Future of Education Technology Conference 2027

Melody Deetz is the Senior Director of Learning Systems Engineering for Florida Virtual School (FLVS) and FlexPoint, the national arm of Florida Virtual School serving schools and districts around the nation. She leads the software development team in designing, architecting, and delivering innovative learning software solutions that align with the organization's strategic goals. She directs the integration of these software solutions, including artificial intelligence, to enhance educational experiences and meet evolving market needs. Deetz joined Florida Virtual School in 2006 as a client support specialist on the Curriculum Development team. Since then, she has taken on various specialist and leadership roles, all dedicated to developing and delivering learning management solutions. Her work aims to improve student outcomes, increase engagement, and enhance the efficiency of educators. Deetz has a bachelor's degree in Information Studies from Florida State University in Tallahassee, Florida.

Merav Anafi is a tech integrator at Bialik School in Toronto. With a career spanning over decades, Merav has been a trailblazer in technology integration in education. Her journey began in the 1990s, when she focused on curriculum development and pioneered the use of technology in the classroom. She is a Google Certified Innovator and a recipient of multiple awards in North America for creative and innovative ways of using technology, including 2nd place in North America in the NEC Display Technology Contest, 1st place in Canada in the Smart Exchange Challenge Contest and ECOO (Educational Computing Organization in Ontario) Teacher of the Year Award for developing an innovative technology program as a computer teacher. Merav is passionate about helping teachers and students to integrate technology in an effective and meaningful way.

Nicki Slaugh, M.Ed. is a principal, author, speaker, and educational consultant with over 20 years of experience transforming teaching and learning. She has served as an elementary teacher, instructional technology coach, and middle school principal, where she led a bold shift from traditional practices to a fully personalized learning model. Currently, Nicki holds a dual role as Director of Personalized Learning for Weber School District and Principal of Innovation High School.

Architect of Washington State's first in-school manufacturing youth apprenticeship and co-designer of Career Connect Washington, Nesmith studied the Swiss dual education model at ETH Zurich and translated it into working programs for students.

Merissa Sadler-Holder, the recipient of ASU+GSV’s 2024 & 2025 Leading Woman in AI title, and has 13 years of classroom experience. She has been an educator at La Cañada Unified School District, utilizing her credentials in multiple subjects, single subject, CTE authorization, and a Master's degree in E-Learning to excel in her field. She founded Teaching with Machines, which aims to serve forward thinking educators and schools to leverage AI to innovate their practices and empower their students with AI. Teaching with Machines is a collaborative partner with 2024 ASU+GSV (AI)R Show alongside Code.org, Digital Promise, and aiEDU. Her expertise extends to developing impactful, engaging professional development programs for teachers, helping districts navigate AI integration, providing valuable free resources, and curating a weekly newsletter focused on the intersection of AI and education.