ITEC Fall Conference 2026: Full Schedule

8:30am CDT

Monday October 12, 2026 8:30am - 9:20am CDT

Is AI a mystery or is it? Are my students prepared for the workforce? Let's have a discussion, Kyle will lead a discussion about some of the realities with AI and how we can better prepare our students for AI in the their next job!

Speakers

Kyle Kuhlers

IT instructor, LInn-Mar High School

Kyle is a emerging technology enthusiast, who has been in DC 25-26. He will lead a discussion about misconceptions of AI, why AI is necessary for our students to be employable, and augmenting AI into our daily use?

Monday October 12, 2026 8:30am - 9:20am CDT
305

General Session

8:30am CDT

Building a Sustainable Technology Budget

Monday October 12, 2026 8:30am - 9:20am CDT

306

Budgets are tight. Always have been. Always will be. That's why creating a long-term budget strategy for technology is crucial. Learn how the Dallas-Center Grimes School District established a predictable refresh cycle and utilizes multiple funding streams to fund our technology initiatives.

Speakers

Steven Hopper

Director of Technology, Dallas Center-Grimes

Steven Hopper is shocked that 2026 marks the start of his 21st year as an educator. A former special education teacher, technology coach, curriculum leader, and school board member; Steven has supported multiple districts across central Iowa and currently serves as the Director... Read More →

Monday October 12, 2026 8:30am - 9:20am CDT
306

Iowa Featured

Strand Educational Policy and Leadership, Technology Infrastructure
Audience IT Personnel, Administrators, Finances

9:30am CDT

From Screentime to Screen Value: The 60-Minute Challenge

Monday October 12, 2026 9:30am - 10:20am CDT

315

Iowa's House File 2676 changes the conversation about technology use in K–5 classrooms. This session explores how educators can make every minute count by examining the law, highlighting research, and sharing practical strategies to make every minute of instructional screen time purposeful, engaging, and impactful.

Speakers

Denise Crawford

Professor, Iowa State University

Dr. Denise Crawford is a Morrill Professor of educational technology and Director of the Center for Technology in Learning and Teaching (CTLT) in the School of Education at Iowa State University. Her internationally recognized scholarship investigates how teachers integrate technology... Read More →

Monday October 12, 2026 9:30am - 10:20am CDT
315

General Session

Strand Educational Policy and Leadership, Instructional Practices
Audience Administrators, Classroom Implementation (Elementary), Classroom Implementation (PK-2), Instructional Coaches

11:00am CDT

Iowa’s K-5 Screen Time Cap: Compliance, Curriculum, and Classroom Reality

Monday October 12, 2026 11:00am - 11:50am CDT

314

Iowa’s newly passed legislation (HF 2676) capping K-5 digital instruction at 60 minutes per day presents complex operational challenges for school districts across the state. Join us in a discussion about technical and operational realities: building compliant technology use policies, auditing district software applications, managing parent opt-down requests, and tracking classroom digital time across elementary buildings.

Speakers

Andrew Fenstermaker

Instructional Technology Coordinator, Iowa City Community School District

Andrew Fenstermaker is an influential leader in instructional technology, AI integration, and educational transformation. As an Instructional Technology Coordinator, he collaborates with administrators, curriculum coordinators, teachers, and students to operationalize best practices... Read More →

Brian Unruh

Director of Tech Integration, Cedar Falls Community School District

I am a current ITEC Board Member.

Brian Unruh

President, ITEC

Monday October 12, 2026 11:00am - 11:50am CDT
314

Round Table Discussion

Strand Educational Policy and Leadership, Instructional Practices
Audience Administrators, Classroom Implementation (Elementary), Classroom Implementation (PK-2), Instructional Coaches, Teacher Library, IT Personnel

1:30pm CDT

Power Up for Systemwide Digital Accessibility

Monday October 12, 2026 1:30pm - 2:20pm CDT

312

Digital accessibility for students who use assistive technology is essential for ensuring inclusive digital learning environments. The Quality Indicators for the Provision & Use of Accessible Digital Educational Materials guide teams through a systemic process of continuous improvement. Aligned with the ADA Title II regulation for accessible web content and mobile apps, these indicators help districts plan, implement, and evaluate coordinated systems for accessible digital educational materials and technologies. Explore critical components, practical actions, and adaptable resources to strengthen digital accessibility culture, foster collaboration, and drive immediate improvements. Continue learning with NCADEMI's virtual Professional Learning Group, a free technical assistance offering for teams implementing the Quality Indicators.  

