ROE 26 & 33 Tech Leadership Meeting
2025-04-24 09:30 - 11:30 (America/Chicago) | Galesburg Community Foundation Conference Center, 940 W Freemont, Galesburg, IL, 61401, United States
You are invited to an open forum discussion on current educational technology topics and trends. This networking opportunity is open to all educational technology professionals, including technology directors, instructional technology coaches, and any other roles interested in exploring the present landscape of technology in our schools.
This month’s meeting will begin with a brief presentation from Alama. Afterward, most of the meeting will be dedicated to participant-led conversation, allowing attendees to share their experiences and challenges with the group.
We look forward to your valuable insights and contributions.

Illinois - SDPC Update
2025-04-24 13:00 - 14:00 | Online, IL, United States
Get up to speed on the latest data privacy updates during this webinar for K-12 technology leaders.
This webinar will provide attendees with key information and updates on the following:
– NDPA v2.1
– Registry 2.0
– Current IL Registry 1.0 issues – District assistance needed!
– TEC Database updates

Work Smarter, Not Harder: AI Tools for Administrative Assistants
2025-04-24 13:00 - 15:00 | Online, IL, United States
Discover how artificial intelligence can streamline your communication, automate tedious tasks, and enhance your overall efficiency. Learn to leverage AI tools for managing emails, drafting documents, updating school communication systems, and even bridging language barriers. This workshop will equip you with the skills and knowledge to embrace AI technology and transform your daily routines.ogy

Applying Canva in your Classroom
2025-04-24 15:30 - 16:30 | Online, IL, United States
Are you familiar with the basics of Canva and want to learn more? Discover how Canva can transform your teaching and engage your students! This hands-on session will guide you through using Canva’s Presentation tool, the Whiteboard, and Docs for lesson plans and student collaboration.

Tech Treks: Canva for Video Creations (Lights, Action, Canva Video!)
2025-04-24 15:30 - 16:30 | Online, IL, United States
Canva is a powerhouse for creating eye-catching graphic. But did you know it’s also a video creation tool that’s fun, easy, and surprisingly powerful?
In this hands-on workshop, you’ll explore how to design and produce your own video content in Canva* and learn how to upload it to share with others. Leave inspired to make a tutorial, a video newsletter, a class newscast, or so much more!
???? What You’ll Experience:

Discover Canva’s intuitive video creation tools
Learn how to export and upload your video to YouTube or other platforms
Leave with a video project ready to use—and the skills to create more!

*Basic Canva skills are recommended to get the most out of this session
This isn’t your typical sit-and-get webinar—we’ll roll up our sleeves, dive into the tool, and you’ll leave with a short video project ready to upload and use!
We recommend using two devices for this webinar: one to watch the presentation and a laptop to follow along with the demonstration and try out the tool yourself.
Illinois educators who register here and attend live through Zoom can earn 1.0 PD credit.

ROE 54 Tech Networking Meeting
2025-04-25 09:00 - 11:00 | ROE 54: Vermilion, 200 S College St Ste B, Danville, Illinois, 61832 6744, USA
Curious about how other district technology leaders are tackling challenges and initiatives in their districts? Do you have new technology projects/upgrades going on in your district that others might want to hear about? Share your voice and network with colleagues at our open discussion!
This networking session welcomes all technology professionals – technology directors, technology support staff, coaches, and IT specialists/leaders. We may kick things off with a brief presentation, but the real magic happens when we open the floor. Share your experiences, challenges, and ideas in a supportive space, and learn from your peers!

AI: The School Secretary's Assistant
2025-04-25 10:00 - 12:00 | ROE 3: Bond/Christian/Effingham/Fayette/Montgomery, 1500 W Jefferson St, Vandalia, Illinois, 62471 1510, USA
Discover how artificial intelligence can streamline your communication, automate tedious tasks, and enhance your overall efficiency. Learn to leverage AI tools for managing emails, drafting documents, updating school communication systems, and even bridging language barriers. This workshop will equip you with the skills and knowledge to embrace AI technology and transform your daily routines.
This will be a 50-minute breakout session.

