SYNC Conference Speakers and Session Info

Most of us have heard some version of this over the years, and too often, it is true. Participants will walk through a practical planning process that digs into the why behind strategic planning while highlighting strategies that build coherence, clarity, and commitment.

Cheri Wrench is a career educator whose leadership journey began as a bilingual kindergarten teacher and grew into serving as a successful turnaround principal at one of Denver’s largest elementary schools...

Bret Miles has spent his career in K–12 education serving as a paraprofessional, teacher, principal, and superintendent in rural Colorado...

This two-part program explores incident response (IR) readiness from both technical and operational perspectives. One session covers the technical aspects of cybersecurity incidents, including detection, containment, recovery, and coordination. The parallel leadership track focuses on decisionâmaking, communication under pressure, stakeholder alignment, and businessârisk considerations during major cyber events. The groups then reconvene for a collaborative session to talk through realistic scenarios that test coordination, highlight key decisions, and reveal preparedness gaps. The program concludes with practical steps to strengthen IR maturity, improve crossâfunctional collaboration, and boost organizational resilience.

Jane Wagland is a cybersecurity professional with extensive experience helping organizations strengthen their security posture through practical, strategic partnerships. She has spent her career working closely with technology vendors and internal teams to identify the most effective ways to protect networks while aligning with each organization’s operational needs and budget realities. Jane is known for helping leaders translate complex cybersecurity challenges into clear, actionable strategies that support long-term resilience.

Prior to her current role, Jane led advisory work focused on guiding organizations through cybersecurity decision-making, helping them evaluate vendors, prioritize investments, and build practical security programs. She brings a collaborative approach to incident readiness, emphasizing the importance of coordination between technical teams and leadership during high-pressure cyber events. Jane regularly works with education leaders and independent schools, helping them navigate evolving cyber risks while strengthening preparedness, communication, and response strategies across their organizations.

Sarah is a Principal Consultant with Surefire Cyber’s Proactive Advisory team, where she helps organizations build resilience and confidently prepare for cyber threats through tailored readiness services such as tabletop exercises. Her background includes leading cybersecurity risk assessments and readiness projects for Aon’s Transaction Advisory Services team, as well as serving as an FBI Special Agent focused on criminal cyber investigations. Sarah is committed to helping organizations cut through uncertainty, make confident decisions, and build security programs that truly support their mission.

AI is advancing quickly, making it challenging for district leaders to guide effective and responsible use. We will explore emerging best practices, common pitfalls, and the professional learning priorities educators need.

Lindy Hockenbary is a nationally recognized K-12 EdTech advisor who helps districts implement technology in ways that meaningfully improve instruction and student learning...

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Dr. Jason Neiffer is the Executive Director of Montana Digital Academy and co-convenor of the Frontier Learning Lab. For more than 29 years, he has explored practical ways to blend technology and pedagogy (and a touch of goofy performance art) so learning feels engaging, relevant, and doable for students of all ages. His professional interests include distance learning, media literacy, digital productivity, artificial intelligence, and instruction in the social studies and humanities. A frequent national speaker, Jason focuses on building high-quality digital learning experiences and helping schools build and sustain homegrown innovation, no matter their size. He first fell for educational technology in 1984, when, as a rambunctious 4th grader, he helped set up all of the Apple IIe computers at Roosevelt Elementary School in Great Falls, Montana. He’s been chasing the thrill of Lemonade Stand and Oregon Trail ever since!

The OPI was recently awarded $10,000,000 for a mid-phase Education Innovation & Research (EIR) grant. The grant’s purpose is to create and take to scale innovations to improve student achievement and attainment for high-needs students. The grant will provide virtual, high-impact tutoring to 1800 high needs’ students in 90 rural schools that serve high percentages of high-needs students. The grant will also provide professional learning on evidence-based literacy interventions aligned to the Science of Reading, build educator capacity to deliver strong explicit Tier 1 literacy instruction, and provide a family engagement toolkit.

Christy Mock-Stutz is the Assistant Chief Program Officer at the OPI. Christy supports the work of the four education units within the OPI which include: Opportunities and Innovative Learning, Academic Outcomes & Instruction, Safety and Student Supports, and School and Educator Effectiveness. Her work experience includes implementing innovative state-wide educational programs, teaching pre-service teachers at the college level, and providing professional development. With 20+ years experience in public education, she has worked as an adjunct professor, instructional coach, and teacher in a variety of school types ranging from smaller rural schools to large urban school districts.