Speakers

Rob Carr

Accessibility Specialist, WebAIM and NCADEMI, Utah State University

Rob Carr is the Strategic Accessibility Coordinator at WebAIM and a Digital Accessibility Specialist at NCADEMI, the Office for Special Education Programs technical assistance center dedicated to assisting pre-K-12 state and local education agencies to provide more accessible educational... Read More →

Cynthia Curry

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Monday October 12, 2026 1:30pm - 2:20pm CDT
312

Featured

Strand Accessibility, Educational Policy and Leadership, Professional Development, Technology Infrastructure
Audience Administrators, IT Personnel, Instructional Coaches

1:30pm CDT

Phones as Keys, Eliminating Fob Sharing and Lost Keys in Your District

Monday October 12, 2026 1:30pm - 2:20pm CDT

317

Lost physical key fobs, the logistical nightmare of replacing them, and the security risk of staff "borrowing" each other's credentials. It’s time to move access control into the modern era.
In this session, we will explore how our organization transitioned away from traditional key fobs and deployed Avigilon Alta, a cloud-based security door system that allows staff to use their smartphones for entry. We will discuss the real-world deployment process, how we eliminated credential sharing, and how the "touchless" mobile entry has improved both convenience for staff and physical security for our buildings. Whether you are looking to upgrade a single facility or streamline an entire district for deploying mobile-first access control.

Speakers

Phil Trimble

Director of IT, Pocahontas Area Community School

Director of IT

Monday October 12, 2026 1:30pm - 2:20pm CDT
317

General Session

Strand Technology Infrastructure, Educational Policy and Leadership
Audience IT Personnel, Administrators

2:20pm CDT

Including Digital Accessibility in EdTech Procurement and Instructional Materials Review

Monday October 12, 2026 2:20pm - 3:20pm CDT

312

Are you responsible for making purchasing decisions? Are you part of the team that vets and recommends products for use in PreK-12 instruction and assessment? This session will help you include accessibility in your procurement processes and ensure that all students, especially those who use assistive technology, can access and use the tools selected by your agency. Learn how accessibility can be embedded in familiar components, such as Requests for Proposals, scoring matrices, and contract language. Understand how additional components, such as vendor documentation and demonstrations, enhance your understanding of the vendor’s commitment to accessibility, as well as demonstrate accessibility conformance with ADA Title II requirements. Leave with free resources and practical actions to share with your procurement colleagues so that you can get started on policy and procedural improvements ahead of your next purchase or procurement cycle.

Speakers

Rob Carr

Accessibility Specialist, WebAIM and NCADEMI, Utah State University

Cynthia Curry

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Monday October 12, 2026 2:20pm - 3:20pm CDT
312

Featured

Strand Accessibility, Educational Policy and Leadership
Audience Administrators, IT Personnel, Finances

2:30pm CDT

Maximizing Your E-Rate Return

Monday October 12, 2026 2:30pm - 3:20pm CDT

306

The E-Rate program provides substantial discounts -- up to 90% -- on eligible internet services and network equipment, but like any federal program, the application and reporting requirements can seem daunting. Learn how to successful navigate this process and how a partnership between the business and technology departments at DCG Schools has resulted in a 99% utilization of available E-Rate funds.

Speakers

Steven Hopper

Director of Technology, Dallas Center-Grimes

Monday October 12, 2026 2:30pm - 3:20pm CDT
306

Iowa Featured

Strand Educational Policy and Leadership, Technology Infrastructure
Audience Administrators, Finances, IT Personnel

8:30am CDT

Leveling Up Leadership: 5 Engaging Protocols to Elevate Your Professional Practice

Tuesday October 13, 2026 8:30am - 9:20am CDT

314

It is challenging to lead educators who are facing so many challenges in their classrooms or to lead other educational leaders who are putting everything they have into supporting and bringing out the best of each of our teachers and learners every day! Come and learn 5 easy and engaging protocols that will get your team meetings off to a great start as well as some messages that can set the tone and expectations for engagement and collaboration amongst your staff, leadership teams, or even in your classroom. This session will be highly interactive and you will be able to leave with ideas and tools you can use the very next day!

