IETL Presenters at CoSN
CyberThreats: Lessons Learned from Phishing 500,000 Faculty, Staff & Students
Tuesday, April 14, 2026
8:00 AM - 9:00 AM
Location: Fountainview
In today’s digital age, K-12 schools are prime targets for hackers. From phishing attacks to deep fake fraud, cybercriminals are launching increasingly sophisticated threats that can bring entire districts to a halt. Join us for an electrifying session where we break down the most dangerous cyber threats facing schools today. Discover real-world strategies to empower your staff and students to aid in protecting the district. Are you ready to become the hero your school needs?
Phil Hintz, Ed.S.
Chief Technology Officer
Niles Township School District 219
The Secrets of Change: Leading Successful EdTech Initiatives
Tuesday, April 14, 2026
8:00 AM - 9:00 AM
Location: Sheraton 5
Come learn about navigating the full change management journey. Experienced school technology leaders share their secrets and wisdom in change management in implementing successful educational technology projects at their districts. Participants will discuss aspects of cross-team building, system selection process, budgeting, professional learning, and project management.
Mary Jane Warden, CETL
Chief Technology Officer
Community Consolidated School District 15
Michael J. Marassa, CETL, ED.D., CSBO
Chief Technology Officer
New Trier 203
Driving Real Impact with AI
Tuesday, April 14, 2026
9:15 AM - 10:15 AM CT
Location: Sheraton 4
For Artificial Intelligence to positively affect learning and educational outcomes, school leaders need to be intentional about why they are using AI and what they hope to change. This approach includes: Having clarity about the context (the environment) in which they plan to use AI, the district (or school’s) approach to learning; how the AI apps are built and the ways in which success metrics are integrated into the apps themselves. These district leaders will share the lessons that they are learning in implementing AI and how they are driving measuring outcomes.
Emily Dillard
CIO, Alexandria City SD
Jeremy Nishihara
Asst. Supe. of Human Resources & Information Systems, Sunnyvale SD;
Jeremy Wickham
Exec.Director, Technology & Operations, North Shore SD;
From Breakdown to Success: Leading Recovery After Implementation Collapse
Tuesday, April 14, 2026
9:15 AM - 10:15 AM CT
Location: Sheraton 6
What happens when a critical integration rollout starts to unravel? The district faced this exact challenge when a critical system implementation began to unravel due to staff turnover, miscommunication, and early missteps. Frustration was high, trust had eroded, and recovery seemed out of reach. In this candid, experience-based session, the presenters will share how they stabilized and successfully turned around a struggling rollout in just six months. The presenters will highlight solution-focused strategies, effective district advocacy, and practical steps for rebuilding momentum. This session is designed for leaders who are or will be navigating a complex edtech implementation. Whether you're trying to rescue a struggling rollout or avoid common pitfalls in the next big launch, attendees will leave with actionable insights, lessons learned, and tools to move from breakdown to sustainable buy-in.
Melissa Gray
Lead Manager of Instructional Technology, Data Governance, and Cybersecurity
Lake Zurich Community Unit School District 95
Aubrey Allen, M.Ed.
Director of Curriculum, Assessment, & Data
Lake Zurich Community Unit School District 95
Leslie Mckay
Working Smarter: Tech-Enhanced Physical Safety & Security
Tuesday, April 14, 2026
9:15 AM - 10:15 AM
Location: Fountainview
This session will explore the critical collaboration between the Director of Safety and Security and the Director of Technology in optimizing school safety. We'll delve into specific strategies and technologies that enhance physical security, moving beyond traditional approaches. Topics will include leveraging unified communication systems for emergency response, implementing advanced access control solutions, utilizing video surveillance, and the role of data integration for comprehensive safety insights. The presentation will feature real-world examples and practical takeaways, demonstrating how a cohesive departmental partnership can lead to more efficient, effective, and secure learning environments. We'll outline a roadmap for fostering this essential collaboration within your district.
Chris Vipond
Director of Technology
Libertyville District 70
Austin Johnson
Director of Safety & Security
Libertyville District 70
Rebecca Jenkins
Superintendent
Libertyville District 70
The JournAI: How Five Districts are Embracing AI with Purpose
Tuesday, April 14, 2026
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Location: Fountainview
As AI rapidly enters classrooms, how can school systems lead with purpose, equity, and strategy? In this interactive session, leaders from four diverse districts will share how they are approaching AI implementation.
Panelists will explore how they defined their “why,” addressed fears and opportunities, evaluated AI tools, and created practical guidelines and policies for ethical use. Attendees will gain insights tailored to different roles (superintendents, CIOs, academic leads, business officers) and career levels (entry to advanced), with actionable takeaways including stakeholder engagement strategies, product evaluation tools, and policy samples.
Craig Chatham, Ed.D.
Director of Technology & Assessment
Lincolnshire-Prairie View School District 103
Micah Miner, Ed.S.
Director of Innovation & Technology
Beach Park District 3
Brian Engle
Assistant Superintendent For Instructional Innovation
Glenview School District 34
Phil Hintz, Ed.S.
Chief Technology Officer
Niles Township School District 219
Andrew Fekete, CETL
Director for Innovation and Technology
Community Consolidated School District #93
Enhancing Student Engagement with AR, VR, MR, & XR
Wednesday, April 15, 2026
8:00 AM - 9:00 AM
Location: Chicago 8
During this session, the audience and participants will learn about strategies, tools, and techniques to incorporate Augmented and Virtual Reality into the learning experiences of students with intellectual disabilities or neurodiverse students. An explanation of the Reality-Virtuality Continuum & AR and VR tools and platforms that can be used. All of these realities, whether AR, VR, MR or XR, provide a rich opportunity for students to more fully experience, learn, and comprehend the skills and lessons being taught. These immersive experiences offer tremendous opportunities for students with intellectual disabilities to learn life and occupational skills.
Phil Hintz, Ed.S.
Chief Technology Officer
Niles Township School District 219
From Silos to Solutions: Unifying K-12 Operations for District-Wide Success
Wednesday, April 15, 2026
9:15 AM - 10:15 AM
Location: Chicago 8
K-12 leaders today are being asked to do more with less. They’re managing thousands of devices, juggling siloed requests, staying ahead of deferred maintenance, and working with stretched-thin teams across departments. In this panel discussion, four IT leaders from across the country will share how they reimagined collaboration across departments, evaluated existing systems, and found new ways to improve operations. By consolidating technology, facilities, and asset management into a unified platform, these districts have streamlined complex workflows, gained greater visibility into their assets, and made smarter, data-informed decisions. Attendees will hear how they’re breaking down silos, regaining control over inventory and reporting, and creating space to serve students better. From automating compliance tasks to streamlining internal service requests, this session offers real-world insights, implementation stories, and lessons learned to help other districts eliminate inefficiencies, save time and money, and build a more resilient operational foundation.
Melissa E. Mccalla, EdD, CETL
Chief Technology Officer
Pasadena ISD
Chantell S. Manahan, Ed.D., CETL, CCRE
Director of Technology
MSD of Steuben County
Philip Lacey, Ed.D.
Director of IT Services
Niles Township HSD 219