Presenters

Present at IgniteND 2026!

Call for proposals for IgniteND 2026 is now closed. Stay tuned for exciting announcements on this year's event speakers, workshops and activities!

We are seeking engaging, practical session proposals that align with this year’s focus areas:

  • AI
  • Computer Science
  • Cybersecurity
  • Student Data
  • Technology Coordination and Leadership

Share your insights, strategies, or experiences to directly impact schools and districts. Submit your proposal by March 30, for a chance to present, inspire, and help shape the future.

Presenters

Facing the AI Challenge

Facing the AI Challenge examines how AI is reshaping social development and learning habits among young people. The session highlights real effects on attention, creativity, and decision-making, and details disruptions to future economic and societal norms. It provides K–12 educators and families with specific questions and practical strategies for supporting students in an AI-driven world.

A professional portrait of Dr. Mark Hagerott wearing a dark suit jacket, white dress shirt, and striped tie in front of a dark, blurred backdrop.

 
Dr. Hagerott recently retired as Chancellor of the North Dakota University System after serving for a record 10 years.  He served on Governor Doug Burgum’s AI Taskforce in 2024 and was the keynote speaker at the Minnesota State Regents’ and Presidents’ Retreat in 2025. Dr. Hagerott co-developed and taught a course at North Dakota State University on the evolution of technology and the emergence of AI. He is now working on two research projects on education, cognitive development, and workforce transformation in response to emerging technology.
 
Dr. Hagerott recently presented on AI at the International Association of Safe and Ethical AI in Europe and serves on a working group examining AI's effects on children's development.
 
His research and writing focus on how technology and education evolve. His proposals for national education reform in response to digitization and AI have appeared in The Chronicle of Higher Education, Inside Higher Ed, Issues in Science and Technology, the Dakota Digital Review, and the Northern Plains Ethics Journal. He has presented his work on Capitol Hill and at the White House.
 
Dr. Hagerott earned his undergraduate degree from Annapolis, a master's from Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar, and a doctorate in the history of technology from the University of Maryland, College Park.

Small State, Big Model

How North Dakota Can Demonstrate Responsible AI Adoption While Others Opt for Bans

This keynote argues for a practical, educator-centered approach to artificial intelligence in schools. Drawing on my experience as a classroom teacher, curriculum developer, and leader in K–12 cybersecurity and computer science education, I make the case that students need guidance in using AI responsibly rather than being shielded from it through blanket bans. The presentation highlights North Dakota’s history of thoughtful leadership in emerging technology education and suggests the state is well positioned to model responsible AI adoption through teacher support, clear expectations, attention to privacy and ethics, and a focus on student learning. The overall message is balanced and nonpartisan: AI presents both opportunities and risks, and schools can best serve students by teaching critical thinking, digital responsibility, and informed use of new technologies.

A professional portrait of Dr. Chuck Gardner wearing a maroon button-up shirt in front of a light, neutral backdrop.

 

Dr. Chuck Gardner is Director of the Heartland Cyber Range at EnterpriseKC and leads the Kansas Cybersecurity Center of Excellence. Chuck has spent the better part of two decades educating and building cybersecurity education pathways. From co-leading CYBER.ORGs national K-12 cybersecurity standards project to running a multi-state cyber range that puts hands-on training in reach of students regardless of zip code, he returns to IgniteND to talk about infrastructure, access, and what it actually looks like when AI starts building the cybersecurity scenarios your students train against.

 

The Engagement Drop-off: Using AI to Hear What Students Won’t Say Out Loud

Students often disengage when they don't feel a sense of belonging or see relevance in what they're learning. This session demonstrates how an AI-powered game can transform checked-out classrooms into engaged ones. Participants will experience Guess2Know live, a game that helps teachers uncover students' interests, thoughts, and engagement needs. Attendees will leave with practical AI strategies to identify student interests, increase engagement, and strengthen student-teacher connections, proven drivers of achievement. This session is for educators and technology leaders seeking hands-on, actionable AI classroom solutions.
A photo of Dieumerci “DM” Christel speaking at a podium while wearing a patterned jacket, with a banner in the background displaying partially visible text.
 
Dieumerci “DM” Christel came to the United States as a refugee at age 13 and grew up in the North Dakota school system. His teachers didn’t just educate him; they expanded what he believed was possible.
 
At West Fargo High School, a defining moment came when his physics teacher learned he could present a startup idea at One Million Cups in Fargo. Instead of requiring him to complete a traditional end-of-year project, she encouraged him to take that opportunity and present. That experience became a turning point.
 
Inspired by that moment, Christel launched Enlightapp at North Dakota State University to explore a central question: What if every teacher had the insight to make decisions like that—not just the few who happen to notice?
 
Today, he is the founder of Guess2Know, an AI-powered platform designed to give teachers real-time insight to better support their students. Christel is a 2026 Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree in education and a Georgetown Thrive Center Fellow, focused on building the tool he once wished his own teachers had.