Speakers

Dr. Mona Yanacheak

Executive Director, Iowa ALTL

Serving in educational roles in K-12, postsecondary, and graduate-level coursework, I continue to be amazed at how much there is that we can learn and grow as professional educational leaders across our country! I am thrilled to lead an organization of innovators and educational administrators... Read More →

Tuesday October 13, 2026 8:30am - 9:20am CDT
314

General Session

9:30am CDT

Web Accessibility Takes a Village

Tuesday October 13, 2026 9:30am - 10:20am CDT

312

Providing accessible instructional material and instruction isn't any one person's responsibility, it's shared across everyone who has an influence on our learning environments. Join me to learn how to broaden the conversation about accessibility in your agency and start to send the right message about how this should all work to a critical audience: leadership.

Speakers

Rob Carr

Accessibility Specialist, WebAIM and NCADEMI, Utah State University

Tuesday October 13, 2026 9:30am - 10:20am CDT
312

Featured

9:30am CDT

The Power of No: The Forgotten Leadership Superpower

Tuesday October 13, 2026 9:30am - 10:20am CDT

316

Administrators and technology directors are constantly asked to do more with less, yet time and human capital are finite resources. In this session we will explore when the word "no" can be your best option as a district leader, how to deliver the message with respect and dignity, and why it has become essential to maintaining the effective operation of your organization.

Speakers

Steven Hopper

Director of Technology, Dallas Center-Grimes

Tuesday October 13, 2026 9:30am - 10:20am CDT
316

Iowa Featured

Strand Educational Policy and Leadership
Audience Administrators, IT Personnel, Instructional Coaches

11:00am CDT

As Good as It Gets: Navigating the Laws and Best Practices of Digital Accessibility

Tuesday October 13, 2026 11:00am - 11:50am CDT

312

Is your district's digital ecosystem Livin' la Vida Loca, or is it stuck in a maze of inaccessible PDFs, video platforms, and public portals? Digital accessibility in K–12 isn't just about your public website! It impacts every classroom app, student portal, and digital resource across your entire district. It’s time to stop sayin' I Want It That Way and start building an environment that works for Everybody (yeah!).
We’ll break down federal law, giving you the real deal on WCAG best practices for all staff members. Whether you're in IT, communications, the classroom, or leadership, join us to make your district's tech da bomb. U Can't Touch This level of inclusion!

Speakers

Jamie Petersen

Technology Integrationist, Woodward-Granger CSD/ITEC Board of Directors

Hi! My name is Jamie Petersen and I am the K-12 Technology Integrationist for Woodward-Granger Community Schools in Central Iowa. I also sit on the ITEC (Iowa Technolgy Education Connection) Board of Directors. These roles allow me to serve educators in Iowa and around the country... Read More →

Carrie Hillman

Vice President, ITEC

Tuesday October 13, 2026 11:00am - 11:50am CDT
312

General Session

11:00am CDT

Helping Schools Make Sense of AI

Tuesday October 13, 2026 11:00am - 11:50am CDT

305

AI conversations often begin with tools, policies, and concerns about misuse. While those conversations are important, they don't always help educators answer a more fundamental question: What do we want AI to support?

This session explores a practical, human-centered framework built around four questions that can help educators make thoughtful decisions about AI while keeping learning at the center of the conversation. Drawing from the ongoing work of Dallas Center-Grimes Schools, participants will explore how preserving what matters, building confidence, balancing consistency with professional judgment, and continuously learning from feedback can help schools navigate AI in ways that fit their own context.

Rather than offering one model to replicate, this session focuses on questions and ideas that teachers, instructional coaches, building leaders, and district teams can adapt to support meaningful learning, student thinking, and responsible AI use.

