WOBURN – Superintendent Matthew Crowley is happy to share that Woburn Public Faculties’ Director of Expertise and Innovation Jennifer Judkins attended an Ed Tech Advocacy and Coverage Fly-in occasion in Washington D.C. for the third consecutive yr.
Judkins attended the Ed Tech Advocacy and Coverage Fly-in occasion, together with two different know-how administrators from Massachusetts and a consultant from the Division of Elementary and Secondary Training’s (DESE) Workplace of Ed Tech, on Tuesday, Could 2, in Washington D.C. The occasion is designed to facilitate dialogue on instructional know-how matters between representatives of college districts, states, schooling service businesses, members of Congress, their key congressional employees, and leaders of schooling skilled associations.
On the occasion, Judkins met with staffers from Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s, Sen. Ed Markey’s, and Rep. Catherine Clark’s places of work, together with Federal Communications Fee (FCC) chairs, to advocate on issues of pupil knowledge privateness, funding for cybersecurity response, and extra.
“It was an honor to take part within the Ed Tech Advocacy occasion to attach with instructional leaders from throughout the US who share lots of the similar priorities round pupil knowledge privateness, entry to know-how, and cybersecurity,” mentioned Judkins. “Conferences with legislative employees offered a novel alternative to share particular challenges and successes we face in Woburn to assist contextualize and hopefully affect coverage selections shifting ahead.”
Discussions on the occasion centered on present points similar to e-Price, a grant program that helps to fund roughly 60 % of Woburn’s IT Infrastructure enhancements yearly, together with the assist to incorporate cybersecurity to guard pupil knowledge.
Judkins helped facilitate discussions on supporting and defending college students’ personally identifiable data, in addition to enhancing the Okay-12 Cybersecurity Act, because it has been famous as a major concern for Okay-12 faculties given the nationwide rise in cyberattacks and vulnerability of scholars with regard to id theft.
The homework hole was one other key subject, particularly advocating for making the Emergency Connectivity Fund everlasting. Woburn acquired over $440,000 in ECF funding over the previous two years to assist buy pupil units and help with web service for low-income households.
“Jennifer’s dedication to know-how schooling and bettering the lives of our college students is obvious by her dedication to coaching and advocacy,” mentioned Superintendent Crowley. “Her attendance on the Ed Tech Advocacy and Coverage Fly-in for the third yr in a row demonstrates that dedication. We’re very fortunate to have her right here in Woburn.”