In this episode of All Things Marketing and Education, Elana Leoni sits down with Keith Krueger, CEO of CoSN (Consortium for School Networking), to unpack the biggest takeaways from CoSN’s 2025 State of EdTech District Leadership report.
With over three decades of experience leading conversations around technology in education, Keith offers a grounded, systems-level view of where K–12 technology leadership is headed. From the rise of AI to the persistent gaps in cybersecurity readiness, Keith shares what’s keeping CTOs up at night—and where they see real opportunity for change.
Together, Elana and Keith explore:
Why 91% of EdTech leaders now sit at the decision-making table and what that means for vendors
The dramatic rise of generative AI as the #1 tech priority, even as 27% of districts still lack a defined approach
Why most districts are underestimating major cybersecurity threats, despite being the #1 target for ransomware
How workforce shifts are changing the makeup of EdTech leadership (and how still to communicate with buyers)
What it really looks like to be a trusted thought partner, not just a vendor on the exhibit floor
This episode offers essential context for anyone working to align technology solutions with the real-world needs of school and district leaders. Keith shares not only what the data says, but how it feels on the ground, with honest insights about policy, pressure, and the practical realities of K–12 tech leadership in 2025.
🎧 Plus: Keith shares his favorite way to reset after a long day (spoiler: it involves an e-bike and a good podcast).
Resources Mentioned in this Episode:
CoSN’s 2025 State of EdTech District Leadership report
Explore the full report that reveals what’s top-of-mind for district CTOs, from AI and cybersecurity to staffing and budget shifts.Jenn Roberts' Edutopia Article, Proactively Limiting the Use of AI in the Classroom
Elana references this widely shared article on using AI to facilitate conversations about ethics and student agency.Stanford Graduate School of Education Article: "What Do AI Chatbots Really Mean for Students and Cheating?"
An exploration of the implications of AI chatbots on student behavior and academic honesty.Academic Integrity in the AI Era: A Conversation with Ian McCullough
Mentioned as a complementary episode focused on how AI is complicating the line between student originality and plagiarism.CoSN’s Work on AI and Academic Integrity (Toolkits/Policy Guidance)
Relevant for districts looking to update acceptable use policies, academic integrity rules, and AI guidance documents.CoSN Corporate Partner Page
Interested in partnering with CoSN? Learn how to engage as a thought partner alongside district technology leaders.Get in touch with Keith: LinkedIn
Elana Leoni, Host
Elana Leoni has dedicated the majority of her career to improving K-12 education. Prior to founding LCG, she spent eight years leading the marketing and community strategy for the George Lucas Educational Foundation where she grew Edutopia’s social media presence exponentially to reach over 20 million education change-makers every month.
Keith Kreuger, Guest
Keith R. Krueger is CEO of CoSN - The Consortium for School Networking, the premier nonprofit professional association organization that serves as the voice of K-12 Ed Tech leaders in North America. CoSN’s mission is enabling inclusive and nimble technology leadership to drive innovation.
He was selected by Ed Tech magazine for it’s 2021 K-12 IT influencers. In 2016 Technology & Learning selected him as one of the “big 10” most influential people in Ed Tech, and the Center for Digital Education identified him as a Top 30 Technologist/Transformer/Trailblazer. In 2008 he was selected by eSchool News as one of ten people who have had a profound impact on educational technology over the last decade. In 2016 he received a Special Recognition award from the Council of Great City Schools.
He is the Past Chair of the Learning First Alliance and has served on the Executive Committee of the National Coalition on Technology in Education & Training (NCTET). He serves on many Advisory Boards including the Friday Institute at NC State University, the Public Policy Advisory Council for the American Library Association, Ed Tech Digest, as well as previously the Education Committee of the National Park System. He is principal investigator of the Driving K-12 Innovation series.
Keith has a global reputation as a key thought leader and has led senior level U.S. delegations to visit Australia, Asia, Europe and South America to examine best practices in Ed Tech.
In 2025, Keith is a Visiting Scholar at Stanford Graduate School of Education focused on AI in K-12 in partnership with the Accelerator for Learning. In fall of 2015, Keith conducted a Work Study on Digital Equity as an Associate in Practice at Harvard’s Graduate School of Education. As a Certified Association Executive, he has extensive background in nonprofit management and has a Masters from the Humphrey School of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota.
About All Things Marketing and Education
What if marketing was judged solely by the level of value it brings to its audience? Welcome to All Things Marketing and Education, a podcast that lives at the intersection of marketing and you guessed it, education. Each week, Elana Leoni, CEO of Leoni Consulting Group, highlights innovative social media marketing, community-building, and content marketing strategies that can significantly increase reach, relationships, and revenue.
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