I’m Ben Sondgeroth, an educational technology leader, keynote speaker, and consultant who works with schools, organizations, and teams navigating the rapidly changing role of technology in their work.
My career began in education, where I spent years teaching, supporting teachers, and working in leadership roles across K–12 systems. Those experiences gave me a front row seat to how technology shows up in real classrooms and organizations, not in theory, but in day to day practice. I saw what worked, what didn’t, and how often people were expected to adopt new tools without clear purpose or support.
That perspective shaped the direction of my work. Over time, I moved into regional and statewide roles focused on professional learning, instructional technology, and leadership development. I’ve since worked with thousands of educators, administrators, and professionals across multiple states, delivering keynotes, leading hands on workshops, and consulting with teams who want practical, thoughtful ways to move forward.
While education remains at the heart of my work, my audience has expanded well beyond schools. I regularly work with attorneys, business leaders, and organizations looking to better understand emerging technologies, especially artificial intelligence, and how they impact decision making, creativity, and daily workflows. What connects all of these groups is the same challenge: making sense of complex tools in a way that feels manageable and useful.
My sessions are known for being clear, approachable, and grounded in real examples. I focus on helping people understand not just what a tool can do, but how it fits into their work and thinking. There’s no assumption of prior expertise and no pressure to have it all figured out.
Exploring EdTech grew out of this work as a place to share ideas, examples, and resources for people who want to engage with technology thoughtfully. I live in Illinois with my wife and our two boys, which keeps me constantly thinking about how today’s decisions around technology shape the world our kids are growing up in. Whether I’m speaking to a large audience or working with a small team, my goal is the same: help people feel confident, capable, and ready to make intentional choices about the tools they use.
My Education
- Rock Falls High School ’04
- Sauk Valley Community College ’06
- University of Indianapolis ’09
- University of Illinois ’13
My Certifications
- Google Certified Trainer
- Google Certified Educator
- Google Gemini Certified Educator
- Apple Teacher
- FAA Part 107 Drone Certified
- Robolink Ambassador
My Experience
- History Teacher: Morrison High School, Morrison, IL. (2010-2014)
- Director of Technology, Morrison School District (2014-2016)
- EdTech Instructor, EdTechTeacher (2016-2018)
- Lead Regional EdTech Coordinator, Learning Technology Center of Illinois (2018-Present)
- Speaker and presenter at dozens of national an regional conferences
- Worked with businesses of all sizes on AI integration
Exploring EdTech 