It’s one thing to aspire and another to distill goals into actionable, day-to-day reality that gets everyone moving in the same direction. Creating equal learning opportunities for every student requires overcoming resource limitations, community values, staff culture, and more. Technology can be the linchpin for success, and three outstanding district leaders offer a roadmap any school can follow—no matter the challenges.
Presented by Dr. Susan Enfield, Superintendent, Washoe County School District (NV); Glenn Robbins, Superintendent, Brigantine Public School District (NJ); and Dr. Jim Roberts, Superintendent, Bartholomew Consolidated School Corporation (IN)
Moderated by Ann McMullan, Project Director, CoSN/AASA EmpowerED Superintendents Initiative, CoSN (Consortium for School Networking)
Every year, CoSN awards a school district with the Community Leadership Award for Digital Equity to encourage and recognize those districts that are working to eliminate inequities and narrow the digital access gap. In a recent edWebinar, sponsored by ClassLink and co-hosted by CoSN and AASA, representatives from Desert Sands Unified School District, CA (the 2021 winner) and Santa Fe Public Schools, NM (the 2020 winner) presented their keys to success.
Presented by Scott Bailey, Superintendent, Desert Sands Unified School District (CA); Kelly May-Vollmar, Ed.D., Assistant Superintendent, Educational Services, Desert Sands Unified School District (CA); Dr. Veronica Garcia, Superintendent, Santa Fe Public Schools (NM); and Dr. Tom Ryan, Retired Chief Information and Strategy Officer, Santa Fe Public Schools (NM)
Moderated by Ann McMullan, Project Director, EmpowerED Superintendent Initiative, CoSN (Consortium for School Networking)
Presented by Dr. Peter Aiken, Superintendent, Manheim Central School District (PA); Dr. Amy Carter, Superintendent, Meridian Public School District (MS); Dr. Matthew Dillon, Superintendent, Petal School District (MS); and Dan Leffingwell, Superintendent, Noble Local School District (OH)
Moderated by Ann McMullan, Project Director, EmpowerED Superintendent Initiative, CoSN (Consortium for School Networking)
With the pandemic has come a reckoning on how big the digital equity gap is in the United States. During an edWebinar sponsored by ClassLink and co-hosted by CoSN and AASA, three superintendents discussed their observations about digital equity and what their districts need to do next.
Presented by Dr. A. Katrise Perera, Superintendent, Gresham-Barlow School District, OR; Glenn Robbins, Superintendent, Brigantine Public Schools, NJ; and Dr. Aaron Spence, Superintendent, Virginia Beach City Public Schools, VA
Two months after the COVID-19 crisis forced educators across the United States to leave their classrooms and start teaching online, the scope of the changes and challenges have now become clear, and educational leaders have started to identify what’s working and what still needs improvement. During a recent edLeader Panel the superintendent of one of America’s largest school districts spoke with a former state superintendent and other education leaders about key issues affecting students, parents, and educators, including digital access and equity, online privacy, and funding.
The goal of digital equity is to ensure that all students have access to devices, high-speed internet, and opportunities to learn both in school and out. While digital equity is a challenge for all school districts, Dr. Beth Holland, Digital Equity and Rural Project Director for the Consortium for School Networking (CoSN), points out that it becomes a very complex issue given the challenges within rural schools and systems. In a recent edWebinar, Holland along with Jennifer Austin, CETL, Instructional Technology Coordinator at Lac du Flambeau Public School in Wisconsin, Michael Flood, Vice President of Strategy at Kajeet, and Tammy Neil, Computer Science Teacher at Suwannee Middle School in Florida, discuss the unique challenges rural districts face when providing students’ online access to their education. Flood explained that when students don’t have equal access to devices and high-speed internet, it prevents them from having the same kinds of learning opportunities as their more connected peers.
Everyone has been to school and has their own image of what a classroom should look like. And depending on their background and experience, not everyone is supportive of tech-infused learning. Yet, 1:1 classrooms, BYOD, and tech-supported education are today’s reality. During the edWebinar, “Leading Digital Learning: Successful Strategies for 1:1 Implementations,” the presenters focused on how to get buy-in from within the school and across the community to improve chances for success and sustainability.