Takeaways from CoSN2025: Human Leadership in a World of AI, Part 1

The 2025 Consortium for School Networking (CoSN) Annual Conference went down last week in Seattle, bringing together district technology leaders, superintendents, and education innovators from across the United States. The four-day event featured over 100 workshops, panel discussions, and hands-on demonstrations exploring critical issues including cybersecurity, AI in education, digital access, and post-pandemic technology integration. I wasn’t able to attend in person this year but was able to catch up with a few who were. I’ll be sharing those conversations all week. First up!

CoSN CTO of the Year Alana Winnick

Alana is the creative force behind The Generative Age, a book/podcast that explores the rapidly evolving world of generative AI and its transformative impact on education. Serving as Educational Technology Director for Pocantico Hills CSD and Director for NYSCATE, her work has earned prestigious accolades, including this year’s COSN’s CTO of the Year and NYS Digital Leader of the Year. She is also the founder of Students for Innovation, an organization that empowers students to advocate for change within their schools.

According to Alana, two key debates emerged during the conference: defining “AI literacy” and determining appropriate AI policy approaches for schools. Alana advocates for inclusive definitions of AI literacy that recognize even elementary students’ understanding of concepts like bias and hallucinations. Regarding policy, she recommends updating existing frameworks rather than creating separate AI-specific policies, emphasizing guidelines focused on academic integrity. Have a listen: