Panel Discussion: Imagination, Solidarity, and the Future of the Planet
How can people learn to care about other parts of the world? Is imagination more important than knowledge when creating global solidarity? Is it really true that we’re all in this together?
Cissa Wa Numbe
Cissa is a human rights leader and the Secretary General of United Nations Association (UNA) of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). In the DRC, Cissa has been instrumental in organizing Model UN activities and in establishing University and High School UN Clubs. He has worked extensively with grass-roots community organizations and UN peace-keeping missions in the DRC and elsewhere, and he has led information and advocacy sessions on the new international human rights norm “Responsibility to Protect.” Cissa has spoken about conflict prevention/resolution, human rights and peace building in Africa at United Nations events in New York, Geneva, Vancouver, and Seoul. Cissa teaches at the University level in the Congo and has published a number of books on human rights and conflict transformation. He holds a degree in Peace and Human Rights Studies from the University of Bradford, United Kingdom.
Jeff Stewart
Jeff has worked in education since the mid 1980’s. His teaching career began in a remote fishing village in St. Vincent & the Grenadines and evolved to include work in inner city, rural, First Nations, independent and public schools in British Columbia and Ontario. He has been in the business of educational administration for the past fifteen years in elementary, middle and secondary schools and currently works in the Comox Valley on Vancouver Island as the District Principal for Distributed Learning. Navigate, the school he leads, has received provincial and national recognition for innovation in blended learning. These include the Fine Arts eCademy (K-8), iClass (K-12), and Independent Learning Centres (ILCs) in secondary schools. In the fall 2014 the school received the iNACOL “Innovator Award” for the eCademy of New Technologies, Engineering and Robotics program (ENTER 6-10) in Palm Springs, CA. He is a founding member and past Chair of the BC School Centred Mental Health Coalition. Jeff is the father to five teenage children, a musician, runner, speaker and an advocate for child and youth mental health.
Haydee Izaguirre
Haydee Izaguirre is the Co-Founder and Lead Strategist of SOS Worldwide and the creator of the SOS Venezuela Campaign. Haydee combines her passion for human rights with her experience in the development sector and creating social movements to conceptualize innovative campaigns that engage the public. Haydee has extensive experience developing and managing donor funded programs, carrying out international technical assessments and trainings with UN agencies, line ministries and other stakeholders on the implementation of technologies for development. Haydee’s research explores the intersection between technology and human rights, mainly focusing on how innovations could address some of the problems affecting marginalized communities.
Michelle L. “Mick” Walsh
Dr. Michelle L. “Mick” Walsh is Marine Science Faculty at Florida Keys Community College in Key West, FL, where she teaches and mentors students in the Tropical Ornamental Mariculture Technician program. She focuses on providing opportunities for undergraduate students to explore, test, and research ideas regarding fish culture, as well as the chance to discuss their progress and network with other culturists. Dr. Walsh strives to inspire, motivate, and stimulate students as they develop into aquaculture professionals.
After completing her undergraduate degree at Rutgers University, Dr. Walsh worked as a laboratory technician for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries Service at the Northeast Fisheries Science Center − James J. Howard Marine Laboratory in Sandy Hook, NJ. This opportunity paved her career in fish culture, as working with the Life History and Recruitment Group offered the experience of rearing fishery-important marine species such as winter flounder, summer flounder, smooth flounder, monkfish, killifish, tomcod, cod, haddock, as well as live zooplankton and microalgae. Those species were reared to examine environmental influences on growth, development, morphology, and mortality of larvae and juveniles — ultimately contributing to the best scientific information available for use in fishery stock assessments.
Dr. Walsh’s experience then broadened to focus on hatchery and release strategies for flatfish stock enhancement both in the U.S. (as a graduate student at the University of New Hampshire) and Japan (where she spent 2 years as a Fulbright Graduate Research Fellow working with Japanese scientists, hatchery managers, and fishermen). Subsequently, she spent 3 years concentrating on sustainable seafood as a Fishery Policy Analyst for the Office of Sustainable Fisheries at NOAA Fisheries Service in Silver Spring, MD.
