Over the past quarter, EdGate brought together a powerful group of education leaders to unpack one of the most pressing challenges facing both states and vendors today: how to manage curriculum adoptions and secure contracts amid uncertainty and change.
Our Thriving Amid Uncertainty series featured voices from across the K–12 ecosystem — state technology leaders, district administrators, and EdTech advocates — all sharing how shifts in funding, standards, and innovation are reshaping the education landscape.
Ji Soo Song
SETDA
1. The State Perspective: Ji Soo Song on Leadership and Fracturing
In our first podcast, Ji Soo Song of SETDA offered a national view on how leadership is shifting from federal to state levels. He described the growing “fracturing” among states — some building robust edtech leadership programs, others scaling back — and what this means for vendors.
“We’re seeing a new kind of leadership at the state level,” Ji Soo noted. “It’s no longer about one-size-fits-all policy. States are experimenting — and that means vendors must adapt to 50 different ecosystems.”
Ji Soo also underscored the importance of return on relationships: that successful vendors are investing in long-term partnerships through networks like CoSN, CCSSO, and the EdTech Quality Collaborative.
Jill Pierce
Tennessee Educational Technology Association (TETA)
2. The District View: Jill Pierce on Needs, Fidelity, and Strategic Alignment
Jill Pierce, Technology Director for Putnam County Schools, reminded vendors that success begins with understanding district needs — not just showcasing products.
“Don’t show up with a solution looking for a problem,” she said. “Districts need partners who align with their strategic plans and can demonstrate long-term fidelity.”
Jill also discussed the growing importance of data privacy, interoperability, and cybersecurity — noting that these are now non-negotiable elements of every district’s procurement checklist.
Mindy Fiscus
Learning Technology Center of Illinois
3. The Statewide Lens: Mindy Fiscus on Free Choice, AI, and Cybersecurity
From Illinois’ perspective, Mindy Fiscus emphasized how decentralized procurement in “free choice” states creates both opportunities and challenges for vendors.
“In Illinois, districts have autonomy — which means vendors need to build relationships district by district,” Mindy said. “That’s not a barrier; it’s an opportunity for deeper engagement.”
She also drew parallels between AI today and calculators in the 1990s — tools that can’t be banned but must be used responsibly. Her call to action: for vendors to “use their words” and participate in advocacy to shape policy around AI, cybersecurity, and digital equity.
4. The Capstone: Webinar Takeaways
Our live webinar brought these threads together under one unifying message: to thrive in uncertainty, vendors must deeply understand how states and districts are redefining what success looks like.
Panelists agreed that:
- Funding flexibility at the state level is creating a new wave of innovation — but also new complexity.
- Strategic alignment and interoperability will determine which solutions endure.
- AI and digital safety policies will heavily influence future procurement decisions.
As Jill Pierce summarized during the webinar:
“It’s not enough to be innovative; you have to be aligned. The winners will be those who fit into the district’s ecosystem and prove they can grow with it.”
Looking Ahead: The Paradigm Shift Continues
The insights from Thriving Amid Uncertainty set the stage for EdGate’s upcoming Q4 campaign, “Paradigm Shift: States Redefining Standards and Funding.”
This next phase will explore how states are taking the lead in defining standards, funding programs, and setting priorities for innovation in K–12 learning.
Stay tuned for new podcasts, a December 17th webinar, and a deep dive into how these evolving strategies are shaping the future of education.