Introduction and Foundational Shift (0:00 – 0:15)
The session will begin with the high cost of fragmented, siloed work. After introducing the Academic and EdTech Coordinator presenters as unified partners, we will engage the audience immediately with a device-based poll asking attendees to quickly share a frustration caused by a lack of cross-departmental coordination. This sets the stage for the Foundational Shift (10 minutes), where we will present our core strategy: Partnering the EdTech and Academic Coordinators to dissolve silos. This section will introduce the complete, four-step Strategic Cycle—Identify Goals, Develop Solutions, Provide Support, and Evaluate & Refine—establishing the shared vision required by ISTE Leader Standards.
Strategy, Solutions, and Scaling Support (0:15 – 0:35)
The next 20 minutes will detail the practical execution of the first three strategic steps. We will dedicate 10 minutes to Strategy and Solution, illustrating how we Identify Goals before developing solutions and selecting specific digital tools. We will model this collaborative decision-making process, directly addressing ISTE Leader Standard 2b. The audience will then participate in a peer-to-peer "Turn and Talk" activity to discuss the framework in their own districts. The subsequent 10 minutes will focus on Scaling and Support (Step 3), explaining our shift to Unified Teacher Conferences (ELEVATE, EMPOWER) to ensure consistent, aligned professional development, directly supporting ISTE Leader Standard 2d (communication and continuous improvement). This segment will also include a brief, essential mention of the need to adhere to FERPA and COPPA regulations.
Impact, Evaluation, and Dialogue (0:35 – 0:55)
The focus shifts to results in the next 10 minutes, detailing Impact and Scaling (Step 4). We will present the evidence of our strategic plan's success, highlighting our metrics: training over 1,000 educators, successful 1:1 implementation, and achieving the highest achievement scores in our district's history—demonstrating the fulfillment of ISTE Leader Standard 2c (measuring impact and scaling). This is followed by a reflection activity (5 minutes) where attendees individually write down one "lesson learned" they plan to implement immediately, with an opportunity for a few to share with the group. The final 10 minutes of this segment are reserved for an open dialogue and Q&A, where the presenters will explicitly align the WCS model with the full ISTE Visionary Planner Standards (2a-2e), directly addressing the broader community dialogue requirement.
Conclusion and Call to Action (0:55 – 1:00)
The session will conclude with a concise wrap-up (5 minutes), summarizing the two main takeaways: collaboration is essential and the strategy must be data-driven. The presenters will issue a specific, actionable Call to Action, challenging every attendee to schedule a short meeting with their departmental counterpart before the conference ends to begin dissolving their own silos.
Over the last three years, the collaborative effort led to the highest achievement scores in our district’s history. Eleven schools in the district earned a level five score, the highest measure in Tennessee. By following this approach, other districts can unify departments and provide intentional training that promotes academic success while having a positive impact on teacher retention.
Takeaways
Collaboration is Key: Breaking down silos and partnering Academic Coordinators with EdTech Coordinators is essential for bridging the gap between pedagogy and technology.
Strategic Technology Adoption: Technology implementation must be driven by academic needs and goals, not just the tools themselves.
Unified PD: Consolidating professional development from separate, siloed events to unified, high-quality conferences ensures all staff receive coherent and consistent training
Data and Feedback Loop: Strategies must be continually evaluated and refined based on feedback and instructional data.
1. "The New Classroom Instruction That Works: The Best Research-Based Strategies for Increasing Student Achievement" by Bryan Goodwin and Kristin Rouleau
2. ISTE AI in Education Resources – ISTE AI Explorations and Their Practical Use in Schools
3. Consortium for School Networking (COSN) K-12 Gen AI Maturity Tool- We attended the COSN conference in 2024, listened to the AI expert panel, and attended sessions to collaborate with AI experts and district leaders.
4. Generative AI Summit at Vanderbilt University- a collaboration of experts and distinct leaders from across the nation.
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