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Dist. 62 names tech chief, appoints 2 coordinators

Jennie Magiera, a national leader in education technology and an innovator in classroom instruction, has been appointed Chief Technology Officer of Des Plaines Elementary School District 62 beginning July 1.

Magiera is the Digital Learning Coordinator for the Academy for Urban School Leadership, where she has spent nearly three years as an instructional leader, supporting 32 neighborhood Chicago schools to enhance and increase effective technology use.

She is a White House Champion of Change, Apple Distinguished Educator, Google Certified Teacher and co-founder of a teacher technology conference called PLAYDATE.

She recently was a keynote speaker at the CUE 2015 annual conference in Palm Springs, California, one of the largest and oldest educational technology conferences in the United States.

"We are really excited to have her join District 62," said Jane Westerhold, superintendent.

She will help District 62 teachers employ technology tools in the classroom to engage students and enhance learning.

"I'm thrilled to be joining the Dist. 62 family," Magiera said. "I look forward to working with our schools and community to support, inspire and empower our students through technology. Together, we can innovate new opportunities for impactful teaching and learning."

The district announced two other appointments:

• Carlos Rojas, who began his education career at Plainfield School as a tutor in 2004, has been appointed the ELL Coordinator for District 62.

"Working as a tutor gave me the confidence to work as a teacher and that's when I decided to pursue a career in education," Rojas said. He has served as an ELL Resource teacher and a bilingual third-grade teacher.

"The district has provided me with great professional development opportunities, excellent mentors and colleagues,

•Lauren Furmanek is joining District 62 as Student Services Coordinator. She has worked as an Intervention Specialist and School Psychologist for Highland Park School District 112 since 2010.

She has a master's degree in school psychology from Loyola University and additional study in the area of special education administration at Northern Illinois University.

"I am very excited to step into a leadership role in District 62. I look forward to having the opportunity to work with the diverse learners within the district and further strengthen the special education processes."

Carlos Rojas
Lauren Furmanek
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