MassCUE Board of Directors Election: Voting 5/20 – 5/27. Meet the Candidates.

MassCUE Board of Directors Election: Voting Opens May 20th It’s election season at MassCUE! This spring, MassCUE is looking to fill three elected Director positions and three appointed Director positions to the Board of Directors. Voting will take place from Tuesday, May 20 to Tuesday, May 27, 2025. An email containing a link for the ballot will be sent out to MassCUE members on Tuesday, May 20. The MassCUE Board of Directors plays a key role in the strategic direction of the organization. This year we are pleased to announce we have five candidates running for the opportunity to share their time and talents with MassCUE.   Meet the Candidates Scott J. Cabral As Chief Information Officer for Fall River Public Schools, I bring over 25 years of experience in K–12 technology leadership, overseeing infrastructure, instructional technology, cybersecurity, and data systems for nearly 10,000 students. I’m deeply committed to integrating emerging technologies—particularly AI—in ways that enhance student learning outcomes and support educators in transforming instructional practice. My philosophy centers on equity, innovation, and sustainability. I believe AI, when implemented thoughtfully, has the potential to personalize learning, streamline administrative tasks, and empower educators with real-time insights. At the same time, professional development must evolve to ensure staff are confident and prepared to use these tools responsibly and effectively. If elected, I will work to expand statewide access to high-impact technology programs, elevate AI readiness, and ensure both students and educators are equipped to thrive in a rapidly evolving digital landscape. Greg Limperis With a proven track record of leadership in educational technology, I am committed to advocating for the effective integration of technology in education. My qualifications include Professional development of educators in the proper use of educational technology to help improve teaching and learning. . I believe in a student-centered approach where technology serves as a catalyst for personalized learning and equitable access. As a MassCUE Board member, I aim to amplify the voices of educators, promote best practices, and work collaboratively to advance the strategic use of technology across the Commonwealth. Andrew Marcinek Andrew Marcinek brings over 15 years of leadership in educational technology and digital learning to the MassCUE Board of Directors. As the author of Teaching Digital Kindness (Routledge, 2023), Andrew is a leading advocate for student digital well-being and intentional, equitable use of technology in schools. His philosophy centers on aligning technology with core educational values to empower learners and educators. During his tenure on the MassCUE Board, Andrew has co-chaired the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee and served on the Finance Committee, helping guide the organization’s fiscal stewardship and strategic priorities. Andrew is dedicated to fostering innovation, collaboration, and sustainable practices that support Massachusetts educators and students in a rapidly evolving digital world. Corey Mello With 17 years of experience in Special Education and 15 of those years in an IT role, I believe I can bring an often overlooked perspective to MassCUE’s leadership as we look to the future. I come from a self-taught background in the field with a growing focus in assistive technology to support and enrich both physically impaired and neurodivergent students. I have a strong belief that digital citizenship and an educated user base is key to navigating the rapidly changing landscape of technology in schools. Both cybersecurity and ethical application of the tools at our fingertips begins and ends with the user, and it is our responsibility to understand this in order to empower our students. Kendyl Brooks Santos As an elementary Technology Teacher with a background in classroom instruction, I bring a passion for empowering both students and educators through meaningful, accessible technology integration. With experience teaching in both urban and suburban settings, I understand the diverse needs of schools and the power of digital tools to transform learning. I believe in fostering digital citizenship, supporting lifelong learning, and creating equitable opportunities for all learners. My goal in serving on the MassCUE Board is to advocate for educator voice, expand access to high-quality professional development, and help shape the future of EdTech in Massachusetts. I’m committed to collaboration, innovation, and strengthening our community of educators.

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MassCUE & Me Series

A Legacy of Learning through Technology Check out our special interest editorial series spotlighting the transformative impact of MassCUE…

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Job Opportunity for MassCUE: Executive Director

MassCUE Executive Director Opportunity MassCUE, a leading voice in educational technology in Massachusetts, is embarking on an exciting search…

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Get Support with your Fall Conference Proposal

Support with Your Fall Conference Proposal         Have questions about submitting a proposal for the MassCUE Fall…

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May Featured Educator – Ray Badger

MassCUE is pleased to announce Ray Badger as our Featured Educator for May 2025! Ray Badger,…

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Get a CUE with COMCOM

The Team Behind the MassCUE Communications Committee   In the latest episode of the Get a CUE Podcast, the team behind…

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Project Tomorrow Family Speak Up Surveys 2025