Declutter Your Digital Life
2025-04-28 09:00 - 11:30 | ROE 13: Clinton/Jefferson/Marion/Washington, 1710 Broadway St, Mount Vernon, IL, 62864 2930
There’s a better way to work! This workshop for daily Google Workspace users will help you develop a workflow that improves efficiency, cuts down on digital clutter, and helps you get stuff done everyday.
Throughout this session, we’ll practice strategies that help you prioritize tasks, organize files, manage emails, collect and analyze data, and run efficient meetings – all utilizing the Google apps you’re already familiar with. In particular, we’ll focus on innovative ways to harness Google Chrome, Drive, Gmail, Calendar, and more.
Join us to discover a tech-forward way to work smarter and increase your efficiency – no matter what your day throws at you!

Cybersecurity Roadshow with Bytespeed | South IL
2025-04-28 09:00 - 12:00 | ROE 30: Administrative Center, 101 Spero Dr, Murphysboro, IL, 62966, United States
Join ByteSpeed, Arctic Wolf, iBoss, and the LTC for an interactive, cybersecurity-focused table read exercise, “Understanding the Business Impacts of a Ransomware Attack in a School District.”
This session will guide public school administrators and IT leaders through the financial and operational consequences of a ransomware attack. Participants will take on roles within a simulated school district, gaining firsthand insight into how such an incident affects school operations, student safety, and data security.
Following the exercise, the teams from ByteSpeed, Arctic Wolf, and iBoss will provide a brief presentation on how their solutions can help shrink the attack surface for bad actors, offering practical strategies to enhance your district’s cybersecurity defenses.

Hey Google! Help Me Design Creative Lessons!
2025-04-28 09:00 - 14:00 | ROE 28: Bureau/Henry/Stark, 107 S State St, Atkinson, Illinois, 61235 9788, USA
Getting creative with Google Docs, Slides, and Sheets? You better believe it! Alongside Google Drawings, these apps you use daily can foster student engagement, collaboration, and creativity. Join us to unlock their untapped potential, allowing you to design lessons that make use of the Google ecosystem’s full potential!
In this session, we’ll focus on how you can create interactive assignments and collaborative projects using Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, and Drawings. Along the way, we’ll also highlight practical strategies you can use to elevate technology use in your classroom, starting within the familiar Google ecosystem.
Don’t miss this opportunity to reimagine your teaching toolkit and make Google apps your allies in crafting dynamic, imaginative lessons during the upcoming school year.

CS & STEM Networking Meeting
2025-04-28 15:30 - 16:30 | Online, IL, United States
Calling all K-12 computer science and STEM educators! Join your peers from across the state each month for an informative, engagement-rich networking meeting centered on topics that matter most to you.
Hosted by CS & STEM Program Director Sarah Phelps, each month’s networking meeting is a place where participants can:
– Learn about new resources
– Ask questions
– Share experiences
– Expand their CS and STEM professional network
Teachers, administrators, and curriculum stakeholders are invited to attend, as well CS & STEM educators of all experience levels and at all grade levels. Whether you’re just starting out or interested in taking your district’s CS & STEM program to the next level, this networking group will help you achieve your goals!

Cybersecurity Roadshow with Bytespeed | West IL
2025-04-29 09:00 - 12:00 | Capital Area Career Center, 2201 Toronto Road, Springfield, IL, 62712, United States

Springfield Career Spark - STEAM Expo
2025-04-29 09:15 - 13:45 | Illinois State Fairgrounds, 801 E Sangamon Ave, Springfield, IL, 62702, United States
CareerSpark is a hands-on work and career readiness experience designed to spark students’ interest in the exciting STEAM careers.
Hosted by the LTC in partnership with Junior Achievement and the Illinois Department of Innovation and Technology (DoIT), this event offers 8th grade students a unique opportunity to interact with real-world STEAM applications and explore how technology will shape their world.
Event highlights include:
PaCE Framework: Meet PaCE Framework objectives and uncover the endless possibilities within STEAM.
Interactive Exhibits for Every Passion: Expand possible career interests with live demonstrations and interactive exhibits.
Digital Literacy Unleashed: Learn how technology is shaping the future and gain essential skills to thrive in the digital age.
Connect with Professionals: Get up close and personal with experienced professionals in STEAM fields.
Diversity in Focus: Celebrate diversity and connect underrepresented groups with inclusive career path opportunities.
Free Admission & Parking: Free admission and parking for students and teachers. Buses welcome!
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This science, engineering, technology, arts, and mathematics (STEAM) event is tailored for 8th grade students. Registration is required.
For additional information to regarding attending or exhibiting at the event, visit https://doit.illinois.gov/initiatives/doit-steam/events/career-spark-steam-expo-20241.html or contact DoIT.steam@illinois.gov

