DigCit Connect speakers

Sophia Mendoza
Director, Instructional Technology Initiative

Laura Tierney
Founder and CEO, The Social Institute

Richard Culatta
Chief Executive Officer, ISTE

Nicole Gill
Co-Founder and Executive Director, Accountable Tech

Alanis Cruz
ASB Digital Citizenship Champion, LA Unified School District

Kim Karr
Executive Director & Co-Founder, Digital4Good

Marlo Gaddis
Chief Technology Officer, Wake County Public School System

Carla Jefferson
Principal, Darlington County Virtual Academy

Lucy Hayter
Director, Generation Global

Nick Griffin
9th Grader, Peak to Peak Charter School

Marley Zeno
Professional Learning Strategist, ELL

Jamie Galgana
Instructional Leadership Support Specialist, Instructional Technology Initiative

Carrie Rogers-Whitehead
Founder, Digital Respons-Ability, Author, Library Consultant

Sue Thotz
Senior Manager, PD & Engagement, Common Sense Education

Karina Linch
Chief Product Officer, BrainPOP

Adam Horowitz
Junior and Leadership Fellow, Elon University

Dr. LeeAnn Lindsey
Managing Partner & Lead Consultant, Edvolve

Maria Magnanimo-Toledo
Readiness and Integration Specialist, LAUSD Instructional Technology Initiative

Varun Malhotra
Co-Founder & CEO, UpSavvy

Renee Sanchez
Instructional Leadership Support Specialist, LAUSD Instructional Technology Initiative

Matt Piwowarczyk
Instructional Technology Facilitator, LAUSD Instructional Technology Initiative

Nelida Thomatis
Instructional Technology Facilitator, LAUSD Instructional Technology Initiative

Dr. Saul Duarte
Instructional Technology Facilitator, LAUSD Instructional Technology Initiative

Dominic Caguioa
Instructional Leadership Support Coordinator, Instructional Technology Initiative

Marci Price
Senior Director, Strategic Partnerships, ISTE

Caroline Allams
Co-Founder and Educator, Natterhub

Dr. Kristen Mattson
Educational Consultant, Adjunct Professor, Writer and Speaker
DigCit Connect is sponsored by:

What is it and who it's for
DigCit Connect is a virtual summit produced by the DigCit Coalition in partnership with ISTE and the Los Angeles School District's Instructional Technology Initiative (ITI):
- Designed for administrators, teachers, parents, caregivers, families, and the education community.
- Offers a learning experience that’s free and open to the public.
- Features presentations and workshops from educators, technology leaders, and digital citizenship experts.

