CoSN and EdScoop today announced the winners of the 2017 NextGeneration Leaders Program, which annually recognizes emerging K-12 school system technology leaders from across the country.
 
This year’s NextGeneration Leaders are:
 
  • Cassandra Anderson, Systems Administrator, School District of Janesville (Janesville, WI)
  • Zach Desjarlais, Manager of Instructional Technology, Vancouver Public Schools (Vancouver, WA)
  • Seth Hamilton, Technology Integration Coordinator, MSD Washington Township (Indianapolis, IN)
  • Courtney Kofeldt, Supervisor of Educational Technology, PA Leadership Charter School (West Chester, PA)
  • Holly Stachler, Director of eLearning and Curricular Innovation, Yorktown Community Schools (Yorktown, IN)
 
The honorees will be recognized in an official ceremony at the CoSN 2017 Annual Conference in Chicago, April 3-6.
 
 
“CoSN is committed to supporting and building both current and future district technology leaders,” said Keith Krueger, CEO of CoSN. “This year’s awardees, chosen by their peers, have demonstrated that they have taken steps to drive technology programs and accelerate learning success in their schools.”
 
“It’s never been more important for America’s school systems to have forward-looking leaders driving the use of technology in education,” said Wyatt Kash, EdScoop Vice President for Content Strategy. “We’re pleased to join CoSN in recognizing this year’s ‘NextGeneration Leaders.’”
 
Here’s a closer look at this year’s winners:
 
Cassandra Anderson
Systems Administrator, School District of Janesville (WI)
 
Peers and supervisors have recognized Cassandra Anderson as a champion of leadership within her department. She was responsible for coordinating and completing numerous projects during her time in the district, including reorganizing the productive capacity of the IT department, implementing reports used to support data-driven decision making, and consolidating informational resources available to district staff. Anderson has been promoted twice within the last three years. In all three positions held, she has demonstrated a knowledgeable, passionate and articulate approach to facing and overcoming challenges, leading day-to-day support and guiding the flow of ideas to strengthen her department’s role.
 
Zach Desjarlais
Manager of Instructional Technology, Vancouver Public Schools (WA)
 
Zach Desjarlais leads a team of more than a dozen IT facilitators. His participation in a recent learning counsel event led to district recognition for systemic leadership. He works with Apple, Instructure, the Friday Institute, Learning Counsel and other organizations to build authentic partnerships to support the district’s work. Desjarlais co-led a successful district-wide implementation of Canvas and advocated for greater use of Google Apps and cloud-based productivity by students and teachers. He currently co-leads a “Future Ready Administrators” principal team to advance professional development and is working with the director of curriculum to define a blended learning framework to help implement digital content and services.
 
Seth Hamilton
Technology Integration Coordinator, MSD Washington Township (IN)
 
Seth Hamilton co-developed and implemented the Tech2Teach initiative and created online coding opportunities for students and staff, has lent support for STEM programs and introduced robotics. He has also actively participated in community groups, facilitating sessions for the Indiana Auctioneer Association in the development of a digital presence. Hamilton has presented at several conferences in the IDOE Summer of eLearning series and was selected to present at the 2017 SITE Conference in Austin, TX. Hamilton was recognized with the Outstanding Achievement and Technology Support Award for his efforts with MSD Washington Township.
 
Courtney Kofeldt
Supervisor of Educational Technology, PA Leadership Charter School (PA)
 
Courtney Kofeldt’s education and technology background bring a unique vision to PA Leadership Charter School (PALCS) – a K-12 cyber and blended learning environment. Courtney has helped PALCS jump into social media, adopt Google Apps for Education and add another learning management system, Canvas, to supplement Moodle. She helped spearhead the iPALCS (iPad) program, which put devices into the hands of K-5 and 9th grade students. Additionally she has presented at many conferences, including iNacol, PETE and C and K12 Online. Kofeldts is a Nearpod PioNear, Google Certified Educator (Level 2), Alpha Squirrel, Symbaloo Certified and a Tackk Advocate.
 
Holly Stachler
Director of eLearning and Curricular Innovation, Yorktown Community Schools (IN)
 
Holly Stachler plays a key role on the superintendent’s cabinet where she leads technology, curriculum, public relations and areas of finance. Since moving from the classroom to become Yorktown’s Director of eLearning and Curricular Innovation, she has assumed numerous leadership responsibilities in the state, serving as regional leader for the IDOE Coaches Collaborative and as a resource for other IDOE eLearning efforts. Stachler has delivered presentations at HECC, ICE, FETC, ISBA and several Summer of eLearning Conferences, as well as led efforts at a 2016 tech professional development conference for educational leaders from Indiana and surrounding states.
 
Learn more about the NextGeneration Leaders Program, including last year’s champions, at: cosn.org/nextgeneration-leaders-program.