CTL Webinar - Stretch Your IT Dollars: Innovative Ways to Mitigate Chromebook Purchase Costs
2025-04-29 12:00 - 13:00 | Online, IL, United States
In today’s educational landscape, reliable and accessible technology is paramount, but tight budgets and variable device prices can create significant financial challenges. This webinar, presented by CTL, offers a practical and insightful exploration of innovative strategies to maximize your IT investment and effectively manage the total cost of ownership for your Chromebook fleet.
Join our expert panel as we delve into a comprehensive range of approaches beyond simply purchasing new devices. We’ll unpack the pros and cons of various acquisition and lifecycle management strategies, empowering you to make informed decisions that align with your institution’s unique needs and financial realities.
Key topics covered will include:
– Strategic IT Asset Disposition (ITAD): Discover how to trade-in used equipment for discounts toward new devices. We’ll discuss how to responsibly and profitably manage your end-of-life laptops, servers, and other IT equipment, reclaiming value and reducing e-waste.
– Understanding Leasing and Loan Options: Analyze the benefits and drawbacks of leasing Chromebooks, including eliminating large upfront investment costs, implementing flexible payment plans with deferred payments, and easier budgeting.
– The Flexibility of Renting: Learn when and why renting Chromebooks might be a cost-effective solution for your program.
– The benefits of outright purchase. Understand where and when it makes sense to buy devices for your school.

Ask Us Anything: Solving K-12 Tech Teams' Biggest Challenges
2025-04-29 12:00 - 13:00 | IL
Join us next week for an engaging and interactive webinar tackling the biggest challenges facing K-12 tech teams today, including cybersecurity threats, data privacy concerns, student safety incidents, the strain of limited resources, and more.
We’ll be joined by an expert panel of guest speakers from K-12 tech teams around the country—including Bob Boyd, Director of Technology at Kettle Moraine School District, Greg Purcell, Technology Director at Rabun County School District, and the tech team at Marysville Exempted Village School District, who are donating their time to share their insights, strategies, and success stories.
Submit your questions in advance to ensure we address your top concerns during the webinar!
What You’ll Gain:
• Practical solutions for common K-12 tech challenges
• Insights from school district tech leaders
• A chance to have your questions answered in advance or live!
• A short product demo showing how ManagedMethods can help
Don’t miss this opportunity to make your job easier and your district more secure!

Canva: Your Launchpad for Creative Learning
2025-04-30 08:30 - 11:00 | ROE 30: Administrative Center, 101 Spero Dr, Murphysboro, IL, 62966, United States
Tired of the same old teaching routines? Blast boredom our of your classroom with Canva, which can help you and your students embark on a creative journey towards impactful learning.
With Canva in hand, educators in all grade levels and subjects can:
– Capture attention with eye-catching visuals and interactive presentations
– Ignite student creativity through engaging infographics, videos, storybooks, and dynamic portfolios
– Create truly transformative learning experiences that foster active participation, collaboration, and critical thinking
In your students hands, Canva’s user-friendly design tools can also be a powerful creative engine, not to mention a canvas for elevating student voice and choice.
Whether you’re a tech enthusiast or just starting out, join us to discover how Canva can help your students become confident, capable, and creative learners!

Cybersecurity Roadshow with Bytespeed | East Central IL
2025-04-30 09:00 - 12:00 | ROE 17: DeWitt/Livingston/Logan/McLean, 201 E. Grove Street, Suite 300, Bloomington, IL, 61701 5074

