Chicago, IL (April 13, 2026) — CoSN — The Consortium for School Networking, a premier association of K-12 education technology leaders, today honored Berj Akian, Ph.D., founder and CEO of ClassLink, with its 2026 Hurley Private Sector Champion Award. The award recognizes one person who has had an outstanding impact on the education technology community outside of the confines of his or her job.

Akian’s engagement with the education technology community spans decades and includes sustained support for CoSN and its mission. He founded ClassLink in 1998 and has led the company’s growth into a global education technology platform serving more than 21 million students and educators across all 50 states and 36 countries.

Beyond his professional leadership, Akian demonstrates a deep personal commitment to learning. With advanced degrees in instructional design, cognitive science, and learning analytics — and a newly earned Ph.D. in cognitive science — he embodies lifelong learning.

“Berj Akian exemplifies leadership to the entire education community,” said Keith Krueger, CEO of CoSN. “Berj has helped advance how school systems thoughtfully use technology in service of teaching and learning. A great example of that is his vision to create the K-12 Cybersecurity Rubric aligned to the NIST Cybersecurity Framework. His leadership, curiosity, and dedication to lifelong learning reflect the true spirit of the Hurley Private Sector Champion Award.”

The award was presented during CoSN’s annual conference, “Building What’s Next, Together,” which kicked off on Monday, April 13. The conference focused on advancing the knowledge and skills of K-12 education technology leaders — including CIOs/CTOs, superintendents, and solution providers — while addressing key topics such as cybersecurity, student data privacy, and the use of generative AI in schools to support safe and effective practices within the K-12 system.

Learn more about the CoSN2026 awards at: cosn.org/about/awards/.

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About CoSN

CoSN, the world-class professional association for K-12 education technology leaders, stands at the forefront of education innovation. We are driven by a mission to equip current and aspiring K-12 education technology leaders, their teams, and school districts with the community, knowledge, and professional development they need to cultivate engaging learning environments. Our vision is rooted in a future where every learner reaches their unique potential, guided by our community. CoSN represents over 13 million students and continues to grow as a powerful and influential voice in K-12 education. www.cosn.org/

About ClassLink

ClassLink is the identity and access management platform trusted by over 25 million students and staff in more than 3,000 school systems worldwide. ClassLink simplifies access with single sign-on, automates provisioning and rostering, and strengthens security and governance across the school system. With analytics that connect edtech usage to student outcomes, ClassLink helps education leaders manage technology with confidence and invest in what works. Learn more at classlink.com.

MEDIA CONTACTS:

CoSN: Makenzie Carlin, mcarlin@fratelli.com

ClassLink: Gregg Calvaruso gcalvaruso@classlink.com