Join Don Sturm is 🤔 and Stefanie Crawford as they sit down with Dr. Sawsan Jaber, NBCT for a powerful conversation about student voice, identity, and what it truly means to create human-centered classrooms.
Listen now at https://ideail.org/ThatsTheIdeaPodcast
#IDEAil #EduSky
Missed last week's issue of the Big IDEAs Newsletter? Find brain breaks for middle schoolers, why reading whole novels with students is beneficial, resources for social studies teachers through the Bill of Rights Institute, and more.
https://ideail.org/BigIDEAs4226
#IDEAil #EduSky
Illinois Digital Educators Alliance presents Central IL K12 Education Showcase with Forte and Vivo collaboration.
Administrators and school IT professionals, join IDEA for a free, open-house style event where several K12 technology solution providers will showcase their newest offerings with space for meaningful 1:1 conversations.
https://ideail.org/Showcase41726
#IDEAil #EduSky
Northern Suburbs MiniCon event details with a lightbulb graphic, scheduled for April 18, 2026, at Lake County ROE Building, Lake Forest, IL, from 9 AM to 12 PM.
Don't miss out on the chance for three hours of in-person connections and learning with other educators at the IDEA Northern Suburbs MiniCon.
Find more information and register today at https://ideail.org/MiniCon2026
#IDEAil #EduSky
A small district showed me their PD budget breakdown: 80% on one-time workshops, 20% on follow-up support. Then they showed me their implementation rates. The math was backwards. We keep buying the event instead of investing in the practice, then wonder why nothing sticks.
Bringing a group of students to participate in Students for Innovation: Advocacy Day leaves a lasting impact, but don't take our word for it.
Sign up to showcase your students' voices today at https://ideail.org/Students4Innovation2026
#IDEAil #EduSky #Innovation #Education
Announcement of a new partner blog titled 'The Classroom Shift: From Behavior Management to Meaningful Engagement' by The Connecting Link.
In our latest partner blog, The Connecting Link looks at the questions educators should be asking to have more meaningfully engaged students. These questions go beyond behavior management and look more deeply at the students. http://www.ideaillinois.org/theclassroomshiftblog
#IDEAil #EduSky
Poster for Northern Suburbs MiniCon on April 18, 2026, at Lake County ROE Building, Lake Forest, IL, from 9 AM to 12 PM.
The IDEA Northern Suburbs Chapter MiniCon is coming back! It's a great opportunity to learn with and from peers, but it's also the perfect place to try out presenting a new session or to present for the first time.
Submit your proposal today at https://ideail.org/2026MiniConCFP
#IDEAil #EduSky
Desiree Alexander and Marcus Stein leading a session at IDEAcon.
“If you have a seat at the table but you don’t have any power, you don’t have a seat at the table.” - @educatoralexander.bsky.social
#IDEAcon #IDEAil #EduSky
Don Sturm is 🤔 and Stefanie Crawford talk with English teacher Marcus Luther Luther about what student‑centered learning looks like. They dig into reflection, community, tech choices, and the joy that keeps this work meaningful.
https://ideail.org/ThatsTheIdeaPodcast
#IDEAil #IDEAcon #EduSky
IDEAcon presentation preview
This is getting really close—and I'm really excited to be a part of IDEAcon with @ideaillinois.bsky.social this year!
I know I'm a broken record on trying to get more teacher voices in bigger/broader conversations, so trust me: the chance to be a part of this?
Really meaningful and I cannot wait.
Podcast episode cover for 'That's The Idea!' featuring Ted Neitzke in Season 2, Episode 11 with a blue dotted background.
🚨New episode alert! Tuesday's #IDEAcon keynote speaker Ted Neitzke, a former social studies teacher turned superintendent and mayor, who brings big energy and a clear message about making improvement actually stick.
Listen now at https://ideail.org/ThatsTheIdeaPodcast
#IDEAil #EduSky
Newsletter cover for The Big Ideas Newsletter Volume 4.21 dated January 22, 2026, featuring upcoming events and instructional insights.
Get caught up on The Big IDEAs Newsletter and see how Snorkl can help with student feedback, other factors impacting literacy, how to use Google Vids, and an IDEA podcast episode with Kunal Dalal!
Catch up now at https://ideail.org/BigIDEAs012226
#IDEAil #IDEAcon #ProfessionalDevelopment #EduSky
There’s still time to join us at IDEAcon 2026. A space to learn, lead, and transform together. A place to create, connect, and innovate with educators, leaders, and partners who believe in joyful, impactful learning.
Register now at https://ideail.org/go2IDEAcon26
#IDEAcon #EduSky
Connected, Supported, Empowered: Women Leading in Tech with panelist Jenn Brown, Senior Program Manager at Google for Education, Maria Stavropoulos, Director of Technology at Northbrook SD 28, and MJ Warden, Chief Technology Officer at CCSD 15. The panel is happening on February 10, 2026 at 1:45 PM in Utopia C.
Learn with Jenn Brown, Senior Program Manager at Google for Education, Maria Stavropoulos, Dir. of Tech at Northbrook SD 28, and MJ Warden, CTO at CCSD 15 as they share how they’ve forged their paths, built networks of support, and partnered with allies to create change.
#IDEAil #IDEAcon #EduSky
Our latest episode features #IDEAcon Keynote, Kunal Dalal, former teacher and principal turned AI thinker and builder. He shares how his work with AI began and grew, and challenges how we think about learning, creativity, and responsibility.
https://ideail.org/ThatsTheIdeaPodcast
#IDEAil #EduSky
Promotional graphic inviting podcasters to sign up for live podcasting at IDEAcon 2026 with a microphone and event logo.
