Illinois Digital Educators Alliance | IDEA

Don Sturm is 🤔 and Stefanie Crawford talk with Stefanie Pitzer, 2025 IDEA Admin EOY, about building a culture of readers with practical takeaways, relationship-driven leadership, and the importance of embracing what makes you “extra."

https://ideail.org/ThatsTheIdeaPodcast.

#IDEAil #EduSky

Students engaging in discussions and presentations during the Students for Innovation Advocacy Day event.

Sign up now to bring your innovative students to the Capitol Building in Springfield on Thursday, April 30. IDEA's Students for Innovation: Advocacy Day gives K–12 students a powerful platform to shine.

Find more info at https://ideail.org/Students4Innovation2026

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Common Sense Education workshop on digital literacy and well-being for K-8 students, free and in-person in Arlington Heights on March 10 from 9 AM to 2 PM.

Register now for IDEA's free Pop-Up Workshop with Common Sense Education's Sr. Education Manager, Jennifer Ehehalt. This in-person workshop takes place on March 10 in Arlington Heights, IL from 9:00-2:00.

Register now at https://ideail.org/CommonSense31026.

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Illinois Digital Educators Alliance presents IDEA Coaching Summit, a one-day event for instructional coaches on March 9, 2026, in Arlington Heights.

Join us March 9 in Arlington Heights for IDEA’s one‑day Coaching Summit. This is a space for coaches and aspiring coaches to connect, learn, and grow. Breakouts, Edcamp-style sessions, and lunch from MagicSchool AI included.

Register now at https://ideail.org/Coaching3926.

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Poster for Northern Suburbs MiniCon on April 18, 2026, at Lake County ROE Building, Lake Forest, IL, from 9 AM to 12 PM.

The IDEA Northern Suburbs Chapter MiniCon is coming back! It's a great opportunity to learn with and from peers, but it's also the perfect place to try out presenting a new session or to present for the first time.

Submit your proposal today at https://ideail.org/2026MiniConCFP!

#IDEAil #EduSky

Desiree Alexander and Marcus Stein leading a session at IDEAcon.

“If you have a seat at the table but you don’t have any power, you don’t have a seat at the table.” - @educatoralexander.bsky.social

#IDEAcon #IDEAil #EduSky

#IDEAcon welcome reception on Monday has drone soccer, board games, and Mario Kart time trials thanks to IHSEA where the winner receives a free IHSEA membership. Discover how play fits in for everyone.

Not registered for IDEAcon? Register today at https://ideail.org/go2IDEAcon26.

#IDEAil #EduSky

Don Sturm is 🤔 and Stefanie Crawford talk with English teacher Marcus Luther Luther about what student‑centered learning looks like. They dig into reflection, community, tech choices, and the joy that keeps this work meaningful.

https://ideail.org/ThatsTheIdeaPodcast

#IDEAil #IDEAcon #EduSky

Common Sense Education workshop on digital literacy and well-being for K-8, free, in-person in Arlington Heights on March 10, 9 AM to 2 PM. Brought to you by Illinois Digital Educators Alliance.

Join us March 10 in Arlington Heights for an in‑person workshop with Common Sense Education’s Jennifer Ehehalt. Explore the refreshed Digital Literacy & Well‑Being curriculum with lessons, activities, and tools you can use right away.

https://ideail.org/CommonSense31026

#IDEAil #EduSky

We’re so excited to be learning with you!

There’s still time to join us at IDEAcon 2026. A space to learn, lead, and transform together. A place to create, connect, and innovate with educators, leaders, and partners who believe in joyful, impactful learning.

Register now at https://ideail.org/go2IDEAcon26.

#IDEAcon #EduSky

Newsletter cover for The Big Ideas Newsletter Volume 4.21 dated January 22, 2026, featuring upcoming events and instructional insights.

Get caught up on The Big IDEAs Newsletter and see how Snorkl can help with student feedback, other factors impacting literacy, how to use Google Vids, and an IDEA podcast episode with Kunal Dalal!

Catch up now at https://ideail.org/BigIDEAs012226!

#IDEAil #IDEAcon #ProfessionalDevelopment #EduSky

Podcast episode cover for 'That's The Idea!' featuring Ted Neitzke in Season 2, Episode 11 with a blue dotted background.

🚨New episode alert! Tuesday's #IDEAcon keynote speaker Ted Neitzke, a former social studies teacher turned superintendent and mayor, who brings big energy and a clear message about making improvement actually stick.

Listen now at https://ideail.org/ThatsTheIdeaPodcast!

#IDEAil #EduSky

We’re looking forward to learning with you!

Connected, Supported, Empowered: Women Leading in Tech with panelist Jenn Brown, Senior Program Manager at Google for Education, Maria Stavropoulos, Director of Technology at Northbrook SD 28, and MJ Warden, Chief Technology Officer at CCSD 15. The panel is happening on February 10, 2026 at 1:45 PM in Utopia C.

Learn with Jenn Brown, Senior Program Manager at Google for Education, Maria Stavropoulos, Dir. of Tech at Northbrook SD 28, and MJ Warden, CTO at CCSD 15 as they share how they’ve forged their paths, built networks of support, and partnered with allies to create change.

#IDEAil #IDEAcon #EduSky

Our latest episode features #IDEAcon Keynote, Kunal Dalal, former teacher and principal turned AI thinker and builder. He shares how his work with AI began and grew, and challenges how we think about learning, creativity, and responsibility.

https://ideail.org/ThatsTheIdeaPodcast.