Transforming Education with Dell's Data-Driven Solutions
2025-04-30 11:00 - 12:00 | IL
In today’s educational landscape, unstructured data is a key driver of growth and innovation. Dell Technologies understands that unstructured data plays a critical role across various use cases in higher education and K12 environments. Our Unstructured Data Solutions portfolio, featuring the robust capabilities of Dell PowerScale, is designed to transform how institutions manage, access, and leverage data.
Research and Academic Advancement
Educational institutions generate vast amounts of research data that need to be stored, processed and analyzed efficiently. PowerScale offers unparalleled scalability and performance, ensuring that academic researchers can easily access and analyze large datasets. Our solutions enable seamless integration with AI and machine learning pipelines, enhancing data-driven research activities. With support for high-performance analytics, researchers can extract valuable insights from unstructured data, promoting innovation and academic excellence.
Enhancing Campus Safety with Video Surveillance
Safety and security are paramount in educational settings. Our PowerScale solution is designed to handle large volumes of video surveillance data, enabling real-time monitoring and quick retrieval of footage. With integrated ransomware protection and cyber-resilient features, institutions can protect their data against security threats. PowerScale’s ability to handle multiple data protocols ensures that video surveillance data can be easily managed and accessed, supporting campus safety initiatives.
Benefits at a Glance:

Scalability and Performance: Handle massive unstructured datasets with ease, from research archives to surveillance footage.
AI and Analytics Integration: Enhance research with robust AI and ML support, driving deeper insights and faster innovation.
Data Security: Integrated cybersecurity measures protect valuable academic and surveillance data from threats.
Cost Efficiency: Optimize storage costs while maintaining high performance and data availability.

Dell’s Unstructured Data Solutions empower educational institutions to unlock the full potential of their data, fostering a safe and innovative environment for students and faculty.

Teaching Smarter, Not Harder: Mastering Specialized Instruction in 2025
2025-04-30 12:00 - 13:00 | IL
There is no such thing as a “typical classroom.” Schools are seeing more students with diverse learning needs, yet teachers are often left without enough rigorous resources, time, or support. Administrators face budget constraints, evolving policies, teacher shortages, and the growing role of technology—it can feel overwhelming.
You are not alone! Join us for an insightful conversation with Lauren Stafford, M.Ed., Director of Content and Curriculum at RethinkEd, as we explore research-backed strategies to simplify specialized instruction, reduce workload and stress, and leverage technology to support student success.
You’ll Walk Away With:

Strategies to meet diverse student needs, even with limited time and resources.
Ways to manage workload, reduce stress, and stay energized in an increasingly demanding environment.
How Vizzle and other tools can streamline instruction and make differentiation easier.

Don’t miss this opportunity to gain practical, research-backed strategies to make specialized instruction more effective and manageable in 2025!
Presenter:

Lauren Stafford
Rethink
Director of Content

ROE 17 Tech Networking Meeting
2025-05-01 09:00 - 11:00 | ROE 17: DeWitt/Livingston/Logan/McLean, 201 E. Grove Street, Suite 300, Bloomington, IL, 61701 5074

Cybersecurity Roadshow with Bytespeed | Chicagoland
2025-05-01 09:00 - 12:00 | North Cook ISC, 1001 E Touhy Ave, Suite 200, Des Plaines, IL, 60018 3225

Take Coding to the Sky with Drones!
2025-05-01 09:00 - 14:30 | McHenry County Community Foundation, 33 E. Woodstock St, Crystal Lake, IL, 60014, United States
As drones continue to grow in both popularity and functionality, businesses are rapidly expanding their uses of unmanned aerial vehicles. At the same time, many schools are looking for fresh ways to teach students about coding and spark an interest in STEM learning. With codeable drones, schools can accomplish that goal while preparing students for the ever-changing workforce; all it takes is the right preparations and the right equipment.
Come discover what it takes to bring drones into the classroom as a part of this hands-on workshop. Participants will have the chance to ask questions, code their own drone, and learn about essential drone terminology, safety issues, legal concerns, operational requirements, and drone model options. Participants will also walk away with a Robolink Codrone of their own to make implementing their newfound drone knowledge even easier.

ROE 9 Tech Networking Meeting
2025-05-01 13:00 - 15:00 | ROE 9: Champaign/Ford, 3358 Big Pine Trail, Champaign, Illinois, 61822 1406, USA

Cybersecurity Roadshow with Bytespeed | Northwest IL
2025-05-02 09:00 - 12:00 | Sauk Valley Community College, 173 IL Rt 2, Dixon, IL, 61021, United States

Canva: Your Launchpad for Creative Learning
2025-05-02 09:00 - 15:00 | ROE 21 Training Center, 502 West Jackson Street, Marion, IL, 62959, United States
Are you tired of the same old routine? Ready to blast boredom out of your classroom? Embark on a creative journey and transform your classroom into a vibrant learning universe with Canva!
Capture attention with eye-catching visuals and interactive presentations. Ignite student creativity through engaging infographics, videos, storybooks, and dynamic portfolios. Go beyond the basics and create truly transformative learning experiences that foster active participation, collaboration, and critical thinking. Prepare your students to become confident, capable, and future-ready learners equipped with essential 21st-century skills.
Whether you’re a tech enthusiast or just starting out, master essential design tools and empower student voice and choice. Unlock the limitless potential of Canva to create an out-of-this-world educational experience!

