November 11, 2025

The AESA Global Coordinator Training program is officially underway! This year’s cohort includes:

Over the eight-month program, participants are engaging in a dynamic blended learning journey designed to build both knowledge and practical skills. 

This spring, the cohort will take their learning to the next level with an international trip, where they will apply their skills in a real-world practice scenario—bringing global engagement strategies to life within their ESAs.

We are excited to support these educators as they grow into leaders in global engagement. The impact of their work will extend far beyond this cohort—reaching districts, classrooms, and students across the country.

As we approach the AESA Annual Conference & Expo, the spirit of generosity and leadership is in full swing. The AESA Foundation is proud to present three powerful ways for our community to support educational service agencies nationwide: the Silent and Online Auctions, the PAL (Promoting Agency Leadership) program, and our annual Giving Tuesday campaign.

Silent & Online Auctions: Bid to Build the Future

This year, the AESA Foundation is hosting a Silent Auction at the Annual Conference & Expo in Colorado Springs, featuring a curated selection of items—from gift cards and travel packages to themed baskets and handcrafted goods. In a new twist, we’re also launching an Online Auction, allowing members across the country to participate, even if they can’t attend in person. This virtual component ensures that everyone has a chance to bid on premier experiences and support the Foundation’s mission.

Donations are still being accepted! If you’d like to contribute an item, please reach out to Tina Viletto at tviletto@aesa.us or call 267-455-2820. Every item donated helps fund scholarships and innovative programs that empower ESAs and their leaders.

Be a PAL: Promoting Agency Leadership

The AESA Foundation has introduced the PAL Program, a new sponsorship opportunity designed for individuals and organizations passionate about supporting education. PALs commit to a $2,000 annual sponsorship, directly funding scholarships and leadership development initiatives.

By becoming a PAL, sponsors gain national recognition at AESA Foundation events and in promotional materials, while making a tangible impact on the future of educational leadership. To join the PAL network, simply select the “Be a PAL” option when making your donation or contact Tina Viletto for more details.

Giving Tuesday: A Day to Give Back

Mark your calendars for Giving Tuesday—December 2, 2025, a day dedicated to global generosity. The AESA Foundation invites you to join this global day of generosity and make a meaningful impact on the future of educational leadership. 

How You Can Help

• Donate: Every contribution brings us closer to funding scholarships that change lives.
• Spread the Word: Share your support on social media using #GivingTuesday and #AESAFoundation and let your network know why the AESA Foundation matters to you.

Together, We LEAD. Together, We GIVE.

Your support fuels innovation, leadership, and opportunity across the AESA community. Let’s make this season of giving our most impactful yet!

Photo credit: Kent ISD

Middle school students across Kent ISD, Muskegon Area ISD, and Ottawa Area ISD — all proud AESA member agencies — are gaining valuable high-tech skills through a groundbreaking program called MEERA (Manufacturing and Engineering Education Reimagined for All).

MEERA introduces students in grades 6–8 to hands-on STEM learning experiences aligned with real-world manufacturing and engineering careers. From operating advanced equipment to exploring pathways in automation and design, students are building confidence, problem-solving skills, and an early awareness of career possibilities in high-demand fields.

• Eaton RESA  — balancing stability and innovation through aligned professional learning and career readiness.
• Muskegon ISD — driving personalized learning and 3P (place-, project-, problem-based) initiatives.

Although education wasn’t the main focus of high-profile races that dominated ballots Tuesday in New Jersey, New York City, and Virginia, the outcomes of those contests will have implications for schools. Elsewhere, voters selected school board candidates, directly shaping the course for their local schools. EdWeek has four education-related takeaways from the election.

A bipartisan bill introduced in the U.S. Senate Oct. 28 seeks to forbid companies from providing minors with access to artificial intelligence chatbot companions such as Character.ai and Replika. The legislation—sponsored by Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., and co-sponsored by Democrats and Republicans, including Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn.—appears to leave room for schools to continue using AI chatbots developed specifically for learning, such as Khan Academy’s Khanmigo. But, if enacted, it may complicate chatbots’ potential use in career or mental health counseling for students, experts say. Coverage on EdWeek.

This article on K-12 Dive deep dives into the debate among parents, special education advocates, and policy experts about how the federal government can best serve students with disabilities after the downsizing of the U.S. Department of Education this year.

This report from the State Educational Technology Directors Association (SETDA) looks at how state and district leaders have made significant progress in closing student access gaps to devices, internet and other technology, and includes strategies to make these gains even more lasting with Title II-A funding. Coverage on K-12 Dive.

This Chalkbeat article reports on the declining enrollment in Florida's largest public school districts and what some school leaders are doing to win families back as the state furthers the push for school choice.

After nearly doubling during the pandemic, the rates of chronic absenteeism in K-12 schools are finally showing steady signs of improvement. This report from EdTrust looks at how policies in 22 states plus Washington, D.C., have helped improve student attendance. Coverage on NPR.

The Blue Ribbon Schools program was launched in 1982 by then-Secretary of Education Terrel H. Bell to recognize schools for high performance. Though the program has changed forms and faced funding cuts, it recognized schools across the nation, both public and private, for four decades. But the Trump administration told state education chiefs in an August letter it would sever the program entirely, and encouraged states to “creatively fashion” new recognition programs. This EdWeek article highlights how a number of state education chiefs have rolled out their own Blue Ribbon programs.

Each year, Project Unicorn conducts a national analysis of data interoperability and privacy in K–12 education. The newly-released State of the Sector Report offers a timely look at how school districts are leveraging data to strengthen instructional decisions, streamline operations, and protect student privacy.

The report, guided by a national steering committee that includes AESA’s own Joan Wade, Executive Director, and Sheila King, Chief Program Officer, reflects both encouraging momentum and ongoing challenges across the field.

Key findings include:

• Dedicated data teams drive stronger outcomes.
  Districts that have staff assigned specifically to data management consistently outperform those without in every domain of interoperability.

• Governance remains the greatest area of need.
  Many districts lack clear documentation, oversight, and project management processes—essential components for sustainable data work.

• Progress continues—even with limited resources.
  Despite staffing and budget pressures, districts are making steady gains year over year.

Drawing on data from 32 states, the report reinforces a clear message: lasting progress happens when districts invest in structure, develop a strong culture around data, and collaborate across teams and departments.

If your ESA or district is developing or refining data-driven practices, this report offers valuable benchmarks and practical next steps.