Laura is your resident authentic learning expert, co-facilitates the Iowa Authentic Learning Network for the Iowa Area Education Agencies (AEA), and is the founder of the Authentic Learning Alliance. She also is a Project Coordinator on a statewide project board for PK-12 Students across Iowa as part of her Iowa AEA role. She spends much of her time facilitating high-quality professional learning experiences to support educators in authentic projects. Laura is a certified Scrum Master, Product Owner, Agile Classroom Teacher Trainer, and loves project management. Over the past 10 years, she’s dedicated herself to transforming education through incorporating authentic learning experiences with area partnerships into PK-12 classrooms as an educator, consultant, and 21st Century Learning Specialist. She is the author of The Improvement Game: Exploring Education Through Passion, Agility, and Authentic Learning Experiences. She believes that education can be the game changer if we can leverage our student’s interests and passions. Her educational background includes: B.A. in Interdepartmental Health Studies: Emphasis on Multidisciplinary Sciences, M.A.T. in Secondary Science Education, and Principal Licensure, M.A. in Ed. Leadership and Policy Studies and is currently pursuing a doctoral degree in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from the University of Iowa.