EDLIT: Empowering Districts through Learning, Innovation, & Technology

Reflecting on an incredible evening during NYC’s EDTECH WEEK, it was an absolute honor to host so many passionate, dedicated leaders and innovators from around the world gathered in one place to connect and create innovative educational communities for the students we serve today and the next generation of our workforce. I was reminded of the powerful intersection between education and environmental stewardship as we set sail on New York City’s waterways for an evening cruise of educators and innovators. Sincere thanks and admiration to Peter Malinowski & Ann Fraioli at the Billion Oyster Project (BOP), a non-profit dedicated to restoring one billion oysters to New York City’s waterways and reviving the harbor’s marine ecosystem. BOP’s work so far in New York City’s harbors… 🦪💡Restored 150 million oysters,helping to restore habitats and bring back marine wildlife like seahorses and dolphins. 🦪💡Engaged 20,000 NYC students, enabling them to participate in restoration efforts, conduct scientific research, and become stewards of their local environment Hearing Pete speak reminded me how collective action—in education, innovation, and environmental sustainability—can drive real, impactful change. Together, we’re reclaiming not only our waters but also the future we want to build for the next generation. Gratitude to all of the organizations and partners who made this event so special: Hayley Spira-Bauer at Fullmind Matthew Giovanniello at Frenalytics David Adams at The Urban Assembly, Inc. Aidan McDowell at UniqLearn Henrik Appert & Jordan Evans at Magma Math Daniel Weidmann & Nick Gross at Find Your Grind Alex Kotran & Christian Pinedo at aiEDU.org Anurupa Ganguly & Tony Falotico at Prisms Juliana Finegan & Thuvishan Rajagulasingam at Vivi Jon "Ike" Ramos & Jacqueline Shapiro at Nearpod #AmplifyAndElevate #BillionOysterProject #NYCEdTech #Innovation #CollectiveAction #MarineScience #Sustainability #LightBulbMoments Jennifer Womble Gretchen Thompson Camie Belgrave

Honored to have been part of a critical discussion hosted by the Asian American Association of CSA, where we explored the intersection of AI and education, and how these technologies impact representation and equity. Big thanks to Maximillian Re-Sugiura for his amazing moderation and to Tara Carrozza for sharing her passion and expertise on all things AI as she leads this incredibly important work in New York City Public Schools. Lightbulb moments: 💡We dove into important questions, like how school leaders are navigating fears around AI adoption and how products can be selected to ensure they serve all students equitably. 💡 A major focus was on ensuring that generative AI respects and represents diverse cultures. It’s essential to be mindful of implicit biases and historical stereotypes that can unconsciously influence how different communities are portrayed in AI systems. 💡 We also tackled the crucial issue of accountability. Who is responsible when AI tools amplify racial disparities? This conversation is vital for shaping a future where AI contributes to, rather than detracts from, equity in education. A huge thank you to everyone who participated in this important dialogue and to the Asian American Association of CSA for creating the space to address these pressing issues. Together, we can ensure AI reflects the diverse voices and experiences that define our world. #AI #EdTech #EquityInEducation #CulturalRepresentation #GenerativeAI #AmplifyAndElevate Stamo Karalazarides Rosenberg Edward Liu PBLWorks Dr. Andy Szeto David Liu Council of School Supervisors and Administrators

Huge thanks to Melody Su, M. Ed for hosting me on a very thought provoking episode of EpNex (Episteme Nexus): Education 360! In this episode Melody and I discuss a whole host of topics including: 🌐 The potential for AI to personalize learning and bridge the digital divide. 📚 How educators can harness AI tools and resources (ie., SchoolJoy, Playlab AI, Eddi, aiEDU.org, & more) to create meaningful, tech-enhanced learning experiences. 🤖 The importance of curiosity and purpose when integrating AI into the classroom. 🔗 Why #leadership and #networking are key to AI’s successful implementation in education. Stay tuned for this awesome episode to be released October 29th! #AmplifyAndElevate #EdTech #DigitalDivide #FutureofLearning

