Tech Leadership Symposium: The Game Show Where Strategy Meets Innovation

How do you make cybersecurity, data privacy, and AI strategy fun? By turning them into a game show, of course!

At the 2026 DLAC Ignite Conference, the Tech Leadership Symposium, jointly hosted by CoSN and DLAC, will deliver a high-energy, fast-paced experience that turns some of the biggest issues in digital learning into interactive challenges. Together, we’ll explore how instructional vision connects with technology strategy through four essential lenses, each led by a nationally respected expert. 

Here’s a sneak peek at the topics:

Cybersecurity

Presenter: Stacy Hawthorne, EdD, CETL, CoSN Board Chair
What it is: Protecting systems, data, and learning continuity from emerging cyber threats.
Why it matters: Online learning environments are only as strong as the security surrounding them. A single breach can disrupt instruction, compromise student data, and undermine trust,  especially in digitally rich districts.
Why attend: You’ll walk away with practical governance strategies and real-world scenarios that help you strengthen your district’s cybersecurity posture before an incident occurs.

Data Privacy

Presenter: John Armstrong, PhD, Chief Officer for Technology & Innovation, Joliet Public Schools
What it is: The policies, practices, and safeguards that ensure student information is used ethically and lawfully.
Why it matters: As online learning ecosystems expand, districts juggle hundreds of applications. Protecting students’ personal data is not just compliance work; it’s foundational to family trust and safe digital learning.
Why attend: John will demystify the most pressing privacy challenges and show you how to build a privacy culture that supports innovation instead of slowing it down.

AI Deployment

Presenter: Mike Lawrence, Director of Information & Technology, ABC Unified
What it is: Implementing AI tools and workflows that meaningfully enhance teaching, learning, and operational efficiency.
Why it matters: AI is transforming online and blended learning, but districts must deploy it thoughtfully to ensure equity, transparency, and real instructional benefit.
Why attend: Mike will share practical examples of how AI is reshaping classrooms today and help leaders identify responsible ways to integrate AI that uplift, rather than overwhelm, educators.

AI Procurement

Presenter: Jason Neiffer, EdD, Executive Director, Montana Digital Academy
What it is: Evaluating and selecting AI tools using clear criteria around safety, interoperability, governance, and instructional alignment.
Why it matters: The AI marketplace is expanding rapidly, and districts risk buyer’s remorse, or regulatory trouble, if they don’t procure with purpose.
Why attend: Jason will decode what leaders should look for in contracts, pilots, and vendor claims so you can make smarter, future-proof procurement decisions.

Each expert will deliver a lightning-fast, 10-minute insight before turning the mic, and the spotlight,  over to the audience for table discussions and challenges inspired by a game show format. Attendees will compete (and collaborate) to identify best practices, share real-world strategies, and “win” new perspectives on how to future-proof their districts for the AI-driven era.

More than just a session, this symposium is a bridge between vision and action, designed to help leaders strengthen governance, align technology ecosystems with learning goals, and spark collaboration across silos. Whether you’re a tech director, superintendent, or instructional strategist, you’ll walk away with new insights, peer-tested strategies, and conversation tools to bridge silos and lead confidently in an era of rapid innovation.

Come ready to play, learn, and lead. See you at the game show!