Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming the educational landscape, offering both exciting opportunities and complex challenges for today’s schools. The fall 2025  Zelma Wynn Symposium will bring together leading experts in education, technology, and innovation to examine how schools can thoughtfully harness the power of AI to enhance teaching and learning for all students. Attendees will explore the ethical considerations, strategic decisions, and instructional best practices necessary to successfully navigate the evolving world of AI-infused education. This event will provide educators with the insight and practical tips and strategies they need to support student growth and teacher empowerment in a rapidly changing world.

Dr. Joan Mele-McCarthy, CCC-SLP is the Executive Director at The Summit School in Edgewater, MD, an independent school serving children with dyslexia and other learning differences.  Prior to this position, Dr. Mele-McCarthy served as Senior Policy Advisor and Special Assistant to the Assistant Secretary of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services (OSERS) in the U.S. Department of Education (ED).  She has worked in public schools, university settings, and private practice.  She has served on numerous boards related to her work.  Currently she serves on the Maryland State Board of Education and she is the Director of Practitioner Programs for The Dyslexia Foundation. Her work includes presentation of peer reviewed research-to-practice papers and presentations on dyslexia, executive functions, and oral language foundations for academic achievement. Her publications include articles and book chapters related to policy for federal education legislation, students with disabilities, and English Learners with disabilities. Dr. Mele-McCarthy is also a Research Affiliate with the Department of Human Development & Quantitative Methodology, University of Maryland, College Park.

Sam Chaltain, (@samchaltain) is a writer, filmmaker and school designer dedicated to advancing people’s understanding of the future of learning — and what it requires. Sam’s writings about his work have appeared in both magazines and newspapers, including the New York Times, Washington Post, and USA Today. A former speechwriter for President Obama’s U.S. Secretaries of Education, Sam is the author or co-author of seven books, and producer of more than thirty short and feature-length films. Sam has a Master’s degree in American Studies from the College of William & Mary, and an M.B.A. from George Washington University. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Wisconsin at Madison, where he graduated with a double major in Afro-American Studies and History.

Christina Lewellen, MBA, FASAE, CAE, President and CEO, Association of Technology Leaders in Independent Schools, is a seasoned association executive who brings a data-driven framework to business planning and strategy, having earned her MBA from the Rochester Institute of Technology and the Certified Association Executive designation from the American Society of Association Executives. She was named the CEO of ATLIS in 2019 and travels coast-to-coast speaking at industry events and visiting independent schools and their leadership teams. She serves as a trustee for Harmony, Incorporated, and is an active volunteer in the association management space. She was named an ASAE Fellow in 2025, a designation bestowed upon less than one percent of ASAE’s membership.

Nanci Shepardson is a Reading and Educational Specialist. She graduated from Wheelock College in 1989 with a bachelor's degree in Preschool/Kindergarten Curriculum and Infant/ Toddler Development. In 2010, she graduated from Simmons University with an M.S.Ed. in Language and Literacy and an Ed.S. in Assistive Technology.

She is a seasoned teacher, a credentialed K-12 Reading Specialist, and an International Dyslexia Association and Wilson Reading System Dyslexia Practitioner (WRS Level 1 Certified). In 2022, she earned her CPACC credential. Nanci has taught preschool, kindergarten, second grade, and fourth grade, was a Reading and Educational Specialist for grades 7 through postgraduate and has tutored all ages. She consults for the International Dyslexia Association, is a published author, an advocate for students with disabilities and their families, and is also a professional speaker on Dyslexia, high-incidence disabilities, and assistive technology throughout the country. Before joining Wilson Language Training, she was the Head of Learning Resources at The Chapin School in Manhattan. 

As the Director of Accessibility and Assistive Technology Solutions at Wilson Language Training, she works in the Curriculum Development Department.  In her role, she oversees the accessibility needs of the company and its customers. She works with the Wilson Reading System (WRS), Product Marketing, and Technology Team to create traditional and digital tools to augment the current WRS curriculum and materials.  She stays abreast of the current technological trends and serves as a resource for parents, teachers, and schools on Assistive Technology and high incidence learning disabilities. Equity and access for all, especially access to research-based reading instruction and assistive technology services, are at the forefront of her work.  Nanci is also a parent of a grown child with Dyslexia.

Dr. Ola Ozernov-Palchik, P.h.D Associate Director of Translational Research, AI and Education Initiative, and Director of Evidence-Based AI in Learning, Boston University Wheelock College of Education & Human Development and Hariri Institute for Computing; Research Scientist, McGovern Institute for Brain Research, MIT. Dr. Ozernov-Palchik’s multi-disciplinary research centers on the cognitive neuroscience of language and literacy development, with a strong emphasis on translational work aimed at advancing learning for all students and promoting educational equity. Her work has produced over two dozen scientific publications on the topic of literacy, and she was awarded the International Dyslexia Association (IDA) Young Investigator Award. Her recent line of research includes harnessing and advancing AI to create effective, personalized, and scalable tools for literacy.

Anna Fick is a dedicated English and Language Arts educator at The Summit School, specializing in supporting 1st through 8th grade students with dyslexia and other learning differences. With advanced degrees in Educational Technology and Dyslexia Studies, and five years of experience in special education curriculum design and creation, she brings deep expertise to tailoring curriculum through explicit, multisensory instruction. Her diverse educational career, enriched by her experience as a Navy spouse, has provided her with a broad perspective, including leading K-12 technology adoption plans, designing innovative curricula, and directing teams that create robust materials for assessment and instruction. This extensive background underscores her passion for intentionally and ethically integrating technology, including AI, as a powerful tool to enhance learning in the classroom. When not fostering a love for language in young learners, she enjoys just about any outdoor activity but especially those on the water with her family.

Benjamin Shiffman MAT, is a certified Special Education teacher and serves as the English Department Coordinator at The Summit School, where he has taught reading and English for over 13 years. He holds an MAT in Teaching from Towson University, with a focus on Secondary English and a BA from the University of Delaware in English. He is Co-owner and Director of Education and Technology at Joy in Learning. In addition to teacher leadership and classroom instruction, he has developed professional development modules for educators and parents, focusing on reading comprehension and written language, and most recently, AI-infused instruction to enhance background knowledge for access to grade-level curricula and literature. His work reflects a strong commitment to supporting diverse learners and enhancing literacy outcomes through effective instructional practices.

Chelsea Morris is an innovative educator at the Summit School with a deep commitment to integrating technology into the school’s history and geography curriculums. She earned her B.A. in Public History from Mercyhurst University in 2015, before she went on to complete an M.A. in Museum Studies and a Certificate of Advanced Study (CAS) in Cultural Heritage Preservation from Syracuse University, also in 2015. After working in the museum field, Chelsea returned to academia, earning an M.A. in History from Texas State University in 2022. She currently serves as the Social Studies Curriculum Coordinator and Instructor, where she actively works to incorporate AI-driven tools and digital literacy into the social studies curriculum, preparing students to navigate the complexities of the modern world. When not teaching or brushing up on her history trivia, Chelsea enjoys hiking, spending time with her family and travelling the world. Her fondest memories are the ones that incorporate all three.