Last week in Austin, at our annual District Advisory Council (DAC), we did something new—and long overdue.
For the first time, we presented the Lightspeed Systems® Innovation Impact Awards.
DAC has always been one of my favorite events of the year. For years now, we’ve brought together district leaders who are not just managing technology, but shaping the future of it. They come ready to share what’s working, what’s not, and how we can collectively do better for students.
This year, we decided it was time to formally recognize the leaders who are moving beyond implementation and into measurable impact.
When I called our winners to let them know ahead of the event, the response was immediate and heartfelt. They were excited—truly excited. Not because of a trophy, but because someone noticed the intentional, strategic work they’ve been doing behind the scenes to improve safety, governance, instruction, engagement, ROI, and compliance.
That’s exactly why we created these awards.
Moving Beyond Adoption to Impact
Technology adoption is easy to measure. Impact is not.
Gli Innovation Impact Awards sono stati ideati per premiare i leader del settore dell'istruzione che sfruttano le soluzioni Lightspeed in modo strategico, utilizzando dati, visibilità e controllo per ottenere risultati concreti. I vincitori sono stati selezionati dal nostro team dirigenziale sulla base di comprovata capacità innovativa, risultati misurabili e un chiaro impegno per un utilizzo responsabile della tecnologia, incentrato sullo studente.
Here’s who we honored this year:
Data Innovation
Northside ISD (TX)
Miranda Snider, Assistant Director of Technology
Northside ISD has transformed how they approach edtech purchasing decisions. By leveraging Intuizione della velocità della luce™ e il suo ROI Reporting capabilities, they’ve bridged the gap between Technology Services and Curriculum & Instruction.
Northside has:
- Identified and eliminated redundant applications
- Uncovered training gaps
- Improved communication about available tools
- Redirected budget toward resources that directly support student learning
As Miranda put it:
“We aren’t just looking at data; we’re using it to ensure every dollar spent directly supports student learning.”
That mindset shift—from “what’s being used” to “why it’s being used”—is exactly what strategic data governance should look like.
AI Governance Innovation
Corpus Christi ISD (TX)
Thomas Molina, Information Security Officer
Janelle Reyes, Technology Services Director
Corpus Christi ISD is leading a deliberate approach to AI adoption. By utilizing Lightspeed tools, they are staging and managing AI product rollouts with precision—ensuring responsible implementation at every step.
Corpus Christi ISD has:
- Staged AI product rollouts to align with district readiness
- Managed access to specific AI tooling across user levels
- Verified privacy, security, and compliance with all legislative requirements for safe AI use
As Thomas & Janelle shared:
“We can easily manage access to specific tooling until our internal teams can verify privacy, security, and compliance with all legislative requirements for safe AI use.”
Their structured governance model reflects what responsible, scalable AI implementation should look like in K–12 education.
Instructional Impact Data Innovation
Lincoln Public Schools (NE)
Kristi Peters, Instructional Technology Coordinator
Kirk Langer, Chief Technology Officer
Lincoln Public Schools is redefining ROI, shifting the focus from Return on Investment A Return on Instruction. By leveraging Lightspeed Insight™, they are examining how instructional time spent in digital resources connects to student outcomes.
Lincoln Public Schools has:
- Analyzed instructional time spent within digital resources
- Evaluated whether time investments align with evidence-based tools
- Worked to correlate instructional time with student achievement outcomes
As Kristi and Kirk explained:
“As Insight evolves, we are getting closer to the time when we can better understand not only whether a resource is being used, and not only whether it is useful, but for which type of learners it is the best resource.”
Their work elevates the conversation from tool usage to instructional impact.
Data & Compliance Innovation
Rogers Public Schools (AR)
Michelle Martin, Information Technology
Rogers Public Schools has strengthened district-wide app governance and oversight, ensuring every digital tool meets privacy and compliance standards.
Rogers Public Schools has:
- Centralized the district’s software and app approval process
- Maintained a comprehensive district software inventory
- Verified FERPA and COPPA compliance
- Analyzed granular engagement data
As Michelle shared:
“Insight helps us track state-specific Data Privacy Agreements (DPAs), ensuring we meet all state legal requirements for documentation, transparency, and student safety.”
Her leadership demonstrates how disciplined data governance strengthens both compliance and operational clarity.
Student Safety Innovation
Bibb County School District (GA)
Kevin Adams, Chief Information Officer
Il distretto scolastico della contea di Bibb ha implementato Avviso di velocità della luce™ to proactively address student safety concerns and coordinate district-wide response efforts.
Bibb County School District has:
- Supported timely responses to student challenges and established processes for proactive intervention
- Involved school building administrators in response planning
- Coordinated efforts with the district’s Campus Police force
Kevin explained:
“As we onboard [Lightspeed Alert™], we have engaged district leaders, school building administration, and our Campus Police force.”
His approach ensures that monitoring is paired with coordinated, actionable response.
Student Engagement Innovation
DeKalb County School District (GA)
Terri Webb, Manager III of Instructional Technology
Jamal Northington, Manager of Data Center and Cloud Services
DeKalb County School District is strengthening digital engagement by giving teachers real-time visibility into student device activity through Aula Lightspeed™, enabling more focused and effective instruction.
DeKalb County School District has:
- Provided the ability to intervene in off-task behavior without disrupting instruction
- Allowed teachers to block or allow URLs during digital activities and given visibility into how many tabs students have open to mitigate distractions
- Supported improved focus during instructional time
As Terri and Jamal shared:
“Our teachers appreciate the ability to block or allow URLs while seeing how many tabs are open during digital activities while helping students focus on the expected task.”
Their work highlights how classroom visibility tools can support engagement while maintaining instructional flow.
Security & Device Management Innovation
Fort Worth ISD (TX)
Cybersecurity Team
During a routine review using Lightspeed’s tools, Fort Worth ISD’s Technology team identified an opportunity to strengthen oversight and streamline device management across the district. What began as a standard audit evolved into a collaborative effort to refine processes, audit proxies, update safeguards, and ensure thousands of student devices were fully aligned with district policies.
Through thoughtful analysis and cross‑department teamwork, the team enhanced consistency in device configurations, reinforced existing security practices, and improved the overall learning environment. This work reflects FWISD’s ongoing focus on continuous improvement and its strong partnership with Lightspeed in supporting safe, effective digital learning.
As the cybersecurity team put it:
“The project ultimately helped the district modernize workflows and reinforce its commitment to providing students with secure, reliable technology that supports instruction.”
Why This Matters
Across every category (data, AI governance, instructional impact, compliance, student safety, and student engagement) the common thread is leadership.
These individuals are not simply deploying tools. They’re:
- Asking better questions
- Aligning teams
- Using visibility to inform decisions
- Holding technology accountable to outcomes
These districts exemplify what it means to move beyond technology adoption and into technology impact. Their leadership demonstrates how actionable insights, when paired with intentional strategy, can drive meaningful change in student safety, instructional effectiveness, fiscal responsibility, and responsible AI implementation.
We are proud to partner with districts that use data not just to observe trends, but to act on them in ways that directly support student success.
Because the work these leaders are doing deserves to be seen—and celebrated.