The AI and Emerging Technologies Summit at the 2024 SLECoP Convening in Chicago is almost here, and I’m honored to be part of this incredible lineup of expert voices in AI coming together for an event unlike any other! This is the moment where trailblazers in AI, education, and industry unite to shape the future and ensure that innovation is accessible for all. Join us at McCormick Place on October 29th for sessions centered on innovation in education, ethics in AI, accessible entrepreneurship, and bridging the digital divide to prepare all students for the future of workforce development: 💡Alex Boakye, Vice President, Solutions Development, SAS Institute 💡Alex Kotran, CEO and Co-Founder, The AI Education Project (aiEDU) 💡Erin Mote, CEO, InnovateEDU 💡Yusuf Ahmad, Co-Founder, Playlab AI 💡Mike Yates, Senior Project Designer, The Reinvention Lab, TFA 💡Jeremy Shorr, Senior Director, Teaching Institute for Excellence in STEM (TIES) 💡Rebecca Bultsma, APR, Founder and Ethical AI Strategist, Rebecca Bultsma Consulting 💡Winston Roberts, AI Innovation Lead, Foundation Academies 💡Eric Yu, Principal Solutions Architect - AI Ethics Ambassador, SAS Institute 💡Tiffany Taylor, Partner, Co-President, ASU+GSV Summit 💡Carolyne Quintana, Leadership Consultant & Strategic Advisor  💡Dr. Shokry Eldaly, Columbia University Professor 💡Stacie Stanley, Ed.D., Founder of TechEd Maven Consulting 💡Ian Zhu, Founder and CEO, SchoolJoy 💡J.D. LaRock, J.D., Ed.D., President and CEO, Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) 💡Merissa Sadler-Holder, CEO, Teaching with Machines 💡Jan Morrison, Founder and CEO, Teaching Institute for Excellence in STEM (TIES) Don’t miss this opportunity to engage with STEM leaders, learn from AI innovators, and network with changemakers dedicated to creating a more inclusive future! The AI Summit is made possible through the generosity of the Booz Allen Hamilton Foundation and aiEDU.org. 👉 Register now to secure your spot: https://lnkd.in/eAsTvWgK #STEMEcosystems #ChicagoConvening #AccessInAction #E2E2024 #AmplifyAndElevate

Amplifying & Elevating the wisdom of yesterday's EDTECH WEEK NYC session, "Navigating Higher Education in the Al Era: Preparing Learners for a Dynamic Future." Lightbulb moments and reflections on how AI is reshaping the future of education: 💡Dana Stephenson emphasized that higher education must create opportunities for lifelong learning, allowing professionals to return for new skills and credentials without heavy debt. Real-world applications and social impact should be central to this experience. 💡Eleanor Cooper pointed out that while there’s been talk of workforce integration, we’re just scratching the surface. Credentialing needs to evolve to ensure that critical thinking and problem-solving skills can be translated into rigorous, recognized qualifications. 💡Matthew Rascoff issued a powerful reminder that EdTech’s mission should be about expanding access to those who need it most. Partnerships between educational institutions and mission-driven companies are crucial to bridging gaps in social capital and economic mobility. Thank you to Angela Chen for her expert moderation skills! The session was an inspiring reminder of the real work we have ahead in ensuring that education, aided by AI, leads to lasting societal change. The future is bright, but we must be intentional in how we shape it. #AI #HigherEducation #EdTech #LifelongLearning #FutureOfWork #EdTechWeekNYC #AmplifyAndElevate Thanks Dave Frey & Rene Frey for the session recommendation!

