Ten years ago, EdTech: Focus on K–12 published a list of blogs that covered all things relating to educational technology. Over the past decade, that list has become an honored tradition for our community, changing with the times to feature education IT influencers, podcasts and more.
In 2015, the social platform X still featured a little blue bird logo, the only TikTok we knew was a Kesha song and daily encounters with artificial intelligence (AI) were limited to using spell-check. And while so much is different today, especially the number of students with devices and internet access, many of the larger conversations in ed tech are the same: How do we best prepare students for their futures? How do we balance access and connectivity with safety? Have you tried turning it off and back on again?
This special-edition tenth anniversary list of IT influencers to follow features a mix of new voices and those from past lists, many of whom have grown to become household names in ed tech. All of the individuals on this year’s list have succeeded in building community and making their voices heard. They are presenting at conferences, hosting podcasts and sharing their knowledge throughout K–12 IT communities. They’re experts in networking, digital workflows, student well-being, AI and the myriad other areas that make up an IT leader’s role in education today.
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If you’re featured among the 2025 K–12 IT influencers to follow, be sure to share the good news and support your fellow influencers on your social media profiles, podcasts or websites. To discover EdTech’s K–12 IT influencers and blogs from previous years, click here.
Adam Phyall III, the director of professional learning and leadership at All4Ed, brings his ed tech expertise to presentations at K–12 conferences and to the podcast UnDisrupted with Carl Hooker.
Influencer Class of 2020
Alfonso “Fonz” Mendoza is the digital learning coordinator at Sharyland Independent School District in Texas. He also hosts the podcast My EdTech Life, where he speaks with guests on the ways K–12 educators and IT leaders can enrich learning opportunities with technology.
Influencer Class of 2022
Her work at Sheldon Independent School District in Texas earned Amanda Chacon the honor of being named School Library Journal’s 2024 School Librarian of the Year. She is hands-on with district initiatives, expanding the library’s makerspace opportunities and its community outreach and leading STEM workshops for K–12 students.
Influencer Class of 2025
An instructional coach at Fontana Unified School District in California, Amanda Macias is an advocate for game-based learning. She also helped establish the esports team in her district and is always looking for ways to promote impactful curriculum, equitable opportunities and student voices. Macias is also a part-time co-host on the TechtalkRadio podcast.
Influencer Class of 2025
Amos Fodchuk is the president and founder of Advanced Learning Partnerships, a consulting firm that helps schools amplify learning through services such as instructional leadership development, assessment reform and more.
Influencer Class of 2025
From his work as an educator at New Jersey’s New Brunswick Public Schools to his role as a host on the House of EdTech podcast, Christopher Nesi is fully immersed in the world of K–12 educational technology. He aims to inspire other educators seeking to better integrate technology into their teaching practices.
Influencer Class of 2019
In addition to working as the superintendent for California’s Cajon Valley Union School District, David Miyashiro is also a board member of Junior Achievement of San Diego County, Classroom of the Future Foundation and the San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation. Miyashiro is an expert in modernizing learning districtwide and shares his experiences with other K–12 leaders.
Influencer Class of 2020
Emily Coleman is superintendent for the Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired and the host of A Sense of Texas podcast. On the podcast, which features a knowledge-sharing format that invites the visually impaired community to partake unimpeded, Coleman talks about services and technology solutions for students at her school.
Influencer Class of 2025
Working as the CEO of educational consultancy company Aspire Change EDU, Eric Sheninger brings his insights and expertise to ed tech audiences through speaking engagements and publications, including his book Personalize.
Influencer Class of 2015
Frankie Jackson worked as a CTO in K–12 schools for decades after serving as a program manager at NASA. Now retired from districts, she continues to influence the world of ed tech by authoring books, speaking at conferences and delivering her insights as a writer for EdTech: Focus on K–12.
Influencer Class of 2025
Jean-Claude Brizard is the president and CEO of Digital Promise, a global education nonprofit. His prior experiences include roles with Chicago Public Schools, the New York Department of Education and Rochester City School District.
Influencer Class of 2025
The director of information and learning technology for Byron Public Schools in Minnesota, Jen Hegna is a self-described “innovation enthusiast.” She embodies this through her engagements with the ed tech community online and in person, sharing her expertise around integrating high-impact technologies, optimizing workflows and communications, and uplifting the students in her community.
Influencer Class of 2025
Jen Roberts is a high school English teacher and one-to-one technology ambassador at San Diego Unified School District. Her students have been one-to-one with laptops since 2008. She serves her district on the technology advisory committee and is a standards-based learning fellow.
