Featured Events & Keynotes

Learn from our edtech community’s brightest minds and enjoy special opportunities to unwind and connect

A Pair of Unforgettable Keynotes

Innovative learning starts with big-picture thinking.

Each year, we welcome visionary national speakers that put emerging technology trends into focus, often while sharing experiences that speak to today’s educational challenges and opportunities.

Holly Clark

Author, Educator, and Digital Learning Pioneer

Holly Clark is a passionate educator and digital learning trailblazer who has made significant contributions to the educational technology field over the past 25 years, including leading one of the US’ first one-to-one classrooms. Her experiences have guided 150,000 educators around the world, both on the TEDx stage and in educator-centered learning experiences.

Always keen on harnessing edtech’s next innovation, Holly is now a leading global strategist for AI in education, guiding schools and districts through the integration of AI best practices and policies. Her best-selling The AI Infused Classroom remains a staple among teachers and school leaders eager to tap into their blended learning genius. Holly’s influence on the educational landscape also echoes in her other acclaimed books, The Google Infused Classroom and The Chromebook Infused Classroom.

 

Keynote


AI-Powered Classrooms: Where Curiosity Meets Infinite Possibility

Wednesday, November 12, 10:00 am

How do we prepare students for a future that’s evolving faster than ever? No matter where they’re headed, they’ll need curiosity — and AI can help spark that spirit of inquiry, starting in your classroom.

This inspiring talk delves into how AI is currently transforming education by personalizing learning, fostering creativity, and connecting students to real-world challenges. Through powerful stories, practical examples, and a look at groundbreaking technology, you’ll discover how AI can ignite curiosity and unlock your students’ boundless potential for learning.

Whether you’re an educator seeking innovative approaches or a leader shaping the future of education, this grounded exploration will leave you motivated to embrace AI’s transformative power.

Dr. Rachelle Dené Poth

Attorney, Educator, and Author

A trusted voice in the national edtech conversation, Dr. Poth has seen edtech’s evolution first hand during her nearly three decades as STEAM and Spanish teacher. Her classroom experiences have inspired her toward continuous growth, including her Juris Doctorate and Doctorate of Education in Educational and Instructional Technology from Duquesne University. With expertise in K-12 cybersecurity and STEM, she’s also a leading expert in artificial intelligence’s intersection with the environment and the law.

Best known for her prolific writing portfolio, Dr. Poth is the author of 10 books including Chart a New Course: A Guide to Teaching Essential Skills for Tomorrow’s World and Gamify Literacy: Boost Comprehension, Collaboration and Learning. Her most recent teacher guide, How to Teach AI: Weaving Strategies and Activities into Any Content Area, opens the world of AI-powered education to educators across the curriculum, helping them build their confidence and better prepare their students for an evolving workforce.

 

Keynote


The THRIVE Framework: Connecting Humanity and Innovation in Education

Thursday, November 13, 10:40 am

Innovation flourishes when grounded in human values. The THRIVE Framework—tenacity, honesty, reliability, integrity, vulnerability, and empathy—can spark and sustain that innovation, as well as drive collaboration in any educational environment.

By focusing on building meaningful relationships, this framework fosters an educational culture where students feel supported, educators feel empowered, and innovation becomes a natural outcome of collaboration. This keynote explores how combining these values with innovative practices can transform education, fostering environments that inspire growth, creativity, and connection.

Attendees will be challenged to rethink how they approach innovation and walk away with actionable insights on using these values to create equitable and inclusive learning environments that prepare all students for the future.

Breakaway Summit Experiences

Take part in focused conversations and discover resources relevant to your interests and job role during these exclusive breakaway events. Each summit is hosted by experts who are ready to help you elevate your professional practice, starting here.

Tech Leader Summit

Join fellow technology directors, coordinators, and technology decision-makers for a breakaway event centered on empowering technology departments in all Illinois school districts.

Bring your questions and success stories for a timely, relevant conversation about how to enhance cybersecurity and technology utilization in K-12 environments – all led by a panel of current technology leaders from across the state.

Panelists

  • William Brackett | Director of Technology, Oak Park Elementary District 97
  • Jerry Stanley | Director of Technology, Marion CUSD 2
  • Stephen Minch | Manager of Technology Services,  Springfield SD 186
  • Myra Lolkema | Director of Technology, South Holland SD 150

Panel Topics: The Human Element of Cybersecurity, AI and Emerging Technology, Building a Technology-Forward Culture in Your District

Date & Time: Thursday, November 13, 12:45PM – 2:40PM

Location: DoubleTree Hotel Ballroom (Main Stage)

Women in Technology Breakfast

How can we all help support and elevate women in K-12 technology positions?

Join fellow educators for an inspirational gathering where you’ll learn from current edtech trailblazers, including their successes, challenges, and strategies for developing pathways to professional success.

Attendees will also share their experiences, connect with other women in technology, and discover insights into leading while staying true to their identity.

Complimentary breakfast will be served.

 

Date & Time: Thursday, November 13, 8:00 AM – 9:30 AM

Location: DoubleTree Hotel Ballroom (Main Stage)

Special Events & Programs

IETC is about more than learning from edtech experts and taking part in hands-on workshops. You can also connect with friends, discover new perspectives, and enjoy incredible events like these.

House Party

To commemorate our 30th anniversary, we’ve got a legendary throwback on deck: an exclusive House Party packed with 90s nostalgia. Get ready for a night of live DJ beats, a karaoke power hour, a costume contest, snacks, and two complimentary drinks from the bar.

This private celebration is invite-only and strictly limited to 200 guests. To get on the exclusive guest list, connect with a member of the LTC staff.

Date & Time: Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2025 | 8:00 – 10:00 pm

Trivia Night

Better study up! Bring your brains and a group of 6-8 friends for a head-to-head general knowledge competition. Across five rounds, teams with work together to answer trivia-style questions about everything you should have learned in school PLUS special categories celebrating the past three decades.

Don’t have a team? Simply show up and we’ll assign you to a group of (soon-to-be) best friends.

Date & Time: Thursday, Nov. 13, 2025 | 5:00 – 7:00 pm

 

IETC Social

Start the evening off right by joining us for free drinks, appetizers, and games.

This is the perfect chance to connect with friends new and old as we gather and prepare to learn together.

Date & Time: Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2025 | 5:00 – 6:00 pm