IEI Fall Retreats bring District Leaders and Edtech Companies Together Safely
By Sara Croll, IEI Director of Marketing
As the pandemic hit last March, we were all lost, confused, and worried. We listened to the experts, tried to make sense of the future of the country, and especially the future of education. We organized our families first by creating homeschool environments and schedules to balance home and work, but then we rolled up our sleeves and got to work.
Many of our partners were struggling to keep their businesses afloat, and they were navigating how to appropriately reach out to superintendents during this very challenging time. Their goal was to be helpful and supportive, but not overbearing. We heard their needs and saw their struggle. On the other hand, we also listened to our superintendent members. We took note as they expressed frustration, and we admired them as they continued to lead with enthusiasm, empathy, and transparency during such an unusual time. We realized that we clearly needed to do something to support both groups.
We created IEI hybrid regional retreats to bridge this gap and find a way to meet safely. We worked diligently to find locations away from big cities where we could hold meetings and meals outdoors and/or with open air. We mandated masks, followed all CDC guidelines, and put the safety of our members and partners as our number one priority. We had superintendents and partners on-site and virtually logging in through our interactive software platform that creates an in-person like experience. The panel discussions ranged from topics related to equity, SEL, family communication, as well as our superintendent members and guests sharing success stories, but also their challenges as the group brainstormed some ideas on what to do to support one another. We saw tears as well as laughter as we gathered together, trying to make sense of the world that was now our new normal.
Superintendents, IEI team members, and guests even brought their children to the event. In one instance, we rented a large house where one room was specifically dedicated to virtual school for the kids. Our members took meetings outside, by the fireplace, in the basement, and even sitting on the floor! They did what they came to do: to seek out the best solutions to support their school districts. It was truly a family event.
Todd Dugan, Superintendent of Bunker Hill CSD said, “After spending the last several months engaged in stressful and constantly changing scenario planning, it was so helpful to spend the weekend collaborating with other district and industry leaders regarding many of the same challenges and potential solutions. Prior to the weekend, I was exhausted but returned to my district recharged, renewed, and re-energized to tackle this upcoming year and it’s myriad of obstacles.”
The retreats not only brought our superintendents together as they talked freely about having to create plan A, B, C, and D, and then be willing to change all those plans in an instant. We also had the privilege of working with our partners as they expressed deep concern on how they could best support superintendents.
Founder and CEO of Midas Education, Meghan Harney said, “MIDAS Education really appreciates the work that went into the IEI blended retreats this fall. We would all prefer to meet in-person as we did in the past. However, the pandemic changed all of our plans. IEI has shown us that it is still possible to have meaningful, in-person gatherings so long as we put safety first and ensure that we take every precaution. IEI is a dynamic organization of some of the most adaptable and innovative leaders in education, and it is always a great experience to connect with one another.”
We’ve always referred to our organization as “IEI Family” and now more than ever we truly feel that way. People keep saying, “we’re all in this together” and at IEI that could not be more accurate. We look forward to our upcoming events and to continue to work with the most dedicated educational leaders and thoughtful partners in the industry.
“The IEI Fall Retreat was an excellent opportunity to connect and collaborate with colleagues and meet new partners with exciting and innovative solutions to many of the problems we are addressing in our school district,” said -Dr. Jason Andrews, Superintendent, Windsor Central School District, Windsor, New York. The safety protocols and procedures put in place ensured that participants were able to engage in a safe and comfortable way. The IEI team thought of every detail! It was
outstanding,”he said.”
To learn how to attend an IEI event as a superintendent guest, or to find out about membership, email Sara Croll at sara@instutiteforedinnovation.com
To participate in an IEI event as a vendor, email Doug Roberts at doug@instituteforedinnovation.com
