The CoSN Podcast

·S3 E23

Driving K-12 Innovation 2026: Hurdles (Part 1 of 3)

April 7
10 mins

Episode Description

Innovation in K-12 education isn’t just about new tools—it’s about navigating the real challenges that shape how schools operate every day.

In this first episode of a three-part series, we break down the Hurdles identified in the 2026 Driving K-12 Innovation Report, developed by the Consortium for School Networking and its global Advisory Board.

Drawing directly from the CoSN webinar and report, this conversation explores what these challenges look like in practice—and why they continue to rise to the top across school systems.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

  • Why educator and IT staff retention remains one of the most persistent challenges in K-12
  • How districts are balancing cybersecurity demands with instructional access
  • Why critical media literacy is emerging as a foundational skill in the age of AI
  • What practitioners are saying about workload, culture, and system-level pressures
  • How these hurdles are interconnected—and why they all come back to people

Voices from the Advisory Board

This episode highlights insights from members of the CoSN Driving K-12 Innovation Advisory, including:

  • John Heffernan – Professional Development Coordinator, Mayo, Sligo, and Leitrim ETB (Ireland)
  • Jennifer Williams – Director of Instructional Technology and Media Services, Newton County Schools
  • Beatriz Arnillas – 1EdTech Foundation, digital ecosystem and trust leader

These are practitioners working directly in schools and systems—offering real-world perspective on the challenges districts are facing right now.


Key Takeaway

The biggest challenges in K-12 innovation aren’t just technical—they’re human.

From staffing and cybersecurity to media literacy, each hurdle ultimately comes down to how schools support, protect, and prepare people in an increasingly complex digital environment.


Explore More

Coming Next

This is Part 1 of a 3-part series.

In Part 2, we shift from challenges to momentum as we explore the Accelerators—the forces driving innovation forward in K-12 education.


Produced in partnership with⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠edCircuit⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠


CoSN is vendor-neutral and does not endorse products or services. Any mention of a specific solution is for contextual purposes.


This episode was generated in part using AI tools. All content was reviewed and approved by CoSN and the edCircuit editorial team before publication.

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