Speakers

Alex Glade

Curriculum Facilitator, Dallas Center-Grimes Community School District

Alex Glade is a Curriculum Facilitator with the Dallas Center-Grimes Community School District who is passionate about helping educators thoughtfully integrate technology to support meaningful learning. With more than 20 years of experience in education as a classroom teacher, digital... Read More →

Tuesday October 13, 2026 11:00am - 11:50am CDT
305

General Session

11:00am CDT

Navigating Open Record Requests

Tuesday October 13, 2026 11:00am - 11:50am CDT

306

Iowa public schools have a responsibility to operate as transparently as possible, but responding to public record requests can quickly become both a logistical and political quagmire. This session will take a deep dive into Iowa Code Chapter 22, identify and categorize common types requests, and share specific examples of how Dallas Center-Grimes navigates the open records process.

Speakers

Steven Hopper

Director of Technology, Dallas Center-Grimes

Tuesday October 13, 2026 11:00am - 11:50am CDT
306

Iowa Featured

Strand Educational Policy and Leadership, Legal Issues
Audience Administrators, IT Personnel, Teacher Library

1:30pm CDT

Screen Time: A Practical Workshop

Tuesday October 13, 2026 1:30pm - 2:20pm CDT

307

Screen time is a growing concern for families, educators, and policymakers, placing instructional coaches and administrators at the forefront of the conversation. This workshop is designed specifically for participants to examine instructional technology use, screen time philosophy, develop clear communication strategies, and build practical local guidance. Participants will explore responsible technology use and instructional quality. Through interactive participation, attendees will gain the tools needed to guide staff and families through today’s digital learning environment with confidence and clarity. The session will include exploring resources and resource development.

Speakers

Amy Wichman

Director of Media, Technology, and Digital Learning, Heartland AEA

Amy Wichman is an Iowa educational leader with extensive experience in instructional leadership, technology, digital learning, media services, cybersecurity, and organizational change. She currently serves as the Director of Media, Technology, and Digital Learning at an Iowa Area... Read More →

Tuesday October 13, 2026 1:30pm - 2:20pm CDT
307

Strand Educational Policy and Leadership, Instructional Practices
Audience Administrators, Classroom Implementation (Elementary), Classroom Implementation (PK-2), Instructional Coaches

1:30pm CDT

AI Adoption & Implementation: 2 District's Journeys

Tuesday October 13, 2026 1:30pm - 2:20pm CDT

317

Every district is looking to adopt and utilize AI effectively within the classroom. There are many challenges that go along with that from planning, tech requirements, policies, community input, professional development, ongoing support, and AI capabilities that change monthly. Come to this session to hear about how the successes, challenges, and setbacks College Community CSD and Cedar Falls CSD have had on our journeys to effectively implement AI.

Speakers

Eric Townsley

Director of Technology, College Community CSD

ITEC Board Member

Brian Unruh

Director of Tech Integration, Cedar Falls Community School District

I am a current ITEC Board Member.

Tuesday October 13, 2026 1:30pm - 2:20pm CDT
317

General Session

Strand Technology Infrastructure, Educational Policy and Leadership, Artificial Intelligence
Audience Administrators, Instructional Coaches, IT Personnel, Teacher Library

1:30pm CDT

So...What Are We Actually Doing About AI? A District’s Journey from Policy to Practice

Tuesday October 13, 2026 1:30pm - 2:20pm CDT

306

In this session, Waukee CSD’s Technology and Innovation team will share our district’s journey from early AI guidelines to a districtwide approach connecting board policy, classroom practice, academic integrity, AI literacy, and professional learning.

We’ll share what we learned along the way, the conversations and decisions that shaped our approach, and the practical resources we created for staff and students, including Levels of Responsible AI Use, teacher decision guides, AI learning continuums, and a conversation-first approach to suspected AI misuse.

This isn’t a session about having AI all figured out. It’s about creating enough clarity and consistency to move forward. Attendees will leave with ideas, resources, and questions to help their own districts move from talking about AI to building an approach that works in practice.