🌟Yesterday, I had the immense privilege of attending the 𝘕𝘦𝘸 𝘠𝘰𝘳𝘬 𝘊𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘗𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘤 𝘚𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘭𝘴 𝘚𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘖𝘶𝘳 𝘚𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘭𝘴 𝘈𝘥𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴 at 𝗙𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗸 𝗦𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗿𝗮 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹 in 𝗔𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗮, 𝗤𝘂𝗲𝗲𝗻𝘀 — what a truly inspiring event!🌟 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗮𝗹 𝗚𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗼𝗻 𝗙𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗸𝗲𝗹 kicked things off with his personal journey from NYC Public School student to leader and parent, followed by a stunning performance from the talented students of Frank Sinatra High School, who delivered a moving rendition of a Stevie Wonder song. 🎶 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗼𝗿 𝗗𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗱 𝗕𝗮𝗻𝗸𝘀 shared his ambitious vision for ensuring that each student graduates not only with a diploma, but also on a pathway towards long-term economic security. The numbers speak for themselves: 📈        - $𝟯𝟬 𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗼𝗻 in savings accounts for over 𝟮𝟬𝟬,𝟬𝟬𝟬 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀        - $𝟳𝟬 𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗼𝗻 worth of early college credits earned by nearly          𝟮𝟴,𝟬𝟬𝟬 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀        - $𝟴 𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗼𝗻 in paid work experiences for NYCPS students just          last year One of the most exciting moments was the announcement of a new school - a first of it’s kind partnership between 𝘋𝘦𝘭𝘢𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘚𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘜𝘯𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘺 & 𝘏𝘉𝘊𝘜 𝘌𝘢𝘳𝘭𝘺 𝘊𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘨𝘦 𝘗𝘳𝘦𝘱 led by the phenomenal 𝗗𝗿. 𝗔𝘀𝘆𝗮 𝗝𝗼𝗵𝗻𝘀𝗼𝗻 - who got the standing ovation she deserved! Chancellor Banks’ laid out his vision for artificial intelligence, with NYC leading the way to ensure educators’ have access to AI tools that empower them to be more efficient, impactful, and engaging, all in service of improving student outcomes. 🚀 Sincere thanks to 𝗗𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗥𝗼𝗱𝗿𝗶𝗴𝘂𝗲𝘇 and all of those who did the behind the scenes work to bring this incredible event together! After reconnecting with mentors and friends while meeting so many new education leaders, I left Queens fired up for what lies ahead for the nation's largest school district and the nearly 𝟭 𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 across NYC!   #NYCPS #StateOfOurSchools #StudentSuccess #InnovationInEducation #AIInEducation #NYCPublicSchools #AmplifyandElevate Dr. Asya J. Gary Beidleman Eric Gorenstein Norma Feriz-Gordon John Foley-Murphy (neé Murphy) Kimberly Hall Zee Santiago Marcel Deans Sean L. Davenport, Ed.D. Dery Rodriguez Marleny Martinez Jeffrey Chetirko, Ed.D.

🚢🌆 Join Us for a NYC Sunset Boat Cruise with Education Leaders! 🗽🌉 I am truly honored to be co-organizing this October 8th event for 150 education leaders and mission-aligned innovative education solution partners for an exclusive evening boat cruise around NYC! This ✨one-of-a-kind experience✨ is designed to foster 𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙨𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙢𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙧𝙚𝙡𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙥𝙨 between education leaders and innovators, amplifying and elevating our collective impact in education. Come and enjoy an evening filled with great music, dancing, and delicious food & beverages, all set against the stunning backdrop of NYC's iconic skyline! 🗓 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗲: 𝗧𝘂𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗢𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟴𝘁𝗵 ⏰ 𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲: 𝟲:𝟬𝟬 𝗣𝗠 - 𝟵:𝟬𝟬 𝗣𝗠 𝗘𝗧 📍 𝗟𝗼𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: 𝗡𝗬𝗖 𝗛𝗮𝗿𝗯𝗼𝗿 💡 𝗔𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲: 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘁-𝗟𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹 𝗘𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 📩 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗘𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗖𝗮𝗻 𝗔𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗱: • 𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝙣𝙤 𝙘𝙤𝙨𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙖𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙙, 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙨𝙥𝙖𝙘𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝙡𝙞𝙢𝙞𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙗𝙮 𝙞𝙣𝙫𝙞𝙩𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙤𝙣𝙡𝙮. • 𝙏𝙤 𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙚𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙖𝙣 𝙍𝙎𝙑𝙋 𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙠, 𝙥𝙧𝙞𝙫𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙢𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙖𝙜𝙚 𝙢𝙚 𝙤𝙧 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙘𝙩 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙤𝙧𝙜𝙖𝙣𝙞𝙯𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙨𝙥𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙤𝙧𝙨 𝙡𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙗𝙚𝙡𝙤𝙬. We look forward to setting sail with you on Tuesday, October 8th, alongside our friends: Brett Roer at Amplify & Elevate Innovation Hayley Spira-Bauer at Fullmind Matthew Giovanniello at Frenalytics David Adams at The Urban Assembly, Inc. Aidan McDowell at UniqLearn Henrik Appert at Magma Math Daniel Weidmann and Nick Gross at Find Your Grind Alex Kotran and Christian Pinedo at aiEDU.org Peter Malinowski at Billion Oyster Project Ash Kaluarachchi at Started and EDTECH WEEK Anurupa Ganguly at Prisms Juliana Finegan and Thuvishan Rajagulasingam at Vivi Jon "Ike" Ramos and Jacqueline Shapiro at Nearpod

