Global Educators Gather at First-Ever Joint ISTE+ASCD Conference to Transform Learning and Advance AI in Education
More than 17,200 participants joined in San Antonio and online to share bold ideas, strategies, and tools for reshaping the future of teaching and learning.
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – More than 17,200 participants from across 82 countries and all 50 states attended the first-ever co-located ISTELive and ASCD Annual Conference, held in San Antonio and online from June 29-July 2. The event brought together thousands of teachers, curriculum leaders, and edtech industry professionals from around the globe to explore the intersection of technology integration and curriculum development for transformative teaching and learning.
Over four days, ISTE+ASCD hosted a comprehensive program featuring 2,098 global experts and 500 students presenting sessions designed for both communities. The exhibitor hall showcased more than 500 companies offering innovative educational solutions and practical strategies for implementation across classrooms, schools, and districts.
“By bringing together the strengths of instructional leaders and education innovators, we begin to create a future of learning that engages students and prepares them to thrive in learning and life,” said Richard Culatta, CEO of ISTE+ASCD.
One of the major highlights of this year’s conference was Culatta’s announcement of ISTE+ASCD’s commitment to prepare 200,000 teachers over the next two years to model AI life skills for students through the GenerationAI initiative. The program will equip educators with the knowledge, tools, and confidence to harness the power of AI in the classroom safely and responsibly. Culatta also outlined a “Profile of an AI-Ready Graduate”, identifying six essential competencies students must learn before they graduate in order to thrive in an AI world.
Other significant announcements included the launch of the new Instructional Leadership Initiative, a bold effort to support and elevate instructional leaders through a suite of programs designed to drive real change in schools and districts. The initiative includes a competency-based Certification Program for instructional leaders, a Transformational Learning Leader Award, the creation of a Chief Instructional Leaders Council, and a brand new Instructional Leaders’ Summit launching in January 2026.
A redesigned EdTech Index, was released in collaboration with four state education agencies – Virginia, Indiana, Utah, and North Carolina – and collaborating with technology partners Clever, Lightspeed, ClassLink, and SchoolDay. This initiative aims to save 1,000 hours per district per year by streamlining the process of selecting educational applications.
Featured voices from the mainstage included Dan Heath, New York Times bestselling author, strategic expert, and podcast host; Miral Kotb, founder and creator of iLuminate; Jason Reynolds, New York Times bestselling author and 2024 MacArthur fellow; Dr. Sabba Quidwai, Designing Schools CEO, educator, and author; and more.
The co-located event was hybrid, allowing attendees to participate in-person or online from all 50 states and from 82 countries.
Sessions provided comprehensive insights spanning digital citizenship, AI integration, project-based learning, curriculum alignment, instructional leadership, and more. The conference maintained distinct programming tracks clearly identified as ASCD content, ISTE content, or blended content designed for both educational communities.
The success of this first joint conference sets the foundation for continued collaboration in advancing educational excellence at the intersection of technological innovation and curriculum leadership. In 2026, ISTELive and ASCD Annual Conference will be held in Orlando, Florida. For more information, visit https://conference.iste.org/2026/.
About ISTE+ASCD
In 2023, ISTE and ASCD merged to create a unified organization dedicated to ensuring every student has an amazing learning experience every day. Today, ISTE+ASCD is the largest innovation-focused education non-profit worldwide, serving over a million educators in every US state and over 100 countries around the world. ISTE+ASCD offers inspiring events, professional certifications, dynamic member communities, and innovative thought leadership to help educators create transformational learning experiences.