Influencer Class of 2025
Principal of alternative programs at Austin Public Schools in Minnesota, Jessica Cabeen was named Minnesota National Distinguished Principal by the National Association of Elementary School Principals in 2017. She has authored numerous books and champions innovative learning environments as well as self-care for educators.
Influencer Class of 2025
Josh Bauman is the technology director at Festus R-IV School District in Missouri and host of the K12 Tech Talk podcast, a show dedicated to discussing the challenges plaguing K–12 IT departments. Bauman is also an executive committee member of MS-ISAC and an advocate for accessibility.
Influencer Class of 2025
Julia Fallon is the executive director of the State Educational Technology Directors Association. Fallon champions her organization’s leadership and her own expertise on podcasts, and she is frequently invited to speak — and DJ — at conferences and events.
Influencer Class of 2025
Her role as supervisor of instructional services for Ulster Board of Cooperative Educational Services allows Julianne B. Ross-Kleinmann to sharpen her skills in ed tech integration, professional development, instructional design and more. She then shares her skills on podcasts, at events and with her network of like-minded leaders.
Influencer Class of 2025
Katie Harmon is the educational technology director at Westhill Central School District in New York. She co-hosts Digital Dish, a podcast that aims to provide ed tech professional development on the go, and she’s an active contributor in the CDW Education Collaborative, a dedicated forum for K–12 IT professionals.
Influencer Class of 2025
Following teaching roles at Los Angeles Unified School District and a few years as a professional development coordinator, Ken Shelton found his niche in ed tech as a consultant, author and conference speaker. He uses his platform to advocate for technological innovation and equity in K–12 spaces.
Influencer Class of 2020
After winning North Carolina Teacher of the Year in 2022 for her work as a high school English teacher at Guilford County Schools, Leah Carper took a new role in the district as its director of stakeholder engagement. She shares tips, tricks and behind-the-scenes moments with her network of followers.
Influencer Class of 2025
A professional speaker and professional development provider, Leslie Fisher imparts her technological wisdom to eager audiences at ed tech conferences. She works to support K–12 educators and IT leaders in their journey to understand, adopt and refine educational technologies for their teaching and learning needs.
Influencer Class of 2022
Sallie Holloway became the director of AI and computer science at Georgia’s Gwinnett County Public Schools more than a year before OpenAI released ChatGPT. Her work leading and teaching AI laid the groundwork for districts across the country. She was recognized for her innovation with the District Administration Woman of Distinction award.
Influencer Class of 2025
Savanna Flakes, an adjunct professor at American University and an education consultant, is focused on inclusive and equitable instruction for all students, particularly through instructional coaching and professional development for K–12 educators. Flakes has hosted workshops and delivered keynotes, including a TEDx Talk.
Influencer Class of 2025
Director of the instructional technology initiative at Los Angeles Unified School District, Sophia Mendoza endeavors to bring technology to all students, regardless of their backgrounds. She has implemented AI literacy, Minecraft Education esports, digital citizenship and more across the 1,300 schools in her district.
Influencer Class of 2020
Stevie Frank is a technology integration specialist at Zionsville Community Schools in Indiana who loves amplifying the individuals in her network and the ed tech solutions she believes in. She’s an ambassador for brands such as Adobe, a Microsoft Innovative Education Expert and a cheerleader for anyone in her professional circles.
Influencer Class of 2023
Tammy Neil is president of the Sunshine State Esports League and leads the middle school esports team, which is composed of players and shoutcasters, at Suwannee County School District. When she isn’t coaching, Tammy works as a computer science educator in the district.
Influencer Class of 2025
Author of Navigating Dual Immersion and co-host of the Struggle for Change podcast, Valerie Sun has worked as a dual language immersion teacher, an ed tech coordinator and a teacher trainer. She shows educators the value of tech tools for their classrooms and now brings her perspectives to an administrative role as a principal at Garvey School District in California.
Influencer Class of 2025
Outside of her role as the instructional technology director at Georgia’s Sherwood Christian Academy, Vicki Davis maintains a blog, newsletter, radio show and podcast. The Cool Cat Teacher blog, where Davis first shared her ed tech expertise, has grown with additions including The 10-Minute Teacher Podcast and the Cool Cat Teacher YouTube channel.
Influencer Class of 2015
Having worked extensively in educational tech with school districts and organizations, Victoria “The Tech” Thompson joined CDW as an education strategist, bringing her insights and expertise to districts through her work and through speaking engagements at ed tech events. She maintains a network of deeply connected and involved K–12 IT experts.
Influencer Class of 2021
Wanda Terral is the technology director at Tennessee’s Lakeland School System. As a Google Certified Innovator and Google Certified Trainer, she publishes tips and tricks for Google Education users on her blog, Ignition Edu, and trades advice with her peers in the CDW Education Collaborative.
Influencer Class of 2025
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