lovin Associates, LLC
Eleanor Hasse – Hasse and Lovin Associates, LLC

12:20 p.m.

Lunch & Exhibitor Showcase

1:20 p.m.

Concurrent Sessions

for Middle School Audiences 
Dogwood Room
STEM for All
Think (and Act) Like a Scientist Using Science and Engineering Practices as a Tool
Valerie Sellars – Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools

for All Audiences 
Congressional Room
Tech Space
Applications of Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning and Digital Technologies to the Practices of Teaching and Learning
Robert Lamb – East Carolina University

for High School Audiences 
Board Room
Industry Connections
Connections and Funding, Period
Darrell Kain – Advisory Board Activation

for All Audiences 
Auditorium
Teacher Delight
Mental Health in America: What Today’s Educators Need to Know
Samantha Meltzer-Brody – University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

for High School Audiences 
Jordan Room
STEM for All
Visual Narratives: Bridging the Gap Between Students and Practitioners in STEM Education
Stacy Huff – University of North Carolina at Greensboro

2:20 p.m.

Concurrent Sessions

for Middle School Audiences 
Dogwood Room
Hands-On, Minds-On Instructional Practices
Science and Engineering Practices, Climate Science and the New State Standards
Michelle (Taylor) Benigno – The Science House
Jason Carter – The Science House

for High School Audiences 
Congressional Room
Industry Connections
The STEM Success Formula: Unlocking the Hidden Concepts and Skills for Thriving STEM Careers
Morgan Pittman – North Carolina School of Science and Math
Candice Chambers – North Carolina School of Science and Math

for Elementary School Audiences 
Board Room
Tech Space
Building a Better Future with the BBC micro:bit
Bill Prentice – Envision Science Academy
Anna Cunningham – Envision Science Academy

for High School Audiences 
Auditorium
Hands-On, Minds-On Instructional Practices
Illuminating Legacies: Students Design an App to Honor African American Freedom in North Carolina at the North Carolina Freedom Park
Danielle McCaslin – Wake County Public School System
Tonya Hinton – Wake County Public School System

for Middle School Audiences 
Jordan Room
Industry Connections
Creating Meaningful STEM Industry Partnerships in Rural N.C. Schools
LaTricia Townsend – North Carolina State University
Tameshia Baldwin – North Carolina State University

3:20 p.m.

Break & Exhibitor Showcase

3:40 p.m.

Concurrent Sessions

for High School Audiences 
Dogwood Room
Hands-On, Minds-On Instructional Practices
Harnessing the Power of Technology to Afford Access to STEM Opportunities
Robert Cobb – North Carolina A&T State University

for Middle School Audiences 
Board Room
Industry Connections
Five Practical Ways to Include Artificial Intelligence: Ethics, Critical Thinking, Diversity and Career Connections in the Grades 5-12 Classroom
Moni Singh – STEM for Kids
Shelby VanBlon – STEM for Kids

for High School Audiences 
Auditorium
STEM for All
Centering Justice in the Science Classroom: A Phenomenon-Based Approach
Lenora Crabtree – University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Janna Sherman – Lincoln Charter School

for Elementary School Audiences 
Jordan Room
STEM 101
Launching a STEM/STEAM Program in Your School
Kayla Dellinger – Envision Science Academy

4:30 p.m.

Adjourn

8:30 a.m.

Check-In/Breakfast

9:00 a.m.

Concurrent Sessions

for All Audiences 
Dogwood Room
Hands-On, Minds-On Instructional Practices
STEM Schools of Distinction: An Introductory Conversation
Howard Ginsburg – North Carolina Department of Public Instruction
Bruce Middleton – STEM East
Carol Moore – STEM West

for Middle School Audiences 
Congressional Room
Citizen Science
Girls Citizen Scientist
Denise Johnson – Winston-Salem State University

for High School Audiences 
Board Room
Spanning Silos
Climate Complexity, Variability and Change: Re-Living the Yellow Brick Road
John White – US Government

for All Audiences 
Auditorium
Teacher Delight
AI in Medicine and Health: What You Should Know
Shelley Rusincovitch – Duke AI Health

for High School Audiences 
Jordan Room
Spanning Silos
STEM Ambassadors
Christy Cook – Yadkin Valley Regional Career Academy
Rebecca Kaserman-Johnson – Yadkin Valley Regional Career Academy

10:00 a.m.

Break & Exhibitor Showcase

10:15 a.m.