MassCUE/Project Tomorrow Family Speak Up Surveys 2025 Date: May 1st through June 30th, 2025 Location: Online Cost: No Cost   We invite the MassCUE community to leverage exclusive findings from the Project Tomorrow Speak Up Parent and Family Survey to guide district-wide edtech planning and decision-making. Dr. Julie Evans, CEO of Project Tomorrow and founder of Speak Up, will join us at the Fall Conference, with the Speak Up team offering full support—from survey distribution to in-depth data analysis. In an era of tight budgets, rapid AI advancement, and growing concerns about digital wellness, delivering strong digital literacy and citizenship education is both more difficult—and more important—than ever.   Benefits of Participating in Speak-Up No cost, actionable local data – Available as soon as your survey window closes, enabling mid-year adjustments. National comparative data – Released within 30 days of survey close. Easy setup – Quick registration via the Speak Up 24–25 Registration Tutorial. Custom survey links – Tailored by district, school, and audience (Accessing Your Speak Up 24–25 Survey Links video available). Flexible timing – Run surveys anytime before June 30, 2025. Ongoing support – A dedicated Speak Up Project Manager and support team will assist at every step.   How to Participate Determine if your district leadership team would benefit from collecting family perspectives using either of our current surveys: The Classic Speak Up (multiple themes related to technology and learning) The Speak Up Snapshot: AI in Education   Timeline If you find value in surveying your families, the next step is to: Select one of the two surveys and start sending the survey out as soon as possible. Surveys are open through June 30, 2025.   EMail: speakup@tomorrow.org or sign up at https://speakup.tomorrow.org/register.

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Meet the MassCUE Board of Directors

MassCUE is pleased to introduce our new Board of Directors, a group of experienced educators and leaders committed to advancing technology in education. The board includes Officers Leo Brehm, Jared Perrine, Jacqueline Collins, and Ellen Driscoll. Board Members include Dr. Susan Bisson, Drew O'Connors, John O'Sullivan, Tracy Sockalosky, and Melissa Zeitz. These members bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise from various roles within the educational field, including classroom teaching, instructional technology, and administrative positions. Their diverse backgrounds and shared passion for educational technology will guide MassCUE in its mission to support and empower educators across Massachusetts. To learn more about our Board Members, please visit our website.

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MassCUE April News

April News Blast Check out the latest newsletter for all that MassCUE has to offer. Meet our New Board Annual General Meeting: April 16, 2025 MassCUE Annual Elections MassCUE ByLaws Mark Your Calendar for the Fall Conference Present at our Fall Conference Massachusetts K-12 AI Task Force ISTE and ASCD Partnership Corporate Partner Spotlight on Lightspeed and Rediker Tech & Learning Summit MassCUE News_April 2025 Want to get MassCUE news delivered right to your inbox? Sign up on our Newsletters page.  

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MassCUE March News

March News Blast Check out the latest newsletter for all that MassCUE has to offer. Annual General Meeting: April 16, 2025 Classroom Grant winners Join a Special Interest Group (SIG) or a MassCUE Committee MassCUE & Me MassCUE News_ March 2025 Want to get MassCUE news delivered right to your inbox? Sign up on our Newsletters page.  

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2025 Classroom Grant Recipients

Congratulations to our 2025 Grant Recipients From Lego robotics to 3D printing to Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality (AR/VR), educators will be introducing their students to new technology and new ways of learning, thanks to MassCUE Classroom Grants. Classroom grants were awarded to educators teaching students from elementary through high school. To learn more about this year's winners and the projects they will be working on, visit the Classroom Grants page on our website. 2025 Classroom Grants NAME GRANT DISTRICT Wendy Byrne Bridging Creativity and Careers: 3D Printing for STEM Education North Reading Middle School Daniel Cushing Bringing 3D Printing to Elementary STEM Woodland Elementary, Milford Vanessa Miller KIBO Coding Club Narragansett Elementary Meaghan Tully AR/VR & MergeEDU Dartmouth High School Therese Valente Lego Education Spike Prime Robotics Old Rochester Regional Junior High, Mattapoisett

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A Message to the MassCUE Community

Dear MassCUE Community, We are pleased to announce that an interim Board of Directors has been formed. The Board is directing all its efforts to ensure that MassCUE’s core mission “to create, share, and support visions of technology and learning that focus on uses of technology that enhance the educational environment" is front and center. The Board acknowledges the challenges we’ve faced and is committed to rebuilding trust, improving communication, and revitalizing MassCUE’s presence in the community. Each member of the Board of Directors brings a wealth of experience and dedication to this transitional period. If you are interested in joining the board, please visit the Board of Directors page on our website. In addition, the MassCUE Board has hired former Executive Director, Shelley Chamberlain, as Transition Director. Shelley will work with our Board members to ensure a smooth transition over the coming months. MassCUE is taking immediate action to reconnect with our members, vendors, and partners by reinstating committees, Special Interest Groups (SIGs), and our website to provide timely updates and resources. This transition is about creating a stronger, more transparent, and inclusive foundation for the future. Your support and feedback are essential as we work together to make MassCUE the EdTech clearinghouse Massachusetts educators deserve. There will be a general meeting on April 16, 2025, at Gillette Stadium, where we will discuss special elections and recommended bylaw changes. In the meantime, please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions or concerns at schamberlain@masscue.org. We are here to listen and collaborate. Thank you for your continued dedication to MassCUE and the educators we serve. Warm regards, MassCUE Interim Executive Board  