Live podcasting at #IDEAcon 2026 sponsored by SPL:
🎙️ Record your own podcast
🎙️ Be a podcast guest
🎙️ Watch a live podcast
🎙️ Test the SPL podcast cart during Connections & Confections
To record or be a guest fill out this form today at https://ideail.org/IDEAconPodcasting26
#IDEAil #EduSky
🌟 Happy New Year! 🌟
We wish you new starts where you need them, a renewed sense of excitement for things, hope and support where you most need it, and more of the things that make you feel most like you. Thank you for allowing IDEA to be part of your journey!
#IDEAil #EduSky
#IDEAcon is 1 month away! Join us for an experience built for educators to create, connect, and innovate; explore best practices in education, the newest edtech and learning‑space solutions, and be part of a community that moves education forward.
https://ideail.org/go2IDEAcon26
#IDEAil #EduSky
Illinois Digital Educators Alliance announces a new blog post titled "Getting Back to Our 1:1 Roots." There is a picture of the author.
IDEA Executive Director Stefanie Crawford offers her perspective on how we've shifted away from the original intent behind school 1:1 initiatives and the impact that has in our schools currently.
Read the newest IDEA blog at http://www.ideaillinois.org/1-1rootsblog
#IDEAil #IDEAcon #EduSky
Blue graphic promoting ideaU's 2025 educator series themed 'Rekindle Your Spark' focusing on joyful classrooms in December.
December's ideaU sessions on Joyful Classrooms are here, and you don't want to miss all the JOY being spread with sessions by Tisha Richmond, Steph Sukow, and Dr. DSNY!
Learn more and register today at https://www.ideaillinois.org/ideaU
Illinois Digital Educators Alliance new post. Taking Flight with the Aviation Club. Read now.
2024-2025 IDEA Mini-Grant Award winner Heather McCarthy is sharing her journey from having her idea funded to its fruition. See how the Aviation Club allowed students to be empowered learners and invested decision makers.
http://www.ideaillinois.org/aviationclubblog
#IDEAil #EduSky
List of 2026 IDEA Mini-Grant recipients with project titles and awardees' names on a celebratory background. The list of winners can also be found on the IDEA website.
Congratulations to the recipients of the 2025-2026 IDEA Mini-Grant Awards! These educators are from across the state and represent 10 different IDEA chapters. We're excited to see how these educators' innovative and creative ideas will impact students!
#IDEAil #IDEAcon #EduSky
Podcast episode cover featuring a woman and speech bubbles saying 'That's the idea!' and 'An IDEA podcast' on a blue dotted background. S2:E5 - Sitting Down with Dr. Rachael Mahmood
Join Stefanie Crawford and Don Sturm is 🤔 as they sit down with 2024 Illinois Teacher of the Year and an #IDEAcon 2026 Keynote Speaker @drmahmood.bsky.social to explore what it really means to build belonging in schools.
Listen now at https://ideail.org/ThatsTheIdeaPodcast
#IDEAil #EduSky
IDEACon 2026 announcement with a call to share ideas before November 14, 2025 deadline, featuring event attendees and presentations.
Don't miss the second round of call for proposals for #IDEAcon that is OPEN through Friday, November, 14! Perfect for an idea you’ve been cultivating or a brand new spark. Your idea might be exactly what someone else needs to transform their practice.
https://bit.ly/ideacon26cfp2
#IDEAil #EduSky
Graphic for Illinois Digital Educators Alliance featuring a new blog post titled 'Finding Balance in a World of Technology' with a striped background behind a person.
Don Sturm is 🤔 looks at the technology landscape and asks the question: "Should school mirror the 'real' world, or should it act as a frontline defense against the parts of that world that we feel harm students?"
http://www.ideaillinois.org/balanceintechworldblog
#IDEAil #EduSky
IdeaCon 2026 logo with a party hat and gold confetti, announcing the second call for proposals open through November 14, 2025.
The second call for proposals is now open for #IDEAcon 2026. They're only open through next Friday, November 14, so if you have a great idea to share or you wanted to submit a proposal before but missed the deadline, now is your chance!
https://bit.ly/ideacon26cfp2
#IDEAil #EduSky
Illinois Digital Educators Alliance, New blog Post, "Coding through Stories"
Read how 2024-2025 IDEA mini-grant winner Betsy Monke in Pleasant Plains, IL planned, prepared, implemented, and reflected on her funded project in her blog post "Coding through Stories."
🔗 Read now at http://www.ideaillinois.org/codingthroughstoriesblog
#IDEAil #EduSky
Announcement for a free Google for Education event featuring AI's Dream Team: NotebookLM and Gemini on November 6, 2025, in Lake Forest, IL.
Join the IDEA Northern Suburbs Chapter and Google Education Senior Program Manager, Jenn Brown, for a fun and FREE fabulous 2-hour hands-on workshop dedicated to mastering the powerful AI combination of NotebookLM and Gemini.
Register now at https://ideail.org/AIdreamteam11625
#IDEAil #EduSky
Illinois Digital Educators Alliance, new blog post, "Thoughts from the IDEA high school intern: AI and the regression of teenage brains."
“AI and the Regression of the Teenage Brain” is an important perspective from our intern who is also a current high school student. Are students losing critical thinking skills? Are teachers outsourcing trust to tech?
Read it at http://www.ideaillinois.org/aiandteenagebrainsblog
#IDEAil #EduSky
