K-12 Leadership Council Summit 2025

Registration and Breakfast

Welcome and Introductions

Brian Cohen, Vice President, Center for Digital Education

Michael J. Martirano, Senior Fellow, Center for Digital Education

Strategic Planning for Digital Transformation: Aligning Vision, Scope, and Impact in Your District

Digital transformation is a critical priority for K-12 districts, but how do leaders ensure it’s both manageable and impactful? In this session, superintendents and IT leaders will learn how, where, and when to plan their district’s digital transformation while keeping a practical scope. This session will cover:

Break

Navigating the Future: Key Challenges and Strategic Leadership for District Success

The role of district leaders is becoming more complex as the education landscape continues to evolve. Over the next 2-5 years, superintendents and district leaders will face a number of critical challenges that will significantly impact their districts, operations, and leadership focus. In this session, we will explore the most pressing issues that district leaders will need to navigate, from evolving policies and funding shifts to the growing demands for equity and workforce development.

We will discuss the potential impact of these issues on district goals, student outcomes, and the evolving role of leadership, and provide actionable strategies on how to prepare for and address these challenges head-on. Challenge topics include:

A Leader’s Guide to AI: Strategic Decisions, Ethical Challenges, Practical Realities

AI is reshaping education, but its integration presents significant challenges for K-12 leaders. This session will focus on how to navigate the ethical dilemmas of AI, ensure data privacy, and make strategic decisions when adopting AI tools. District leaders will share real experiences and explore together the need for governance frameworks that support responsible and transparent AI integration, and how to manage the long-term operational considerations related to budgeting, training, and scaling AI initiatives. Attendees will leave with a clear understanding of the policies, ethical guidelines, and governance structures needed to ensure AI supports district goals without compromising student safety or fairness.

Lunch

Upping your CYBER IQ - Navigating the Evolving Cyber Threat Landscape: Essential Strategies for K-12 Leaders

Cybersecurity is a critical leadership responsibility that affects every aspect of your district. As district leaders, you must ensure your schools are secure from emerging threats like ransomware and phishing, which can disrupt operations and compromise student data and damage reputation. This discussion will explore the latest cyber threats facing K-12 school districts and provide actionable strategies to help you build a proactive security plan without having the technical expertise. Attendees will leave with a checklist an understanding of the most pressing cyber risks and how they impact district operations, the essential elements of a district-wide security strategy and how to integrate cybersecurity into their overall district strategy, ensuring safe use of emerging technologies like AI and cloud platforms.

Leadership – What Now? What Next? The Superintendent’s New Leadership Playbook

Today’s superintendents are being asked to do more than ever—and the job is changing faster than most leadership handbooks can keep up. From navigating political tensions and staff burnout to making decisions about AI, cybersecurity, mental health, and career pathways, the role has become a balancing act of leadership, innovation, and crisis management. This candid, no-fluff conversation brings together superintendents and cabinet-level leaders who are in the trenches right now. They’ll share how they’re adapting their leadership style, building smarter teams, rethinking communications, and making bold but thoughtful decisions in a world where the rules are still being written.

Closing Comments

K12 Summit Adjourns