edWeb and CoSN Partner to Support Superintendents and District Leaders

edWeb.net is delighted to announce a partnership with the Consortium for School Networking (CoSN) to support superintendents and school district leaders with an online community and series of edWebinars hosted on edWeb.net.

CoSN collaborates with superintendents to increase their capacity to lead technology efforts and is dedicated to helping current and aspiring superintendents and district leaders build on their knowledge, skills, and confidence. Collaboration with peers is one of the most effective ways to learn about effective ideas and practices. edWeb is hosting an online community and engaging edWebinars to help superintendents connect and collaborate and get the maximum value from the CoSN Empowered Superintendents initiative.

Superintendent panelists for the first edWebinar on September 10th were Dr. David Schuler, Superintendent, Township High School District 214 (IL), and Dr. Chris Gaines, Superintendent, Mehlville School District (MO). Dr. Schuler is the 2018 Illinois and National Superintendent of the Year, and Dr. Gaines is the 2018-2019 president of AASA. They shared similar ideas and philosophies on how superintendents can build confidence as technology leaders. They noted there has been a shift away from using “tech for tech’s sake” and a greater focus on how technology enhances instruction. Instead of focusing on what’s not working, “rank and spank,” they said we should identify and lift up what’s working and share it. Ann McMullan, Project Director of the CoSN Empowered Superintendents Program, hosted and moderated the discussion. A video recording and podcast are available here.

The edWebinar series will continue on a monthly basis throughout the school year, addressing topics that CoSN has covered in one-page briefs: Accessibility, Cloud Computing, Cybersecurity, Mobile Learning, Online Assessment, Student Data Privacy, Smart Network Design, Strategic Technology Planning and Investment, and Closing the Homework Gap.

The next edWebinars in the series are: Student Data Privacy: A Priority and Essential Commitment on Monday, October 8, 2018 at 5 pm Eastern Time, and Cyber Security: A Critical School District Priority on Monday, November 12, 2018 at 5 pm Eastern Time.

Superintendents and district leaders are invited to join the edWeb community, Super-Connected, for invitations to upcoming programs and to collaborate with peers on these topics.

Keith R. Krueger, CAE, Chief Executive Officer for CoSN, commented, “Superintendents are responsible for ensuring that their school districts embrace transformative digital learning. CoSN is excited to partner with edWeb to provide a platform for current and aspiring superintendents and school leaders to come together as a learning community to share their stories and strategies for successfully leading school system technology initiatives.”

Lisa Schmucki, founder of edWeb.net, added, “The opening edWebinar in this series shows the immediate value of online collaboration. Ann McMullan, Dr. Schuler, and Dr. Gaines were able to converse in real time, on camera, with an audience of 180 superintendents, district leaders, and aspiring leaders. These kinds of 3D real-time conversations on thought-leadership topics can now be hosted so easily with technology. We are honored to partner with CoSN to host these great conversations and help increase greater awareness of all of CoSN’s resources for superintendents.”

About CoSN
CoSN (the Consortium for School Networking) is the premier professional association for school system technology leaders. For 25 years, CoSN has provided leaders with the management, community building and advocacy tools they need to succeed. Today, CoSN represents over 13 million students in school districts nationwide and continues to grow as a powerful and influential voice in K-12 education. Visit CoSN.org to find out more about CoSN’s focus areas, annual conference and events, advocacy and policy, membership and the CETL certification exam.