Kami Thordarson is an experienced educator who has held several leadership roles in the Los Altos School District including Principal and Innovative Strategies Coach. She has a Master's degree in Elementary Education and is highly qualified in Language Arts. As an educator, she pioneered the use of blended learning, Khan Academy, and project-based learning. Currently she is a Learning Designer where she helps teachers design innovative learning experiences and integrate technology into their classrooms.

1. Kami Thordarson
@kamithor
kami.thor@gmail.com
970.481.5468
www.kamithordarson.com
Principal
Los Altos School District, Los Altos, CA
Covington Elementary, July, 2015 – present
Innovative Strategies Coach
Los Altos School District, Los Altos, CA
August 2012- March, 2015
Teacher
Los Altos School District, Los Altos, CA,
2008-2012
Poudre School District, Fort Collins, CO
1999 - 2008
Preliminary Administrative Credential, 2014
California Cleared Credential with CLAD endorsement, 2009
NCLB Highly Qualified Designation in the area of Language Arts, 2008
Master of Arts, Elementary Education
University of Northern Colorado, Greeley, Colorado
Licensure: June, 1999, K-6
Bachelor of Arts, Communication
Washington State University, Pullman,Washington
Experience
iLearn
Summer Academy
Designer and
Facilitator
Blended Learning
Explorer with
Khan Academy
Project Based
Learning Pioneer
Student EdCon
Creator
As the lead designer of our iLearn Summer Academy in
LASD, I designed and implemented a week long training
workshop that changed mindsets and helped teachers
become designers of learning experiences,and better
integrate technology into their classrooms.
While teaching, I worked to design a blended learning
model using Khan Academy. Students and I worked closely
with Khan Academy developers, offering feedback and
suggesting iterations to improve classroom performance.
LASD is now using a blended model in math classrooms.
In Poudre School District in Fort Collins, Colorado,
I discovered Project Based Learning. After modeling, I helped
scale PBL throughout all grade levels. Olander is celebrating
nine years of Project Based Learning.
I developed a student conference experience that allowed
students to work through the design thinking process and
create innovative solutions to needs that they saw on their
campuses and in their classrooms.
www.linkedin.com/pub/
kami-thordarson/33/726/ba3
References Available Upon Request
I am a highly qualified educational leader working to help teachers
feel like designers of learning experiences. I value student voice and
appreciate that with a great endeavor, there is often fear and failure,
but the wisdom gained and exhilaration when successful are well
worth the risk.
Learning Designer
inProgress Consulting
October 2014 - present
Credentials
As Seen On...
Overheard
Learning Designer
Presented at:
ASCD Presenter 2014, 2016
FUSE Facilitator 2014
SXSWEdu Presenter 2013
ACSA Presenter 2013, 2014
ISTE Presenter, 2012, 2013, 2014
CUE Presenter, 2012, 2013, 2014
Speaker at CONTEC 2013, Frankfurt, Germany
Speaker at Scandinavian Executive
Publishing Summit, Copenhagen, Denmark, 2012
Articles: ASCD Education Update; Road Tested
“Engaging Students Through Story Thinking, ”
October, 2014, Volume 56, Number 10
Featured in:
“School Sleuth: The Case of the Wired
Classroom,”Learning Matters, 2015
Khan Academy on John Stossel Documentary, 2011
“How Khan Academy is Changing the Rules of
Education,” Wired Magazine, July, 2011
“One of the things I admire about Kami is her vision and creativity;
the way she sees the big picture and incorporates that in doing what
is right for students.” -Karen Wilson, STEM Coach, LASD
“Kami is a consummate professional, a natural leader, a passionate
and knowledgeable educator, and a collaborative person.”
-Alyssa Gallagher, Director of Strategic Initiatives, LASD
Highlights