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CEO Don Knezek Stepping Down

CEO Don Knezek will step down September 30 a;er more than 10 years at the helm of ISTE.

Knezek has led ISTE since 2002. He’s helped the organization grow in size, ;scal health, and in;uence in education policy, advocacy, international collaboration and partnerships, and virtual domains. Knezek has overseen many of the organization’s accomplishments, including:

• ISTE’s merger with the governing organization of the National Educational Computing Conference (NECC). Now known as ISTE’s annual conference and exposition, this conference has become the most comprehensive ed tech event in the world.

• ;e creation of ISTE’s headquarters in Washington, D.C., where Knezek is a respected voice and leading authority on education issues. He positioned ISTE as a policy and advocacy champion for digital age learning, teaching, and education leadership in the halls of Congress, the White House, and various federal and state agencies.

• ;e establishment of numerous collaborations and partnerships with educators, policy makers, education ministries, agencies, and nongovernmental organizations from around the globe. Knezek currently serves on the governing board of UNESCO’s Institute for Information Technologies in Education.

• ;e refresh of ISTE’s NETS, which have been widely adopted in the United States and around the world.

Knezek says he’s pleased to be going out on a positive note. “I’m so proud of what we’ve accomplished with a dedicated sta; and outstanding volunteer leadership on behalf of better opportunities and access for all the world’s learners,” Knezek says.

Knezek’s replacement is expected to be appointed by September.

Ed Tech Data at Your Fingertips Ever wish you could have a wealth of researched-based facts and ;gures at the ready when debating the e;ective-ness of ed tech with nonbelievers?

ISTE may have just the thing you’re looking for. Revolutionizing Education through Technology: ;e Project RED Roadmap for Transformation is a new ISTE book produced in conjunction with Project RED ( www.projectred.

org), a U.S. research and advocacy organization that promotes the use of technology to transform learning. ;e book lays out Project RED’s research in a friendly and accessible way. It is scheduled to debut at ISTE 2012 in San Diego in June and will also be available as a free PDF download.

Project RED’s sponsors are Intel, Apple, the Pearson Foundation, Qwest, and eChalk.

NSBA Lauds ISTE Board Member

ISTE board member Mike Lawrence has been named one of “ 20 to Watch” by the National School Boards Association (NSBA). Lawrence is executive director of Computer-Using Educators (CUE) in California, an ISTE a;liate that supports its membership by advancing student achievement through technology on an international level. He’s also an a;liate representative on the ISTE Board of Directors.

NSBA’s Technology Leadership Network selected the 20 education leaders based on their e;orts to promote and implement innovative technology to improve classroom learning and school district operations.

Lawrence was lauded for reinventing and revitalizing CUE by creating innovative initiatives and partnerships. ;e NSBA listed his key accomplishments as cofounding the Google Certi;ed Teacher program, directing the California Student Media Festival, and forming a national alliance of more than 30 nonpro;t organizations, universities, and educational agencies to develop the Leading Edge Certi;-cation for 21st century education professionals in the areas of ed tech and curriculum innovation.