AI and Cyber Security Summit 2024
Speakers
Featured Speakers
Featuring a dynamic lineup of esteemed professionals from the realms of technology, sports, and education, the Byte Wise Summit brings together leaders who are redefining innovation in AI, cybersecurity, and educational development. Our speakers include visionary global executives, former professional athletes turned mentors, technology architects, and transformative educators—all dedicated to advancing growth, resilience, and strategic excellence in their respective fields.
Dr. Alena Zachery-Ross
Superintendent, Ypsilanti Community Schools/ ASU-GSV Google Fellow
Dr. Alena Zachery-Ross, the Superintendent of Ypsilanti Community Schools, is a visionary leader that leads by example. As the Superintendent of YCS, Mrs. Zachery-Ross always champions the education of all students with conviction, compassion, and determination. Her expertise as a transformational leader has led to the successful implementation of the District’s MI-Excel Blueprint for Rapid Turnaround, which is responsible for disrupting the educational infrastructure to ensure academic achievement for all students at YCS. Student achievement is at the core of her work, and she leads by being visible and making no excuses about the importance of doing the right work.
Dr. A. Katrise Perera
Superintendent of Schools for the Lancaster Independent
School District
Dr. A. Katrise Perera became the Superintendent of Schools for the Lancaster Independent School District in Lancaster, Texas, in June 2021. In her role, she has actively engaged with stakeholders, resulting in a swift, positive impact on students, staff, and the Lancaster ISD community.
Dr. Perera brings more than 29 years of dedicated service to K12 education. Prior to her role at Lancaster ISD, she served as a superintendent in Oregon (2017-2021) and Virginia (2011-2015). She also held a key position as the National Director for Urban Markets with a national publishing company (2015-2017). Beyond her superintendent roles, she served as a school improvement area superintendent in the Houston Independent School District (2010-2011) and held various positions, including teacher, principal, and district-level administrator, within Henrico County Public Schools (2000-2010) in Richmond, Virginia. Her journey in K12 education began in 1994 as a teacher in Charlottesville City Public Schools, Charlottesville, Virginia.
Dr. Stephanie Williams
Director of Instructional Technology for Greenville County Schools
Dr. Stephanie Williams is a passionate and dedicated educator with over 20 years of experience in fostering meaningful learning experiences for students. As the Director of Instructional Technology for Greenville County Schools, she leverages her expertise in curriculum development, project management, data analysis, and instructional technology integration to empower teachers and build strong relationships with administrators and educational partners. Dr. Williams is committed to continuous professional growth and actively seeks opportunities to share best practices, expand her professional network, and engage in collaborative learning.
Shana V. White
Director of CS Equity Initiatives at the Kapor Center.
Shana V. White is the Director of CS Equity Initiatives at the Kapor Center. She will be working on Equitable CS Initiatives, supporting both CSforCA and CSforGA, and working with stakeholders in Georgia to improve teacher professional development and increase participation and success for students of color in K12 CS courses. Before joining the Kapor Center, Shana worked for sixteen years in K12 education, serving in public and private schools as a teacher and instructional technology specialist in metro Atlanta. Shana is passionate about disrupting the status quo, works to connect and create a community for educators online, and is strongly committed to justice and equity in K12 schools. She has a B.S. from Wake Forest University, an M.S. from Winthrop University, and an Ed.S from Kennesaw State University.
Rhonda Vetere
Global C Suite Technology Executive & Strategic Advisor
Rhonda Vetere is a seasoned global leader with expertise in mergers and acquisitions, STEM, and sports, serving on boards like Laureus Sport for Good and Make-A-Wish in 2024. She has held executive roles at major companies, including Herbalife, Santander, Estée Lauder, and AIG, leading teams of up to 20,000 globally. Recognized for her leadership, Rhonda was named one of the Top 50 Most Powerful Women in Technology by the National Diversity Council in 2019 and 2020. An athlete and mentor, she’s known for her visionary leadership and dedication to empowering others.
David Tyree
Motivational Speaker & Former New York Giant’s Player
David Tyree is a former NFL wide receiver, best known for his iconic “Helmet Catch” in Super Bowl XLII, helping the New York Giants secure a championship. Now a speaker and mentor, David focuses on leadership, personal development, and resilience. As the Director of Player Development for the New York Giants, he mentored athletes on life beyond sports. Today, he delivers motivational talks to leaders in education, business, and sports, inspiring growth mindset and high performance. David is passionate about helping others overcome challenges and reach their full potential both on and off the field.
Arman Jaffer
CEO Brisk AI
Arman Jaffer is the CEO of Brisk Teaching, a teacher tool that leverages artificial intelligence to increase the quality and efficiency of instruction. Brisk is directly integrated within educators’ existing tools and offers four functionalities: differentiating texts, creating content, giving feedback, and authenticating writing. Six months after launching, Brisk is used by over 100,000 teachers weekly and is the most popular AI-powered Chrome Extension for educators. Prior to founding Brisk, Arman started and led the Notebooks team at the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative for five years;Notebooks is a first-of-its-kind document editor designed to promote high quality instructional moments and collaboration between learners and educators. Prior to CZI, Aman held positions at the White House, the Aspen Institute, and Google;he has degrees in Computer Science and Economics at UC Berkeley.
LaShonda Rahming
Change Management Leader
LaShonda Rahming is a seasoned leader with over 27 years of experience managing large-scale transformations across corporate environments, impacting both public and private sectors in up to 190 countries. She has worked extensively with one of the top 20 school districts in the United States and has dedicated much of her consulting career to supporting public sector clients. As a bestselling author and an emerging leader recognized by Inc. Magazine, LaShonda currently serves as the School Board Chair of a private school in the Dallas Metroplex. She is passionate about leveraging AI to enhance operational efficiency within school systems.
Brian J Brooks, CISSP
Seasoned Virtual Chief Information Security Officer (vCISO) and Advisor
Brian Brooks brings over 20 years of dynamic cybersecurity experience, specializing in aligning security strategies with broader organizational objectives to create a risk-averse environment across various industries. His expertise is particularly relevant to the education sector, where the need to protect sensitive data and ensure operational resilience is critical.
As a seasoned virtual Chief Information Security Officer (vCISO) and advisor, Brian has a proven track record of leading security initiatives that drive both compliance and innovation. Formerly the Deputy Chief Information Security Officer at a global logistics organization, Brian was responsible for architecting and implementing advanced Security Operations Center (SOC) solutions. He enhanced threat detection, incident response capabilities, and continuous monitoring protocols—skills that directly translate to safeguarding the digital environments of educational institutions.
Brian’s experience in developing policies aligned with the NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF) and ISO 27001 standards ensures compliance, risk management, and operational effectiveness. His forward-thinking approach equips education leaders with actionable insights to strengthen cybersecurity while supporting the long-term success and security of schools and districts.
Brian is well-positioned to offer practical, actionable strategies for leaders in education to enhance their security posture and safeguard against emerging threats.
Dr. Sito J. Narcisse (Moderator)
Former Superintendent and Managing Partner for SJ Apple Consulting Group
Dr. Sito J. Narcisse is a distinguished former superintendent of schools with a Doctorate in Education (Ed.D.) in Administrative and Policy Studies from the University of Pittsburgh. With a rich background in education management, teaching, and school administration, Dr. Narcisse has significantly impacted educational practices and organizational growth. His accomplishments include leading successful school reforms, enhancing educational outcomes, and implementing innovative policies that have set new standards in the field. Dr. Narcisse’s expertise in strategic planning and transformative leadership continues to drive positive change in educational and professional communities.
Sponsors & Partners
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