Jenna Bostick (Garchar), M.S. ☀️

To everyone affected by the ongoing lay-offs in #K12 #edtech and #education service providers: please lean on your network and embrace self-promotion. Your next opportunity is out there, and it's not your fault that there wasn't a seat for you when the ESSER-funding music stopped. My friends, we lived through a gold rush. Now we will see ghost towns where booming companies once stood. The sudden collapse of FEV Tutor isn't unique, although it has certainly created the most waves due to its size and situation. I have A LOT to say about the state of our industry, but this post is for the people. First of all, this sucks. Big hugs, y'all. Whatever you are feeling is valid. Next up, let's talk for a minute about self-promotion. Just do it. It's going to feel a little icky, if you are not used to it. I promise that it is not. There is absolutely nothing icky about marketing yourself in a competitive field. Here's your playbook: 1. If you haven't been keeping up with your connections on LinkedIn, set aside time and do that now. Don't focus on connecting to big names or strangers. Try to remember everyone with whom you had a positive working experience and send them an invitation to connect. 2. Turn on your "open to work" option. People have mixed feelings about the green banner, so I'll leave that choice up to you. Green banner = everyone can see that you are looking. No green banner = only recruiters can see you. 3. Post at least once a week. Twice is better. Doesn't matter when or what time. What does matter is that you reflect your POV. I'm all about marketing, edtech, data-based improvement models, giving back, and being real. I'm not out here posting about everything, and neither should you. Think about who you are, where your expertise lies, and what you want. Post about that. Posting often keeps the algorithm happy and helps more people "see" you. 4. Posts with images tend to get more attention, but as long as you aren't taking word-for-word listiscle posts straight from ChatGPT, I'm sure it's fine. 5. Having trouble getting started? Try one of those "let me re-introduce myself" posts. It's hella cheesy, but it works. If you aren't feeling up to posting, that's okay for now. Start small by interacting with other people's content. Leave lots of comments. 6. Go to meet-ups, get new certifications, participate in your community. It's good for the soul, good for your brand to build connections, and it's great content to post about, too. 7. Remember that you aren't selling yourself or trying to be someone that you are not. You are putting reminders out to the world that you are here, you have fantastic skills. The goal here is to be top of mind when an opportunity comes up. That means keeping yourself in circulation on the socials. I'm toying with the idea of hosting a self-promotion workshop. As a marketer, it feels like a way that I can help. Open to 1:1s or setting up some sort of group thing via Zoom.

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Biliteracy is a crucial skill that enables students to read, write, and thrive in two languages. But how can we measure and support their progress when policies and practices have not kept pace with the expansion of these instructional programs? Our newest whitepaper provides critical insights, practical tools, and policy-driven guidance to support educators and decision-makers in shaping more effective biliteracy strategies. Learn more: https://bit.ly/43jB7Xz

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Monday Accessibility Tip: 💡 Preparing for ADA Title II Compliance As a state and local agency (including public schools K12 and Higher Ed.) it's important to start planning for ADA Title II compliance if you haven’t already. The new rule, effective in 2026-2027, aligns digital accessibility standards with WCAG 2.1 AA. Here’s what you can do to get ready: Start reviewing your online learning materials, websites, and LMS platforms to ensure they’re accessible. Ensure all multimedia, including videos and podcasts, has captions, transcripts, and alt text. Get feedback from users with disabilities to ensure a truly inclusive experience (and pay them for their time). Make sure everyone involved in creating and managing digital content understands WCAG 2.1 guidelines and how they apply to your work. Don’t wait until the deadline, start making these adjustments now to ensure a smoother transition and a more inclusive learning environment. See the comments for more information and resources.

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At EDUCAUSE, we are committed to advancing secure, interoperable, and learner-centered credentials. That’s why we’re proud to be part of the LER Accelerator coalition, a partnership of 12 national higher education organizations working to shape the future of Learning and Employment Records (LERs). By aligning around nine guiding principles for LER adoption, this coalition is helping to: - Ensure student records are portable and verifiable - Enhance equity and accessibility in credentialing - Support institutions in connecting learning to career pathways This is a landmark moment for learner mobility, and we’re excited to be part of the solution. Read the full press release:

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