October 28, 2025

We know the best connections come through you—our members! If you have colleagues in your agency who aren’t yet receiving AESA updates, professional learning opportunities, or federal news, please invite them to complete the Member Portal Account Form.

Your outreach helps us ensure that every ESA staff and board member can benefit from the full range of AESA resources and opportunities.

Thank you for helping us grow and strengthen our collective voice!

We’re thrilled to share that Leading Through Stories: The Public Narrative Workshop—featured in last week's AESA Professional Learning Opportunities—has already sparked strong interest across our network! Within hours, several AESA members reached out, eager to bring this transformative experience to their organizations.

This dynamic workshop empowers leaders to move beyond plans and data, inspiring action through authentic storytelling. By connecting purpose, people, and change, participants learn how to lead with clarity and conviction.

Interested in hosting a session or learning more?

Photo credit: Capital Region BOCES

AESA members continue to lead the way in preparing learners for high-demand careers through innovative Career and Technical Education (CTE) initiatives.

New York — Capital Region BOCES has opened its new 46,000-square-foot Career and Technical Education Center in Colonie—a transformative step in workforce readiness. The modern facility expands programs in construction, electrical trades, heavy equipment repair, cosmetology, digital media design, and manufacturing/machining, and adds new pathways in plumbing and emerging technologies. Read the announcement.

Michigan — Ottawa Area Intermediate School District (OAISD) celebrated the grand opening of its renovated Thompson M-TEC facility on October 16, marking a major milestone in adult and corporate career training. The updated space features new classrooms, certification labs, and meeting areas—serving over 3,000 adult learners annually with more than 200 nationally recognized certifications and customized workforce training. Read the announcement.

Congratulations to both Capital Region BOCES and OAISD for investing in CTE and helping learners of all ages prepare for success in the workforce of tomorrow!

Photo credit: Kent ISD

AESA proudly celebrates two exceptional champions of education whose leadership and advocacy continue to inspire our community.

Ron Koehler, former superintendent of Kent ISD (MI) and longtime AESA collaborator, has been honored with the Education Advocacy Award by the Kent Intermediate Association of School Boards. This award recognizes Ron’s unparalleled dedication to public education, creating better conditions for children, driving student achievement, and fostering collaborative efforts that uplift entire school communities. 

Dr. Ron Gorman, current superintendent of Kent ISD and active AESA member, received the Hispanic Advocacy Award from The Committee to Honor Cesar E. Chavez. With over 30 years of service, Dr. Gorman has empowered students to dream big, pursue meaningful careers, and become engaged, contributing members of society.

AESA celebrates these leaders for their unwavering commitment to educational excellence and equity. Their work exemplifies the values we stand for and the impact we strive to make every day.

Photo credit: CESA 1

We are thrilled to celebrate Sue Doyle, Executive Director of CESA 1 in Wisconsin, on successfully defending her dissertation and earning her Ed.D. in Leadership in Innovation and Continuous Improvement!

Sue has been a dedicated and actively involved member of AESA—sharing her expertise as a presenter at our Summer Leadership Conference and contributing meaningfully through her participation in AESA networks. Her commitment to continuous improvement and service to the ESA community is truly inspiring.

We can’t wait to see how Dr. Doyle continues to impact her region and beyond. Congratulations, Sue!

The Trump administration is exploring moving the $15 billion program that supports students with disabilities to a different agency within the federal government as it works to close the Education Department altogether. Madi Biedermann, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Communications, did not detail what federal agencies the Education Department was seeking to partner with in an email to K-12 Dive, but emphasized that any agreement would be made “without any interruption or impact on students with disabilities.” Biedermann made clear that no agreement has been signed. Read the latest developments.

The government has been mostly shut down for more than three weeks now, with Democrats and Republicans no closer to agreeing on what to do next. Some possible options are being discussed. We will provide an update as we know more.

Last week, Reps. Lateefah Simon (D-CA), Lucy McBath (D-GA), and Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA) sent a letter signed by 117 House Democrats asking Department of Education (ED) Secretary Linda McMahon and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russell Vought to rescind the October 10 layoff notices to ED employees working on special education. Those firings are on hold – or at least many of them are – pursuant to an October 15 federal district court temporarily pausing them.

On the episode of AASA's PEP Talk, Kat Sturdevant chats with AESA's Senior Government Affairs Manager, Tara Thomas about the proposed changes to the H-1B Visa program, a key tool some districts use to alleviate staffing shortages for teaching positions. Kat also spoke with Tobin Novasio, superintendent of Hardin Schools in Montana, about how the proposed changes would affect his district. Give it a listen!

The Brookings Institute has released an examination of 150 years of voucher legislation in the United States. Rather than fostering competitive education markets and creating valuable new opportunities, they found that vouchers have frequently exacerbated inequality, excluded vulnerable student groups, and redirected public resources to private entities.

The 74 reports on a new Harvard University initiative through the Center for Education Policy Research that aims to address the nation’s ‘crisis moment in education’ in areas from cell phone use to chronic absenteeism.

AESA Business Partner Pathway2Careers (P2C) believes great teaching starts with great evidence. That’s why they're excited to introduce the P2C Research Library, a new online resource featuring curated studies, reports, and findings that advance career-connected learning.

This growing collection brings together trusted research across CTE, math education, labor market trends, and student success. Each piece is carefully selected to help you stay informed, discover emerging trends, and apply proven strategies in your classrooms and programs.

Explore the latest research today and check back often as P2C continues to add new findings that shape the future of education.

Help students become safe, kind, and confident digital citizens with Be Internet Awesome — a free, ready-to-use resource kit designed for flexible use in any school setting.

Each kit includes:

• 5 engaging lessons on online safety and digital kindness
• Facilitator guides, games, and classroom activities
• Take-home magazines and family guides

Perfect for media specialists, counselors, teachers, after-school staff, and family engagement events. Kits serve up to 100 students and can be shared across classrooms or groups.