Ahead of the new school year, I partnered with Apple and the NYC Public Schools Division of Instructional and Information Technology (DIIT) to host a Back-to-School Workshop at Thomas A. Edison CTE High School. This was all done with the leadership of Moses Ojeda and Navindra Haripersaud The goal: ensure that schools citywide are ready to manage their Apple devices effectively. Participants received hands-on training in: • Apple School Manager • Apple Configurator • Creating bootable macOS drives • Troubleshooting iPad issues I’m proud that our Edison SkillsUSA students supported the event by covering logistics, tours, and technical assistance, demonstrating how student leadership strengthens CTE. Our student leadership team was lead by our amazing advisors Davendra Seecharran and Barry Roopnarine Thank you to our Apple and NYCPS DIIT partners for making this possible: Quentin Hodges, Jake Cebula, Tim Brennan, John Filardo, Mary Helen Sperber, Tangela Piercy-Thrower, Nick Schultz (Apple) Vanita Shivraj, Jason Levy, Raheen T Moody, & Abdel Fendoune (NYCPS DIIT) Together, we’re building capacity across NYC schools to manage technology seamlessly and empower learning through Apple devices. #CTEPride #AppleEDU #NYCPS #EdisonStrong #TechInEducation #IndustryPartnerships #SkillsUSANYC SkillsUSA https://lnkd.in/eT_knRc3

"Thats Nuts!" 🎓✨ Investing in the future starts with supporting today’s students. Applewood Auto Group was proud to partner with Virgin Radio's Holly & Nira's Honour Roll Contest, giving one deserving individual $2,500 towards their tuition. This year’s winner was especially inspiring — a high school teacher currently completing their Master’s in Education. Their dedication to learning and commitment to shaping the next generation truly embodies what this initiative is all about. At Applewood, we believe education is one of the most powerful ways to build stronger communities. That’s why we’re proud to support opportunities that empower individuals to reach their goals, both inside and outside the classroom. 💡 We’d love to hear from you: Who was a teacher or mentor that inspired your journey? #ApplewoodAutoGroup #CommunityImpact #EducationMatters #AllGoodAtApplewood #StudentSupport

California-based Plug and Play Tech Center is expanding further into Indiana thanks to a new partnership with IU. Kylie Veleta has details.

💭 Educating Yorkshire and the reality of phone use in schools: The return of Educating Yorkshire shows something every school leader and classroom teacher recognises, the phone issue isn’t just about discipline, it’s about culture. When the series shows staff tackling “mobile phone crackdowns” during exam season, it reflects the same challenge schools across the UK are facing: how do we help pupils focus, connect, and thrive in a world that is now online? At Blackout Education, we see daily that sustainable change comes from more than just banning devices. The most successful schools take a whole-school approach, combining policy, technology, and education: A truly holistic approach means: 📱 Clear boundaries during the school day 💬 Honest conversations with parents and pupils 🧠 Education about algorithms, attention and wellbeing 🏫 A whole-school culture that values focus, rest and connection That’s where real, sustainable behaviour change happens. The goal isn’t simply “less screen time”. It’s more time for the things that matter, learning, playing, resting, and being present. Have you been watching Educating Yorkshire? What stood out most to you about how schools are managing phones today?

Indiana University School of Education - Indianapolis alumna Lillian Barkes is making waves and creating space for students to work, learn, and thrive — right here in Indianapolis! ✏️🏙️ Barkes launched Listen to Our Future in 2020, providing tutoring services to raise iREAD and iLEARN scores for young learners. Five years later, she is celebrating the grand opening of its new learning center on East Washington Street. The new Learning Center is designed as a space for idea exchange, innovation, skill development, and community engagement and features spacious central areas for workshops, conferences, and events, along with a library and computer lab. Since its first launch, the program has... Employed 250 tutors Partnered with 28 programs Served over 2,200 students Learn more about this exceptional alumna and her story: https://hey.iu.edu/uje08

Ever wonder why higher ed is paying closer attention to the new ADA Title II rule while most K-12 districts aren’t? There are exceptions — some virtual and online K-12 schools are taking digital accessibility seriously. But in traditional brick-and-mortar schools, I’m not seeing the same urgency. When I pitched a session on digital accessibility to local school leaders, the response was “That’s not a priority right now.” I pitched it again at the national principals’ conference and it wasn’t selected. As a former K-12 school leader, that gap between higher ed and K-12 stands out. So I’m curious. What’s happening in your district to prepare for the new ADA Title II rule and WCAG 2.1 compliance? Is digital accessibility part of your district’s PD or technology plan yet?

✨ 𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐁𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐠𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐁𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐁𝐫𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 ✨ Too often, Black learners are excluded from opportunities for academic acceleration, including dual enrollment. This session highlights strategies from practitioners on how to: 📌 Center Black learners in dual enrollment 📌 Build coalitions that drive inclusion and belonging 📌 Take actionable steps back to campuses to advance equity Let’s reimagine dual enrollment with Black brilliance at the center. 🌟 #CABSE #EquityInEducation #DualEnrollment #BlackBrilliance #StudentSuccess

Kelly Elementary School is a new Verizon Innovative Learning School! Through Verizon’s partnership with Digital Promise, every student receives a device, free internet access, and the skills needed to expand their learning beyond the classroom. This initiative is helping to close the digital divide and prepare students for the opportunities of the 21st century. Verizon Innovative Learning has invested nearly $35 million, supporting rising graduation rates, lower dropout rates, and students empowered to unleash their creativity and innovation.

The construction and development of Apple Huts have had a significant and far-reaching impact on the local economy, reflected not only in direct fiscal contributions and job creation, but also in the reshaping of the surrounding industrial ecosystem and regional economic structure. The development of Apple Huts not only brings economic benefits but also profoundly impacts the local social structure, cultural ecology, and community relations. These impacts include both positive changes and challenges that require attention and adaptation. Looking ahead, with the acceleration of technological innovation and industrial transformation, the concept and form of Apple Huts will continue to evolve. However, the concepts they embody, integrating space and value, balancing business and public welfare, and balancing development and conservation, will provide valuable insights for the development of more businesses and regions. Throughout this process, ongoing research, evaluation, and dialogue will help optimize the development path of Apple Huts, maximize their positive impact, minimize their negative effects, and contribute to social inclusion and sustainable development.

Check out The Dais at Toronto Metropolitan University's back-to-school newsletter (link in comments), with exciting work as part of our Screen Break project for K12 about healthy use of phones and other digital devices. It includes: - A Policymaker Playbook on navigating phone use in classrooms - An Implementation Guide for school boards, educators and administrators  - Canada’s first Policy Map illustrating school phone rules in place, province by province Maybe most exciting is our new Youth Champions initiative, which is engaging 20 high schoolers from across Canada to lead discussions in their schools about healthy tech use.