2021 MAEDS Board Elections
Here are the candidates for the 2021 Election. Watch your email box for an official ballot in early December. If you are a member and did not receive a ballot please contact Merri Lynn Colligan.
Technology Director of West Branch - Rose City Area Schools.
I have served on the MAEDS Board for the past five years. I have spent over 25 years working in technology, the last 18 of which have been in K-12 education. I love the challenges the technology field brings and I still enjoy going to work every day. I find MAEDS an Invaluable tool for us, as school “Tech Folks”. Every year I come back from the MAEDS Conference with a new idea or a solution to an old problem that I have learned from one of you. When away from work I enjoy fishing bass tournaments and camping with family.
Lapeer County Intermediate School District
I am the Director of Technology for Lapeer County ISD where I have been employed for over 23 years. I help lead the Lapeer team in providing technology services including OSP and fiber maintenance services to other counties, ISD's, RESA's, local school districts, public school academies, libraries, and many local government entities such as public safety, Community Mental Health, Health Departments, etc. I am CTO certified from MSBO, a Cisco Certified Network Academy Instructor, an active member of METL where I have served as Director, and am currently serving as Secretary for the second time, I am a member of the steering committee for MiCH (Michigan Collaboration Hub), I am an active member of the State Education Network advisory team with a strong background in fiber optic services. I have served on the MAEDS board as a Director, Conference Chair, President, and Past President. My previous employment positions include Director of Network Services for a Telecommunications Engineering firm and as a Microsoft Certified Trainer for a training facility in the Detroit area. I have been a MAEDS member for over 27 years and continue to support the networking, relationships, training, and collaboration opportunities. I would be more than honored to get your vote to continue to serve on the MAEDS board and contribute to its mission for Michigan's educational community.
Branch-ISD Technology Director, ROF (Retired Old Fart)
I have recently retired as Technology Director at Branch-ISD, a position I’d held since 1996. Prior to that I taught electronics for the ISD and had also worked in the telecom manufacturing industry supplying central office equipment to ATT and the baby bells. I am still employed in public education in Michigan.
I attended MAEDS for the first time in 1997 when I started as a technology coordinator. I found that I learned more about how to do my job in three days at the conference than I had in most of my college coursework. After attending the conference for two years I joined the Board. I have served as MAEDS President and Conference Chair for three terms each. I still have strong enthusiasm for MAEDS and my profession and enjoy the networking opportunities with my peers. I would love to continue as a board member to assist in providing the best technology professional development opportunities in Michigan.
District Technology Coordinator - Van Buren ISD
Dan oversees technology for Paw Paw Public Schools. Dan started his EdTech career in 2009 as an intern with Plainwell Community Schools, working three more years at the District while attending Western Michigan University to earn his Bachelor’s in Computer Information Systems. He started his latest adventure in 2016 at Van Buren ISD as the Network/Server Administrator and then was quickly promoted to the Technology Coordinator at Decatur Public Schools and Lawton Community Schools. Dan has been a MAEDS member for five years now and has been on the SPOT/Device Purchasing committee for four years. Dan has been a presenter at the MAEDS Fall Conference and a session manager numerous times. During the pandemic, Dan took the initiative to earn his Chief Technology Officer certification through MSBO and his Educator Level 1 & 2 certifications through Google. Dan and his wife Heather have one son, Benjamin who is just turning two, and one more on the way due June 2022.