Member Spotlight

The Member Spotlight is a new way for CoSN members get to know each other and improve networking. Each month, CoSN will select a member who has volunteered to answer various questions about themselves, personal and professional, and then share their responses with our entire CoSN community.

July 2026 Member Spotlight

Meghen Ehrich

Meghen is the inaugural Data Privacy Administrator at Prince George's County Public Schools, MD.

How long have you been a member of CoSN?

"My journey with CoSN began in 2010 when I collaborated with colleagues to present our district’s transition to Google. CoSN’s vast array of resources have been very valuable in my work, and I have been consistently utilizing them for the past 10 years."
Why did you join CoSN? What do you enjoy about being a member?

"I've been incredibly lucky to work under supervisors who recognize the value of CoSN and the power of professional networking. For me, CoSN’s value is rooted in its high-quality content, meaningful connections, and a commitment to its members and the critical issues facing edtech. The diversity of the members provides a wealth of expertise and perspectives, making the annual conference, webinars, and communities incredibly useful. CoSN is usually my first stop whenever I need to benchmark ideas or get advice from the wider edtech community."
How did you get into the field of educational technology?

"My career in education began in 2000 as a third-grade teacher. After joining a Johns Hopkins University cohort focused on educational technology, I developed a passion for the field that shifted my career toward becoming a technology teacher and an advocate for digital integration. For the next twenty years I worked at the central office level, providing guidance to teachers and administrators on integrating new technologies while overseeing or contributing to numerous district-wide projects. The onset of the pandemic underscored the vital importance of managing secure access to digital resources, as well as the necessity of careful tool selection. This experience drove my focus toward tool vetting and data privacy, a journey that ultimately led to my current role as PGCPS's first Data Privacy Administrator. In this role, I strive to act as a bridge rather than a barrier, facilitating safe technology use while maintaining robust data protection standards."
What does your daily work entail?

"Serving as the inaugural Data Privacy Administrator for Prince George’s County Public Schools, my day-to-day duties are both varied and far-reaching, driven by ambitious goals for our school system. Broadly, my role allows me the opportunity to set the data privacy strategy for one of the largest school districts in the country. It’s a significant responsibility that I don’t take lightly. Recently my core focus has been on vetting software and negotiating Data Privacy and Security Agreements (DPSAs). However, my role also encompasses establishing data access protocols, maintaining compliance for both our internal staff and external partners, and raising awareness on personal and professional data privacy responsibilities and obligations. Despite my more than two-decade tenure with PGCPS, this past year has offered a fascinating perspective on backend operations, highlighting opportunities for systemic improvement and professional growth."
What emerging trends or technologies in education are you most excited about, and why?

"While I find the potential of generative and agentic artificial intelligence to be incredibly promising for learning and productivity, my enthusiasm is tempered by my concern for privacy and compliance. My primary goal is to help the district identify technologies that meet our academic and operational needs while ensuring robust data security. To address these challenges, we implemented an Artificial Intelligence Declaration Addendum (AIDA), which all digital tool vendors must complete. This requirement allows us to examine AI models and ensure they do not store student Personally Identifiable Information or link outputs back to specific individuals. However, what really excites me are the technologies that build Privacy by Design directly into their architecture."
What CoSN Committee are you a part of?

"While I haven't officially joined a committee yet, it is a move I consider every year. I am particularly drawn to the Student Data Privacy and EdTech Innovation Committees; both groups produce exceptional work."
What is your favorite book/movie/TV show you've enjoyed recently?

"I have two teen boys who occasionally call for a family movie/tv night. At this age, when they ask…we watch. The most recent binge was the reboot of Malcolm in the Middle. I know we won’t have this time with them for long, so I relish it when I get the chance. "
What is something you are excited to be working on right now?

"We recently completed our first full school year utilizing a comprehensive vetting framework for digital resources. Our five-tier methodology encompasses data privacy and security, interoperability, accessibility, AI evaluation, and alignment with our organization’s strategic goals. Although we have made great strides implementing this workflow, cultivating cross-departmental partnerships, and increasing awareness throughout the school system, this initial phase provided critical insights into best practices. As we approach the upcoming school year, I am looking forward to optimizing these protocols to provide a more seamless experience for our internal staff and vendor partners. I am particularly eager to utilize Gemini’s capabilities to boost our team's operational productivity. Thanks to our enterprise agreement, I am certain of the security and transformative power these tools bring to our organization."

The teacher in me is also looking forward to continuing our efforts to educate all PGCPS stakeholders on data privacy, emphasizing that it encompasses much more than just password protection.
What hobby(s) do you enjoy doing outside of work?

"I make it a priority to begin each day with some prayer and physical activity, typically blending mobility, cardio, and strength training. My family and I enjoy exploring local hiking trails whenever the weather and our schedules permit. We also spend a lot of time throughout the year cheering for our sons at their various activities and sporting events; we are currently deep in the baseball season. I also enjoy serving on the tech team at my church."