Digital Equity Strategies for Learning Beyond the Classroom

Presented by Dr. David Miyashiro, Superintendent, Cajon Valley School District, CA; Dr. Steven Webb, Superintendent, Vancouver Public Schools, WA; and Dr. Donna Wright, Director of Schools, Wilson County Schools, TN

Program Host and Moderator: Ann McMullan, Project Director, CoSN Empowered Superintendents Initiative

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This edWebinar series is co-hosted by CoSN, AASA, and edWeb.net

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Although much progress has been made over the past two decades to equip America’s classrooms with high speed internet access in order to leverage the power of technology tools for learning, robust internet access at home continues to be a challenge for millions of school-age children. As teachers and students rely on an ever-growing compendium of online resources for instruction and assessment of learning, access to those resources both at school and at home is a growing essential component for student academic success.

Students without home access to high-quality broadband connectivity are at a disadvantage, unable to realize the full power of digital learning. The lack of home internet access also negatively impacts school-to-parent communication and makes it more difficult for parents to support their children academically. The promise of anywhere, anytime learning for all students requires that schools and communities come together to solve the challenges of digital inequity and the widening disconnect that impacts not only students but parents and guardians as well.

Given the current challenges involved with the efforts to continue teaching and learning in the midst of multiple school closures, the issues involved in leading digital transformation are now more urgent and relevant than ever. Our three superintendents share strategies they have implemented to lead learning for all students in their school districts during these most unprecedented and complex times.

This recorded presentation will be of particular value to school superintendents, K-12 school and district leaders, and aspiring leaders. 

About the Presenters

Dr. David Miyashiro currently serves as Superintendent of The Cajon Valley Union School District (CVUSD). Dr. Miyashiro completed his doctoral studies at UCLA. He was named 2016 Superintendent of the Year by ACSA (Association of California School Administrators), Region 18. Cajon Valley’s vision of “Happy Kids, Engaged in Healthy Relationships, on a Path to Gainful Employment” and its signature career development program, “The World of Work,” has garnered both national and global recognition.

Dr. Steven Webb is Superintendent of Vancouver Public Schools, Vancouver, Washington. In 2019 Vancouver Public Schools received CoSN’s Community Leadership Award for Digital Equity. Dr. Webb holds a doctoral degree from Seattle University. He is a member of the Horace Mann League, Digital Promise League of Innovative Schools, and the American Association of School Administrators. He served as the 2017-18 president of the Washington Association of School Administrators. Dr. Webb has been recognized with several awards, including the 2018 National School Public Relations Association’s Bob Grossman Leadership in School Communications Award, and was a finalist for AASA’s 2016 National Superintendent of the Year. He is a frequent presenter at state, regional and national conferences and a published author in professional journals. Dr. Webb is a hands-on leader who has visited hundreds of classrooms at 37 school sites, worked the various jobs of the district’s 3,400 employees and served on the boards of many organizations in the Vancouver community.

Dr. Donna Wright was named Tennessee’s 2020 Superintendent of the Year. She began serving as Director of Schools for Wilson County Schools in 2014. Wilson County Schools is a rapidly growing school district of 19,000 students located outside of Nashville, TN. In the last several years district-wide academic performance has significantly improved; the district is undergoing the largest school building program in the history of the county; a concentrated emphasis on early literacy instruction is a focal point, and college and career readiness is a hallmark in middle and high schools. She has worked in public school education, K-12, and higher ed, for nearly 40 years. The Center for Digital Education and The National School Board Association recognized Wilson County Schools for its innovative use of technology. On May 20, 2020, Dr. Wright and the Wilson County Schools leadership team was named the 2020 winner of the CoSN District Team Leadership Award, which honors a district leadership team for its transformative impact on student learning with technology. Dr. Wright holds a doctorate in leadership studies from the University of Tennessee, has earned several awards, including the Women of Achievement Award and the UT Educators Hall of Honor Award.

About the Host

Ann McMullan is Project Director for CoSN’s Empowered Superintendents Initiative. Ann served as Executive Director, Educational Technology in the Klein Independent School District, near Houston, Texas until September 2013, when she and her family moved to Los Angeles, California. For 16 years Ann led the district team that provided professional development on technology and 21st century instructional strategies to 4,000 professional educators serving 50,000 students. Ann served as co-chair of Texas Education Technology Advisory Committee which developed the Texas Long Range Plan for Technology, 2006-2020. Today, Ann is based in Los Angeles working as a public speaker, writer, and education consultant focused on leadership and planning to meet the needs of today’s students. Ann serves on the Project Tomorrow advisory council and is a leadership consultant with Executive Service Corps of Southern California, serving non-profit associations. Ann co-authored Life Lessons in Leadership, a guide for leaders ages eight to 88.

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AASA is the premier association for school system leaders and serves as the national voice for public education and district leadership on Capitol Hill.

CoSN (the Consortium for School Networking) is the premier professional association for school system technology leaders. CoSN provides thought leadership resources, community, best practices and advocacy tools to help leaders succeed in the digital transformation. CoSN represents over 13 million students in school districts nationwide and continues to grow as a powerful and influential voice in K-12 education.

ClassLink empowers your students and teachers with instant access to their learning resources. ClassLink® OneClick® includes a library of over 5,000 single sign-on apps and instant links to file folders at school and on Google, Office 365, and Dropbox cloud drives. ClassLink Roster Server easily and securely delivers class rosters to any publisher using open technology standards. ClassLink Analytics gives decision makers the usage data they need. Accessible from any computer, tablet or smartphone, ClassLink is ideal for 1to1 and Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) initiatives.