OUR CHICAGO WINNERS

Congratulations to the winners and finalists of the Northeast Tech & Learning Innovative Leader Awards who attended our Regional Leadership Summit on November 4, 2022, at NIU Naperville Conference Center where our winners were crowned.

Our deserving winners and finalists are all mentioned below, in our article on the Tech & Learning website and interviews with our winners will be published in an upcoming issue of Tech & Learning - keep your eyes peeled!

Our winners...

Michael Marassa

Michael Marassa
Chief Technology Officer, New Trier Township 203

Michael was instrumental in the successful opening of New Trier during hybrid learning. Michael managed the daily operations of the first Illinois high school saliva screen program, implemented a QR-code based health screening and entry system for staff and students, and installed almost 200 classroom audio systems where teachers and students could communicate with remote learners. 
Michael continues innovation in his leadership of a 1:1 iPad program evaluation, collaborating with curricular leaders and faculty. He is also leading a comprehensive network refresh of switching, wireless, and firewall technologies while working to stay at the forefront of network security.    

 

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James Batson

James Batson
Director of Technology, Fenton Community High School District 100
 

Jim Batson is in his 7th year as the Director of Technology, Fenton Community High School District 100 in Bensenville, IL. After 20+ years supporting technology for several multi-national businesses, Dr. Batson changed his career focus to technology leadership for educational institutions.

 

In addition to this role, Jim has held adjunct faculty positions at several northern Illinois community colleges and serves on the District 128 Board of Education in Vernon Hills, IL. Jim holds a Bachelor’s degree from Western Illinois University, Master’s Degree from Webster University in St. Louis, MO. and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Western Illinois University. 

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Todd Dugan

Todd Dugan
Superintendent, Bunker Hill CUSD #8

Todd Dugan is the proud Superintendent of Bunker Hill CUSD #8 located in Bunker Hill, Illinois. A rural, distant district in downstate Illinois, Bunker Hill is in the midst of both a digital conversion to 1:1 device environment while simultaneously changing both the pedagogy and the learning environment to more accurately address the learning styles of the digital native generation. A 2022 IASBO Lighthouse Award Winner and the 2018 Illinois State University EAF Superintendent of the Year, Todd has presented and published numerous times on 21st century education and disrupting inequity, digital and otherwise.