Advisory Council

The AALF Advisory Council is comprised of members that represent various sectors of education and are experienced in implementing and sustaining one-to-one technology programs for students and teachers.

2008 Advisory Council

David Cavallo

David Cavallo is Director for Central and South America of the One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) group, whose mission is to design, manufacture and distribute laptop computers that are sufficiently affordable to provide every child in the world access to new channels of learning, sharing and self-expression. David is also the co-head of the MIT Media Lab's Future of Learning group, which focuses on the design and implementation of new learning environments and on the design of new technologies that will change the way people think about "learning" and "school." David has advised numerous heads of state and ministries of education on the adoption of advanced technologies for learning and the reform of educational institutions.

Michael Furdyk

Michael Furdyk is the Co-founder and Director of Technology for TakingITGlobal.org, a global online community for young people, engaging hundreds of thousands of youth in over 200 countries and territories. In the past, he has turned his interest in technology into a series of successful online companies, co-founding MyDesktop.com in 1997 (later sold to Internet.com in 1999) and BuyBuddy.com in 1999 (which closed a $4.5-million round of funding in late 2000). Over the last few years, Michael has consulted for many Fortune 500 companies, including a 6-month engagement with Microsoft in Seattle, Washington.

As one of Teen People's "20 teens that will change the world", Michael has shared his opinions about Youth Engagement and experiences as a member of the Net Generation by speaking at dozens of events, including the US Government's National Youth Summit, two of Microsoft's Anytime, Anywhere Learning Summits, The Business Council, and TED. He has made numerous media appearances including The Oprah Winfrey Show, Time Magazine, Fast Company, BusinessWeek, CNN, MSNBC, and USA Today. He is an advisor to Microsoft, Pollution Probe, Future Possibilities, and several other national and global organizations.

Joe Hofmeister

Joe Hofmeister is the Technology Director of Cincinnati Country Day School

Joe has been in charge of the technology program here since 1980 and attended the initial meetings regarding the AAL program that Microsoft held in Seattle in March of 1996 with the head of school, Charlie Clark. By May of 1996, we had the Board of Trustees and the parents convinced that this was the way we should move, and in September of 1996, all teachers and all students in grades 5 through 12 were equipped with laptop computers, a total of 525 students and 150 faculty members. Next September (2006) we will complete our transition to PCTablets, when all students and faculty will have Toshiba Tablets. Student machines are owned by the families, faculty and financial aid students have school-owned machines.

Bette Manchester

Bette Manchester is Director of Special Projects for the Maine Department of Education. Her responsibilities include the oversight and implementation of the Maine Learning Technology Initiative and the integration of technology into statewide efforts – Distance Learning, Assessment, High School Reform and Secondary Literacy Initiatives. Her educational background includes a BS from the University of Maine and a MS in Special Education/Administration from University of Maine. Bette has held positions as a school principal at the elementary, middle and high school level. She was also a classroom teacher for many years, special education director and director of a day treatment center for adolescents. Her awards include: Maine Principal of the Year, Milken Educator Award, Blue Ribbon School Principal Award and Governor’s Award. Bette has a background in literacy and assessment and a strong commitment to teacher leadership development.

Kathy Klock Persing

Kathy Klock Persing is a consultant involved with a variety of educational change programs. She spent six years at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and was originally responsible for all of their professional development programs. She also served as lead on high school initiatives in Maine, Oregon and North Carolina. She has a keen interest in using technology for learning and has experience working with teachers, principals, superintendents and other policy leaders.

Currently she is serving as co-chair of Microsoft’s US Partners in Learning National Advisory Council, senior consultant for NSDC, and is also a NCTAF Commissioner.

Saul Rockman

Saul Rockman is president of Rockman Et Al, an independent evaluation, research, and consulting firm that focuses on the impact of education, technology, and media. Rockman established Rockman Et Al in 1990 after leaving the education marketing group of Apple Computer where he was manager of education research. Prior to joining Apple, Rockman was director of technology programs at WestEd in San Francisco, California. Rockman conducted a three-year research effort on AAL, 1:1 laptop projects (1996-1999), funded by Microsoft and Toshiba. These definitional studies explored the introduction of ubiquitous laptop computing to U.S. public and independent schools and included typologies of implementation strategies, innovative methods to assess classroom and home use, studies of problem solving skills, analyses of changes in pedagogy and teacher and student attitudes, and established benchmarks for a range of variables. The "Rockman Report" is widely referenced and has served as the definitive laptop reference at school board meetings. The company has conducted several other research efforts on 1:1 laptop projects throughout the United States.

Gary S. Stager

Gary is Editor-At-Large District Administration Magazine.

For 24 years Gary has helped learners of all ages on six continents embrace the power of computers as intellectual laboratories and vehicles for self-expression. He led professional development in the world's first laptop schools (1990), has designed online graduate school programs since the mid-90s and is a collaborator in the MIT Media Lab's Future of Learning Group. He is also Adjunct Professor at Pepperdine University, author of Exceeding Expectations for Apple Computer and an Associate of the Thornburg Center for Professional Development.

Karen Ward

Karen is Program Director for Springboard Schools and Central Valley Educational Leadership Institute. Over the past decade Karen has served as a laptop teacher, high school technology director, and instructor/presenter at technology institutes and conferences in the U. S. and Australia.