About the Tech-Savvy Team

Jason Neiffer, Ed.D., is the Tech-Savvy Administrator!  Jason is Assistant Director/Curriculum Director of the Montana Digital Academy, Montana’s public state virtual school. Since MTDA’s start in 2010, he has lead a team of over 100 teachers delivering over 100 course titles to tens of thousands students across the State of Montana. Before working with MTDA, Jason was a veteran classroom teacher with experience in two large high schools building diverse, successful programs in social studies, debate, speech, newspaper production and computer science. Jason is a leader in educational technology integration and popular speaker and trainer with experience working with thousands of teachers from all levels to improve their tech-savvy teaching.  Jason has been honored as a Distinguished Educator, Most Inspirational Teacher, Outstanding Teacher and winner of the ISTE “Making IT Happen” and Blackboard Catalyst in Teaching and Learning awards.

Morgen Larsen is the Tech-Savvy Librarian!  Morgen has over 15 years of teaching experience. She has taught students of all ages, elementary through college level. Morgen holds a B. A. E. from Eastern Washington University in Social Science Education, and a M.S. from Western Governors University in Curriculum and Instruction. Morgen currently serves as Teacher Librarian at Greenacres Elementary School in Spokane Valley. Over the years, Morgen has utilized her grant writing abilities to bring a plethora of technology and training to the students she teaches. She is an accomplished instructional leader with a proven track record of increasing academic student achievement through technology modification and redefinition of curriculum. Morgen is a multi-talented teacher trainer with a diverse perspective on what teachers and districts need to accomplish goals.

With Common Core State Standards (CCSS) at the forefront of public education, Morgen joined the advisory council for the Teacher Librarian Common Core Cadre (TLC3) in 2012. Morgen has had the pleasure of training teachers and public librarians throughout the state in Common Core best practices. She is very excited about sharing resources from the Library of Congress and how these primary sources can help all teachers build robust CCSS aligned social studies and science lessons that engage student learners.

Mike Agostinelli is the Tech-Savvy Teacher!  Mike is currently the Instructional Program Director for the Montana Digital Academy, Montana’s state virtual school.  Teaching Elementary and Middle school, technology directing, grant writing, presenting, and now directing instruction at a virtual school has given Mike a wide range of experiences in the educational field. Being able to teach and lead technology integration has brought a great pedagogic balance to Mike’s facilitation/instruction. With degrees from Carroll College (Elementary Education), Boise State University (Educational Technology), and an Ed. S in Educational Leadership from the University of Montana, Mike is well versed in both content and technology integration.  Mike has been honored as an Outstanding Teacher by the Helena Education Foundation, winner of the ISTE “Making IT Happen” award, and the recipient of 2018 Blackboard Catalyst Teaching and Learning Award.

Mary Elizabeth Pearson is the Craft-Savvy Teacher!  Mary Elizabeth began her teaching career in the Stanwood-Camano School District teaching 4th and 5th grade, as well as 7th grade Language Arts. In 2000, she moved to Athens, Greece to teach at the American Community School of Athens. While at ACS Athens, she taught middle school Design Technology in the Middle Years Program and high school computer courses, including Office Suites, Webpage Design, Research Strategies and Information Technology. She also had the opportunity to present at the NESA conference in Istanbul, Turkey. In 2003, she returned to the United States and held various educational technology positions in the Issaquah, Oak Harbor, and Burlington-Edison School Districts. In 2013, she presented at the ISTE conference in San Antonio on using technology with English Language Learners. In 2014, she was hired in the Anacortes School District as the Instructional Technology Facilitator and is currently working on the Professional Development Plan for the district’s 1:1 technology initiative.

Mary Elizabeth believes strongly in the transformational change that technology brings to the learning environment. She earned her Bachelor’s degree from Western Washington University and her Master’s degree in Instructional Technology from City University. In 2013, she earned her Administration and Supervision credential with a focus in Technology Leadership from Johns Hopkins University.