East Coloma-Nelson CUSD #20 is proud to celebrate Heather Brown, our K–5 Math Interventionist and STEAM Teacher, on the release of The Educators’ AI Guide 2027, a new #1 Amazon bestseller she helped create in partnership with education leader Dan Fitzpatrick.
At East Coloma-Nelson, we are proud of all our teachers do both inside and outside the classroom. We are especially proud when their passion, creativity, and expertise extend their impact beyond our district while also bringing new opportunities back to our students. Heather continues to do just that.
Beyond her work at East Coloma-Nelson, Heather is a nationally recognized presenter and professional learning leader who has shared her expertise at conferences including ISTE, FETC, MACUL, IETC, and IDEAcon. She has delivered keynote presentations, led professional development, contributed to educational publishing projects, and connected with educators across the country around AI, educational technology, STEAM, creativity, and authentic learning.
Those connections also create exciting experiences for our students. Heather regularly collaborates with educators, authors, and other professionals outside our district and finds ways to bring those relationships into the classroom. For example, students have connected their learning with Tricia Fuglestad, author and creator of the interactive augmented-reality SEL book PETER O’METER.
Heather also designs opportunities for students to create for authentic audiences within our own school community. During the Cardboard Carnival, fifth-grade students designed and built interactive cardboard games and experiences, then welcomed our youngest learners from Pre-K and kindergarten to come play their creations. Other projects have included programming robots for a Balloons Over Broadway parade, creating media to support local animal shelter adoptions, and using video, coding, and digital storytelling to demonstrate learning in meaningful ways.
That same commitment to amplifying educators and sharing innovative classroom practice is at the heart of The Educators’ AI Guide 2027. The book brings together practical ideas, experiences, and perspectives from educators exploring thoughtful and effective uses of artificial intelligence in schools.
Dan Fitzpatrick shared:
“It has been a real joy to team up with Heather again for The Educators’ AI Guide 2027. She has a genuine passion for amplifying the voices of educators and an extraordinary commitment to representing their ideas, experiences and work with the care, professionalism and authenticity they deserve. That spirit runs through every page of this book.”
We are incredibly proud of Heather and the way she continues to represent East Coloma-Nelson while creating opportunities for our students and extending her impact far beyond our school community.
Learn more about The Educators’ AI Guide 2027 and order a copy at:
https://aieducator.tools/2027-educators-guide
At East Coloma-Nelson, we are proud of all our teachers do both inside and outside the classroom. We are especially proud when their passion, creativity, and expertise extend their impact beyond our district while also bringing new opportunities back to our students. Heather continues to do just that.
Beyond her work at East Coloma-Nelson, Heather is a nationally recognized presenter and professional learning leader who has shared her expertise at conferences including ISTE, FETC, MACUL, IETC, and IDEAcon. She has delivered keynote presentations, led professional development, contributed to educational publishing projects, and connected with educators across the country around AI, educational technology, STEAM, creativity, and authentic learning.
Those connections also create exciting experiences for our students. Heather regularly collaborates with educators, authors, and other professionals outside our district and finds ways to bring those relationships into the classroom. For example, students have connected their learning with Tricia Fuglestad, author and creator of the interactive augmented-reality SEL book PETER O’METER.
Heather also designs opportunities for students to create for authentic audiences within our own school community. During the Cardboard Carnival, fifth-grade students designed and built interactive cardboard games and experiences, then welcomed our youngest learners from Pre-K and kindergarten to come play their creations. Other projects have included programming robots for a Balloons Over Broadway parade, creating media to support local animal shelter adoptions, and using video, coding, and digital storytelling to demonstrate learning in meaningful ways.
That same commitment to amplifying educators and sharing innovative classroom practice is at the heart of The Educators’ AI Guide 2027. The book brings together practical ideas, experiences, and perspectives from educators exploring thoughtful and effective uses of artificial intelligence in schools.
Dan Fitzpatrick shared:
“It has been a real joy to team up with Heather again for The Educators’ AI Guide 2027. She has a genuine passion for amplifying the voices of educators and an extraordinary commitment to representing their ideas, experiences and work with the care, professionalism and authenticity they deserve. That spirit runs through every page of this book.”
We are incredibly proud of Heather and the way she continues to represent East Coloma-Nelson while creating opportunities for our students and extending her impact far beyond our school community.
Learn more about The Educators’ AI Guide 2027 and order a copy at:
https://aieducator.tools/2027-educators-guide
Congrats to our Week 2 Leaders of the Pack!
Congrats to our Week 1 Pack Leaders!
All youth football games are canceled tomorrow (8/15/26). Game make-ups will be on 10/3/26. Thank you and have a great weekend!
There will be an informational meeting for Rock Falls Junior Rockets Cross Country next Thursday, August 6th at 5:00 pm @ East Coloma-Nelson School.
Come out Tuesday, July 14th from 5-8 to celebrate 25 years of the Sauk Valley Foodbank supporting families in the SV area! Please donate when you dine to support a great cause!
Congratulations to our ECN Star Students of the Month -- Aubree Nutt (4th) and Aviela Castillo (7th)! Both students are polite and respectful to their peers! Also, they are both hard workers in the classroom! Terrific job!
On behalf of the East Coloma-Nelson School Community, we would like to thank Kris Sands for her years of time and dedication on the ECN Community Club! You will be missed!
We would like to thank Nicole Allison for organizing another 8th grade promotion! Thank you for all of your hard work and dedication to East Coloma-Nelson School!
New job opening for Cross Country Coach, please check job listings at https://www.ecoloma.net/page/job-openings for more information.
Congratulations to our amazing ECN male athletes at sectionals track this weekend! Easton Kendrick (6th) and Lucas Mammosser (7th) - 1st place in the 4x100 relay (50.77) and 4x400 relay (4:11.70) and Camden Schick (7th) - 1st place in high jump (4'7.5"). Good luck at state!
Congratulations to ECN's Stella Bontz (8th) for taking 1st place at sectionals in the 400 M and pole vault! She also broke another school record in the 400 M with a time of 1:01.61! Terrific job, Stella!
Congratulations to Mrs. Allison for receiving a Marigold Award from the Regional Office of Education! Thank you for all that you do for East Coloma-Nelson School!
Congratulations to ECN's very own Stella Bontz (8th) for breaking two RFMS school records for track this 2026 season: 400 Meter Dash (1:03.23) and Pole Vault (7'6"/2.29m)!
There will be no track practice today for 6th-8th.
Happy Administrative Professionals' Day to two amazing secretaries at East Coloma-Nelson School! A big thank you to Mrs. Allison and Mrs. Gardner for all they do!
If there is anyone interested in coaching middle school football or cheer for next season, please contact Mr. Blackert at East Coloma-Nelson School.
There will be no school tomorrow on Monday (3/16/26) due to inclement weather.
The second graders got to have a DANCE PARTY with their Dash robots because of all their hard work coding in STEAM!
Wow - our Book Blast is off to a great start! Congratulations to Briella Frey (2nd-Mrs. Merrill) for winning our first drawing prize: the Book Blast Treasure Chest! Our quest to level up our readers has never been so much fun! We’re blasting through our mission to earn as many books as possible for our students. Register now and invite 10+ contacts to be entered into the drawings for our Treasure Chests!
#booksarefun #bookraiser #bookblastadventures #epictreasurechest #treasure @go.booksarefun
#booksarefun #bookraiser #bookblastadventures #epictreasurechest #treasure @go.booksarefun
