Overview

October 8
11AM PT, 2PM ET

Register

The Center for Digital Education (CDE) and the National School Boards Association (NSBA) are excited to introduce the second annual Innovative Technology Integration Award for School Districts and The LEADER Award! The Innovative Technology award celebrates districts that are leading the way in transforming education through technology. It provides school leaders the opportunity to showcase innovative practices, share successes, and gain national recognition for their district’s commitment to advancing student learning through effective technology integration. The LEADER award highlights exceptional district leaders who champion innovation, foster collaboration, leverage data and digital tools, and build sustainable, scalable models that can inspire other districts.

Join us for the award program kickoff webinar, where we will walk you through the application process, highlight what’s new this year, and share strategies for putting together a strong submission. Past winners and education leaders will also join to discuss how recognition has supported their districts, offering tips and best practices for success.

During this session, we will cover:

  • Award categories and judging criteria
  • How to complete and submit your application
  • Key deadlines and recognition opportunities for winners
  • Live Q&A with presenters

Speakers

Brian Cohen headshot

Brian Cohen

Vice President, Center for Digital Education

Brian Cohen is the Vice President of the Center for Digital Government and Center Digital Education. Prior to joining the Center, Brian served for 30 years in IT leadership roles with the City of New York and most recently with the City University of New York (CUNY). As the Vice-Chancellor and University CIO at CUNY, Brian directed the Office of Computing and Information Services (CIS), developed, and managed the enterprise IT vision, strategy and day-to-day technology operations of the University. His areas of focus included academic and business systems, cloud strategies, IT policies and procedures, Cybersecurity, project management, IT resiliency and disaster recovery, and network and telecommunications. During his time with the City of New York, Brian developed the City of New York’s E-Government strategy, implemented the City’s award-winning nyc.gov website, and managed the City’s effort to address the Y2K technology challenge.

Rachel Eckert headshot

Rachel Eckert

Director of Market Intelligence, e.Republic

Rachel Eckert is the Research Director for the Center for Digital Government, a division of e.Republic. She is responsible for the Custom Research team and comes with over 15 years of experience conducting research and market intelligence on the public-sector market. She has helped a variety of technology and services firms understand what's driving technology and procurement in the market and how to target their business development efforts more effectively. Rachel graduated from Western Washington University with a Bachelor of Arts in International Business.

 

Kris Hagel

Executive Director of Digital Learning, Peninsula School District, WA

 

Chris Turner

Chief Information Officer, Washoe County School District, NV

© 2025 All Rights Reserved. E.Republic LLC
Privacy & AI / Do Not Sell My Personal Information