Enjoy some time to connect with colleagues and new faces as we network together over breakfast.

Robyn Lightcap Executive Director, Preschool Promise

Robyn serves on the Governor's Early Childhood Advisory Council and is Board Chair of Groundwork Ohio, Ohio's early childhood advocacy organization. She has led complex projects in both the non-profit and for-profit sectors, including at IBM, Chicago's Willow Creek Community Church and Evenflo. She has a business degree from Wake Forest University.

Mayor Shenise Turner-Sloss

Mayor Turner-Sloss served the City of Dayton as a City Commissioner for 4 years before assuming the office of mayor in January, 2026. She is a logistics management specialist at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.

A devoted wife and mother of three from Dayton, Mayor Turner-Sloss actively participates in community service projects with her family. She is a proud alumnus of Dayton Public Schools, holding a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Fisk University and a Master of Science degree in Administration from Central Michigan University.

Shannon Cox Superintendent, MCESC

Shannon Cox serves as the Montgomery County Educational Service Center Superintendent, its first female superintendent. Her role includes working directly with and advocating for all 16 public school districts in Montgomery County. As the educational leader for the county, she works with other various leaders across city/county government, and the other public sectors. Ms. Cox has worked with many other communities in different roles within the MCESC, which has allowed her to build relationships with districts throughout the region and state.

Dr. Christina Amato Dean, eLearning, Sinclair Community College

Dr. Christina Amato is Dean of eLearning at Sinclair Community College, leading strategic transformation in digital learning, faculty development, and institutional AI adoption as executive sponsor of Sinclair's AI Excellence Institute. A leader in competency-based education and digital equity, she managed over $14 million in federal grants and served as lead negotiator for two-year colleges in Department of Education rulemaking. Her work pioneering equity standards in online course design and faculty-led AI innovation has earned national recognition and positioned Sinclair among America's best online community colleges.

Isabelle C. Hau Executive Director of the Stanford Accelerator for Learning

A visionary leader dedicated to transforming the way we nurture and educate children, Isabelle spearheads initiatives that leverage brain science and technology to develop innovative, inclusive learning solutions for learners worldwide.

Enjoy some time to connect with colleagues and new faces as we network together.

Joe Copeland & Jack Spiller

AI Owl

We explore how educators can build safe, ethical AI understanding that connects classrooms to real-world learning. Attendees will gain a clear framework for guiding students through AI with purpose, confidence, and long-term impact.

Alicia Brown

Write with Mrs. Brown, LLC

This session demonstrates how educators and leaders can use Suno as an A1-supported music tool to create engaging songs for young learners. Participants will see how music strengthens language, memory, and learning when human creativity and critical thinking lead. A1 supports rather than replaces instruction.

Grace Schoessow & Carrie Taylor

GCESC

An interactive session exploring enhancement strategies to strengthen relational health, support regulation, and foster the authentic relationships that drive learning, belonging, and resilience - helping children and adults re-connect meaningfully while navigating the digital world.

Nichole Smith

East End Community Services by WestCare Ohio

This session explores how leaders can use AI as a thought partner to enhance strategic thinking, improve decision-making, and spark innovation.

Connor Borchert & Corey O’Connor

MCESC

This presentation will explore effective prompting techniques and how to utilize the unique capabilities of Gemini and NotebookLM to personalize instruction and reach students where they are.

Doug Horvath & Mary Beth Hobson

Dayton Metroparks

Spending time in Nature makes us happier, healthier and smarter.   

We will practice with AI technology apps such as Merlin, Ebird, and I-naturalist as positive examples helping us relate to nature as well as other web technology. Join in a discussion on how this fits with Early Education.

Mike Boone, MVCDC & Stephanie Spangler

Bellwether

Early childhood organizations  are navigating adoption of new AI tools, balancing instructional quality, risk, and human relationships amid the realities of early learning systems. This session introduces a practical approach you can use to build an AI roadmap aligned to mission, impact, and staff capacity.

Whitney Barkley

Speakerazzi

AI is here, but human connection still comes first. This session shows early learning professionals how to use AI responsibly to support communication, planning, and creativity without replacing care or judgment.

Joe Macisco

Wright State University

The session will focus on best practices for using generative AI in the classroom, specifically how to write effective prompts and translate AI output into workable material. The session will also include an overview of generative AI and how to avoid common AI issues, like hallucinations and bias.