Speakers

Erica Beals

TK-12 Technology & Innovation Coach, Waukee Community School District

K-12 Technology & Innovation Coach with a 9-12 Focus

Amanda DeGroote

TK-12 Technology & Innovation Coach, Waukee Community School District

K-12 Technology & Innovation Coach with a 6-8 Focus

Shannon Fleming

TK-12 Technology & Innovation Coach, Waukee Community School District

TK-12 Technology & Innovation Coach with a TK-5 Focus

Stacy Hansen

TK-12 Technology & Innovation Coach, Waukee Community School District

TK-12 Technology & Innovation Coach with a TK-5 Focus

Tuesday October 13, 2026 1:30pm - 2:20pm CDT
306

General Session

Strand Artificial Intelligence, Educational Policy and Leadership
Audience Administrators, Classroom Implementation (High School), Instructional Coaches

1:30pm CDT

The AI Task Force Playbook: Vetting Tools, Crafting Expectations, and Empowering Educators

Tuesday October 13, 2026 1:30pm - 2:20pm CDT

304

Artificial Intelligence is no longer a future concept, it is actively shaping our schools today. However, turning high-level school board policies into clear, practical daily guidelines for teachers and students can be a daunting task.
In this session, Mr. Stevens will share the process that was used to form a collaborative AI Task Force across PK–12 grade levels and district leadership. Continue by sharing our process to build a comprehensive AI framework that moves beyond abstract rules to provide daily classroom clarity and expectations for AI use in the district for both teachers and students.

Speakers

Daniel Stevens

STEAM/Tech Integrationist, Hampton-Dumont CSD

I am a passionate educator with 10 years of experience dedicated to helping students develop the skills they need to thrive in an ever-changing world. I currently serve as the K–8 STEAM and Computer Science teacher at Hampton-Dumont Community School District, where I foster creativity... Read More →

Tuesday October 13, 2026 1:30pm - 2:20pm CDT
304

General Session

Strand Artificial Intelligence, Educational Policy and Leadership
Audience Administrators, Instructional Coaches, IT Personnel

1:30pm CDT

Hands-On Digital Accessibility: Build, Fix, and Apply in Real Time Workshop

Tuesday October 13, 2026 1:30pm - 3:20pm CDT

312

Creating an accessible digital environment isn't just an IT task. It has to be a district-wide priority and approach. Whether you work in communications, curriculum, classroom instruction, school administration, or technical support, your digital content impacts students, families, and staff every day.
This interactive, workshop-style session takes a practical approach to K–12 digital accessibility standards (including ADA Title II compliance). Instead of sitting through a continuous presentation, we will break down the process into clear, manageable steps. We'll introduce one core topic at a time and immediately give you dedicated working time to apply what you just learned directly to your own district materials, course pages, documents, or platforms.

Who Should Attend? Everyone! This session is open to all district staff with no technical background required. If you create, post, or manage digital content for students, parents, or colleagues, this workshop will give you immediate, practical tools to make your work inclusive for all.

What to Bring: Please bring a laptop and a few existing district documents, course materials, or web pages you would like to work on during the session!

Speakers

Rob Carr

Accessibility Specialist, WebAIM and NCADEMI, Utah State University

Carrie Hillman

Vice President, ITEC

Cynthia Curry

Previously submitted, Previously submitted

Previously submitted

Tuesday October 13, 2026 1:30pm - 3:20pm CDT
312

Workshop

2:30pm CDT

Tech Alone? Tech Together! Join the Iowa EdTech Collaborative

Tuesday October 13, 2026 2:30pm - 3:20pm CDT

304

Feeling like you are on an edtech island in your district? You don't have to navigate device rollouts, AI tools, or tech integration alone. The EdTech Collaborative (ETC) brings together Iowa instructional coaches, tech integrationists, librarians, and tech leaders each month for zero-fluff, highly practical brainstorming and support.

Come learn how our statewide community works, hear real examples of how members share resources to save time, and leave connected to a network of Iowa peers who are working in the trenches with you every day. Whether you lead tech for a small rural district or coach teachers across a large high school, there is a seat at the table for you.

Speakers