THE Journal's 2008 Innovators

2008 InnovatorsA MIDDLE SCHOOL TEACHER used grant money to fund a weekly student news broadcast. A technology director created video booths to reveal to teachers where their math instruction was falling short. A young, tech-savvy educator introduced a professional development program in which student teachers model technology integration for their host teachers. These are but a small sample of the diverse, imaginative projects that our 2008 class of Innovators developed and implemented over the past year to use technology to further academic goals and provide 21stcentury educational opportunities for K-12 students. We hope you will find in their efforts-- selected from the 122 entries we received for our annual honor-- inspiration for what your schools and districts can do in 2009.

Featured

  • female technology director leading a meeting

    Navigating the First Year as a Female Technology Director: A Journey of Leadership and Empowerment

    For women in the landscape of technology leadership, the first year is both a proving ground and a powerful platform. It's a year of listening deeply, learning quickly, leading boldly, and paving the way for others.

  • toolbox featuring a circuit-like AI symbol and containing a screwdriver, wrench, and hammer

    Microsoft Launches AI Tools for Educators

    Microsoft has introduced a variety of AI tools aimed at helping educators develop personalized learning experiences for their students, create content more efficiently, and increase student engagement.

  • horizontal stack of U.S. dollar bills breaking in half

    ED Abruptly Cancels ESSER Funding Extensions

    The Department of Education has moved to close the door on COVID relief funding for schools, declaring that "extending deadlines for COVID-related grants, which are in fact taxpayer funds, years after the COVID pandemic ended is not consistent with the Department’s priorities and thus not a worthwhile exercise of its discretion."

  • three main icons—a cloud, a user profile, and a padlock—connected by circuit lines on a blue abstract background

    Identity Has Become a Critical Security Perimeter for Cloud Services

    A new threat landscape report from Fortinet points to new cloud vulnerabilities. According to the company's 2025 Global Threat Landscape Report, while misconfigured cloud storage buckets were once a prime vector for cybersecurity exploits, other cloud missteps are gaining focus.