ROE 56 Tech Networking Meeting
2025-05-02 09:30 - 11:00 | ROE 56: Will, 116 N. Chicago St, Joliet, IL, 60432, United States
Curious about how other district technology leaders are tackling challenges and initiatives in their districts? Do you have new technology projects/upgrades going on in your district that others might want to hear about? Share your voice and network with colleagues at our open discussion!
This networking session welcomes all technology professionals – technology directors, technology support staff, coaches, and IT specialists/leaders. We may kick things off with a brief presentation, but the real magic happens when we open the floor. Share your experiences, challenges, and ideas in a supportive space, and learn from peers!

ROE 48 and ROE 53 Tech Leaders Roundtable
2025-05-02 09:30 - 11:30 | Illini Central CUSD 189, 208 N West Ave, Mason City, 62664, United States
This group, hosted by ROE 53, ROE 48 and the Learning Technology Center, will meet monthly to see tech innovation in action within area schools. Time will also be provided for networking and sharing information on pertinent tech topics with other technology leaders in our region.
9:30-11:30 AM
1. Host School Tour/Showcase/Discussion
2. Gather as a group after the tour for questions and other ROE & LTC agenda items
11:45 AM – 1:00 PM
Gather at a local restaurant in the “host town” to network and have lunch
*Sometimes, we may split into smaller groups based on topics to meet the needs of those in attendance. The ROE and LTC will help facilitate discussion and share resources.

ROE 47 Technology Round Table
2025-05-02 12:30 - 14:30 | ROE 47: Lee/Ogle/Whiteside, 1001 W 23rd St, Sterling, Illinois, 61081 9047, USA
Join us for an open discussion on current educational technology topics and trends. This networking meeting is open to all educational technology positions including technology directors, instructional technology coaches, and any other positions interested in discussing the current state of technology in our schools. While a short presentation may lead off our time together, the majority of the meeting will be open for participants to share their experiences and challenges with the group.

Artificial Intelligence Explorations and their Practical Use in Schools
2025-05-06 08:00 - 2025-06-16 17:00 | Online, IL, United States
Artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer the stuff of the future; today’s students can expect to interact with AI in both their personal and professional lives. To prepare students for success, educators need to understand how AI technologies can be leveraged to facilitate learning and solve real-world problems.
In this online course, you’ll learn to identify the various types of AI, hear about AI technologies on the horizon and build some of your own tools to make AI concrete and accessible for you and your students.
This is a 15-hour, self-paced course with ongoing instructor support. No previous knowledge of AI or experience coding is required.
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As an ISTE Affiliate, the LTC is offering a special opportunity for educators to receive a scholarship for this course. Simply fill out the application and select “Illinois Learning Technology Center” as your partner to register free of charge. Click “Register” to apply today!
We are also happy to provide ISBE-certified PD credit to Illinois educators who complete this ISTE course. To receive credit that can be applied to your Illinois Professional Educators’ License renewal, participants must:

Enroll in this course through the ISTE website and pay any associated fees to ISTE (LTC does not receive any financial benefit from this course)
Complete the required coursework during the time allowed
Submit an electronic copy of the course’s evidence of completion dated 6/1/25 – 12/31/25 to the link provided
Submit a completed LTC evaluation form (sent to participants via email after submitting an evidence of completion)

Evidence submissions are reviewed once per week. Please allow at least 7 calendar days from submission for receipt of PD credit form. Participants must submit ISTE-issued evidence of completion dated between May 1, 2025, and December 30, 2025. Other evidence will not be accepted.
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Registration for this summer section (running from July 7 – August 31) will close June 16, 2025. Registration will remain closed briefly before reopening for the fall section.
