Inaugural GenYES Summer Camp August 2019
With support from the Management Council, seven Information Technology Centers partnered with the non-profit Generation YES to launch the GenYES program in 22 schools from 17 districts to create Student Technology Leaders across Ohio. Ohio’s new GenYES districts will send over 55 facilitators and students to a GenYES Summer Camp where they will learn the technology and soft skills necessary to become Student Technology Leaders to help support their classrooms.
The GenYES program prepares teams of Student Technology Leaders (STLs) in grades 3-12 to work with educators, peers, and IT staff to integrate technology in ways that improve student learning. Students in the program participate in real-world experiences that develop the technology and people skills necessary to assist with EdTech challenges in the classroom. They learn to create content, mentor others, and develop professional working relationships with their teachers through the GenYES program.
“We are excited to be the catalyst to expand this program throughout Ohio,” stated Geoff Andrews, Management Council CEO. “Classrooms that have Student Technology Leaders allow teachers to remain focused on teaching, and students focused on learning, by giving students the knowledge and skills to remove some of the most common technology challenges teachers face on a daily basis.”
As the technology backbone for Ohio’s PreK-12 schools, coordinating the GenYES program through Information Technology Centers is a natural fit. LACA, LGCA, OME-RESA, NEONET, NOECA, NWOCA, and SPARCC met with their schools and GenYES to develop customized implementation plans with measurable goals and objectives. The GenYES program features a blended-learning curriculum with 17 units of study driven by a “learning by doing” philosophy; think, learn, and do.
“GenYES’s mission is to overcome K-12 technology integration challenges by preparing students to join educators in the school transformation process,” noted Dennis Harper, Generation YES CEO. “We do that by meeting one-on-one with each school, targeting their needs for technology transformation, and tailoring the program to meet those needs.”
The first GenYES Summer Camp kicks off in Cambridge, Ohio on August 5-6, 2019 followed by the second Summer Camp in Canton, Ohio on August 8-9, 2019. Facilitators and students will gain first-hand experience of the GenYES program to share with fellow students participating in the program this fall.
About the Management Council
Ohio’s Information Technology Centers (ITCs) work together through a statewide network known as the Ohio Education Computer Network (OECN). The Management Council (www.managementcouncil.org) represents and supports the collaborative efforts of the OECN, which implements a broad spectrum of academic and administrative technologies across Ohio’s PreK-12 education system.
About Generation YES
Generation YES (www.genyes.org) believes that when schools trust and collaborate with their students to integrate technology, academic success follows. With its school-friendly online tools and innovative project-based curriculum, Generation YES builds a collaborative learning community that enables student leaders in grades 3-12 to work alongside their teachers as technology integration collaborators. Generation YES is a nonprofit organization with 22 years of research experience and proven scientific results implemented in over 2,100 schools across the country.
Chad Carson, a 1994 graduate of Ohio University Athens in computer science, has spent the last twenty-nine years serving the Ohio Education Computer Network. Chad began his career at the LACA ITC in 1994, immediately after college. Originally hired to support Student Services, Chad advanced to systems manager, then served as LACA’s director of technology from 2001-2017. Chad was the executive director of LACA for four years prior to joining the MCOECN in the fall of 2021 as the manager of the MCOECN Data Center Operations team. In his current role, Chad is primarily responsible for the overall operation of the MCOECN server, network, and storage infrastructure, and continuously focuses his technical skills on enhancing, optimizing, and improving delivery of hosted services to MCOECN’s customers.
Joe spent 29 years in public education as a teacher, coach, assistant principal, principal, assistant superintendent, and superintendent. He started his career in Grove City, Pennsylvania as a teacher and coach and finished in Ellwood City, Pennsylvania in the superintendent role. During his time as an administrator, Joe was focused on innovative ways to deliver instruction, both in the classroom and through technology. He led Ellwood City in their 1:1 laptop adoption for students and changing instruction to both direct instruction and using Google Classroom as a learning management system. He also was integral in bringing a 3-12 STEM program to the district.
Geoff has served as CEO of the Management Council since 2015, leading the mission and strategic plan for the Council and growing the organization that connects, optimizes, secures and empowers academic and administrative systems that support every learner, teacher and leader in Ohio. He is responsible for the array of work done by the Management Council on behalf of the Ohio Department of Education and Ohio’s 18 Information Technology Centers.
Jessica began her career in higher education working for the Art Institute of Ohio – Cincinnati, Kaplan College, and the Everest Institute before discovering that the public sector was her passion. She left the realm of higher education to pursue a non-profit career with the Griffith Foundation before securing a position with the Ohio Educational Service Center Association as Program Manager for Membership & Special projects.
Melissa began her career as a district technology coordinator and computer application/business teacher and during that time was fortunate to develop a wonderful relationship with her district’s Information Technology Center (ITC). While at the district, she led the implementation of OhioSchoolNet and Raising the Bar technology initiatives. In the mid 2010s, she transitioned from the district to an ITC, which introduced her to the Management Council and many of the programs that they support state-wide.
Erica came to INFOhio in the early 2010s with more than 10 years’ experience, including as an early childhood teacher and elementary music teacher. Prior to her role as an INFOhio ILibrarian, now known as Instructional Specialist, she worked for two collegiate universities, one as the Humanities Librarian and the other as Library Director. In her role with INFOhio, Erica evaluated and selected digital tools and resources aligned with Ohio Learning Standards, and supported integration of those tools and resources into classroom instruction. She also collected, analyzed, and shared INFOhio usage data to inform instructional design, and wrote for INFOhio’s social media, blog, and news. She earned a BA in English and Music and a Master of Humanities from Wright State University, and a Master of Library Science from Indiana University.
Matt Calmes serves as the Director of State Software Development. Matt has been with the State Software Development Team since the early 2000s. In his current role, he leads and manages the teams that develop and support the various products in the SSDT’s portfolio. He has a passion for technology and solving hard problems that provide benefit to Ohio’s educational community and the students they serve. 
Greg Buddelmeyer serves as the Chief Financial Officer for the Management Council. He joined the Management Council staff in the mid 2010s. Greg began his career with the Ohio Auditor of State’s Office as an Assistant Auditor, working on audits of Ohio government entities. In the early 1990s, he accepted his first school district treasurer position with Liberty-Benton Local School District. He also spent time as the school treasurer for Defiance City School District and Shawnee Local School District. He eventually moved to The University of Findlay as the Financial Director for Projects and Grants, overseeing the financial operations of The All Hazards Training Center and university grant programs.
As Director of Customer Services and Support, Bill Young is the chief evangelist for excellent customer experiences across the Ohio Education Computer Network (OECN). Bill manages customer support teams that are dedicated to delivering timely and knowledgeable support for major K-12 programs and applications used by teachers and leaders across Ohio. Teams deliver support via a live-chat, a statewide call center, email, and responsive self-help web sites.
Scott Gaughan serves as the Director of Network Services. He currently focuses on network related initiatives, information security, video conferencing, and collaborative purchasing agreements. He joined the Management Council in the early 2010s after spending 30 years in state government, including Ohio DAS/OIT, Ohio SchoolNet and eTech Ohio. 
Ryan has committed his career to serving the K12 education community in Ohio. Starting out in serving INFOhio at a regional Information Technology Center in the 1990s, he quickly adapted to the changing needs of the ITC and became their lead systems administrator. When given the opportunity in the mid 2000s, he came to the Management Council to initiate the first disaster recovery services. Since then and through leading many diverse initiatives, Ryan has developed into a talented technologist who focuses on aligning technology needs and educational outcomes.