Presented by Carl Hooker, Educator and Author, HookerTech, LLC; Doug Mesecar, Former EdTech Senior Executive and U.S. Department of Education Deputy Chief of Staff; and Harrison Parker, Vice President of Operations, NetRef

Sponsored by NetRef

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Closed captioning will be added to the recording within 2 weeks of the live presentation. Get a CE Certificate for this edLeader Panel Learn more.

The past year has brought an unprecedented amount of federal funding to K–12 education. While initial CARES Act funds were primarily spent on emergency needs in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, such as PPE and devices to support remote learning, the two subsequent rounds of funds (CRRSA and ARP) have the potential to significantly advance the strategic plans of many districts.

During this recorded, information-packed edLeader Panel, learn:

• What’s happening with ESSER funding, as well as with federal, state, and local funding heading into the new school year
• How districts are balancing investments in immediate needs with long-term goals
• The importance of tracking, reporting, and communicating about how EdTech investments are supporting improved learning outcomes
• How to monitor and support effective EdTech use by both teachers and students

All eyes will be on states, districts, and schools to see how ESSER funds are spent and their impact. Don’t miss this opportunity to better understand the ESSER landscape, hear how educators are maximizing available funds, and learn about tools to help ensure the success of your investments.

This recorded edLeader Panel will be of interest to K-12 school and district leaders. 

About the Presenters

Carl Hooker has been part of an exciting educational shift with technology integration. During his 21 years in education, Carl has had a wide range of roles, from teacher to Virtualization Coordinator to Director of Innovation. Wherever he’s taught, and whatever his role, Carl has always had one common belief—kids need to drive their own learning.

Carl is the author of the six-part book series Mobile Learning Mindset, each part of which focuses on a different stakeholder and the role they play in a successful mobile learning initiative. In addition to his work as an author and district leader, Carl is a keynote speaker, consultant, and advisor to multiple EdTech start-up companies. He has been named Tech & Learning Leader of the Year and is a member of the Apple Distinguished Educator class of 2013. He is the host of the Learning Unleashed podcast through ISTE and the BAM network.

Doug Mesecar ranks among the small number of education consultants who have worked as an education policymaker, entrepreneur, and executive in the private sector. He has built a track record of success with deep knowledge about what drives the K-12 market, from the economic buyer to everyday user. A former teacher, Doug served at the U.S. Department of Education as Deputy Chief of Staff for the Department and Assistant Deputy Secretary of the Office of Innovation and Improvement. He also served in the U.S. Congress as a professional staff member for the House Education and Workforce Committee. He held senior executive positions for companies serving the K-12 market, including IO Education (now Illuminate), Sylvan Learning, and Scholastic Education.

Harrison Parker has worked for education technology companies that support K–12 schools and districts for over 10 years. He specializes in implementation and integration of web-based learning and has worked with small, private schools all the way up to the largest public school districts in the U.S. Harrison heads up the NetRef program and is responsible for incorporating customer feedback into new products and features. NetRef is used in over 30 states in the U.S. to help keep students on task and ensure schools are increasing academic achievement in traditional, hybrid and virtual learning environments.

Closed captioning will be added to the recording within 2 weeks of the live presentation.

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Easy to use and integrate, NetRef is a classroom management and learning analytics solution that helps students stay focused and get the most out of digital learning. Now operating in schools in over 30 states, NetRef enables schools to maximize their EdTech investments by providing insight into the use of digital learning tools and by empowering teachers to keep students on task when using devices. Learn more at net-ref.com.