2021 AAIM Conference
Hot Springs
Conference is coming Soon!
Registration Information
AAIM W9- If required by your district to register for the conference.
Conference Fees
Pre-Conference- $50
Hot Springs Convention Center
Embassy Suites, Conference Hotel
AAIM Award Nominations
CONFERENCE KEYNOTE SPEAKERS
Tyler Tarver
Tyler Tarver, Ed.S is the Dean of NLC College. He has a wife named Amanda, and three kids with various names. Tyler speaks at conferences across the country on various topics related to teaching, administration, efficiency, technology, social media, and culture. He has amassed over 14 million views on YouTube and 60k subscribers. He also created and maintains TarverAcademy.com, where he helps students/teachers with math, tech, and an assortment of educational needs. He's written 3 books, produces podcasts, made award winning short films, is an Apple Distinguished Educator, Google Innovator, Google Certified Trainer, Google Level 1 & 2 Educator, Apple Foundations Certified Trainer, Google Forms Expert Team Member, has been featured on PBS, and also been featured on Tosh.0 four times. He's been a teacher, facilitator, principal, and Director of Curriculum, Instruction, Communications, Personnel, and Technology. Tyler loves teaching students, helping teachers, and building community and conversation around improving and innovating education to help students.
Tyler is a Dean of an HBCU College located in Arkansas. He's been an Education Week Feature, 2-Time Arkansas Best-of-the-Best Videographer of the Year, 16 to Watch in 2016, Sync Magazine Cover Story, Democrat Gazette Feature, News Story on "Making Math Fun", host of the Education Academy Podcast and the Explain Everything Podcast. Through publishing 1000s of free math, education, Google, and culture videos to help student and teachers, Tyler has gotten the opportunity to learn and share with millions of learners around the world. He's keynoted or spoken at ISTE Conference, Google for Education Breakout Speaker (ISTE), Google Innovator Energizer, Odysseyware Learning Summit, TiCal: Tech for Admin Leadership, Schools Without Walls, MidSouth Google Summit, Henderson University, Blast Conference, i2 Innovation Institute, edWeb Learning Bird, AAAE Conference, Collide Conference, and many more. He's also a TESS certified administrator and has a Specialist Degree in Educational Leadership from the University of Arkansas.
Tyler believes education is the great unifier and can change society for the better. The right culture is the most important thing a school can control to help motivate, empower, and equip young people to be successful in today's world. Take control of your classroom and help guide students to become the hero in their life, family, and community. With the right actions, resources, and motivation, teachers can create an engaging and learning-filling classroom environment. Utilizing technology and social media to help our students build the skills they need to excel in whatever job market the future brings. Being kind, hard-working, and positive can go further than any other motivator young people can hear, they just need the right person in their story to help them them listen.
Dr. Jeff Whittingham
Dr. Brandie Benton & Dr. Don Benton
Dr. Benton has been a member of the Henderson State University community since 2008, serving as a full time faculty member and the Director of Admissions and Clinical Experiences for Teachers College. From 2011 to 2016, while continuing to teach, she served as the CAEP Accreditation and Assessment Coordinator prior to being named as Associate Provost in June of 2016. In addition to her service to the university, her professional affiliations include The National Council for the Social Studies, ArkACRAO, and the Arkansas Association of Middle Level Educators.
Prior to her experiences in higher education, Dr. Benton served for several years as a public school social studies and technology teacher. During her teaching tenure, she was involved in numerous curriculum and technology initiatives within Garland County and the State of Arkansas. She and her husband, Mr. Don Benton, founded the non-profit organization Schools Without Walls, which has a current membership of over 24,000 Arkansas educator members.
Degrees: B.S.E. (Social Studies) Henderson State University, M.S.E. (Educational Leadership) Henderson State University, and Ph.D. (Curriculum & Instruction) The University of Arkansas
Dr. Don Benton, Assistant Commissioner, Research and Technology
As assistant commissioner, Don Benton oversees the Divisions of APSCN Student Management Systems (eSchool) and Technology Initiatives and Resources for the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education. Before joining the DESE team in September 2018, Benton served as an assistant professor in educational leadership at Henderson State University in Arkadelphia, a position he held since 2009. He also served as the director of the Hot Springs Technology Institute since 1998 and founded Schools Without Walls, which provides professional development for technology leaders and educators, in 2010. He previously served as the director of technology and information, information technology security officer/disaster recovery, technology plan developer and E-Rate coordinator at the Hot Springs School District. Benton has a Bachelor of Science in Education (Vocational Business Education), a Master of Science in Education (P-12 Building Level Leadership) and an Education Specialist in District Level Leadership from Henderson State University. He is pursuing a Doctor of Education in Educational Technology from Boise State University in Idaho. Don has served for more than 27 years in education dedicated to educational technology leadership and digital learning.
Tia Brickey
Professional Development Documentation
AAIM is an approved professional development provider through Arkansas DESE.
As always, AAIM will provide all participants with a form where attendees can document participation. At the beginning of each session, attendees will be directed to a virtual sign in sheet and at the end of each session, will be asked to complete a feedback form.