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What’s Tech Got to Do with It? Connecting Technology with K-12 Education Outcomes
Wednesday, October 28, 2026 @ 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm EDT
What’s Tech Got to Do with It? Connecting Technology with K-12 Education Outcomes
Presented by Dr. Julie Evans, CEO, Project Tomorrow; Dr. Melissa Shields, Assistant State Superintendent, Office of Student Learning, Alabama State Department of Education; Dr. Chad Stevens, Head of Growth & Partnerships, ClassDojo; and a Panel of Students
Hosted by Project Tomorrow
Sponsored by ClassDojo for Districts
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Project Tomorrow Speak Up 2026 Congressional Briefing: Release of the data findings from America’s rural, urban, and suburban schools.
Technology use in K-12 schools is ubiquitous, and yet there are still questions about its relevance. Should our K-12 districts continue to invest in and support the effective use of current and emerging technologies within teaching and learning? What are the outcomes from the effective use of technology for students, teachers, and families that matter the most in 2026?
Across the nation, school and district leaders are struggling with how to ensure that classroom technology use is safe, appropriate, and effective in supporting learning goals. Answering that question starts with understanding the purpose of K-12 education in 2026 and how we define effective technology use against that purpose. When used effectively, technology tools for classroom learning are not just substitutes or replacements for traditional learning modalities. Rather, the call sign of effective technology use is a transformed learning experience, one that could not have happened without digital tools.
The 2025-26 Speak Up research findings point to three significant outcomes of technology use in classroom instruction, each aligned with what K-12 education should be accomplishing today. At this year's annual Speak Up Congressional Briefing, panelists will share the latest research from more than 100,000 K-12 students, educators, administrators, and families to explore why this matters for our students.
The 2026 Speak Up Congressional Briefing provides a unique opportunity to hear directly from a wide audience of K-12 education stakeholders. The research data comes to life with a panel of K-12 students from around the country who will respond to the findings and provide their own recommendations for improving the classroom experience and the effective use of technology. Other speakers include Chad A. Stevens, Ph.D., Head of Growth & Partnerships at ClassDojo, the sponsor of this year’s Congressional Briefing.
The Congressional Briefing will be of interest to K-12 school leaders, district leaders, education technology leaders, teachers, librarians, and policymakers.
About the Presenters
Dr. Julie A. Evans is the Chief Executive Officer of Project Tomorrow and the founder of the heralded Speak Up Research Project, which annually collects and reports on the authentic views of 400,000 K-12 students, parents, and educators on key education issues. Dr. Evans serves as the Chief Researcher on the Speak Up Project as well as leading national research efforts on the impact of emerging learning models and interventions in both K-12 and higher education. Her work includes helping education leaders embrace change and innovation in education and recognize that the voices and views of their stakeholders, most notably students, are valuable leadership assets.
Prior to joining Project Tomorrow in 1999, Dr. Evans enjoyed a successful career in management within the technology industry, including with two education technology startups. As a national thought leader and influencer, she brings to discussions about the future of education a unique perspective because of her experiences working in both the for-profit and nonprofit sectors as well as within education. Dr. Evans is a graduate of Brown University and earned her doctorate in educational leadership from the University of California, San Diego and California State University San Marcos. She is a frequent facilitator, speaker, and writer on new learning models within education, most notably around digital learning. Among her many accolades and awards, Dr. Evans was named in April 2020 as the winner of EdTech Digest’s National Leader Award. Dr. Evans is the author of the book Free Agent Learning: Leveraging Students' Self-Directed Learning to Transform K-12 Education.
Dr. Melissa Shields serves as Assistant State Superintendent of Student Learning for the Alabama State Department of Education, providing statewide leadership for teaching and learning initiatives. With more than three decades in education, she brings experience as a classroom teacher, district leader, and state administrator. Before assuming her current role, Dr. Shields led the ALSDE Office of School Improvement and previously provided district leadership for curriculum, instructional technology, library media, school improvement, and English learners. She spent 17 years teaching English language arts and history in grades 6–12, an experience that continues to shape her teacher-centered approach to educational leadership. A National Board Certified Teacher since 2000, Dr. Shields holds a doctorate in curriculum and school leadership from The University of Alabama. She is passionate about connecting instruction, innovation, and technology in purposeful ways that support educators and improve learning opportunities and outcomes for every student.
Chad A. Stevens, Ph.D., is Head of Growth & Partnerships at ClassDojo, blending business strategy with educational expertise to drive sustainable growth. He shapes go-to-market strategy for ClassDojo for Districts alongside sales and marketing, supports partnerships across education and commercial sectors, and guides the company's policy work. A former classroom teacher, school principal, and Chief Technology Officer in Clear Creek ISD (TX), Dr. Stevens brings over three decades of leadership across public education and education technology. He held executive roles at ParentSquare, TinkRworks, AWS, and CDW Education. Dr. Stevens was named EdTech Chronicle's Best C-Level Officer in Education for 2024 and is a 2023 EdTech Digest Top 100 Influencer. He is a former CoSN board member and a certified school superintendent in Texas. He holds a Ph.D. in educational administration from Texas A&M University, an M.S. in educational management from the University of Houston-Clear Lake, and a B.S. from Tarleton State University.
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ClassDojo is on a mission to give every child an education they love. Used in 95% of U.S. schools, ClassDojo helps teachers and families build stronger school communities through everyday communication. ClassDojo for Districts is a unified communication and engagement platform that brings everyday classroom updates and districtwide messaging into one seamless experience. Families feel connected, students stay engaged, and school culture grows stronger. It's built with privacy at its core and available to districts at no additional cost. Learn more at www.classdojo.com/districts.
Project Tomorrow is a national nonprofit organization with a mission to ensure that today’s students are well-prepared to become tomorrow’s leaders, innovators, and engaged citizens of the world. We support that mission with programs and research that focus on innovation and new learning models in the K-12 classroom, including through the effective use of technology.
