Technology Task Force to address digital divide and tech needs for schools
Superintendent of Public Instruction Kathy Hoffman announced Thursday the formation of the Arizona Department of Education Technology Task Force – a group of partners from across the state who are committed to addressing a variety of technology needs our schools and students have.
The group will work to find innovative solutions to address the extreme digital divide across Arizona, that has been exacerbated due to the need for distance learning. The group will explore opportunities to strengthen public and private partnerships. Additionally, the group will work to support Education Technology and Computer Science Standards across the state.
“Access to technology and broadband internet is an issue of educational equity,” said Superintendent Hoffman. “These challenges existed prior to COVID-19, but the pandemic exposed the critical need to connect hundreds of thousands of students and their families to technology. I look forward to working with the leaders on our task force as we find ways to bridge the digital divide in Arizona.”
Arizona Department of Education Technology Task Force:
| Shawnae Holguin | Lead of IT Team, Baboquivari Unified School District |
| Mary Knight | Director of Technology, Flagstaff Unified School District |
| Brian Nelson | ASU, Mary Lou Fulton College |
| Jon Castelhano | Executive Director of Technology, Gilbert Public Schools |
| Alex Lopez | Director of Technology, Nogales Unified School District |
| Stephanie Parra | All In Education |
| Tracey Beal | School Connect |
| Rachael Parks | Director of Technology, Leona Group |
| Gail Knight | Balsz School District Governing Board |
| Stan Goligoski | Yavapai County Education Service Agency |
| Amber Akapnitis | AZ School for the Deaf and Blind |
| Mark Breen | Director of Technology, Vail School District |
| Renee E. Levin | Intel |
| Jeremy Babendure | AZ SciTech |
| RJ Muller | Cox Communications |
| Janice Palmer | Helios Education Foundation |
| Ilana Lowry | Common Sense Media |
| Matt Pittinsky | Parchment.com |
| Jaime Casap | |
| Daisy Murillo | Student Representative |
| Dr. Traci Morris | Director of the American Indian Policy Institute at ASU |
| Tom Osmun | Dell Technologies |
| Kari Lipman | Insight |
| John Kelly | Triadvocates |
| Matthew Clark | Verizon |
| Betsy Hargrove | Superintendent, Avondale Unified School District |
| Robert Koerperich | Superintendent, Holbrook Unified School District |
| Janice Mak | Board Member, AZ State Board of Education |
| Chad Gestson | Superintendent, Phoenix Union High School District |
| Glenn Wike | Arizona Community Foundation |
| Jacqui Clay | Cochise County Superintendent |
| Michelle Burke | Software and App Design, Lake Havasu High School |
