Presented by Dr. Karen Cheser, Superintendent, Durango School District 9-R (CO); Dr. Heath Morrison, Superintendent, Montgomery Independent School District (TX); and Mr. Marlon Styles, Superintendent, Middletown City School District (OH)
Moderated by Ann McMullan, Project Director, CoSN (Consortium for School Networking) EmpowerED Superintendent Initiative

This edLeader Panel series is presented by CoSN and AASA.
Sponsored by ClassLink

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There is no doubt that the COVID-19 pandemic changed the face of education. School district leaders looked to new and innovative ways to stay connected with staff, students, parents and their communities. Technology was rapidly implemented in ways never before used on such a large scale. As we begin to navigate “what’s next” in K-12 education, strategies for scaling and sustaining effective technology innovations and continuing to budget for them on a yearly basis are more essential than ever. To succeed, this effort requires school leaders to develop organizational culture and practices that enable risk taking and support the efforts around bringing to scale what works. Budgets must also be developed in ways that sustain those innovations.

In this edWebinar, three leading-edge superintendents share how they are leading innovation by creating and supporting practices that allow successful innovations to grow and be sustained. Strategies for budgeting for innovation is also discussed.

This recorded edWebinar is of high value to superintendents, preK-12 school and district leaders, aspiring school leaders, chief technology officers, and other information technology education leaders.

About the Presenters

Dr. Karen Cheser has been Superintendent of Durango School District 9-R since July 2021. Prior to moving to Durango, CO, Dr. Cheser served for four years as Superintendent of Fort Thomas Independent Schools and Deputy Superintendent/CAO of Boone County Schools, both in Kentucky. Dr. Cheser has served in a variety of educator roles including teacher, coach, literacy and math specialist, principal, Distinguished Educator, and district administrator. During her time in Kentucky, Dr. Cheser was instrumental in bringing innovation, student agency, and a focus on future workforce into the school district. She was honored as a 2021 Lifetime Achievement Award winner by the NKY Chamber of Commerce and NKY Ed Council. Dr. Cheser is a frequent presenter at conferences on topics such as designing innovation, strategic planning, process improvement, student empowerment, global competency, 21st century skills, dispositional hiring, and leading higher academic standards.

Dr. Heath Morrison began his career as a social studies teacher in Virginia and Maryland, and quickly moved into administration, becoming the principal of both a middle and high school. He went on to serve as a community superintendent in Montgomery County, Maryland, before being selected to serve as Superintendent of Washoe County School District in Reno, Nevada. He then served as Superintendent of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Under his leadership, the school districts he served all saw rapid gains in state test scores, graduation rates, and participation and performance in Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate courses. He has led efforts to promote personalized plans of instruction for every student and utilize technologies to inspire innovative teaching and learning. In 2011, Dr. Morrison was named Nevada Superintendent of the Year. In 2012, he was honored as AASA’s National Superintendent of the Year. Dr. Morrison has been Superintendent of Montgomery ISD in Texas since July 2020.

In the fall of 2017, Marlon Styles became the proud superintendent of the Middletown City School District. The four years prior, he served as the executive director of curriculum and instruction for Lakota Schools. His affinity for education has ignited a fiery passion to close the equity gap for all students. He prides himself on finding the good in every person. Mr. Styles challenges others to rise up to strengthen the #MiddieRising culture. Mr. Styles states, “My affinity for education has ignited a fiery passion to close the equity and access gaps that affect schools. I am firmly devoted to finding innovative ways to integrate technology to transform learning experiences that will inspire students.” Mr. Styles earned an undergraduate degree from Thomas More College and a master’s degree from the University of Cincinnati.

About the Host

Ann McMullan is Project Director for CoSN’s EmpowerED Superintendents Initiative. Ann served as Executive Director for Educational Technology in Klein ISD 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 educators serving 50,000 students. She was co-chair of the Texas Education Technology Advisory Committee which developed the Texas Long Range Plan for Technology.

Today, Ann works as a public speaker, writer, and consultant focused on leadership to meet the needs of today’s students. Ann serves on the edWeb.net Advisory Board, ClassLink’s Senior Advisors Group, and is a founding member of ERDI’s Ed Leadership Council. She also volunteers as a leadership consultant with Executive Service Corps of Southern California, serving non-profit associations. Ann is co-author of Life Lessons in Leadership, available on Amazon.com.

Learn more about viewing the live presentation and the recording, earning your CE certificate, and using our new accessibility features. 

Join the Super-Connected community to network with educators, participate in online discussions, receive invitations to upcoming edWebinars, and view recordings of previous programs to earn CE certificates.

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® LaunchPad includes a library of over 6,000 single sign-on apps and instant links to file folders at school and on Google, Office 365, Dropbox, and Box 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. ClassLink is ideal for 1 to1 and BYOD initiatives.