Concurrent Sessions

for All Audiences 
Dogwood Room
Hands-On, Minds-On Instructional Practices
North Carolina STEM Resources and Key Partners
Howard Ginsburg – North Carolina Department of Public Instruction
Bruce Middleton – STEM East
Carol Moore – STEM West

for Middle School Audiences 
Congressional Room
Spanning Silos
Coding Across the Curriculum Through Mini-Challenges
Matthew Lococo – Greene County Schools

for All Audiences 
Board Room
Spanning Silos
International Connections: Early Exposure to Cross-Cultural Perspectives in a STEM Education Setting
Keriayn Smith – UNC Chapel Hill/Society for Scientific Advancement
Danielle Webster – University of Central Florida/Society for Scientific Advancement

for High School Audiences 
Auditorium
Hands-On, Minds-On Instructional Practices
Creating a Resilience Mindset Through Hands-On Engineering Projects
Allison Lee – Campbell University
Martha Bizzell – Campbell University

for High School Audiences 
Jordan Room
STEM for All
STEM in the English Classroom
Jessica Hicks – Cabarrus County Schools
Jennifer Caligan – Cabarrus County Schools

11:15 a.m.

Concurrent Sessions

for High School Audiences 
Dogwood Room
Spanning Silos
Spanning Silos with Student Storytelling
Chris Harried – Morehead Planetarium & Science Center

for Higher Education Audiences 
Congressional Room
STEM 101
Developing a Consortium of Next Generation Black STEM Teachers
Denise Johnson – Winton-Salem State University

for Elementary School Audiences 
Board Room
Hands-On, Minds-On Instructional Practices
STEM-based Learning with Project Learning Tree
Renee Strnad – Project Learning Tree

for Middle School Audiences 
Auditorium
STEM for All
Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in STEM Education: Examples of Action
Michelle Ellis – Garinger High School
Jason Carter – The Science House

for Higher Education Audiences 
Jordan Room
Industry Connections
Influencing STEM Persistence in Underrepresented and Underserved Populations Attending an HBCU: Phase Two
Antonio Rook – Elizabeth City State University

12:15 p.m.

Lunch & Exhibitor Showcase

1:15 p.m.

Concurrent Sessions

for All Audiences 
Dogwood Room
Industry Connections
Plant The Seeds & Grow Our Own Workforce
Mark Meno – US Navy

for High School Audiences
for Higher Education Audiences 
Congressional Room
STEM for All
Academy for Emerging Scholars: Extending STEM Education to Underserved High Schools in North Carolina
Tim Marks – Campbell University
Vanessa Ayer-Miller – Campbell University
Charles Carter – Campbell University

for Elementary School Audiences 
Board Room
Citizen Science
Tackling the Standard Through Storytelling, Inquiry and Citizen Science
Lena Deskins – Sandy Ridge Elementary
Rachael Polmanteer – Center for Inquiry-Based Learning

for All Audiences 
Auditorium
Teacher Delight
What’s New in the 2023 K-12 Science Standards?
Charles Aiken – North Carolina Department of Public Instruction

for Middle School Audiences 
Jordan Room
Hands-On, Minds-On Instructional Practices
Strategic Teaching to Engage Minds
Michelle Chadwick – Onslow County Schools
Kelly Dillman – Onslow County Schools

2:15 p.m.

Concurrent Sessions

for High School Audiences 
Dogwood Room
Hands-On, Minds-On Instructional Practices
Biomake: Unleashing the Power of 3D Biology
Eric Saliim – North Carolina Central University

for Elementary School Audiences 
Congressional Room
STEM 101
Solving Everyday Problems with The Engineering Design Process
Leah Bug – The Engineering Place at North Carolina State University
Susan D’Amico – North Carolina State University

for All Audiences 
Board Room
Teacher Delight
STEM Education: Skills Needed to Become a Leader
Pat Shane – University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Alisa Wickliff – University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Christine Sudzina – East Chapel Hill High School

for All Audiences 
Auditorium
Teacher Delight
What’s New in the 2023 K-12 Science Standards?
Charles Aiken – North Carolina Department of Public Instruction

for All Audiences 
Jordan Room
Spanning Silos
International Connections: Early Exposure to Cross-Cultural Perspectives in a STEM Education Setting
Keriayn Smith – UNC Chapel Hill/Society for Scientific Advancement
Danielle Webster – University of Central Florida/Society for Scientific Advancement

3:15 p.m.

Concurrent Sessions

for High School Audiences 
Dogwood Room
Preparing and Teaching the Whole Child
Utilization of Touchpoint Practices as a Framework for Accelerating Math, ELA and Science in Student Learning Recovery
Jerome Williams – Halifax County Schools

for Elementary School Audiences 
Congressional Room
Preparing and Teaching the Whole Child
Connecting the Body and Soul through Dance
Marvis Henderson – ME Henderson, Inc.

for Middle School Audiences 
Board Room
Tech Space
Rolling into Computational Thinking with Sphero Bolt
Jennifer Caligan – Cabarrus County Schools

for Elementary School Audiences 
Auditorium
Hands-On, Minds-On Instructional Practices
Integrating Computer Science with the K-5 N.C. Standard Course of Study
Natalie Hulbert – North Carolina Department of Public Instruction

for All Audiences 
Jordan Room
Teacher Delight
Measuring and Communicating Success
Pamela Lovin – Hasse and Lovin Associates, LLC
Eleanor Hasse – Hasse and Lovin Associates, LLC

4:05 p.m.

Adjourn