Dr. Julie Murgel is the Chief Program Officer for the Montana Office of Public Instruction. Julie leads the research, planning, development, and implementation of educational programs within the state agency. She oversees agency initiatives, helps secure and manage program funding, and strategically aligns resources to achieve the agency goals. She uses a data-driven approach to guide her work and has a passion for innovation and cultivating leadership and empowerment in others.

This workshop equips school administrators to navigate school board governance at a strategic level, emphasizing the conditions that enable highâperforming boards and productive partnerships. Participants will explore the legal foundations of board operations, the critical working relationships between the administrator and elected officials, and the leadership approaches that strengthen relationships with both the board and its chair. The session highlights how administrators can effectively inform and support their board while maintaining boundaries that preserve the board’s ownership of its own norms, discipline, and selfâregulation.

Ashley joined the Montana State University Extension Local Government Center (LGC) in 2014 and now serves as the Associate Director. She manages LGC operations and delivers professional development for local government officials across Montana, covering topics such as open meeting and citizen participation laws, meeting management, conflict resolution, leadership development, and strategic planning. Ashley holds an MBA from the University of Montana and a bachelor’s degree in business management and entrepreneurship from Montana State University, and is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP). Before joining the LGC, Ashley worked in other departments at MSU including Human Resources and Institutional Equity. She also served as the governance leader for a regional healthcare non-profit organization during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This presentation will cover practical cyber tips and risk management strategies that can be taken away and applied to schools. Discussion of trends we are seeing within the cyber insurance industry will help inform some of these practical risk management strategies, and emphasis will be placed on simple steps that can be taken that cost the least, require few resources, and do not require a lot of time. Attendees will walk away with a greater understanding of the cyber threat landscape for schools today and empowered to play a role in their organizational cyber risk management.

Serving as cyber specialist at MMA, Kacey Wheeler specializes in cyber risk management. She is passionate in helping organizations obtain tailored insurance solutions to meet the unique cyber exposures of their organization while also guiding them in implementing effective technical controls to enhance their overall cyber risk management strategy. She also serves on the national cyber risk practice at MMA. She holds a Bachelor’s in Cyber Operations and Resilience from Boise State University and various cybersecurity certifications including the cyber COPE insurance certification from Carnegie Mellon.

From Vision to Innovation: Aligning District Strategic Planning with Technology Leadership — How Superintendents, Technology Directors, and Assessment Leaders Partner to Strengthen Governance, Drive System Wide Coherence, and Build One of the Most Innovative School Districts in the Nation.

Krestin Bahr is a transformational education leader who has dedicated her career to creating innovative, student-centered learning environments, inspiring educators and learners. As Superintendent of Peninsula School District in Gig Harbor, Washington, she oversees 9,000 students across 17 schools. Since 2021, Bahr’s leadership has driven remarkable growth, including opening six new schools and establishing three Mastery-Based Arts Impact Schools. Under her guidance, PSD earned recognition as a League of Innovative Schools member in 2025 and an AASA "District to Watch"; in 2024 for achievements in early literacy and environmental sustainability. Multiple schools have achieved Washington's Green Schools and OSPI STEM Lighthouse designations.

Previously, Bahr was Superintendent of Eatonville School District (2013-2021). Bahr holds a Superintendent Certification from Washington State University, Master of Education from City University, and Bachelor's in Biological Science from Pacific Lutheran University. Her achievements include two AASA Superintendent of the Year nominations and a 2023 Leader of Distinction Award.

James Cantonwine is the Director of Research and Assessment in Peninsula School District. He supports district and school teams in using data and continuous improvement practices to strengthen operations and student supports. His work includes responsible use of artificial intelligence to improve efficiency and decision-making aligned with district priorities.

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Essential Security Within the Google Admin Console - Improve incident response and investigation techniques: Develop the skills to effectively address security incidents and minimize data breaches.

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Google Admin in 2026: Adapting to the Latest Changes - Future-proof your Google Workspace environment: Be prepared for upcoming changes and ensure a smooth transition for your school community.

Rob Babiak brings three decades of experience supporting technology in educational settings. As a former Senior Google Administrator for one of Canada's largest school divisions, he possesses extensive practical knowledge in deploying and managing Google Workspace for Education. Rob's expertise includes account and security best practices, along with robust Chromebook management. He is passionate about empowering School IT Staff and Educators through innovative technology solutions, and is looking forward to helping institutions maximize the potential of their Google Workspace for Education environment.