Superintendents
Superintendents can make or break educational technology initiatives. They are responsible for ensuring that their school districts embrace transformative digital learning. CoSN collaborates with superintendents to assess their challenges and increase their capacities to lead technology efforts. We are dedicated to helping current and aspiring superintendents and district leadership teams to build on their knowledge, skills, and confidence.
EmpowerED Superintendents' Initiative is done in partnership with AASA, the School Superintendents Association.
CoSN EmpowerED Superintendents Project Director: Ann McMullan, amcmullan@cosn.org
CoSN staff contact: Jill Brown, MA, Ph.D., Director of Professional Learning, jbrown@cosn.org
2025 EmpowerEd Superintendent of the Year
Dr. Karen Cheser, Superintendent, Durango School District (CO)
The EmpowerED Superintendent edLeader Panel Series
School district leaders face many challenges leading schools and driving school improvement. Collaboration with peers is one of the most effective ways to learn about effective ideas and practices. CoSN, AASA, and edWeb.net are co-hosting an online professional learning community and edWebinar series to help superintendents connect and collaborate to help each other in this endeavor. You can attend the edWebinars live to connect with peers in real-time, or view the recordings. Join the Super-Connected community on edWeb for online discussions and resources. We thank our sponsor ClassLink for this continued collaboration.
edWeb CE Certificates may be used for CETL® Recertification Read More.
Virtual Sessions are on Mondays from 5-6 PM ET
Register, recordings, podcasts and articles.
September 8, 2025 CoSN 2025 Driving K-12 Innovation Report (Part I)
October 6, 2025 CoSN 2025 Driving K-12 Innovation Report (Part II)
November 10, 2025 - The Screen Time Debate: Pros & Cons of Screen Time for Students
January 5, 2026 - Artificial Intelligence: Current Policies and Practice
February 9, 2026 - Data Privacy and Security
March 9, 2026 - Cybersecurity in K-12 Learning Environments
Professional Development Opportunities
Support you and your staff's professional learning needs with CoSN's affordable K-12 focused online courses and workshops facilitated by national subject matter experts in the areas of CoSN's CETL® Certification & K-12 CTO’s Framework of Essential Skills, Cybersecurity, Project Management, Early Career CTO Needs, Student Data Privacy, and Building Your IT Hiring Pipeline.
CoSN also offers affordable customized courses & in-house professional development options for schools or districts. We can provide nationally recognized subject matter expert instructors or fully developed courses for you to facilitate with in-house experts housed in our LMS. This is a convenient way to enhance your team's skills, build capacity, and foster connections with EdTech leaders across the country.
Register: CoSN Calendar* or Courses/Workshop Catalog *Subscribe to the CoSN Calendar at the bottom of the page. Read More: Course Details, Syllabi & Self-Study Options
Education technology is a growing part of any superintendents’ role. In focus groups and interviews with superintendents nationwide, we heard that edtech projects inspire a lot of excitement, but also a lot of trepidation. To help empower superintendents in this area, we created an EmpowerED Superintendent Toolkit.
Interview Questions for Hiring an Educational Technology Leader (Part of EmpowerED Superintendent Toolkit)
Critical Focus Areas: Issue One-Pagers
Our Superintendent one-pagers, created in Partnership with AASA, The School Superintendents Association, are a comprehensive, consistent set of resources on various edtech topics that guide and empower superintendents and their leadership teams in leading the digital transformation. These materials will help superintendents communicate to stakeholders on important edtech topics:
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- Accessibility: A Key to Creating an Equitable, Effective Learning Ecosystem Everywhere, all the Time for all Students.
- Artificial Intelligence & Generative AI: Empowering a Deeper Conversation
- Cloud Computing: E-mail, Learning Management Systems, and Productivity Tools - You've Made It to the Cloud! Now What?
- The Importance of Cybersecurity: With the growing security concerns among families, school systems, and legislators and an increased reliance on Internet accessibility, school cybersecurity is subject to more scrutiny than ever.
- Leadership for Digital Learning: How Can Districts Find Success with 1:1 Implementations? Start with the "Why"!
- Student Data Privacy: A School System Priority. An Essential Commitment.
- The Role of Leadership in Student Data Privacy: Trusted Learning Environment
- Network Design for Transformation & Innovation: As school systems experience growing demand for capacity, reliability, and mobility, the need for the new network is critical.
- Strategic Technology Planning and Investment: Aligning Priorities. Balancing Choice, Cost & Outcomes.
- Closing the Homework Gap: Digital Equity Strategies for Learning Beyond the Classroom
- Effective Technology Professional Development:The Secret Sauce for Successful Classroom Transformation
- The Importance of Interoperability in School Systems: The seamless sharing of data, content, and services among systems or applications.
Advisory Panel & Endorsers
CoSN is proud to have the endorsement of over 60 superintendents, associations, and industry leaders
*Invitation only.
Additional Resources
Providing equitable Recent media attention and legislative actions have re-ignited the debate on how much screen time is appropriate for children and teens. Spurred by pandemic-related changes, this reevaluation has led to a nationwide conversation. The Harvard Graduate School of Education suggests that the unique circumstances of the pandemic necessitate a change in perspective. Rather than strictly regulating screen time, it’s important to consider the context in which it is used, advocating for a balanced approach that acknowledges both the advantages and possible risks of screen engagement.
Creating Effective Responsible Use Policies for Schools
Providing equitable digital access to all learners is a critical foundation for their success in learning and life. However, providing this access comes with a great responsibility to help young people learn to be safe and responsible in their online activities. It also comes with a duty to build healthy habits, such as using technology to encourage curiosity and solve problems, as well as seeking help from a trusted adult when something goes wrong. Creating the conditions for the safe and effective tech use in schools requires both technical policies and establishing appropriate behavior expectations for students.
Self-Assessments
Financing Technology Innovations: Strategies and Tools
- Total Cost of Ownership
- Download the TCO Assessment Tool
- Download the Indirect Labor User Survey
- Download the TCO Example Workbook
- Value of Investment
- Methodology
- Download the Project Cost Estimator
- Download the Projects Benefits Tool
- Download the Project Benefits Workbook
- Indirect Labor User Survey
- Download the TCO Example Workbook