🌟 Students Were the Stars at the ASU+GSV AIR Show! This weekend, I had the privilege of moderating the inaugural aiEDU.org and Schmidt Futures Southern California Student AI Showcase. Over 30 students from El Segundo and Cajon Valley, dressed as AI Avengers in superhero costumes, medical scrubs, professional baseball uniforms, and business attire, dazzled a packed room of attendees, showcasing their mastery and innovation in AI. 📚 The Challenge: Facing a challenge posed less than a month ago, teams of high school students worked tirelessly over spring break, nights, and weekends. They developed lesson plans and assignments that not only adhered to an AI acceptable use policy but were also engaging and rigorous. Guided by equally amazing educators, the students created reflective videos detailing their journey and insights — videos that not only met but exceeded expectations. Their hard work paid off, showcasing their creations to a room packed with educators and AI experts, where the students stood out as the true AI pioneers and experts. 💬 Student Reflections: "The struggle was real, but the challenge was fun and worth it." "I learned so much about what our teachers have to do every day to make learning exciting, and my respect for them is so much greater." "AI is the bridge and the support to more engaging learning, not a tool to cheat with or finish assignments quicker." "We do not need to ban or fear AI, we need to build a balance and make it clear to students what is and is not acceptable use when creating assignments." 👩🏫 Teachers and Families are Heroes: A deep gratitude is owed to the educators and families who played pivotal roles in this journey. The educators not only navigated this challenge but also inspired their students through their unyielding commitment and creativity in teaching. Their leadership in the classroom and beyond proved indispensable, illustrating what it means to be true pioneers in education. 📣 Spread the Story for Reach: Help amplify the achievements of these young innovators— they deserve it! 💡 My Lightbulb Moment: My personal highlight was seeing each team’s reflection video for the first time. Their clarity on ethically integrating AI into assessments designed to foster genuine learning was truly inspiring. I found myself laughing out loud, experiencing numerous lightbulb moments, and feeling those goosebumps that, as an educator, signify the moments when students exceed even our wildest expectations. These students did not just fill the room with their innovations; they filled my cup with excitement and optimism about the future of AI in education. 🙏 Gratitude: It was an honor to be part of this incredible experience, and I am profoundly thankful to those below for their efforts in creating a first-of-its-kind experience for students. I am brimming with excitement and optimism about the future of AI in education, looking forward to meeting the next group of AI Avengers!