Walsh’s research interests center on the early life of fish species, including nutritional requirements and feeding behavior. She spends a good deal of time examining live hatchery feeds, particularly the potential of white worms, Enchytraeus albidus.
Melissa Nicholas
In 1999, Melissa Nicholas’s desire to teach ESL/EFL awakened when she visited her father on Culebra, a small, isolated island east of Puerto Rico. During that summer, she taught English to children ages 4-12, using art and ceramics to facilitate their leaning. She started her teaching career in 2001 after she graduated from Florida International University with a Bachelor’s in English. From 2001-2004, she taught at Key West High School in Key West, Florida. Classes taught included freshman English, intensive reading for native and non-native speakers of English, ESL, and Spanish. Melissa took a hiatus from teaching full time in 2005 and enrolled in the University of South Florida’s (USF) Applied Linguistics graduate program. During her studies there, she taught two classes at the English Language Institute, an intensive EAP program housed at the university for research and learning. At USF, she conducted teacher training in Methodology and Intro to Applied Linguistics courses. After graduating in 2007, Melissa went back to Key West High School where she taught ESL in the intensive English learning summer program while also teaching an adult ESL course at Florida Keys Community College (FKCC). At that time, she earned a full-time position at FKCC as the lead faculty for the college preparatory program, which included classes with a mix of native and non-native speakers. For the past eight years, she has taught ESL students in classes such as Reading, Writing, Freshman Composition, and College Success. She developed and implemented the English for Academic Purposes Program at FKCC. Melissa is interested in research, curriculum development, and teacher training.
Amanda Brooke Dawes
Amanda Brooke, has over a dozen years of professional teaching experience in the Social Sciences. She is the Dean of Technology Integration (9-12). In 2010, she received her Masters Degree in Educational Technology from the University of Michigan. She also has degrees in Psychology and Religious Studies from the University of Miami. In addition to teaching with infused technology, as the Ed Tech Professional Development Programs’ Director, she also specializes in establishing IT strategies and implementing education centric solutions. She enjoys learning with teachers and students about best blended learning practices with Google Apps for Education.
Workshop Presenters
Chris Delisle
Originally from a small town in rural Indiana, Christopher DeLisle moved to Nashville, TN to attend Belmont University and become a studio musician, producer, and songwriter. During this time Chris was a Resident Assistant for Belmont University Residence Life.. After graduating from the Mike Curb College of Music Business with a B.A. in Music Business/Songwriting, Chris began working professionally as a Residence Director for Belmont University. While in this position Chris was the Co-Chair of a Professional Hiring Committee, opened a new multi-million dollar residential facility, and oversaw 2 apartment complexes with a staff of 20 students. After taking a year to pursue songwriting, Chris moved to Key West to become the Coordinator of Residence Life at Florida Keys Community College where he has built and developed many facets of the Department of Residence Life for FKCC. His most recent songwriting success comes in the form of a song published by an Irish country artist. Chris shares his writing and educational experiences with many staff, faculty, and students throughout his daily life.
Hilary Parmentier
Hilary Parmentier is currently an English Faculty member and Department Chair at Florida Keys Community College. In the past five years, she has worked with colleagues to build a stronger communications base for the students, which includes researching and developing a Writing Center for FKCC students, faculty, and staff.
Previously, Hilary worked for eight years as a secondary education teacher in Michigan. She also attended the University of Michigan-Flint to obtain graduate degrees in Education and English. This is where she developed an interest in helping students succeed in high school and beyond.
As a classroom instructor and mentor, Hilary has been able to continue to work with students and faculty to improve writing across the curriculum. She is currently working to develop professional learning opportunities for both secondary education teachers and her fellow co-workers at FKCC. The Writing Center at FKCC has become a dynamic learning environment to help improve learning in all areas of the college.
