Leslie Pralle Keehn, an Instructional Technology Consultant with Prairie Lakes Area Education Agency, has been selected by the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development for the 2015 class of Emerging Leaders. The Emerging Leaders program recognizes and prepares young, promising educators to influence education programs, policy, and practice on both the local and national level.

Prior to joining Prairie Lakes AEA as an Instructional Technology Consultant in August 2013, Pralle Keehn taught middle and high school social studies and middle school technology courses at Northeast Hamilton Community School District in Blairsburg. After taking on a leadership role in professional development at Northeast Hamilton, Pralle Keehn helped lead the district’s 1:1 iPad implementation. She has classroom and professional experience and training in numerous areas, including gamification, blended learning, project-based learning, and standards-based grading, and was one of the first teachers in the country to pilot the Big History Project.

She has received several awards and recognitions during her time in education, including being named both a Bill of Rights Institute Fellow (2010) and C-SPAN Education Fellow (2011). She remains active in the Social Studies arena, serving as the Vice President and Media Director for the Iowa Council for the Social Studies, who also named her its 2012 Teacher of the Year.

In 2014 Leslie was named a PBS LearningMedia Digital Innovator. A regular local, state, and national presenter, her presentations focus on student creation, the maker movement, and empowering young learners. Pralle Keehn lives in Blairsburg with her husband and three kids.

All Emerging Leaders are enrolled in the program for two years and will help to advance ASCD’s positions and values; participate in shaping education policy and advocating for the whole child; and explore multiple ASCD leadership pathways. Throughout the program, Emerging Leaders will have the opportunity to serve on ASCD committees, host networking events for educators, and contribute to ASCD publications.

The 2015 Emerging Leader class includes educators from 21 states, Indonesia, and Pakistan who hold a variety of roles, including principal, teacher, consultant, curriculum director, and administrator. Educators selected for the Emerging Leaders program have been in the education profession for 5 to 15 years; demonstrate a passion for teaching, learning, and leadership; exhibit a broad range of diversity in position, location, cultural background, and perspective; hold promise as leaders; and are committed to ASCD’s beliefs and to pursuing leadership opportunities.