Why we need it
Over the last few years we have increased our participation in a variety of digital activities. Unfortunately, we have not spent nearly enough time preparing and supporting young people to be successful humans in these virtual spaces.
The conversation around digital citizenship needs to expand beyond online safety. This event will:
- Empower educators and parents to create a healthy digital culture at school and home.
- Refocus our conversations around digital citizenship towards practical approaches that help educators and parents support young people in a highly digital world.
Live event schedule
All times are listed in Pacific Standard Time.
Saturday, October 22, 2022
9:00 am | Opening mainstage (45 mins)
Digital wellbeing is a team sport | WATCH RECORDING
Learning the principles of Digital Citizenship is not something that can be accomplished by a single activity, course or workshop. It involves parents, teachers and education leaders coming together to model behaviors and reinforce the impact that being a good digital citizen can have on a school and community. Join ISTE CEO, Richard Culatta, as he discusses strategies for digital citizenship, and the impact that a united effort can have on shaping future leaders.
Speaker: Richard Culatta
Students using tech to make the world better | WATCH RECORDING
Everyday, students are using the power of technology to change the world. Please join a panel of student leaders who are embracing the power of digital citizenship to better their schools and communities. We will learn why digital citizenship is so important to them and what ignites their desire to drive change.
Speakers: Nicole Gill (moderator), Alanis Cruz, Nick Griffin, Anna Miller
9:45 am | Morning breakouts
Digital presence with purpose | WATCH RECORDING
Education leaders and administrators will gain insights into system-level policies and practices that support technology implementation with an emphasis on creating an inclusive and equitable culture of digital citizenship.
Speakers: Jamie Galgana, Maria Magnanimo-Toledo
Cultivating digital citizens no matter what you teach (60 mins) | WATCH RECORDING
Your days are packed with standards, curriculum, lesson plans, and meeting the unique needs of all students. How do you have time to cultivate digital citizens? Join us to explore ways to embed digital citizenship in any subject areas you teach with BrainPOP!
Speaker: Marley Zeno
Districts in action: what’s important and how do we face it? | WATCH RECORDING
Learn what districts are doing in the world of DigCit. What are some practices and policies that are actually working, and how do we put systems in place to create better environments for students to be good digital citizens?
Speakers: Sophia Mendoza (moderator), Carla Jefferson, Marlo Gaddis
How students are using social media for good | WATCH RECORDING
What are the latest ways students are using social media for good? This panel will shine a spotlight on ways students are currently using social to boost their health, happiness, and future success. It will also explore how educators can empower and equip, rather than scare and restrict when it comes to social media education in schools. You’ll have a chance to ask questions and gain first-hand student perspective in this moderated Q&A.
Speakers: Laura Tierney (moderator), Adam Horowitz
Establishing a learning environment that fosters digital literacy and media fluency | WATCH RECORDING
Learn to foster media fluency so students can gain the ability to interpret large amounts of complex information in multiple formats and communicate and share across a variety of media as they participate in today’s digital world.
Speakers: Renee Sanchez and Matthew Piwowarczyk
10:45 am | Break (30 mins)
Group activity: Barriers and solutions to implementing digital citizenship (15 mins)
What’s stopping your school or organization from giving students what they need to be good citizens online? Let’s have an interactive, visual discussion on what’s working and what’s not.
Speaker: Dr. Carrie Rogers-Whitehead
11:15 am | Afternoon breakouts
Leading with equity and digital citizenship (school-based DigCit practices) | WATCH RECORDING
Education leaders and administrators will learn how to use technology to promote equity, inclusion, and digital citizenship practices as modeled by principals and school-based leaders sharing how they cultivate responsible online behavior and leverage digital tools and resources for an empowered school community.
Speakers: Dominic Caguioa, Cynthia Braley, Gabriel Duran
Using images for digital citizenship conversations | WATCH RECORDING
Images can be a powerful tool for self-reflection, discussion, writing prompts and inquiry hooks. Engage students, families, and teachers with these activities that honor each individual's experiences and perspectives.
Speakers: Dr. LeeAnn Lindsey, Dr. Kristen Mattson
Global perspectives on the future of DigCit | WATCH RECORDING
Across the world, countries are adopting practices of Digital Citizenship that are changing the way individuals interact with technology. In this panel, we will hear from leaders from around the world on ways that they are using principles of Digital Citizenship to transform their communities and their perspectives on the future of this effort.
Speakers: Marci Price (moderator), Skye Jeynes, Alexis Torres, Douha Jemai
Parenting in the digital age | WATCH RECORDING
How can we raise our children in today's hyper-connected world and still ensure they engage with media and tech in healthy ways? Join Common Sense for this session, as we explore how parents and caregivers can use media and technology to help families make meaningful connections and strengthen important early childhood skills for increased learning.
Speaker: Sue Thotz
Tools that teach us to be good digital citizens | WATCH RECORDING
Please join a series of companies and organizations who are providing real, accessible solutions to support kids in understanding the principles of digital citizenship. These lightning-style talks will provide you with examples of resources that can support your schools in teaching students the principles of DigCit.
Featuring: UpSavvy, Nearpod, Natterhub and EVERFI
Giving credit where credit is due: copyright and digital citizenship | WATCH RECORDING
Learn how digital citizenship and issues of copyright intersect in the classroom. Participants will explore and apply the way copyright and copyleft play a role in commonly used digital tools, resources to teach students about copyright, and how to leverage digital resources safely through the understanding and use of Creative Commons licensing.
Speakers: Nelida Thomatis and Dr. Saul Duarte
12:15 pm | Closing mainstage (45 mins)
Practice what we preach | WATCH RECORDING
Our kids are looking to us to see what kind of digital citizens we are. How can parents and teachers model healthy and meaningful uses of technology? .
Speaker: Karina Linch
Using tech to make communities and the world better | WATCH RECORDING
How do you inspire action in Digital Citizenship? Hear examples of how students can use tech in creative and innovative ways to solve problems in their communities.
Speakers: Kim Karr (moderator), Lucy Hayter, Sabrina Grossman, Donovan A. Beck
1 pm | Summit concludes
Explore the five competencies of digital citizenship.
DigCit Connect will highlight the five competencies through sessions focused on educators, administrators, parents, caregivers, and the education community.

Inclusive
I am open to hearing and respectfully recognizing multiple viewpoints and I engage with others online with respect and empathy.

Informed
I evaluate the accuracy, perspective, and validity of digital media and social posts.

Engaged
I use technology and digital channels for civic engagement, to solve problems and be a force for good in both physical and virtual communities.
Balanced
I make informed decisions about how to prioritize my time and activities online and off.

Alert
I am aware of my online actions, and know how to be safe and create safe spaces for others online.