Featured Speakers

Instead of a single keynote speaker, we will feature three outstanding educators from our ECMECC member districts who will take the stage to share their passion for teaching, their inspirations, and the ways they motivate students to learn and grow. Here are our Ignite Speakers for 2025:

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Ashley Nelson is a 2010 (BSc) and 2011 (M. Ed.) graduate from the University of Minnesota. She taught Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) at Milaca High School from 2011 to 2017. She worked for National FCCLA (Family, Career and Community Leaders of America) in Washington DC from 2017 to 2021. She is now the FCS teacher at East Central Schools and lives in Askov, MN, with her husband and two children.

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Gina Ausmus is the principal of East Central Schools. She began her professional journey as a chiropractor before earning a Graduate Teaching Licensure in Secondary Science Education from the College of St. Scholastica in 2015, followed by a certificate in Educational Technology in 2020. From 2015 to 2024, she taught a variety of life science courses at Pine City High School. In 2024, Gina completed her K–12 administrative license through Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota and served as junior high dean of students and behavioral interventionist at Hinckley-Finlayson High School. She recently joined the East Central Schools community as high school principal. Gina is passionate about using technology to support both students and staff. She lives in Pine City, MN, with her husband—and this fall, they’ll officially be empty nesters.

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Pete Balmer has served as a Computer Teacher at Mora Elementary for the past 12 years. His extensive classroom experience spans a decade, having taught 2nd, 6th, 5th, and 4th grades, with his initial five years in Ogilvie. Beyond his professional life, he is a dedicated parent to three sons: Isaac, 24, a Physical Therapist in Memphis; Madox, a Junior at SDSU studying animal science; and Graham, a Junior at Mora. Pete is also actively involved in sports as the head boys' and girls' tennis coach and the JV boys' basketball coach. In his free time, he enjoys playing tennis and basketball, and running.