2026 TETL Summer Conference

Ysleta ISD, like many districts, faces enrollment shifts and rising costs. We are meeting these challenges by standardizing admin hardware, re-envisioning teacher device options, and researching age-appropriate transitions for student 1:1 models. Join us to explore how these strategic shifts impact instructional performance and infrastructure health, offering a roadmap for balancing technological innovation with the realities of modern school finance.

Today’s schools depend on reliable connectivity for everything from classroom instruction and assessments to campus operations and safety, yet many IT teams are still managing aging infrastructure, limited staff resources, and unpredictable upgrade cycles. This session explores how schools are modernizing campus connectivity with an integrated networking approach that brings together hardware, software, deployment, and ongoing support in one unified solution. Attendees will learn how this model can reduce operational burden on lean IT teams, improve coverage and reliability across multi-building campuses, and create a more predictable path for budgeting and refreshes. Drawing on real education deployments, the session will highlight how schools are moving beyond piecemeal upgrades to build resilient, scalable networks that better support digital learning and the overall campus experience.

Texas districts are caught in the crossfire of federal legislation that doesn't distinguish managed classroom devices from consumer tech. This session challenges the "remove all screens" narrative with a proactive alternative: purpose-built instructional devices designed for learning, not addiction-driven design. Attendees will leave with talking points for their communities and an invitation to initiate a coalition of Texas district leaders advocating for smarter standards, better tools, and a seat at the legislative table.
Additional Information 
We'll be looking at Plugged Out, KOSMA, potential E-Rate impact, Visible Learning data, and the standards that we value for instructional devices.
Essential Skill
Leadership & Vision; Ethics & Policies

Developing layered communication patterns with different stakeholders can change the way tech teams work. Those changes help IT departments move from reactive to proactive perspectives campuses and departments feel on a daily basis. This session will highlight specific communication patterns used in Humble ISD since 2022 that have led to positive changes and open the doors for more.
Additional Information 
Examples will be shared that can be used, adapted, and taken away for immediate use within your organization.
Essential Skill
Team Building & Staffing; Leadership & Vision; Strategic Planning

Too often, technology is seen as providing internet and devices. Most school district decisions impact or are impacted by technology. Often, technology leaders fixate on cabinet seats, but the real work is partnering with the larger organization. That work begins inside the technology department. We won’t be seen as partners until we act like partners. In this session we will explore ideas for growing a culture of service and empowering your team.
Additional Information 
While this is a presentation, there will be opportunities for participants to interact and discuss ideas presented. Leverage participant expertise is important where it exists, but the presentation does not require audience participation. This is work I have done in two large school districts of over 50,000 students.
Essential Skill
Leadership & Vision; Team Building & Staffing; Strategic Planning

EdTech has the power to transform teaching and learning—but only when it’s intentionally selected and strategically implemented. This session offers district leaders a practical roadmap for navigating the edtech lifecycle, from decision-making to long-term impact.


You’ll gain strategies to:
* select tools aligned to district priorities
* apply best practices for evaluation and implementation
* leverage customizable resources
* adapt confidently to an evolving edtech landscape


Move from edtech overload to intentional, effective integration! 
Participants will:

• Explore the impact of EdTech on teaching, learning, and operations, with a focus on trends and alignment to districts’ academic and organizational goals
• Identify key decision-making factors for selecting tools that align with district priorities, budgets, and instructional needs
• Apply evidence-based practices for professional learning, rollout, and continuous improvement
• Gain access to customizable, ready-to-use resources that can be implemented immediately
• Stay ahead of emerging trends to ensure flexibility and sustainability in an evolving EdTech landscape

This session will explore how classroom instructional audio systems support student learning by ensuring every student can clearly hear instruction, regardless of where they are seated. Participants will learn how improving speech intelligibility increases student engagement, reduces teacher vocal strain, and creates more equitable learning environments for all students. The session will also highlight how emerging technologies such as real-time AI translation are transforming access for multilingual learners by delivering instruction instantly in their preferred language.

Essential Skill
Instructional Focus & Professional Development; Information Technology; Leadership & Vision; Communication Systems