Amanda Jeane & Kelsey are fresh off an exhilarating week at the PETE&C 2025 conference. Let me tell you, it was an absolute whirlwind of inspiration, innovation, and connection that we’re still buzzing from! Not to mention, the sugar rush from every chocolate bar, hot cocoa, and chocolate martini we could muster.
What is PETE&C?
For those who might not know, PETE&C (Pennsylvania Educational Technology Expo and Conference) is the premier educational technology conference in Pennsylvania. This year, it took place from February 9-12 at the Hershey Lodge, and boy, was it sweet (pun intended)! PETE&C brings together teachers, instructional specialists, tech directors, and various education professionals from across the state to explore the latest in ed-tech.
The conference offered over 200 educational sessions, including keynotes, breakouts, workshops, and more. It's a fantastic opportunity to dive deep into new concepts, tools, and resources that we can take back to our schools and make a real difference.
Highlights from PETE&C 2025
Here's a quick rundown of some of the experiences we had at the conference:
Supporting Teachers:
We are really fortunate to have a great network of PA teachers to support. We worked with a variety of teachers to help write proposals and two were accepted. Gerald Aungst, long time educator and doctoral candidate, working on a dissertation in culturally relevant pedagogy. Gerald presented about culturally relevant, project based robotics! Erin Hildebrand, rural PA educator, librarian and technology coach in her school community. Erin presented a poster sharing her experience using Finches to help build collaboration and confidence with her colleagues.
Along with these amazing educators, we got to see so many other good friends of CodeJoy from micro:bit Champions to KTI Family. We highly encourage you to get involved with educator networks that support your passions and help you reach beyond your classroom.
Tech in the Wild:
We had an absolute blast teaming up with the amazing Stacie Isenberg from ARIN IU28 to dive into the world of STEELS standards! Stacie, being the rockstar she is, brought the energy and expertise to help educators bridge the gap between these standards and hands-on learning. Our session wasn't just about theory; we got teachers up and moving with engaging activities using micro:bits. Seriously, who knew coding could be so much fun? We armed everyone with creative ideas and practical skills they could immediately bring back to their classrooms. If you want to relive the excitement (or catch up if you missed it!), check out our slidedeck here.
Exciting Discoveries:
While AI was clearly the big ticket item of this conference (and many more to come), there was a great variety of experiences. PETE&C hosted Summits, which featured AI, STEELS, Cyber Security, and Online Learning as focusses for all their sessions. Our friends from Fluxspace had a flexible learning space with state of the art furniture and learning materials. The PETE&C conference committee did an amazing job filling the Exhibitor Hall with amazing companies, including our friends from Forward Education. This conference also hosts student experiences on the final day of the conference. We were so fortunate to see the CSO student presenters and Kelsey got to be a judge for the Invention Convention.
A Call to All Educators
Now, I want to take a moment to speak directly to all you amazing educators out there. If you've never attended or presented at a conference like PETE&C, let me tell you – you're missing out! These events are more than just professional development; they're a celebration of our craft and a wellspring of inspiration.
Attending conferences allows you to connect with like-minded individuals who share your passion for education and technology. It's a chance to step outside your daily routine and see the bigger picture of what's possible in our field. You'll come away with fresh ideas, new tools, and a renewed enthusiasm for your work.
But don't just attend – share your brilliance too! Every single one of you has unique experiences and insights that could benefit others. Whether it's a clever tech hack you've developed, an innovative lesson plan, or a successful school-wide initiative, your voice matters. Presenting at conferences not only helps others but also boosts your own professional growth and confidence.
If you’d like to present at a conference and are not sure where to start, reach out. I would love to help you write your first conference proposal! Trust me, the educational community needs your voice and your ideas.
To see Amanda Jeane, Kelsey, and other CodeJoy team members at a local conference, follow us on socials at @CodeJoyEdu, reach out and contact us, and sign up for our newsletter.