June is here, and that means ISTE 2025 is right around the corner. As the premier conference for educational technology, ISTE 2025 is the best place for educators to invest in their professional development this year.
Whether you’re a classroom teacher just beginning to explore educational technology or a district leader architecting comprehensive digital transformation, I can’t recommend this conference highly enough. After attending multiple ISTE conferences, I consistently return to my classroom and leadership roles with immediately implementable strategies that make a tangible difference for both educators and students.
This year’s conference lineup reads like a roadmap for the future of education. The sessions span AR/VR implementation, AI integration, Computer Science pedagogy, Digital Citizenship frameworks, Cultural Competency in tech spaces, Esports in education, Instructional Design methodologies, Personalized Learning systems, and Social Emotional Learning integration. What I particularly appreciate about ISTE is their commitment to offering sessions that speak to every level of the educational ecosystem—from the classroom teacher looking for tomorrow’s lesson enhancement to the superintendent planning district-wide initiatives.
Looking at this year’s schedule, I’m genuinely thrilled to hear Dr. Merritt Moore speak. Here’s someone who embodies the interdisciplinary thinking our students desperately need—a professional ballet dancer AND a quantum physicist. This intersection of arts and advanced science perfectly represents the kind of boundary-breaking mindset we should be cultivating in our learners.
Her work particularly resonates with me because I’ve been exploring how we can introduce quantum mechanics concepts to secondary students. As quantum computing moves from theoretical to practical applications, our students deserve early exposure to these foundational ideas. It’s not about turning every student into a physicist, but about building the conceptual frameworks they’ll need to navigate an increasingly quantum-enabled world.
Every year, the ISTE exhibition hall becomes my favorite treasure hunt. Last year’s standouts included 3Doodlers(transforming abstract concepts into tangible creations), SNAP Circuits (making electronics accessible and engaging), Canva (democratizing design for educators), and Magic School (AI-powered lesson planning that actually works). What I love most about the exhibition experience is discovering tools I didn’t even know I needed.
If you’re attending, I’d love to connect at either of my sessions:
“AI in Schools: Proactive Strategies from the Classroom to Administration” – This session bridges the gap between AI’s theoretical potential and its practical classroom implementation. Drawing from my experience chairing our school’s AI Committee and working with educators across Miami-Dade County, I’ll share frameworks for responsible AI integration that support both teaching effectiveness and student learning outcomes.
“Leveraging Technology for Every Phase of PBL” – Project-Based Learning and technology integration shouldn’t be separate initiatives. In this session, I’ll demonstrate how strategic technology use can enhance every phase of PBL, from initial inquiry to final presentation, creating more authentic and engaging learning experiences.
Whether this is your first ISTE or your fifteenth, approach it strategically:
Set specific learning goals before you arrive
Balance session attendance with exhibition exploration
Plan for implementation by identifying 2-3 concrete takeaways
Connect meaningfully with other attendees—some of my most valuable professional relationships began at ISTE
Document your learning to share with colleagues and maximize your district’s investment
What sessions or exhibitors are you most excited about at ISTE 25? Share your thoughts and let’s continue the conversation about how we can leverage these tools to better serve our students.
