WASHINGTON, D.C. (June 2, 2025) – ISTE+ASCD today announced the recipients of the 2025 ISTE+ASCD Impact Award, Distinguished District Award, Distinguished Educator Preparation Program Award, and 20 to Watch Award. These honorees will be recognized at the first ever co-located ISTELive and ASCD Annual Conference, taking place on June 29 through July 2 in San Antonio, Texas.
"ISTE+ASCD is proud to spotlight the innovative leaders, educators, and school systems who are redefining what's possible in education,” said Richard Culatta, CEO of ISTE+ASCD. “This year's awardees represent a global movement to accelerate meaningful learning and we're honored to celebrate their vision and impact."
ISTE Impact Award
This award recognizes individuals who make significant contributions to transforming learning and improving education systems on a broad scale. The 2025 recipients are:
- Jean-Claude Brizard, President and CEO, Digital Promise Global (Washington, D.C.)
- Dr. Monique M. Chism, Under Secretary for Education, Smithsonian Institute (Washington, D.C.)
- Jay McTighe, Author and Consultant, McTighe and Associates (Columbia, MD)
- Andreas Schleicher, Director for Education and Skills, OECD (Paris, France)
ISTE Distinguished District Award
This award honors school districts that demonstrate effectiveness and innovation in using technology to improve student outcomes and engagement. The 2025 recipients are:
- Stokes County Schools, (Danbury, NC): Kimberley Thompson-Hairston, Director of Instructional Technology and Media, Brad Rice, Superintendent, Jared Jones, Assistant Superintendent, and Brooke Johnson, Instructional Technology Facilitator.
Serving more than 5,500 students across 19 schools, Stokes County Schools is committed to delivering a 21st-century education in a safe and supportive environment. From pre-kindergarten through high school, the district is guided by the belief that all students can – and will – learn, preparing them to thrive in a globally competitive world.
- Wichita Public Schools, (Wichita, KS): Kelly Bielefeld, Superintendent, Rob Dickson, Chief Information Officer, and Dyane Smokorowski, Digital Literacy and Citizenship Coordinator.
Wichita Public Schools, the largest district in Kansas, serves nearly 50,000 students across 88 schools – educating approximately 11% of the state's public school population. The district is driven by a mission to inspire every student to thrive and become future-ready.
- Sierra Sands Unified School District, (Ridgecrest, CA): Lisa Decker, Director of Elementary Education, Dulce Baca, Principal, Pierce Elementary School, and Julie Frisbee, English Language Arts Instructional Coach.
The Sierra Sands Unified School District educates over 5,200 students in 11 schools. Their mission is to provide a high-quality education in a safe and supportive environment, fostering engaged learners who are prepared for future opportunities
ISTE+ASCD Distinguished Educator Preparation Program Award
This award celebrates educator preparation programs that demonstrate innovative uses of technology to prepare future teachers. The 2025 honoree is:
- Georgia State University, College of Education & Human Development (Atlanta, GA): Lauren Margulieux, Associate Professor and Director, Snap Inc. Center for Computer and Teacher Education, Carla Tanguay, Assistant Dean for Educator Preparation and Accreditation, Clinical Associate Professor, and G. Sue Kasun, Professor of Language Education.
ISTE+ASCD 20 To Watch Award
This award recognizes 20 up-and-coming individuals who are already making a difference through their work. Winners have exemplified excellence through projects or artifacts that others can replicate. The 2025 honorees are:
- McKenna Akane, STEM Curricular Head, Alberton School District (Alberton, MT)
- Hanan Attiyah, Elementary STEM Educator (Flemington, NJ)
- Mohd Al Khalifa Bin Mohd Affnan, Teacher, Keningau Vocational College (Sabah, Malaysia)
- Lisa Blank, Director of STEM Programs, Watertown City School District (Watertown, NY)
- Jeffrey Bradbury, Middle School Teacher & Instructional Coach, New Milford Public Schools/TeacherCast (New Milford, CT)
- Jeffery Chernosky, Ed.D. Assistant Professor, Texas A&M University – Kingsville (Kingsville, TX)
- Rebecca Colangelo, STEAM Teacher, South Fayette Township School District (McDonald, PA)
- Constance DeMore Savine, Director of Curriculum and Instruction, Trinity Area School District (Washington, PA)
- Sean Gaillard, Principal, Charles England Elementary School, Lexington City Schools (Lexington, NC)
- David Garringer, Principal, Los Angeles Unified School District (Los Angeles, CA)
- Maegan Gayle, STEM Lab Teacher, Eichold-Mertz Magnet School of Math, Science, and Technology (Mobile, AL)
- Evo Hannan, Founder, Design Educator, Innovation X (Wirral, UK)
- Jeff Kilner, Instructional Technology Specialist, Indian River School District (Selbyville, DE)
- Dr. Kyung Kim, Associate Professor, Korea Institute of Energy Technology (Naju, South Korea)
- Dr. Taniya Mishra, Founder and CEO, SureStart (New York, NY)
- Zahra Razi, CS, CTE, and Math Educator, Fontana Unified School District (Fontana, CA)
- Lauren Richardson, Experienceships Coordinator, Indian Hill EVSD (Cincinnati, OH)
- Kirsten Salonga, Environmental Science Teacher & Dept. Chair, Justice High School (Falls Church, VA)
- Samantha Shane, Educator, Morris County Vocational School District (Denville, NJ)
- Alana Winnick, EdTech Director and Data Protection Officer, Pocantico Hills Central SD (Sleepy Hollow, NY)
About ISTE+ASCD
In 2023, ISTE and ASCD merged to create a unified organization dedicated to ensuring every student has an amazing learning experience every day. Today, ISTE+ASCD is the largest innovation-focused education non-profit worldwide, serving over a million educators in every US state and over 100 countries around the world. ISTE+ASCD offers inspiring events, professional certifications, dynamic member communities, and innovative thought leadership to help educators create transformational learning experiences.