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December Featured Educator – Dr. Hossam Elsayyad

For Dr. Hossam Elsayyad, language learning is more than just academics. It’s about building confidence and creating a sense of belonging. As an English Language Development teacher at the Wawecus Road School in Worcester, Dr. Elsayyad integrates culturally responsive teaching and innovative tools with the goal of creating a classroom where every student feels valued, capable, and excited to learn. “Helping students overcome language barriers, express themselves, and gain confidence in their abilities is incredibly rewarding,” Dr. Elsayyad says. “I’m passionate about teaching English language learners because I believe in the transformative power of education.” Dr. Elsayyad leverages technology to enhance language development across the core domains of reading, writing, listening, and speaking. His innovative use of AI tools has transformed language instruction. He uses Simplified AI to create engaging, visual lessons by turning written text into dynamic video content, making it easier for visual learners to grasp concepts. Pi AI gives students practice speaking in a safe, low-pressure environment through simulated real-life conversations. He creates differentiated activities with ChatGPT, adjusting task complexity to match students’ language levels. “With ChatGPT, you can simplify vocabulary and structures for beginners while challenging advanced learners with more complex language,” he says. “This ensures that all students are appropriately engaged, maintaining high expectations without watering down the content.” One of Dr. Elsayyad’s core beliefs is that learning is a collaborative journey. Involving students in setting goals and reflecting on their progress empowers them and fosters ownership. He integrates digital portfolios, primarily through Seesaw, to track and showcase student progress. These portfolios include writing samples, voice recordings, and project work, allowing students to reflect on their growth and take pride in their achievements. He uses Imagine Learning, an adaptive program that tailors lessons to each student's proficiency level, to provide the right challenge and instant feedback. “Together, these tools help me stay organized and offer families easy access to their child’s progress, fostering a sense of ownership and boosting students' confidence,” he says. “For English learners, seeing their improvement is especially motivating.” Another favorite tool for Dr. Elsayyad is Canva, which allows students to create visually compelling projects like infographics and storyboards, reinforcing vocabulary and comprehension. For group projects, he uses Google Slides. Students collaborate to create presentations on topics such as animals, foods, or family traditions, fostering creativity while allowing them to practice their language skills. He uses Google Classroom for organizing assignments, offering feedback, and maintaining communication with both students and parents. “These tools make learning interactive and give students a chance to express themselves in creative ways, turning language practice into an engaging, meaningful experience,” he says. His advice to fellow ELD teachers: build strong relationships with your students. When you understand their backgrounds, cultures, and interests, it helps you connect with them and make the material more relevant. “Embrace technology, but always use it with purpose. It should enhance learning, not complicate it,” he says. “And above all, create a welcoming classroom. A supportive environment encourages students to take risks with their language practice, which is essential for growth.” Ensuring that students feel confident and engaged, especially when facing language barriers, can be a challenge, he says. Balancing the diverse language abilities and cultural backgrounds of his students requires creativity and flexibility. The reward, he says, is watching his students grow. “Whether it’s the first time a student speaks up in class or the pride they feel when sharing a completed project, these moments remind me of why I do this work,” he says. “Their resilience and progress inspire me every day.”   Hossam Elsayyad is an experienced ELD educator and researcher, currently teaching in Worcester, MA. With a Ph.D. in English Education from the University of BathSpa, his work focuses on bilingualism, language acquisition, and the impact of working memory on reading comprehension. Hossam integrates culturally responsive teaching and digital technology to foster English language development and build intellectual agency in his students. Passionate about supporting English language learners, he focuses on creating an inclusive, student-centered classroom that respects and celebrates cultural diversity.

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Recording Available – Better Together

Watch the Recording All Hands on Deck: The Shared Responsibility of Student Well-Being When it comes to technology and student well-being, we all have a role to play in keeping kids safe. Educators from organizations across the commonwealth joined forces on Thursday, November 21 to tackle the issues and make suggestions on student data privacy, social media use and more. Watch the full recording of our November Better Together event below: This event was held in partnership with the Collaborative for Educational Services (CES), the Computer Science Teachers Association (CSTA), the MA Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (MASCD), the Massachusetts Educational Technology Administrators Association (METAA) and the Mass School Library Association (MSLA). Resources Discussed by Panelists VIEW RESOURCES IN FULL-SCREEN MODE Featured Panelists CES Julia Sabourin Chief Operating Officer Berkshire County District Attorney’s Office Ronna Zigmand Tech Director, Librarian Richmond Consolidated School CSTA Megan Bounit Technology Officer Buckingham Browne & Nichols School MASCD Suzy Brooks Director of Instructional Technology Mashpee Public Schools METAA Trisha Leary Director of Technology and Digital Learning Seekonk Public Schools MSLA Laura Gardner Librarian, Dartmouth Middle School Moderators (MassCUE) Jen Thomas MassCUE Brandon Hall MassCUE

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