Jeff Stewart
Jeff has worked in education since the mid 1980’s. His teaching career began in a remote fishing village in St. Vincent & the Grenadines and evolved to include work in inner city, rural, First Nations, independent and public schools in British Columbia and Ontario. He has been in the business of educational administration for the past fifteen years in elementary, middle and secondary schools and currently works in the Comox Valley on Vancouver Island as the District Principal for Distributed Learning. Navigate, the school he leads, has received provincial and national recognition for innovation in blended learning. These include the Fine Arts eCademy (K-8), iClass (K-12), and Independent Learning Centres (ILCs) in secondary schools. In the fall 2014 the school received the iNACOL “Innovator Award” for the eCademy of New Technologies, Engineering and Robotics program (ENTER 6-10) in Palm Springs, CA. He is a founding member and past Chair of the BC School Centred Mental Health Coalition. Jeff is the father to five teenage children, a musician, runner, speaker and an advocate for child and youth mental health.
Pete Poggione
Peter Poggione is currently the Director of Information Technology at the Mattawan Consolidated School District in Mattawan, Michigan USA. He holds a Technology in Education masters degree from the University of Michigan-Flint. Pete has over 25 years of technology project management experience and application development, including development and implementation of technology training programs and workshops. He is an Apple Certified Macintosh Technician, holds technology management certification, and is active in professional organizations. Pete co-develops a weekly podcast about educational technology issues, and is also a professional musician and father.
Chad Parmentier
Chad Parmentier is currently an English and Technology teacher at Sigsbee Charter School in Key West, Florida. As an instructional designer and teacher, he enjoys working with fellow teachers to help them better use technology in the classroom.
After receiving his secondary teaching certificate in English and History from the University of Michigan-Flint, Chad continued his studies to obtain an MA in Instructional Technology.
Prior to moving to Key West, Chad worked as an instructional designer for Jackson Community College and Baker College in Michigan. He has done extensive research in how to properly use technology such as a learning management system in the classroom. He has implemented and managed the Moodle learning management system at Brandon High School in Michigan and Marathon High School in Florida.
Amanda Brooke Dawes
Amanda Brooke, has over a dozen years of professional teaching experience in the Social Sciences. She is the Dean of Technology Integration (9-12). In 2010, she received her Masters Degree in Educational Technology from the University of Michigan. She also has degrees in Psychology and Religious Studies from the University of Miami. In addition to teaching with infused technology, as the Ed Tech Professional Development Programs’ Director, she also specializes in establishing IT strategies and implementing education centric solutions. She enjoys learning with teachers and students about best blended learning practices with Google Apps for Education.
Bob Barnett
Dr. Barnett is Professor of Writing and Rhetoric at the University of Michigan-Flint. He earned his B.A. degree from Alma College in 1986, his M.A. degree from Central Michigan University in 1990, and his Ph.D. from the University of Nevada-Reno. Dr. Barnett began his career in 1994 as Assistant Professor and Director of UM-Flint’s Marian E. Wright Writing Center, a position he held for 11 years before accepting the position of Associate Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. Dr. Barnett became Interim Dean of the School of Education and Human Services in 2011.
In addition to his administrative accomplishments, Dr. Barnett has published three books on issues related to General Education, Writing Center Theory and Practice, and Writing Across the Curriculum; 17 academic articles; and an original musical play. He is the recipient of the Teaching Excellence Award, Faculty Achievement Award for Scholarship, Special Merit Award for Professional Development, and Special Merit Award for Service. Dr. Barnett also is a serious foodie, having established a food blog, Eating Flint, and has written two (unpublished) cookbooks.
Nick Belotto
Nick Belotto received his both his bachelor’s and masters degree from Florida Atlantic University with a focus in History. Since graduating with his masters in 2014, he has been teaching history at Donna Klein Jewish Academy, where his courses focus on human geography, world history, American history and American government. His research interests also include 19th century American history with a focus on the development of democratic principles throughout the Jacksonian period, although his interest in history extends into all aspects of the subject.