ABOUT GAETC
Learn more about the beloved Georgia Educational Technology Conference! The premier education event of the year that thousands have come to love!
PURPOSE
PURPOSE
steering committee MEMBERs
Kate Crawford
Conference Chair
Jenna Dunaway
Associate Conference Chair
Tracina Wyatt
Associate Conference Chair
Ashley Bailey
Program
Holly Banks
Hotels, Shuttles and Publications
Brian Blanton
Board President
Connie Bond
Exhibits Manager
Weyman Culp
Board Liaison
Brian DeRose
App Development
Amy Denman
Leadership Strand
Pete Dudich
Safety, Security and Special Services
Jeff Eacker
Executive Director
Jim Farmer
Leadership Strand
Caitlin Maynard
Program
Carolyn Hutcheson
Website
Lee Green
Attendee Engagement
Kerry Johnson
Facilities
Blair Johnston
Facilities
Sonja Collier-Lewis
Conference Information
Helen Maddox
Sponsorship
LaQuita Mainer
Facilitators
Kris Plummer
Special Events
Monica Radcliff
Special Events
Hollie Sisk
Attendee Engagement
Jennifer Stapp
Student Showcase
Julie Sway
Sponsorship
Amy Williams
Registration
HISTORY
For a number of years the Metro West and East Georgia Learning Resources System (GLRS) Centers and the Department of Special Education of Georgia State University, along with the statewide Georgia Regional Educational Service Agencies (RESA) Computer Coordinators Group, co-sponsored an annual conference, Microcomputer Applications in Education. Although the original focus of this conference was special education, it rapidly began to draw large numbers of regular education teachers
In 1989, the RESA Network Computer Coordinators Group worked cooperatively with the Georgia Department of Education (GaDOE), Office of Instructional Programs, and the GLRS Network to develop a new educational technology conference. The overall goal of the first conference was to provide participants with a quality learning experience through “exposure to peers who were effectively using technology in instructional settings, to nationally recognized leaders in the field, and to commercial exhibits which provided information on state-of-the-art hardware, software, and uses of technology.”
At that time, technology, especially computer and video technology, was beginning to have a significant impact on society and was proving to be an effective aid in both delivery and management of instruction in America’s schools. As these technologies expanded, it became essential that a mechanism be developed to promote acceptance, to share productive applications for students, teachers, administrators, and student support personnel, and to plan for future applications.
In early 1988, a meeting was held with William Johnson, Assistant Superintendent for General and Vocational Education, GaDOE, to discuss the need for such a conference and to request funding assistance and other departmental support in addressing this need. Weyman Culp, GaDOE, coordinated the arrangements for the meeting, and those attending included RESA Technology Coordinators Jimmy Adams, Bill Carmichael, and Bob Smith, as well as GaDOE personnel Weyman Culp and Brenda Tapp. Based on the information provided by this group of individuals and the support of William Johnson, GaDOE agreed to provide a $4,900 grant for organizing and conducting a statewide educational technology conference.
Initially, the planning group considered holding a one-day drive-in conference in the fall of 1988. However, based on the discussion and rationale presented in the meeting, the decision was made to plan a multi-day conference to be held in the spring of 1989. It was further agreed that First District RESA would serve as fiscal agent for the conference with Faye Adams as treasurer. Brenda Tapp was designated as Conference Chair, and William Johnson was recognized as Honorary Conference Chair. The GaDOE and the RESAs were the sponsoring agencies. It was determined that the program design and format from the Microcomputers in Education Conference should be retained to help with the transition.
Jimmy Adams and Phyllis Tweed, both from First District RESA, served as Program Chair and Facilities/Sponsors Chair. A Program Committee consisting of local educational agency (LEA) representatives from across the state and across curricular areas was identified to plan the content for the first conference. Strands were developed for the major curricular areas as well as for special education and administration.
While program development was underway, arrangements were made to hold the conference in the Iron Works Convention and Trade Center in Columbus, Georgia, and vendors were contacted about exhibiting at the conference. When the program content was completed, Pete Seabolt, Pioneer RESA, and Brenda Tapp prepared the program for printing at Metro RESA.
