Overview

February 18
11AM PT, 2PM ET

Register

The Center for Digital Education will host a 30-minute webinar featuring SETDA and invited panelists examining how states and districts can improve professional learning (PL) systems to better support today’s educators. The discussion will draw on SETDA’s 2025 guidance on closing the "digital design divide," the gap between having access to technology and having educators prepared to use it in ways that deepen learning and strengthen student outcomes. 

SETDA and panelists will review what research shows about current PL practice, and the conversation will then focus on practical leadership strategies, such as anchoring PL in instructional frameworks (e.g., NETP/ISTE/UDL), building cross-functional leadership across curriculum, edtech, and PL teams, braiding Title II-A with other funding streams for sustainability, investing in durable models like coaching and PLCs, and using richer evidence beyond attendance counts to guide continuous improvement. 

Who should attend / what you will gain:

  • State education leaders and regional service agencies will learn how Title II-A and related funding can be structured to create coherent, scalable PL systems that support technology-enabled instruction. 
  • District superintendents, CIO/CTO teams, and curriculum/teaching leaders will leave with practical approaches to align professional learning, instructional priorities, and digital strategy so technology investments translate into classroom impact. 
  • Professional learning directors, instructional coaches, and school-level leadership teams will gain examples of sustainable PL models and clearer ways to measure whether training is improving practice, not just participation. 

Participants will come away with a concise, action-oriented view of how stronger PL systems can prepare educators to integrate technology including emerging tools like AI in equitable, engaging, and instructionally meaningful ways.

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.

Ji Soo Song headshot

Ji Soo Song

Director of Projects & Initiatives, SETDA

Ji Soo Song is the Director of Projects and Initiatives at SETDA, where he designs, executes, and evaluates the organization’s efforts to support member states advocate for federal edtech policies and implement promising practices on topics such as digital equity, procurement, and professional learning. Previously, Ji Soo served as a digital equity advisor and Federation of American Scientists Impact Fellow at the U.S. Department of Education. In this role, he led the Office of Educational Technology’s work to bridge the digital access divide. His responsibilities included crafting federal policy guidance on broadband adoption, organizing national campaigns and convenings, and supporting development and implementation of the 2024 National Educational Technology Plan.

Dorann Avey headshot

Dorann Avey

Digital Learning Director, Nebraska Department fo Education

Dorann Avey serves as an education leader currently serving as the Digital Learning Director for the Nebraska Department of Education. In her role, she not only spearheads the state’s digital learning initiatives but also holds the position of PK – 12 School Library Education Specialist. Before joining the Nebraska Department of Education, Dorann excelled as a Business and IT department chair for Lincoln Public Schools in Nebraska. Her experience in educational leadership and technology, coupled with a background in teaching and instructional design, positions her as a seasoned professional in the field. Dorann is not only dedicated to her role at the state level but also actively contributes to the broader educational community. She currently serves as the Nebraska representative and Treasurer of the State Educational Technology Directors Association (SETDA), demonstrating her commitment to advancing technology in education. Dorann is passionate about professional development and continuous learning. Her insights and contributions to the field make her a respected figure in education circles.

Kurt Beer headshot

Kurt Beer

Senior Account Executive, MagicSchool AI

For 20 years Kurt has supported schools’ integrations of information and instructional technologies. As a former IT professional he loves finding ways technology can safely and responsibility improve the lives of educators. Kurt leads MagicSchool’s partner operations across the Great Lakes region, advising schools on the responsible integration of AI-powered instructional tools. In this role, Kurt helps empower teachers to accomplish their many tasks more efficiently, ultimately making their work in the classroom easier, more impactful, and more fulfilling. MagicSchool's mission is to combat educator burnout and support thriving classrooms through innovative, responsibly designed AI tools. MagicSchool is trusted by millions of educators and thousands of schools, advancing the future of teaching and learning.

Tim McIlvain headshot

Tim McIlvain

Executive Director, Learning Technology Center of Illinois

Tim McIlvain is the Executive Director of the Learning Technology Center (LTC), leading educational technology services for K-12 schools across Illinois. He provides strategic leadership, operational management, and expertise in areas like digital learning, cybersecurity, and technology integration. A recognized national leader in edtech, Tim has served on numerous boards and committees, including the North American Leadership Group for Access 4 Learning and CoSN’s Data Privacy Committee. He was recently honored as a top U.S. edtech leader by EdTech Digest and received the Exemplary Service & Innovation for Technological Advancement Award from AESA in 2024. Tim holds two master’s degrees—one in Educational Policy, Organization, and Leadership from the University of Illinois and another in Information Science from Indiana University. His professional certifications include Project Management Professional (PMP), Certified Scrum Master, and Certified Information Security Manager (CISM).

Steven Priest headshot

Steven Priest

Education Program Consultant, Wyoming Department of Education

Steven Priest is an Educational Program Consultant with the Wyoming Department of Education on the Innovation Team. Steven works with digital learning, serving our statewide Learning Management System (Canvas), micro-credentials, planning and conducting the Innovations in Learning Conference, and the Digital Learning Plan. Steven led the development of the Guidance for Wyoming School Districts on Developing Artificial Intelligence Use Policy, and has become one of the AI gurus for the WDE. Steven is a Founding Member of the Human Intelligence Movement, serves on the SETDA Board of Directors and is a part of the Perplexity’s AI Business Fellowship. Steven has served on the 2025 COSN Driving K-12 Innovation Advisory Board, Teach AI’s Government Agency Advisory Group, Teach AI’s Policy Working Group, Teach AI’s Future of CS Working, Teach AI’s AI Literacy Advisory Group, and SETDA’s State Action Committee. Prior to coming to work for WDE, Steven served as a school administrator in Hanna, Wyoming. Steven has a background of over 20 years of educational experience serving as an instructional facilitator for technology, a science teacher, and an agricultural education teacher. Steven is currently studying at the University of Wyoming for his doctoral degree in Educational Leadership, his dissertation work is on the Model Code of Ethics for Educators. Steven lives in Elk Mountain, Wyoming with his family where they raise pack llamas.  

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