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About ELEVATE™

Take Teaching To New Heights

The definition says it all….and at ELEVATE™, that’s what we are all about: Supporting and uplifting early childhood and elementary educators in their quest to improve instruction for the students they serve.

This conference was designed with the core objective of supporting educators who work selflessly in the classroom each day, giving their all. The ELEVATE™ team consists of highly experienced and award-winning educators who are currently teaching in the classroom or actively serving in schools.

 

ELEVATE™ is here to support educators. Our conferences will provide them with the absolute best professional development sessions offered for Pre-k to 2nd grade educators. Every ELEVATE™ conference will include multiple sessions on all core academic strands (including reading, writing, math, science, & social studies), as well as administrative, SEL, school culture, classroom management, and culturally responsive teaching workshops.

 

At ELEVATE™, we set the bar high! All of our presenters are required to support their presentation content with current research, model best-practice instructional methods, incorporate active-engagement strategies within their sessions, and provide complementary lesson plans/activities for attendees to take back and use immediately in their classrooms.

Team Members

Greg Smedley-Warren

Greg Smedley-Warren

Co-Founder

Meet Greg Smedley-Warren, affectionately known as “Mr. Greg,” an experienced, current  kindergarten educator and the creative mind behind The Kindergarten Smorgasboard.

Jessi Cortez

Jessi Cortez

Creative Director

Jessi is the Creative/Marketing Director for The Kindergarten Smorgasboard! Jessi has over 10 years of experience in the education field...

Katie Wonderly

Katie Wonderly

Designer

Katie is an elementary music teacher, making music with 600 of her favorite young musicians in Oklahoma City.

Jason Warren

Jason Warren

Co-Founder

Hi, I am Jason, otherwise known as "The Mister."  I handle all things behind the scenes at The Kindergarten Smorgasboard.  I graduated from Tennessee Technological University in 2001 with a bachelors degree in Finance.

Crystal Oswald

Crystal Oswald

Conference Director

Crystal Oswald is a district service coach that specializes in Social Emotional Learning. Prior to this position, she was an SEL Curriculum and Instruction specialist and a classroom teacher for 14 years.

Mel Novoa

Mel Novoa

Conference Coordinator

Mel Novoa is a 2nd grade teacher in Florida, who brings over 15 years of teaching experience.

Adam Dovico

Adam Dovico

General Manager

Adam Dovico is an accomplished teacher, curriculum facilitator, principal, professor, speaker, and author.

Holly Ehle

Holly Ehle

Academic Advisor

Holly is a full-time educator who has over 20 years of experience teaching kindergarten and serving as an early literacy specialist.

Brian Russell

Brian Russell

Logistics Manager

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