EdTech Connect

May 2025

Key Dates
Over the past school year, state organizations have come together to provide training, support, and resources from experts from across the country for Washington school districts. Here are the updated resources from those statewide summits:

Preparing Your School for AI

Three of Washington’s ESD EdTech leads offer their best advice for thoughtful AI implementation in an AWSP Bookends of School Leadership article titled, “Building Teams, Policies, and Implementation Strategies.” The article highlights Washington’s 2025 AI Innovation Summit, which brought together EdTech leads from nine Educational Service Districts to discuss implementing AI in K-12 education.

They recommend forming diverse teams with representatives from all stakeholders, updating existing policies for AI use, creating clear distinctions between appropriate and inappropriate AI applications, enhancing K-12 information literacy programs, supporting teacher professional development, establishing explicit expectations for student AI use, and maintaining human oversight throughout the AI process. The article acknowledges implementation challenges but points to available resources, including WSSDA draft policies, OSPI guidance, and the Office of Educational Technology toolkit, with EdTech teams standing ready to support schools regardless of where they are in their AI adoption journey.

See page 10 to read the full article.

Procurement and Cybersecurity

Procurement and cybersecurity continue to top school district priorities across the state, as shown in the OSPI technology survey. These resources aim to support districts with access to effective procurement tools. For additional questions, reach out to your local ESD EdTech provider.
Training

Media Literacy, Digital Citizenship: Foundations for Ethical and Appropriate K-12 AI Implementation

This Media Literacy, Digital Citizenship: Foundations for Ethical and Appropriate K-12 AI Implementationfree, full-day, in-person workshop offered at five Washington locations equips K-12 educators with essential Media Literacy, Digital Literacy, and Digital Citizenship skills to guide ethical AI implementation through exploration of ready-to-use resources and development of customized plans for responsible digital and AI engagement in educational settings. Register for your preferred location):

Cybersecurity Summer Summit

CityU Center for Cybersecurity Innovation is accepting applications for the following events on July 13-16:
  • GenCyber - for 6th- to 8th-grade educators interested in teaching cybersecurity content, courses, and after-school cybersecurity-oriented clubs.
  • Learning about Techniques and Tools for E-Security - for 6th- to 8th-grade educators interested in teaching cybersecurity or starting a National Cyber League club, and those who want to start a cyber competition club or add the cyber challenges to their curriculum.
Want to learn more? Join the Information Session ZOOM on Thursday, May 8, at 4 pm.

Cyber.org

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Mission
We help all students access learning technology by making decisions based on real experiences and information. We provide devices to students who need them most and create practical training programs for teachers. Our team supports schools with technical guidance and connects families with digital resources, focusing our efforts on communities facing barriers. We believe every student deserves the tools to succeed in school, and we work directly with schools, teachers, and families to make this happen.
Support

EdTech Coordinators

ESD 113
Shannon Thissen
ESD 114
Kim Weaver
ESD 121
Trinh Pham

AESD Procurement Lead

Jeff Strunk

AESD EdTech Lead

Travis Rush

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