Leadership Conference Offers Immersive Education, Professional Connections, Model Schools, and More at the DMV Regional Summit
The Tech & Learning Regional Leadership Summit, held at the Maritime Conference Centre in Baltimore, brought together school and district leaders to discuss and explore the future of education. The event, focused on engaging and building innovative futures for learners, was filled with informative sessions, presentations, and group activities.
The day began with an icebreaker activity called "KarAIoke", designed by Carl Hooker, to get everyone in the spirit of innovation and collaboration. Following this, ISTE CEO Richard Culatta discussed emerging tech trends, including the shift from generalist AI to specialist AI.
Keith Krueger, CEO of CoSN, took the stage to discuss the future of education and the challenges affecting tech leaders, including cybersecurity, digital equity, and AI in K-12. CoSN has created a K-12 generative AI readiness checklist and toolkit to support districts in addressing AI use.
Cybersecurity concerns continue to increase, and K-12 schools are the No. 1 targeted population for ransomware attacks. To address this, StretchAI for education, in Beta testing, uses a "walled garden" approach to protect the accuracy of the information it is fed.
Teams at the event worked to craft their own versions of schools based on the National Educational Technology Plan. The model schools showcased eco-friendly materials, soft-skills development, cultural competence, and engagement with community and industry partners.
Esports participation offers numerous benefits, including emotional, mental, and physical wellness, analytical and critical thinking, increased hand-eye coordination, leadership, communication skills, networking, adaptability, strategic planning, computer fluency, and extended STEM career opportunities. An esports presentation by Tarrin Morgan from Morgan State University and CEO of REALdigitizED highlighted this alignment between esports, student wellness, and career readiness.
Digital equity remains an issue, with student connectivity and the type of device being important factors. Dr. Godfrey Rangasammy and Jessica Leedy from Prince George's County School District discussed changing the STEM status quo through an equity lens by working toward justice-centered and multilingual science education.
The day concluded with group presentations of the model schools, each showcasing their innovative approaches to education. The Innovative Leader Award winners were also recognised, including Amanda Lanza and Valerie Schaffer for Best Example of Innovative Digital Curriculum, Godfrey Rangasammy and Jessica Leedy for Best Example of Providing Equity & Access, and Chad McGaha for Innovative Chief Technology Officer.
Underconnectivity will be a focus in the future to ensure all students have the right device for robust computing and processing. The Tech & Learning Regional Leadership Summits provide unique opportunities to learn, network, and stay updated on the latest in edtech.
With its focus on innovation, equity, and collaboration, the Tech & Learning Regional Leadership Summit was a successful event that will no doubt inspire school and district leaders to continue pushing the boundaries of education.
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