When did October become awards season in the world of edtech? This week’s newsfeeds are stuffed with announcements for finalists and honorees for both educators and vendors on the best and brightest developments for teaching and learning.
The winners:
Of course, we need to start with the most prestigious! The eSchool News Hero Awards, honors educators for their exemplary use of innovative edtech to support student learning:
- John Arthur, 6th grade teacher at Meadowlark Elementary School in Salt Lake City, Utah
- Dr. Jesus Jara, superintendent of Clark County School District (CCSD) in Nevada
- Tom Lamont, painting and design technology instructor at Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical High School (BVT) in Massachusetts
Winners were chosen for their commitment to education despite obstacles–including achievement gaps, teacher burnout, and funding–and their creativity and innovation in helping all students continue learning while ensuring students felt safe, empowered, and engaged.
Nominations were judged by a panel of education experts, including Laura Ascione, eSchool News editorial director, and Eileen Belastock, CETL, Belastock Consulting. I look forward to interviewing them in the coming days for the podcast. Here’s one of my favorites from years past.
The Institute for Education Innovation, a national school superintendent think tank that serves as the bridge between district leaders and the K-12 industry to develop solutions to the greatest challenges in education, also this week announced the finalists for the third annual Supes’ Choice Awards. The Supes’ Choice Awards honor the most innovative education products and solutions, and are the only education industry awards judged exclusively by school district superintendents.
“Now in its third year, the Supes’ Choice Awards have become known in the education industry as one of the top honors recognizing forward-thinking edtech companies,” said Doug Roberts, founder and CEO of the Institute for Education Innovation (IEI). “Judged by the country’s most innovative superintendents, the awards provide edtech company founders and CEOs with valuable insights to help them create more meaningful and impactful learning experiences for students. In fact, students and teachers alike benefit the most when edtech companies partner with administrators on the front lines of K-12 education to perfect their products and solutions.”
Finalists for the Supes’ Choice Awards are chosen based on a demonstrated commitment to student outcomes, innovation and ingenuity, client support, interactivity, and engagement. The finalists for each category include:
- AI-Powered Education Solution: Scrible, Navigate360
- Best Gamification in Learning: Giant Steps, ExploreLearning – Reflex
- Excellence in Special Education: Stages Learning – Language Builder: Academic Readiness Intervention System (ARIS), TouchMath
- Tutoring Platform: FEV Tutor, Tutor.com and The Princeton Review
- College and Career Readiness Solution: Find Your Grind, Credentialate by Edalex
- Communications and Family Engagement: AllHere, TalkingPoints
- Equity Champion: Clayful Health, Raz-Plus Espanol by Learning A-Z
- K-12 Newcomer: Kognity for High School Science, FrenalyticsEDU
- Keeping Kids Safe: Navigate360 – ALICE, Navigate360 – P3 Campus
- Learning Management System: Jupiter, D2L – Brightspace
- Literacy Instructional Solution: NoRedInk, Phonics, Reading, and Me, Read Naturally
- Math Instructional Solution: TouchMath, Magma Math
- Most Innovative PD Solution: Lexia LETRS, Lexia Aspire Professional Learning and thinkLaw
- Operations/Finance/HR Solution: Operoo, Upbeat and iiQ Facilities
- SEL Solution of the Year: Sown to Grow, Care Solace
- STEM/STEAM Instructional Solution: Kide Science, ExploreLearning Gizmos
- Virtual Instructional Experience: Proximity Learning, Tutored by Teachers
Winners will be revealed at the 2023 Supes’ Choice Awards Gala taking place on Friday, December 8 in New York City. The Gala is a celebration honoring the finalists and winners that includes dinner, an awards ceremony, and live entertainment.
ClassLink celebrated the exceptional achievements of individuals and teams during the closing session of their annual ClassLink Learning Analytics Summit, CLAS 2023, on October 5th.
THE CLAS Awards of Excellence celebrate the innovative ways individuals and teams use data to better serve their district’s learners, recognizing the educational impacts of institutions, leaders, and experts.
Data Storyteller Award
- Winner: Connie Chin (Bibb County School District, GA)
- This award recognizes an individual who expertly uses data analysis to inform strategy and drive teaching and learning in their organization.
Data Bridge Builders Award
- Winner: Tonja Brun & Team (Savannah Chatham Public Schools, GA)
- This award recognizes an organization that excels at collaborating and building toward a data-driven culture to improve teaching and learning.
Data Security Champions Award
- Winner: Keith Price & Team (Vestavia Hills Schools, AL)
- This award recognizes an organization using analytics/security insights to inform their data security strategy implementation.
“We established the CLAS Awards of Excellence as a tribute to the remarkable individuals and teams leading the charge in advancing digital learning through innovative data utilization. All of us at ClassLink are deeply honored to witness the inventive applications of our Analytics tools by the showcased winners. Their efforts inspire us all!”
Berj Akian
Founder & CEO, ClassLink
- Meet the Winners—Dr. Kellie Wilks, Chief Technology Officer, of Ector County Independent School District, TX (ECISD) - April 12, 2024
- Meet the Winners—Prince William County Public Schools (PWCS) in Manassas, Virginia wins the 2024 Community Leadership Award for Digital Equity. - April 12, 2024
- #CoSN2024 Conversation – Tom Ryan Co-Founder K-12 Strategic Technology Advisor Group (NM) - April 10, 2024