#IDEAil #EduSky

Thank you message featuring logos of SchoolAI, True IP Solutions, and Vivacity as IDEAcon 2026 Create Sponsors with a green and blue background.

One of the things we love about #IDEAcon is how our exhibitors are truly an essential part of the conference experience. Many thanks to SchoolAI, true IP solutions, and Vivacity for each providing a scholarship to IDEAcon 2026 for an IDEA member. We're all better together!

#IDEAil #EduSKy

Two speech bubbles on a blue dotted background read 'That's the idea!' and 'An IDEA podcast' with a lightbulb icon.

#IDEAcon is less than a month away, and if you've missed our series of episodes with our IDEAcon 2026 Featured Speakers, this is a great time to catch up!

Listen to all episodes, including our latest with Wunneanatsu Lamb-Cason, now at https://ideail.org/ThatsTheIdeaPodcast.

#IDEAil #EduSky

Promotional graphic inviting podcasters to sign up for live podcasting at IDEAcon 2026 with a microphone and event logo.

Live podcasting at #IDEAcon 2026 sponsored by SPL:

🎙️ Record your own podcast
🎙️ Be a podcast guest
🎙️ Watch a live podcast
🎙️ Test the SPL podcast cart during Connections & Confections

To record or be a guest fill out this form today at https://ideail.org/IDEAconPodcasting26!

#IDEAil #EduSky

#IDEAcon is 1 month away! Join us for an experience built for educators to create, connect, and innovate; explore best practices in education, the newest edtech and learning‑space solutions, and be part of a community that moves education forward.

https://ideail.org/go2IDEAcon26

#IDEAil #EduSky

🌟 Happy New Year! 🌟

We wish you new starts where you need them, a renewed sense of excitement for things, hope and support where you most need it, and more of the things that make you feel most like you. Thank you for allowing IDEA to be part of your journey!

#IDEAil #EduSky

Light blue short-sleeve t-shirt and crewneck sweatshirt with a circular IDEAcon logo celebrating 40 years from 1986 to 2026.

Last call! Today’s the final day to order the special #IDEAcon 40th birthday IDEA shirt, only available through registration and will be ready for pickup in February. Registration stays open, but the shirt deadline ends tonight. ideaillinois.org/ideacon

#IDEAcon #EduSky

Illinois Digital Educators Alliance announces a new blog post titled "Getting Back to Our 1:1 Roots." There is a picture of the author.

IDEA Executive Director Stefanie Crawford offers her perspective on how we've shifted away from the original intent behind school 1:1 initiatives and the impact that has in our schools currently.

Read the newest IDEA blog at http://www.ideaillinois.org/1-1rootsblog

#IDEAil #IDEAcon #EduSky

Groups of attendees at IDEAcon 2025. Early bird registration for IDEAcon 2026 is currently open.

#IDEAcon 2026 early bird pricing is almost gone! Register today for

✅ hundreds of sessions
✅ exceptional vendors
✅ connections with peers
✅ incredible keynote speakers and thought leaders
✅ hands on playgrounds
✅ drone soccer
✅ ...and so. Much. More

https://ideail.org/go2IDEAcon26

#IDEAil #EduSky

Orange lightbulb shaped like Illinois with blue filament on gray background, asking if you are the next IDEA Educator of the Year.

Time is running out to submit your nominations for IDEA Educator of the Year, sponsored by National Inventors Hall of Fame! Awards are in 3 categories:

✅ Classroom Teacher
✅ Tech Leaders
✅ Administrators

Nominations due by 11:59 PM CT on 12/12! https://ideail.org/IDEA2026EOY

#IDEAil #EduSky

Join Stefanie Crawford and Don Sturm is 🤔 as they sit down with educator, author, edtech whisperer, and IDEAcon 2026 Thought Leader Marcus Stein to explore what it really means to make professional learning human.

Listen now at https://ideail.org/ThatsTheIdeaPodcast

#IDEAil #EduSky #IDEAcon

IDEA turns 39 today! Still inspiring. Still connecting. Still transforming teaching and learning through innovation.

Grateful for every educator who makes this mission real. 🧡

#IDEAil #IDEAcon #EduSky

Blue graphic promoting ideaU's 2025 educator series themed 'Rekindle Your Spark' focusing on joyful classrooms in December.

December's ideaU sessions on Joyful Classrooms are here, and you don't want to miss all the JOY being spread with sessions by Tisha Richmond, Steph Sukow, and Dr. DSNY!

Learn more and register today at https://www.ideaillinois.org/ideaU.

Illinois Digital Educators Alliance new post. Taking Flight with the Aviation Club. Read now.

2024-2025 IDEA Mini-Grant Award winner Heather McCarthy is sharing her journey from having her idea funded to its fruition. See how the Aviation Club allowed students to be empowered learners and invested decision makers.

http://www.ideaillinois.org/aviationclubblog.

#IDEAil #EduSky

List of 2026 IDEA Mini-Grant recipients with project titles and awardees' names on a celebratory background. The list of winners can also be found on the IDEA website.

Congratulations to the recipients of the 2025-2026 IDEA Mini-Grant Awards! These educators are from across the state and represent 10 different IDEA chapters. We're excited to see how these educators' innovative and creative ideas will impact students!

#IDEAil #IDEAcon #EduSky