About Us
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Julia Fallon is the Executive Director of the State Educational Technology Directors Association (SETDA), where she works with U.S. state and territorial digital learning leaders to empower the education community to leverage technology for learning, teaching, and school operations.
Involved with learning technologies since 1989, her professional interest lies in making the case for public school systems wherein educators are able to optimize technology-rich learning environments to equitably engage the learners who fill their classrooms.
Prior to joining SETDA as the executive director in 2021, Julia worked for Washington’s K-12 education agency, the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) as the Title II, Part A Program Lead, where she provided operational leadership and oversight of the federal program designed to improve the quality of instruction and administration. In her previous role as the state’s Technology Integration Program Manager, she streamlined strategic planning for districts, championed robust professional learning programming for educators, and advocated for smart, flexible network policies. Representing Washington, she was a longtime SETDA state member and had been instrumental in the leadership of the organization as a member of the Board of Directors serving in various board positions including board chairman.
Julia holds a master’s degree in educational technology from Pepperdine University and a bachelor’s degree in business education from New York University. She was the 2019 recipient of the SETDA State Leader of the Year award, and was also a recipient of the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) Making IT Happen and the Northwest Council for Computer Education (NCCE) President’s awards.
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Dr. Melissa (Missy) Greene is the Director of Strategic Partnerships for the State Educational Technology Directors Association (SETDA). She brings over 20 years of experience in education to the role, including experience working as a sales representative in educational publishing, and as a project coordinator in the Office of Higher Education at the New York State Education Department. As Director of Strategic Partnerships, Missy is responsible for cultivating strong relationships with leadership in emerging educational technology companies, established businesses, non-profit and government agencies to encourage them to engage broadly and deeply with SETDA and the SETDA membership. She is responsible for managing the SETDA Private Sector Partnership program and sponsorships in support of the association’s mission.
Missy received her B.S. in Non-profit Arts Management at Russell Sage College in Troy, NY and her Master’s degree in Teaching from SUNY Potsdam, Potsdam, NY. Melissa completed her Ed.D. in Executive Leadership at St. John Fisher College in Rochester, NY in November, 2020. Melissa taught at the elementary level for over ten years and holds NY state certifications in K-6 elementary education and K-12 Reading.
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Tera Daniels serves as Director of Operations for the State Educational Technology Directors Association (SETDA). She has been with SETDA since 2002. Tera ensures operations (finance, human resources, virtual office management) and products, services, and events are all carried out. Tera is also responsible for SETDA’s financial management including: reporting, leading the annual audit, and overseeing the annual budget. Tera establishes and negotiates contracts with venues for SETDA events. She also plans menus, coordinates registration, and organizes decorations, signage, and AV needs for SETDA events. In addition to event planning, Tera manages SETDA membership. She serves as the staff liaison on the Membership Engagement Committee. She also manages contracts with organizations that provide professional and administrative services to SETDA. As well, Tera coordinates the organization’s advocacy campaign, which includes scheduling congressional visits and briefings and luncheons and handling meetings.
Tera’s background includes occupations in the area of office management and project coordination. Tera holds a Bachelor’s of Science degree from Towson University, where she majored in Economics and Political Science.
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Dr. Jason Bailey is the Director of Innovation and Design for the State Educational Technology Directors Association (SETDA). For seven years prior, Jason was the Senior eLearning Strategist for the Indiana Department of Education. His work provided leadership and support in digital innovation to Indiana classrooms. A former teacher, technology specialist, and district administrator, Jason’s work at the district level included leading a talented team of eLearning Coaches and Technology Specialists in integrating a wealth of technology, including 1:1 computing for more than 14,000 students in 2009. At the state level, Jason developed the Summer of eLearning conference series, designed and published the Indiana Tech Plan Survey, and authored Indiana’s educational cybersecurity initiative.
With degrees from Ball State University and the University of Southern Indiana, Jason completed his Ph.D. in Educational Leadership at Indiana State University. He was also one of the early recipients of CoSN’s Certified Education Technology Leader (CETL) designation. Honors include participation in various white papers, keynote speaking, publication in Educational Leadership, and ISTE’s Making IT Happen award.
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Sarah Edson serves as the Director of Projects and Initiatives for SETDA. She brings more than two decades of experience working in the fields of education and technology. Prior to joining SETDA, Sarah worked as a classroom teacher, academic technologist, student advisor, coach, professional development leader, and dean of faculty. While serving as a senior administrator, she helped her school community navigate the challenges of distance learning, hybrid learning, and remote operations throughout the pandemic. Sarah also chaired her school’s Strategic Planning Committee, collaborating with all of the school’s constituents to develop and implement a multi-year plan for progress. During her tenure as a school teacher and administrator, Sarah served on the Board of Trustees for the International Coalition of Girls’ Schools from 2013 to 2019.
Previously, Sarah worked as the Program Manager for the Connecticut Education Network (CEN). In that role, she worked closely with members of the Connecticut State Commission for Educational Technology (CET) to support the effective use of technology for all learners in the state. Along with her colleagues at CEN, Sarah co-authored a grant application that was awarded $93 million in federal funding to improve broadband Internet access for Connecticut’s schools and libraries. Leveraging the connectivity of Connecticut’s statewide education network, Sarah went on to co-found Edcamp Connecticut in 2011. She and two fellow Connecticut educators were the first to bring the unique professional development format to the state, and since then, the annual “unconference” has served educators and staff from more than 600 schools and educational organizations from throughout the northeast United States.
Sarah graduated from Middlebury College, with a B.A. in history, summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa. Sarah also earned a master’s degree from Harvard University with a focus on technology and innovation in education.
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Ellen Ullman is the Communications Manager for the State Educational Technology Directors Association (SETDA). In this role, Ellen delivers key messages and information to SETDA members, partners, stakeholders, grant funders, policymakers, and the media; develops and manages SETDA collateral for communication and marketing strategies; and oversees the content of SETDA’s main communication channels.
Ellen began her edtech career as a senior editor at Scholastic Administrator in 2003. She has written or edited articles for eSchool News, District Administration, ASCD, Cable in the Classroom, Edutopia, Community College Journal, and Community College Times.
From 2011–2016, Ellen was a contributing editor for SchoolCIO (part of Tech & Learning), where she wrote monthly newsletters and planned quarterly events for a community of K-12 CIOs, superintendents, and tech directors.
Before coming to SETDA, Ellen was Chief StartUP Officer of UP Creative, LLC, a marketing company that created digital campaigns, videos, social media, and other types of content for edtech companies including Reading Plus, Mango Learning, 1EdTech, Securly, CoSN, Extreme Networks, and BetterLesson.
Ellen has a B.A. from Clark University, where she self-designed a major in communications and women’s studies.
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Jessica Chen is the Executive Assistant to the Executive Director at SETDA. She brings several years of experience as a project manager and client manager to the role. Reporting directly to Julia Fallon, Jessica provides high-level administrative support and assistance including calendar and inbox management and day-to-day administrative operations and tasks. She also provides organizational support to SETDA staff
Jessica earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Intercultural Studies from Southwest Baptist University. She worked as project manager for LightUpToys LLC and as a client manager for Heartland Payment Systems.
Throughout her career, Jessica strives to provide thorough, thoughtful work and communication of the highest quality. She would characterize her work style as professional yet down to earth.
