Woburn Public Schools’ Director of Technologies and Innovation Attends Ed Tech Advocacy and Policy Occasion in Washington D.C.

WOBURN – Superintendent Matthew Crowley is pleased to share that Woburn Public Schools’ Director of Technologies and Innovation Jennifer Judkins attended an Ed Tech Advocacy and Policy Fly-in occasion in Washington D.C. for the third consecutive year. 

Judkins attended the Ed Tech Advocacy and Policy Fly-in occasion, along with two other technology directors from Massachusetts and a representative from the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education’s (DESE) Workplace of Ed Tech, on Tuesday, Could two, in Washington D.C. The occasion is developed to facilitate discussion on educational technologies subjects involving representatives of college districts, states, education service agencies, members of Congress, their essential congressional employees, and leaders of education specialist associations.

At the occasion, Judkins met with staffers from Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s, Sen. Ed Markey’s, and Rep. Catherine Clark’s offices, along with Federal Communications Commission (FCC) chairs, to advocate on matters of student information privacy, funding for cybersecurity response, and a lot more. 

“It was an honor to participate in the Ed Tech Advocacy occasion to connect with educational leaders from across the US who share numerous of the exact same priorities about student information privacy, access to technologies, and cybersecurity,” mentioned Judkins. “Meetings with legislative employees offered a exclusive chance to share certain challenges and successes we face in Woburn to assist contextualize and hopefully influence policy choices moving forward.”

Discussions at the occasion focused on present problems such as e-Price, a grant system that aids to fund around 60 % of Woburn’s IT Infrastructure improvements annually, like the assistance to contain cybersecurity to shield student information.

Judkins helped facilitate discussions on supporting and guarding students’ personally identifiable information and facts, as nicely as enhancing the K-12 Cybersecurity Act, as it has been noted as a substantial concern for K-12 schools offered the national rise in cyberattacks and vulnerability of students with regard to identity theft.

The homework gap was an additional essential subject, specifically advocating for producing the Emergency Connectivity Fund permanent. Woburn received more than $440,000 in ECF funding more than the previous two years to assist acquire student devices and help with web service for low-earnings households.

“Jennifer’s dedication to technologies education and enhancing the lives of our students is apparent by way of her commitment to education and advocacy,” mentioned Superintendent Crowley. “Her attendance at the Ed Tech Advocacy and Policy Fly-in for the third year in a row demonstrates that commitment. We are pretty fortunate to have her right here in Woburn.”