5 Things I Learned at ISTE
Five Things I Learned at ISTE That Every Principal Should Be Thinking About
Why I Went
I have been a member of ISTE (formerly International Society of Technology in Education-now-International society for transformation in Education). I have done so many things with ISTE including being a community leader and also someone who joins their webinars every Wednesday. But I’ve never gone to their famous conference. This time I submitted a proposal and it was accepted. Off I went.
I submitted as Principal of Carmel River Elementary School and technically I still was. But I was on the verge of retirement; launching Leading with Logic AND prepping to coach new administrators in Monterey County through the credential program. I was a shape shifter.
ISTE is not about gadgets it has always been about learning. I was looking for ideas as to what does help the principal and how we support through the shifting role of technology in schools and the tool that is AI. (AI is my thought partner but I write my own material) Oh yes AI is my editor too. Full disclosure.
1. AI Isn't Replacing Principals—It's Giving Them Time to Lead
AI at its best is not built to replace professional judgment, it is meant to remove administrative burden. Well, some of them do.
I use AI for several tasks and this is what I presented on. I use it for brainstorming parent communication. Precise summary of meetings. Organizing notes from official observations and not official walk throughs. And work around all the newsletters that go out.
What used to take hours or linger for days can easily be done in a fraction of the time. That’s the beauty of it for a site leader—or any district administrator.
2. Systems Will Always Beat More Effort
I’m a sucker for a good expo and ISTE did NOT disappoint. It was the highlight for me. But so many of the products and offerings are a light load that you can easily do with what you already have. Believe me juggling around district road blocks means whichever system you can use (in order of work preference: Gemini, Claude, or Chat) can pretty much do all the things that were promised.
Before adopting or using any platform ask yourself: What problem am I trying to solve, and what do I already have that can do that? Learning curves can trip you up. Build relationships with not only your people but also your AI system of choice.
3. The Best Conversations Weren't About Technology
The conversations I had either in workshops, meetings, or think groups were not about AI or technology. They were mostly about a few things-educator wellness and the life of a principal. I will always hold principals close to my heart and always strive to serve them—especially new ones. Although what’s happening in technology both big vendors like Google and Canva and small new companies . The technology was impressive—but the human conversations were the most valuable.
Your professional network may be your most valuable leadership resource. I am happy to join you.
4. Curiosity Is One of a Leader's Greatest Strengths
Even though I’m retired from the formality of a district I still found myself taking notes and asking questions-and sort of sorry to be stepping out of the ring—I was still interested in everything new.
If you're still learning, you're still growing—and so is your school.
5. Leadership Still Comes Down to People
There’s no getting around it: leadership will always be about people. Coaching a struggling teacher or comforting a frightened student will always be the best part of the job. Yes, even difficult parent conversations—require huge bandwidth. Technology can support you so you have time for these pieces but they will never take your place with your people.
The future belongs to principals who use technology to strengthen relationships—not substitute for them.
Conclusion: My Biggest Takeaway
If technology can help us spend less time behind our desks and more time with our people, then it's worth embracing.
That's the kind of leadership I hope to continue supporting through Leading with Logic.
