Presented by Dr. Matthew Friedman, Superintendent of Schools, Quakertown Community School District (PA); Paula Maylahn, Project Director, CoSN (Consortium for School Networking); Dr. Michael Nagler, Superintendent, Mineola Union Free School District (NY); and Dr. Avis Williams, Superintendent, NOLA Public Schools (LA)
This edLeader Panel series is presented by CoSN and AASA.
Sponsored by ClassLink
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Each year, CoSN conducts a national survey among education technology leaders to assess the current state of technology innovation across multiple school systems. For the past several years, the one aspect that has remained constant in the survey results is the fact that education technology is always evolving.
Season seven of the CoSN/AASA EmpowerED Superintendent edLeader Panel series opens with an overview of the CoSN 2024 State of EdTech Leadership Survey. Five specific current challenges in leading technology innovation that were identified in the 2024 survey results will be presented. Three leading-edge, innovative superintendents who serve on the CoSN/AASA EmpowerED Superintendent’s Advisory Panel are joined by CoSN’s State of EdTech Leadership Survey Project Director in an engaging discussion which focuses on how the superintendents are leading technology innovation in their school districts and specifically meeting the five challenges identified in the 2024 survey results:
Viewers of the live broadcast are invited to engage online with the panel to share questions and comments. Access to the free full report of the CoSN 2024 State of EdTech Leadership Survey along with multiple online resources that address the five topics listed above are shared. This recorded edLeader Panel is of particular value to superintendents, K-12 school and district leaders, and aspiring school leaders.
View all of the recent EmpowerED Superintendent edLeader Panels.
About the Presenters
Dr. Matthew Friedman currently serves as the Superintendent of Schools in the Quakertown Community School District in Pennsylvania. He has over 25 years of experience in public education and has spent the last 19 years in administrative/leadership roles, including middle school assistant principal, director of curriculum, chief academic officer, assistant superintendent, and superintendent. Dr. Friedman has extensive experience in post-secondary education, teaching at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, and serving as a dissertation chair in the graduate school of education. Recognized as a visionary leader and educational innovator, he frequently provides educational consulting services on a national level. In his work, Dr. Friedman is passionate about creating learning environments that foster transformation, designing innovative learning experiences for all learners, curating personalized professional learning opportunities for teachers and administrators, and community building within schools/districts.
Paula Maylahn is an education consultant with 40 years’ experience across grades K-20. She currently serves as a CoSN Project Director and has authored CoSN’s annual EdTech Leadership Report since 2015. Paula also directs CoSN’s interoperability initiatives and leads the collaborative effort of CoSN, CGCS, and CCSSO to develop the interoperability readiness tool for states and districts. Paula is a contributing author on The Experts’ Guide to the K-12 Market and The Experts’ Guide to the Postsecondary Market, and the author of the paper Interoperability: Definitions, Expectations, and Implications. Paula is a council member of the Women’s Education Project, a twice-elected board member of the Software & Information Industry Association Education Division, former executive council member of the PreK-12 Learning Group of the Association of American Publishers, and former board member of the United Design Guild where she chaired the education council.
Dr. Michael Nagler is the Superintendent of the Mineola School District, a suburb of New York City. Dr. Nagler began his career as a social studies teacher in NYC. While teaching, he earned his doctorate from Columbia University and accepted an administrative position with Mineola in 1999. During his 25 years with the district, he has been a big proponent of using technology to engage students in rigorous content. Dr. Nagler was the 2020 New York State Superintendent of the Year and was a Finalist for the 2020 National Superintendent of the Year. He recently published a book entitled The Design Thinking, Entrepreneurial, Visionary Planning Leader: a Practical Guide to Thriving in Ambiguity. He was recently named the 2024 CoSN and AASA EmpowerED Superintendent of the Year for 2024 as well as District Administration’s Top 100 Influencers in Education.
In March 2022, Dr. Avis Williams became the first woman permanently appointed as Superintendent of NOLA Public Schools (NOLA-PS) in New Orleans, known for her commitment to Equity, Excellence, and Joy. Born in Salisbury, NC, Dr. Williams overcame humble beginnings and enlisted in the Army after high school. She later pursued higher education, earning degrees from Athens State University, Alabama A&M, Jacksonville State, and the University of Alabama. Dr. Williams has held various educational roles, including teaching, coaching, and serving as a principal at different school levels. She is a member of Chiefs for Change and has completed notable programs like the AASA Urban Superintendents Academy. Before NOLA-PS, she was Superintendent of Historic Selma City Schools, where she focused on equity and mental health initiatives. Dr. Williams also serves her community as the immediate past board president of ASCD and a board member for Foundations, Inc. A proud mother and “dog mom,” she enjoys running, writing, and community service, continually advocating for educational excellence and inclusivity.
Learn more about viewing the live presentation and the recording, earning your CE certificate, and using our new accessibility features.
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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 is a global education provider of identity and analytics products that create more time for learning and help schools better understand digital engagement. As leading advocates for open data standards, we offer instant access to apps and files with single sign-on, streamline class rostering, automate account provisioning, and provide actionable analytics. ClassLink empowers 19 million students and staff in over 2,500 school systems. Visit classlink.com to learn more.