As the landscape of education evolves, the intersection of storytelling and technology has never been more vital. Navigating the world of artificial intelligence requires more than just technical skill; it requires a vision for how these tools can amplify human creativity and connection. We are thrilled to announce that Matthew Winters will be joining us as a featured speaker for the 2026 Fall ITEC Conference.

Matthew serves as the AI Education Specialist at the Utah State Board of Education and brings a wealth of leadership experience as a former UCET President. Recognized as one of ISTE’s "20 to Watch" and a Top 100 Innovative Educator, Matthew bridges the gap between his roots as an English Language Arts teacher and the cutting edge of digital transformation. Whether through his years of insightful podcasting or his work in professional development, he is an expert at finding the "human" element within the machine.

We have more big reveals coming soon! Keep a close eye on our social media channels and your inbox for the official Call for Sessions and the opening of registration. You won’t want to miss the chance to share your voice and secure your spot at this year’s event.

🗓️ Dates on Deck:

ITEC Fall Conference

October 12-13, 2026

(add to Google Calendar)

Tip / Strategy To Try Out

⏱️ 10 Time Management Hacks in Under a Minute

Feeling stretched thin? Learn 10 time management hacks in under a minute in this quick Canva slide deck. These visuals break down simple, practical strategies you can start using immediately to take back control of your day. 

💻 Tech Tool of the Month

Teacher Server



If you’re looking for AI that actually understands the nuances of the classroom, check out TeacherServer. Developed at the University of South Florida, this platform offers over 1,000+ specialized AI tools designed to eliminate the "blank page syndrome" and automate tedious prep work.

Why it stands out:

• No "Prompting" Required: Instead of writing complex instructions, you simply fill out a quick form (Grade, Subject, Topic) to get high-quality results.
• Privacy & Speed: Built to follow U.S. Department of Education privacy guidelines, it processes data locally and generates content almost instantly.
• 100% Free: No subscriptions or "freemium" tiers—just a powerful resource funded by educational grants.

The Bottom Line: TeacherServer is a massive time-saver that allows you to focus less on paperwork and more on your students.

Instructional Coach Corner

In the ever-evolving landscape of Iowa education, we know the "tech coach" role is shifting, often landing on the plates of dedicated Instructional Coaches. To support you in this transition, ITEC is launching the Instructional Coach Corner. Each month, we’ll tackle a specific "Problem of Practice" with a focus on pedagogy first. We’re bridging the gap between traditional teaching and digital integration by offering low-lift, high-impact strategies, both analog and digital, to help you lead meaningful coaching cycles in your buildings.

Reteaching Stack for Writing

The Problem:

Providing personalized feedback for student writing often leads to delayed or overly broad feedback. Students lose momentum and often important skills are not mastered due to a lack of “just in time” feedback.

The Pivot:

Instead of providing feedback on every element, identify a skill or two and target mastery through a “reteaching stack” with a targeted mini-lesson and mastery assessment or game. You can incorporate tools like EdPuzzle or YouTube for reteaching, or lower the lift by pairing AI tools like Brisk or MagicSchool to generate standard or specific feedback or leveled resources for your learners. This lowers the lift, while speeding up the feedback loop and building student momentum! 

The Prompt(s):

• Where in your current unit do you spend the most time providing feedback, and is that time yielding the intended student growth?
• How could a pre-built "reteaching stack" (AI feedback + mini-lesson + game) free you up to facilitate small groups or individual conferences?
• What would it look like to shift your feedback window from after submission to during the learning process?

Get to know the ITEC Board Members

District: Woodward-Granger CSD

Position: Technology Integrationist 

First piece of technology that made you fall in love with learning: Number Munchers

Must have open every single day: Gemini and Google Calendar

Currently obsessed with: The science of learning 🤓 

District: College Community School District

Position: Executive Director of IT

First piece of technology that made you fall in love with learning: Texas Instrument Ti-99 home computer

Must have open every single day: Google Calendar

Currently obsessed with: AI data safety and privacy. Trying to figure it all out! 

District: Independent Consultant but North Fayette Valley CSD starting July 1, 2026  

Position: Independent Consultant, Future Middle School Principal 

First piece of technology that made you fall in love with learning: Kid Pix on my mom's old Mac! 

Must have open every single day: Color Picker extension! Color matching for days! 

Currently obsessed with: Vibe Coding! 

Digital equity is no longer a best practice; it is a legal requirement. New federal regulations mandate that all public educational institutions meet strict technical standards for digital accessibility by 2026 or 2027 (depending on the size of your district).

ITEC is developing a summer workshop designed to help districts navigate these changes. Participants will explore the POUR framework (Perceivable, Operable, Understandable, Robust) and learn how to manage vendor compliance and accessible content creation.

Would you have interest in attending a summer workshop? Let us know by selecting your role below.

We want to hear from you!!

Do you know of an awesome educator we should highlight in a future newsletter?

Have a tool you want us to explore and share? 

Do you have a recommendation or topic for our next webinar?

Do you have an idea for our next newsletter?