In the latest sign that technology is central to teaching and learning, the International Society for Technology in Education, a non-profit organization that helps K-12 teachers make the most of digital tools, One is the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development. Her K-12 Professional Development Institute, the oldest and largest, will be merged.

Richard Culatta, currently ISTE Chief Executive Officer, will lead the new, larger organization in the final stages of the process if ASCD members vote to approve the plan. According to plans, the combined organization has yet to be named, but will share a steering committee.

Under the proposed agreement, ASCD and ISTE will retain their respective identities and brands, Culatta said. However, it is unclear how it will work under the new umbrella organization.

According to Clutter, given the unprecedented advances in digital tools, devices and internet connectivity spurred by the pandemic, and the growth in digital learning over the past decade or so, he believes a merger will be “a no-brainer.”

“It is very clear that the future of education needs to combine very solid leadership in instruction with the effective use of technology and new approaches,” said Culatta. “When he can combine the two, that’s where the magic begins. That’s where the solutions for the future come from.”

The merger has already gotten the go-ahead from both nonprofit boards, but there’s one more important step. His 80,000 members of the ASCD are given the chance to vote, with a simple majority determining the final result.

ASCD Interim CEO and Executive Director Sandy Husk said the merger would create an organization well positioned to meet the changing needs of the K-12 space.

“This is exactly what educators need, so that organizations can combine their respective strengths to more seamlessly access the information they need,” she said.

“ISTE is two steps ahead of us in having a solid understanding of innovation in the digital technology space. It goes two steps forward in that it really focuses on the whole concept of what it supports.

ASCD is known for publications and newsletters such as the Education Leadership magazine and the ASCD SmartBrief. ISTE owns EdSurge, an online news service covering educational technology issues and other topics in K-12 and higher education.

Designing a one-stop shop for technology and professional development

The merger comes at a moment when educational technology professional development has taken the brunt of the blow. While more school districts than ever have embraced his one-to-one computing initiative to put devices in the hands of every student, teachers still believe that technology is not enough for her training. I have consistently stated that there is.

For example, a July study by the EdWeek Research Center found that, nearly half (48%) of educators say they or their teachers are receiving mediocre or poor training in using educational technology tools. More than half also said that the educational technology professional development experience the educator participates in is her one-off event with little or no follow-up coaching or training.

One area Culatta believes the ASCD can help strengthen ISTE is by helping technology-enabled teachers take leadership roles in their districts. “Our members are great, passionate leaders,” he said. But “We don’t really have a pipeline for that. We just say ‘OK!’ Good luck! ‘”

He also hopes that the combined organization will help educators reignite their passion for teaching at a time when employee morale at K-12 schools is declining.

“I think you can see this idea of ​​putting back the injection of joy into learning that we are working on as a shared message in both communities,” said Culatta.

Staff from both organizations will provide leadership during the transition period. According to a spokesperson for Husk and ISTE, he is not expected to make any job cuts at ASCD or ISTE as a result of the merger. Both ASCD and ISTE are known for their large annual conferences, but he has no immediate plans to combine these events into one.

In the weeks leading up to Nov. 14, when ASCD members will vote on the merger, Culatta and Husk will reach out to people in both communities to delve into how the combined organization can meet their needs. .

“I really care what my members think, whether they vote or not,” Husk said. “We want to connect with people who connect with us.”

Husk is confident the ASCD members will vote to approve the merger, given the enthusiasm they’ve seen. “I can’t imagine a world without this moving forward,” she said. But if for some reason that doesn’t happen, she expects her two organizations to continue working together.

A fusion of two very different cultures

The past few years have been tumultuous for the nearly 80-year-old ASCD.According to the latest available 2019 tax returns, the organization was in the red by more than $4.6 million. ASCD has been in financial trouble in recent years, and saw significant staff reductions. Over the past five years, there have been four of his leaders, including two CEOs and his two interim CEOs.

However, ASCD had an operating profit of $2.5 million in fiscal 2021 and its latest financial report, which is still being finalized, is positive, a spokesperson said. Last year, the organization’s board of directors approved a blueprint to help the ASCD transition to a more digital model “to ensure growth and a lasting future,” the spokesperson added.

According to the company’s recent review of Glassdoor, the organization had complaints of “constant layoffs,” “low morale,” “widespread bullying,” and “poor decision-making by management.” . Networking sites that allow anonymous posting by people claiming to be current or former employees. “In three years he had three bosses,” one wrote. “All they seem to produce is stressed leaders.” However, some reviews praised ASCD’s hard-working and dedicated staff.

And the reaction to the planned merger shared with staff this week has been positive, said a spokesperson who shared this comment from the executive director of the California ASCD.

review About ISTE on the same glass door site It promotes ‘clever and hardworking staff’, ‘great mission’ and ‘highly motivated, very intelligent and passionate people’. Founded in 1989, ISTE was about $1 million. of Black is the latest on record, according to 2020 tax documentsCulatta, former Chief Innovation Officer for the Rhode Island Department of Education and Director of the Office of Educational Technology for the U.S. Department of Education, has led the organization since May 2017.

While acknowledging that “ASCD has had its rough years,” Culatta believes, “the expertise there is unmatched anywhere in the education ecosystem.” With a wide reach, it would be “difficult” for him to combine the two organizations, he says, Culatta. “But I think it’s worth it that by bringing our collective brains together, we can unlock incredible support and resources for the education community.”