20 to Watch Award
Each year, ISTE+ASCD recognizes 20 innovative early-career educators who are already making a difference through their work. Winners have exemplified excellence in creating transformational learning experiences for students.
Award Details
Candidate Criteria
- Demonstrate the ability to bring innovation into their learning environment.
- Continuously improve their practice through exploration of new techniques and reflection on current practices.
- Reflect ISTE+ASCD’s mission to reimagine and redesign learning by sharing their solutions and strategies with other educators.
- Award-winning examples look like: Executing a new professional development program for teachers that focuses on the Transformational Learning Principles, developing game-based curriculum to increase student engagement, organizing global collaborations for their students, etc.
Award Package
- An engraved plaque acknowledging the recipient’s outstanding achievement.
- A one-year individual ISTE+ASCD Print Enhanced membership ($129 value).
- Complimentary registration to ISTELive 26 + ASCD Annual Conference 26 virtual conferences ($295 value).
- Recognition at the co-located ISTELive 26 + ASCD Annual 26 conferences, and on the ISTE+ASCD website.
- Opportunities to contribute such as presenting a webinar, participating in a podcast, or highlighted in an article.
2026 Winners
Alex Mayszak
Director of digital learning and innovation for East Moline School District #37, Alex Mayszak leads impactful initiatives in AI literacy, design thinking, and multimedia production.
Amanda Hunt
Amanda Hunt is a secondary school library media specialist at Comal ISD who is deeply passionate about reading literacy and purposeful digital tool integration.
Becca Tessarolo
Becca Tessarolo, M.Ed., is an instructional technology coordinator in the Cherry Creek School District in Colorado who specializes in digital citizenship, professional learning, and AI.
Caio Gomes
Caio Gomes is a multilingual educator and instructional technology specialist at DeKalb School District 428, and a doctoral student who designs professional development centered on equity and responsible AI implementation.
Cassidy Swinney, Ed.S., Ed.D.
Cassidy Swinney, Ed.D., is an upper school instructor at Jackson Academy in Mississippi, where she teaches AP Seminar, World Literature, and American Literature.
Catherine Sciortino
Catherine Sciortino is a science educator and the AI coordinator at Xaverian Brothers High School, where she leads the institution's strategic approach to emerging technologies.
Eric Sera
Eric Sera is an experienced business practitioner and scholar who serves as a business educator at Munster High School and Ivy Tech Community College.
Hermilo Arbuyes Jr.
Hermilo Arbuyes Jr. brings a global perspective to his role as a math and earth science teacher at Cleveland High School.
Ilka Kostka, Ph.D.
Ilka Kostka, Ph.D., is a teaching professor and academic director at Northeastern University, where she develops English language courses and provides curriculum oversight for international programs.
Isaac Abraham Díaz Chavez
Isaac Díaz is a dedicated high school English and computer teacher at Centro Escolar INSA in El Salvador.
Jesse Wren, Ed.D.
Jesse Wren, Ed.D., is an elementary school educator, qualitative researcher, and professional development coordinator at Riverfield Country Day School.
Jessica Hernandez
Jessica Hernandez is a first-generation Latina doctoral student at California State University, Northridge, specializing in the intersection of AI and multilingual education.
Kelsy Achtenberg
Kelsy Achtenberg is an educator and co-founder of The Innovation School, where she has spent over a decade designing project-based STEM and inquiry learning experiences.
Lama Alali
Lama Alali is an international educational leader and chemistry educator with over a decade of experience across Lebanon and Saudi Arabia.
Marina Pisto
Marina Pisto is a third grade educator, instructional leader, and ISTE Certified Educator in the Pocantico Hills Central School District.
Patrice Wade
Patrice Wade is a nationally recognized technology educator and K-8 STEM leader at Guilford Preparatory Academy, a Title 1 public charter school.
Rachel Arbor
Rachel Arbor is an award-winning educator, CEO and founder of Gaia Scholastic, and acts as the New York state lead for SubjectToClimate.
Rachel Edoho-Eket, Ed.D.
Rachel Edoho-Eket, Ed.D., is the principal of a National Blue Ribbon school and the president of the Maryland Association of Elementary School Principals.
Rawan El Adawi
Rawan El Adawi is an ISTE Certified Educator and edtech leader based in Istanbul, with international instructional experience spanning four countries.
Taylor Howard
Taylor Howard is a nationally certified STEM educator and Project Lead The Way teacher who focuses on career readiness.
20 to Watch Honorable Mention
Past Winners
McKenna Akane
McKenna Akane leads K–8 STEM at Alberton School in Montana.
Hanan Attiyah
Hanan Attiyah is an educational leader committed to advancing technology integration, STEM innovation, and equitable learning opportunities for elementary students.
Mohd Al Khalifa Bin Mohd Affnan
Khalifa Affnan teaches English at Keningau Vocational College in Malaysia.
Lisa Blank
Lisa Blank leads STEM initiatives in Watertown, NY, and advocates for national equity in education.
Jeffrey Bradbury
Jeff Bradbury is a Digital Learning Teacher and creator of TeacherCast.
Jeffrey Chernosky, Ed.D.
Dr. Chernosky coordinates graduate programs in educational leadership and instructional tech.
Rebecca Colangelo
Rebecca Colangelo leads the Learning Lab at South Fayette Elementary, inspiring students through hands-on STEAM experiences.
Constance DeMore Savine
Dr. Constance DeMore Savine has 29 years in education and currently supports teachers and designs professional learning in Trinity Area School District.
Sean Gaillard
Sean Gaillard is a principal, author, and professor who champions creativity and student-centered learning.
David Garringer
David Garringer leads Chatsworth Park Urban Planning Magnet in LA, with 24+ years of experience.
Maegan Gayle
Maegan Gayle is in her 12th year of teaching for Mobile County Public Schools, where she is the STEM Lab teacher at Eichold-Mertz Magnet School of Math, Science, and Technology.
Evo Hannan
Evo Hannan is a global design educator and founder of Innovation X.
Jeff Kilner
Jeffrey Kilner, M.Ed., supports tech integration for Delaware’s Indian River Schools.
Kyung Kim, Ph.D.
Kyung Kim, Ph.D., is an associate professor at the Korea Institute of Energy Technology (KENTECH), Republic of Korea.
Taniya Mishra, Ph.D.
Dr. Taniya Mishra is the founder and CEO of SureStart, a NYC-based AI education startup that offers mentoring-focused AI learning programs for middle-school, high-school and undergraduate students.
Zahra Razi
Zahra Razi is a leader in the fields of educational technology and K–12 computer science education, dedicated to empowering teachers and students to explore and apply the transformative potential of technology.
Lauren Richardson
Lauren Richardson is the Experienceships Coordinator at Indian Hill Exempted Village School District, focusing on strategically employing innovative, research-backed approaches to empower educators and cultivate thriving learning environments.
Kirsten Salonga
Kirsten Salonga teaches Environmental Science and chairs the science department at Justice High.
Samantha Shane
Samantha Shane is an innovative career and technical education (CTE) instructor teaching high school students who want to pursue a career in education.
Alana Winnick
Alana Winnick is a visionary leader who is actively shaping the future of education.