📣 Calling all education leaders - Heading to the ASU+GSV AIR Show or ASU+GSV Summit 🎉🎉🎉 EDLIT: Empowering Districts through Learning, Innovation, & Technology has exciting news! We're offering a $500 scholarship donation for a deserving Class of 2024 senior from your district. 🎓 🤝 EDLIT’s pledge goes beyond the Summit—we honor the invaluable time that education leaders invest in bettering student and teacher experiences with charitable contributions for each EDLIT Virtual Learning Session attended. It's our way of ensuring that when leaders step up, their districts and students benefit directly. 🌟 🚀 At EDLIT, we're passionate about empowering educators to revolutionize learning through innovation and technology. For every EDLIT Virtual Learning Session we host, EDLIT directly donates to school districts to fund student scholarships and innovative initiatives. ⏳ The clock is ticking! Register your district in a minute (the link is already live) for a chance to win this scholarship. The winning district will be unveiled on April 18th, so don't miss out. 🔗 Click here to register your district: https://lnkd.in/g8UvAfS5 Together, let's shape a brighter and more inclusive future for education. 💡 🤝🤝🤝 Excited to see some of our partners in SD! Hiveclass Tutored by Teachers Cignition 2Sigma School Just Right Reader nXu Education Frenalytics Brett Roer Thomas Aurelio Davis Tanya Wilson Thevanesan, Ed.D. 🌊 See you soon in San Diego! 🌴 🎉🎉🎉Hope to see some of these incredible leaders Dr. Maritza Koeppen Paul M. Marietti, Ed.D. Patrick Gittisriboongul Liz Bystedt Gudiel Crosthwaite Heather Galyen Ivan Chaidez Aaron Magnan Melanie Karabedian Patrick Keeley, Ed.D. Luis Valentino Heather Golly, Ed.D. Tamara Allen-Muhammad Jamie L. Karissa Patel Jeanyll Morris, MBA Eric Brooks Sean Taitt, MSW Bob Tyra Erik Ellefsen Karen Minshew José Manuel Villarreal, Ed.D. Enrique Medina Jr., Ph.D. Elias Vargas, Ed.D. Dr Vince Carbino Monique Cardenas Dr. Aurelia L. Henriquez #EDLIT #EducationLeaders #Scholarship #FutureOfEducation #Innovation #ClassOf2024 #ai #aieducation

Not even a once-in-a-century earthquake in NYC can stop the innovation taking place at The Urban Assembly, Inc.! Yesterday, I had the privilege of attending the Urban Assembly Innovation and Education Partner Luncheon, an event that truly showcased the resilience and forward-thinking work of educators, policymakers, and innovators dedicated to transforming education. The luncheon featured an inspiring keynote speech by Dr. Lisette Nieves, President of the Fund for the City of New York, who illuminated that the path forward for today's students must include internships and authentic experiences that provide them interaction and mentorship with adults outside of their family and schools, and that we must all work together and use innovative solutions to remove the barriers from doing this at scale. Councilmember Rita Joseph, Chair of the NYC Council Committee on Education and a former New York City teacher, shared passionate remarks that underscored the critical importance of education in our city’s future, and her investment in bringing equity to updating infrastructure and technology for all students. Finally, these speakers were joined by UA Managing Director of Program Habib Bangura, Dr. Orrin T. Murray from the American Institutes for Research, and New York City Council Chair of the Technology Committee Jennifer Gutierrez, with Urban Assembly CEO David Adams moderating an invigorating panel on Innovation in Education. This event was more than a luncheon; it was a confluence of ideas and passion, bringing together leaders from education, government, non-profit, ed-tech, and foundations. I left excited by the new relationships formed and the deepening of existing ones, all of us committed to improving equitable outcomes and scaling innovation for all students in New York City and beyond. The Urban Assembly’s commitment to equitable outcomes is not just rhetoric. Their data speaks volumes, with learners from all demographics at UA schools exceeding the NYCPS average graduation outcomes. This is a testament to the UA way, and what we can achieve when we unite for a common purpose. Thank you to Deutsche Bank for providing a stunning space for such an incredible event. Dr. Shokry Eldaly Fred Walsh Tom Liam Lynch, Ed.D. LeNard P. Wyman Khuu Tom O'Connell Gillian Finley Dana Harnett Stephanie Parry Alex Parks Stephanie Fiorelli Michaela Labriole (she/her) Channon Essex M.S.Ed Narcisa Codreanu #EducationInnovation #UrbanAssembly #EquitableOutcomes #NYCEducation