Laurance J. Specht serves as the Director of Personalized Learning at Merit Preparatory Charter School in Newark, New Jersey. Laurance has been engaged as a classroom teacher, Dean of Students, Technology Coordinator, and Blended Instruction Coordinator over his 19 years of experience in the private and public schools in New York City. He has earned an undergraduate degree in History with Teacher Education from Kean University in Union, New Jersey and a graduate degree in History from Hunter College in New York. Laurance is a Microsoft Innovative Educator and a two-time nominee for Apple’s Distinguished Educator program. He has spent the last 14 years of his career integrating technology into classrooms. Most recently, Laurance has worked on curriculum/technology integration and staff development using various blended learning and flipped classroom models to enhance development of teachers and students alike.