Stacy Hawthorne, Ed.D.'s Recent LinkedIn Posts

Thank you Future of Education Technology Conference and Jennifer Womble I came to FETC as a new Technology Director this is something that I aspired to. It’s an honor to be able to give back to the community that has supported me for so many years.

Last weekend with my grandchildren reminded me of something every educator knows deep down: We do this work because we want to make a difference. Sometimes that difference is immediate. A smile. A breakthrough. A moment of trust. But in education leadership, the impact often takes longer to see. The farther we move from the classroom, the longer the feedback loop becomes. That doesn’t make the work less personal. It makes it more important. Check out my short reflection on the long arc of making a difference in education, and why the impact we may never personally witness still matters deeply.

Thank you, Thinkering Collective It was easy to say 'yes' to joining the impact board because our visions are aligned when it comes to accentuating the humanity in a digital world.

There is something special about being at a conference close enough to home that you can drive there and still feel like you have stepped into a room full of national energy, big ideas, and the people doing the work every day. This week, I had the joy of being at the Texas CoSN Chapter, Texas Education Technology Leaders (TETL), Summer Conference in Irving. And yes, as a Fort Worth-area person, I fully appreciated the gift of not having to get on an airplane (especially during the World Cup!). I was grateful to lead two sessions and spend time talking with Texas education technology leaders about the issues shaping our work right now — screen time, leadership, policy, practice, and how CoSN (Consortium for School Networking ) can help districts continue to lead with thoughtful action. But as much as I love a good session, my favorite part of any CoSN chapter event is always the people. This morning, I attended the Women in Technology breakfast, and the speakers absolutely blew me away. The room was full of music, wisdom, honesty, humor, courage, and the kind of leadership that reminds you why representation matters. Thank you Dr. Karla Burkholder, CETL Dr. Kari Murphy, CETL, CCRE Shawntee Cowan Cara Carter, CETL and Dr. Amber Teamann for sharing. I have also had several new Certified Education Technology Leaders (CETL) come up and introduce themselves to me this week, which has been one of the highlights of the conference. There is nothing better than seeing leaders invest in their own growth and then watching them immediately turn around and use that growth to strengthen their districts, teams, and students’ learning experiences. That is the magic of the CoSN community. So here is my small leadership challenge: at the next conference, meeting, or breakfast you attend, introduce yourself to someone you do not know yet. Thank a speaker. Congratulate someone on a certification. Ask a question that opens a door. Leadership often starts with walking across the room. Thank you, TETL, for a fantastic summer conference. And thank you to the CoSN members, CETLs, and future CETLs who continue to make this community such a powerful place to learn, lead, and belong.

So happy to be at Texas Education Technology Leaders (TETL) again this year. Attendees were very thankful for CoSN (Consortium for School Networking ) and the work we’re doing to support education technology leaders right now.