Reach us at: (212) 334-6481

THIS EVENT IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY BLACC & IKON EDUTECH GROUP

TechEmpowerED is an informative event designed to empower K-12 Charter and Independent schools through innovative technology solutions.

BLACC & IKON EduTech Group are excited to bring you cost-effective strategies to enhance instruction, strengthen data privacy, fortify network security, and streamline fiscal management. Our goal is to create a collaborative coalition of school leaders who will share best practices and expertise, fostering a community of growth and success.

CONFERENCE DETAILS & PHOTOS

DATE

Saturday, January 27th, 2024 9am-4pm EST

LOCATION

199 Water Street 8th Floor New York, NY 10038

AGENDA


9:00amRegistration, Breakfast and Open Networking
9:30amWelcome + Opening Remarks
Presented by Ken Nero, IKON EduTech Group & Miriam Raccah, BLACC
9:45amKeynote Presentation: Building Your Data Privacy Program for Ed Law 2-D Compliance
Presented by Linnette Attai, Playwell LLC
10:45amMorning Break & Meet the Vendors  
11:00amState of Play: Language Models and AI Literacy and Policies in Schools
Presented by Alex Kotran, The AI Education Project
11:45amHow to Use AI to Improve Cybersecurity in Schools
Presented by Emeka Ibekweh, Google
12:30pmLunch & Vendor Presentations 
1:30pmCybersecurity Insurance Needs for Schools
Presented by Alex Jerez, USI Insurance Services
2:00pmHow to Run a Social Media Marketing Campaign for Student Recruitment
Presented by Charles Stern, Amani Charter School
2:45pmfiscally seCURE: Leveraging Technology to Save Time & Money
Presented by Raj Thakkar, CSBM
3:30pmClosing Remarks + Happy Hour 

Keynote Speaker

LINNETTE ATTAI

Linette is a nationally recognized subject matter expert on Student Data Privacy. Linnette’s presentation will cover how to overcome the hurdle of bringing technology into the classroom and stay compliant with New York Ed Law 2-d and FERPA requirements. She will take the audience on a step-by-step journey through the process of building the policies and practices to protect student data, and shifting the organizational culture to prioritize privacy while still taking advantage of the tremendous benefits that technology has to offer in the modern classroom.

PRESENTERS

Alex Kotran

Alex oversees strategy, partnerships, fundraising, and external relations for the AI Education Project. Prior to founding the AI Education Project, Alex built the AI Ethics and Corporate Social Responsibility function for H5, Inc., a pioneering AI company in the legal services sector. At H5, Alex led strategic partnerships with organizations including the United Nations, NYU School of Law, the OECD, and IEEE to develop judicial education programs and high profile convenings.

Emeka Ibekweh

Emeka is a Senior Cloud Engineer at Google. Previously, Emeka served as a Senior Manager at Amazon Web Services and CTO at Ascend Learning where he managed technology strategy for 20 schools. While at The Harlem Children’s Zone and Promise Academy Charter Schools, lead the implementation of a cloud-based student information system and the building of a private, virtual cloud. These efforts lead to over $3M in year cost savings.

Alex Jerez

Alex Jerez is Assistant Vice President at USI Insurance Services where he advises and supports clients on insurance and risk management. He is an experienced leader with a demonstrated history of working in business development and entrepreneurship. Skilled in Nonprofit Organizations, Human Resources, Risk Management, Budgeting, Operations Management, Real Estate Development, and Strategic Planning, Alex Jerez is a strong business development professional with a A.B. focused in Government from Harvard University.

Raj Thakkar

Raj Thakkar is the founder and chief executive officer of Charter School Business Management (CSBM) as well as FOREsight Financial Services for Good. Widely regarded as an expert on nonprofit and charter school finance, Raj has presented countless financial best practices workshops across the country. He recently published his first book, fiscally seCURE: prepare, protect & propel your CHARTER SCHOOL with responsible financial management.

Charles Stern

Charles Stern is a Digital Content Producer as well as a co-founder of Amani Public Charter School, located in Mount Vernon, New York. He produces several podcasts, creates YouTube content across multiple topics, writes for a Substack blog and has developed successful web and digital campaigns for Amani since 2011. He has a background in enterprise technology sales and datacenter security.

THIS EVENT IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY...

IKON Edutech Group specializes in providing managed IT services for K-12 Schools. We help Executive Directors and Operations Managers at charter and independent schools maximize E-Rate funding, meet compliance requirements, and implement best-in-class technology solutions for students and staff.

Black Latinx Asian Charter Collaborative (BLACC) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to elevating charter schools founded and led by people of color in New York City. We represent educators and stakeholders in the community who, through our shared experiences, acknowledge a hopeful opportunity in the sector: community-based schools founded by leaders of color are powerful vehicles for change and progress.

Thank You to Our Amazing Sponsors!