Presented by Dr. Mark D. Benigni, Superintendent, Meriden Public Schools (CT); Dr. Joshua Garrett, Superintendent, Wrangell Public School District (AK); Dr. LaTonya M. Goffney, Superintendent of Schools, Aldine Independent School District (TX); and Carla Wade, Chief of External Relations, Consortium for School Networking (CoSN)
Moderated by Ann McMullan, Project Director, CoSN/AASA EmpowerED Superintendents Initiative, Consortium for School Networking (CoSN)
It happens all the time. You make a purchase and sign your name with your finger, knowing that it looks nothing like your real signature. But at a store, it doesn’t really matter. Imagine, though, you’re in second or third grade, not only learning how to write but also studying English as a second language. Suddenly, every stroke and line matters. For bilingual learners at schools with 1:1 programs, edtech can either be a saving grace or yet another obstacle to an equitable education.
Presented by Dwight Goodwin, Executive Director of Technology Services, Coppell Independent School District (TX); and Madeleine Mortimore, Global Education Innovation and Research Lead, Logitech
Planning for technology integration is an intentional process. It’s not merely about acquiring new tools but strategically considering how to enhance learning and prepare teachers to incorporate them into their classrooms. Recent research reveals a digital divide, with many educators lacking the necessary support or professional development to deliver effective tech-driven instruction.
Presented by Ji Soo Song, Director of Projects and Initiatives, SETDA; Michael Ham, Partner, Research and Policy, FullScale; Kurt Beer, Senior Account Executive, MagicSchool AI; Coleen Putaansuu, Title II, Part A Lead Program Supervisor, OSPI, Washington State; Tate Toedman, Federal Program Specialist, Nebraska Department of Education; Elizabeth Foster, Senior Vice President, Research and Strategy, Learning Forward; and Dr. Beth Holland, Managing Director, Research and Policy, FullScale
Presented by Deborah Trask, Former Teacher, Current Senior Account Manager, Tosa by Isograd; and Brent Offerdahl, Former Education Leader, Current Business Development Manager, Tosa by Isograd
Families are thirsty for information about inclusive technology that supports their children with disabilities. They want to understand and inform the tools schools use. They want to collaborate. Yet, while family engagement is essential—and promoted in the Every Student Succeeds Act and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act—it is often not operationalized.
Presented by Joyce Whitby, CEO and Co-Founder, Innovations4Education; and Charlene Blohm, CEO, C. Blohm & Associates, Inc. (CB&A)
Moderated by Lisa Schmucki, Founder and CEO, edWeb.net
Presented by Ace Barnes, Electro-Mechanical Engineering Leader, Lockheed Martin; Adam Wolf, Educator and Classroom Teacher, Westbrook School Department (ME); and David Conelias, CEO and Founder, Milestone C
During the edLeader Panel “Inclusive Technology: Breaking Barriers and Empowering Learners,” prominent education leaders emphasized the critical role of integrating inclusive technology systems within schools. The discussion centered around the unveiling of the Center on Inclusive Technology & Education Systems (CITES) framework, an initiative supported by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Special Education Programs.