The general consensus of the Conference Committee was that a goal of 350 attendees would be reasonable, although materials were prepared for 500 “just in case.” There were approximately 20 exhibitors at the conference, and the attendance was over 650. At the conclusion of the conference, a balance of approximately $10,000 was available with which to conduct a second conference. Following a meeting at the Georgia Department of Education, which included representatives of several LEAs as well as DOE representatives and leaders from the 1989 conference, the conference was renamed The Georgia Educational Technology Conference (GaETC).
1990-1995
1996-2000
2001-2004
2005-2018
2019 and Beyond
HISTORY
For a number of years the Metro West and East Georgia Learning Resources System (GLRS) Centers and the Department of Special Education of Georgia State University, along with the statewide Georgia Regional Educational Service Agencies (RESA) Computer Coordinators Group, co-sponsored an annual conference, Microcomputer Applications in Education. Although the original focus of this conference was special education, it rapidly began to draw large numbers of regular education teachers
In 1989, the RESA Network Computer Coordinators Group worked cooperatively with the Georgia Department of Education (GaDOE), Office of Instructional Programs, and the GLRS Network to develop a new educational technology conference. The overall goal of the first conference was to provide participants with a quality learning experience through “exposure to peers who were effectively using technology in instructional settings, to nationally recognized leaders in the field, and to commercial exhibits which provided information on state-of-the-art hardware, software, and uses of technology.”
At that time, technology, especially computer and video technology, was beginning to have a significant impact on society and was proving to be an effective aid in both delivery and management of instruction in America’s schools. As these technologies expanded, it became essential that a mechanism be developed to promote acceptance, to share productive applications for students, teachers, administrators, and student support personnel, and to plan for future applications.
In early 1988, a meeting was held with William Johnson, Assistant Superintendent for General and Vocational Education, GaDOE, to discuss the need for such a conference and to request funding assistance and other departmental support in addressing this need. Weyman Culp, GaDOE, coordinated the arrangements for the meeting, and those attending included RESA Technology Coordinators Jimmy Adams, Bill Carmichael, and Bob Smith, as well as GaDOE personnel Weyman Culp and Brenda Tapp. Based on the information provided by this group of individuals and the support of William Johnson, GaDOE agreed to provide a $4,900 grant for organizing and conducting a statewide educational technology conference.
Initially, the planning group considered holding a one-day drive-in conference in the fall of 1988. However, based on the discussion and rationale presented in the meeting, the decision was made to plan a multi-day conference to be held in the spring of 1989. It was further agreed that First District RESA would serve as fiscal agent for the conference with Faye Adams as treasurer. Brenda Tapp was designated as Conference Chair, and William Johnson was recognized as Honorary Conference Chair. The GaDOE and the RESAs were the sponsoring agencies. It was determined that the program design and format from the Microcomputers in Education Conference should be retained to help with the transition.
Jimmy Adams and Phyllis Tweed, both from First District RESA, served as Program Chair and Facilities/Sponsors Chair. A Program Committee consisting of local educational agency (LEA) representatives from across the state and across curricular areas was identified to plan the content for the first conference. Strands were developed for the major curricular areas as well as for special education and administration.
While program development was underway, arrangements were made to hold the conference in the Iron Works Convention and Trade Center in Columbus, Georgia, and vendors were contacted about exhibiting at the conference. When the program content was completed, Pete Seabolt, Pioneer RESA, and Brenda Tapp prepared the program for printing at Metro RESA.
The general consensus of the Conference Committee was that a goal of 350 attendees would be reasonable, although materials were prepared for 500 “just in case.” There were approximately 20 exhibitors at the conference, and the attendance was over 650. At the conclusion of the conference, a balance of approximately $10,000 was available with which to conduct a second conference. Following a meeting at the Georgia Department of Education, which included representatives of several LEAs as well as DOE representatives and leaders from the 1989 conference, the conference was renamed The Georgia Educational Technology Conference (GaETC).