Division of Instructional and Information Technology (DIIT)

?? The 2025 Community and Citywide Education Council Elections Are Here! ?? New York City parents, whether you’re running as a candidate or voting, your participation in these elections helps shape the future of our schools. ?? Key Dates: ? January 13, 2025 – Applications open for parents to run for a seat on any of the 32 Community Education Councils or 4 Citywide Education Councils. ? Late February – April – Candidate campaigning period. ? Late April – May 13 – Voting period. To participate, make sure you have a New York City Schools Account (NYCSA)—you’ll need it to run and vote! ?? For more details about Education Councils, the election process, and how to get involved, visit this link: https://lnkd.in/eEPeztZb #NYCDOE #DIIT #NYCSchoolsTech #NYCSchools #EducationMatters #ParentLeadership

?? The 19th Annual New York City School Survey is officially open! Families, students (grades 6-12), and teachers—this is your chance to share valuable feedback and help shape the future of our schools. ?? Last year, nearly 900,000 voices were heard, and this year we're aiming even higher. Your insights directly support school improvements and inform important decisions. ? #NYCPublicSchools #DIIT #NewYorkCitySchoolSurvey #NYCSchoolsTech #LetYourVoicebeHeard #SchoolSurvey #EducationMatters

?? Congratulations to the 2024?#BigAppleAwards winners! ?? Your dedication and passion continue to inspire students and uplift communities across New York City. ???? #NYCPublicSchools #BigAppleAwards #NYCSchoolsTech #Education #TeachNYC #Congrats

On Friday, January 24, the 12th annual #NYCSchoolsTech Summit brought together educators, tech staff, and school leaders for an inspiring day of learning and collaboration! ?? With over 50 interactive sessions, educators explored topics like digital accessibility, edtech best practices, and assistive technology - there was something for everyone. Highlights included: "Cybersecurity 101: Understanding the Essentials of Digital Protection", "Tips & Tricks for Using Microsoft Products", and information on applications like the the Next Generation Student Information System, The Accessible Tool for Learning About Students (ATLAS), Modernizing Transportation, Student Accommodation Systems, and more.??? The day began with an inspiring keynote, "Empowering Tomorrow’s Innovators: The Role of AI in K-12 Education" presented by?Richard Culatta and moderated by DIIT's Lisa Nielsen. The conversation explored how AI can revolutionize learning while advancing equity and creativity.???? Thank you to all the speakers, attendees, and organizers who made this event such a success! Here's to continuing to innovate and elevate education together.?? #EdTech #AIinEducation #DigitalAccessibility #NYCSchoolsTech #NYCSchoolsTechSummit #DIIT #NYCPubicSchools #BrooklynTechHighSchool #Cybersecurity #AI?

?? Continuing our "Team Showcase" series, we are proud to spotlight the Enterprise Management Support (EMS) team, part of Network Operations. ?? The EMS team develops and maintains tools that monitor the health and performance of the NYCPS network. Their work provides insights that help other teams identify issues, make improvements, and ensure schools have reliable internet and network services. Meet the EMS Team: Binh Ho – Enterprise Management Support Supervisor? Tuan Nguyen – Enterprise Management Support Engineer? Jian (Jack) Zeng– Enterprise Management Support Engineer? Hemal Bhathawala – Enterprise Management Support Engineer? King Ling (Mary) Yeung – Enterprise Management Support Engineer ??Innovation in Action: The EMS team strives to make network information as accessible as possible. One of their key achievements is the spocnoc.nycenet.edu dashboard, which allows school technical staff to monitor their network systems and plan their tasks more effectively.? ??Vision for the Future: The EMS team’s vision is to continue to improve by gathering feedback from users and exploring new technologies that can enhance NYCPS network systems. By staying informed about innovations, they aim to keep the network strong and reliable for years to come. Join us in celebrating the Enterprise Management Support (EMS) team for their dedication to keeping NYC schools connected. #TeamShowcase #DIIT #NetworkOperations #InnovationLeadership #Collaboration #NYCSchoolsTech

Nominations for the 2025 Big Apple Awards are officially open!?? Do you know a teacher who inspires greatness, fosters equity, and transforms the lives of NYC Public School students? Now’s your chance to shine a spotlight on their impact. The Big Apple Awards honor extraordinary educators who: ?? Empower Students – Encouraging dreams, advocacy, and academic excellence. ?? Champion Equity – Designing inclusive, high-expectation environments for all learners. ?? Celebrate Identities – Affirming and nurturing each student’s unique brilliance. ?? Strengthen Communities – Building meaningful partnerships with families and organizations. Let’s recognize the teachers shaping the future of NYC, one classroom at a time. Submit your nomination today and help us celebrate these outstanding individuals. ? Nominations close Tuesday, January 21 Visit the NYC Public Schools website to learn more and submit your nomination. ?? #BigAppleAwards #NYCPublicSchools #EducationMatters #NYCSchoolsTech

?? Tech Spotlight Series: ATLAS ?? Introducing ATLAS – Accessible Tool for Learning About Students – a special education data management system that launched in December! ATLAS is an integrated platform designed to support students with disabilities. By keeping all IEP-related information in one place, ATLAS streamlines the special education process – from referral to service delivery.? With ATLAS, families and staff can ?? Easily track and manage IEP milestone ?? Monitor progress and access reports ?? ?? Collaborate in a user-friendly environment ??ATLAS empowers both educators and families, enhancing efficiency, transparency, and communication in meeting the needs of our students with disabilities. Together, we’re building a stronger foundation for student success!?? #TechSpotlightSeries #DIIT #NYCPublicSchools #NYCSchoolsTech #ATLAS

?? Calling NYC Student Builders and Innovators! Are you ready to transform the future of NYC using Minecraft? The Battle of the Boroughs (BOTB) Minecraft Build Challenge is back to spark creativity and innovation again in 2025! ?? What’s the Challenge? This year, teams of NYC Public School students will dive into a challenge inspired by the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals and NYC’s OneNYC 2050 plan. Through their builds, students will dream up inclusive, sustainable city spaces while exploring the limitless potential of digital design. ?? Why Compete? Borough teams will showcase their talent in a live Esports championship for the chance to be crowned their borough’s champions. The journey doesn’t stop there—winners will advance to the Mayor’s Cup Championship Finals, where the best minds in the city will compete for ultimate bragging rights! ???? How to Get Started: Students will team up (up to 5 members) and work with an adult from their school to respond to this year’s prompt. Submit your build walk-through by March 7, and bring your vision to life! ?? Pro Tip: Winter break is the perfect time to brainstorm, design, and build! Let’s show the world what NYC students are capable of. Start building today and help shape the future of our city! #NYCSchoolsTech #NYCPublicSchools #DIIT #MinecraftInnovation #BattleoftheBoroughs #FutureCityBuilders #BOTB2025

?? DIIT Recognized at NYC Tech Forum ?? DIIT projects and team members were honored at this year’s NYC Technology Forum, which highlights technology innovations within NYC government. Congratulations to the following winners: ?? Best Application Serving an Agency’s Business Needs: DOE Contact Center The DOE Contact Center recently migrated to a cloud-based system, improving service delivery for NYC’s students, parents, and staff. Since its launch in May 2024, this system has efficiently managed 5,000 daily calls, with reduced wait times, enhanced data collection, and remote work options for agents. ?? Outstanding IT Client Service Awards ?Oscar Jones Oscar Jones led the Service Desk’s critical transition during the pandemic, doubling call volumes to over 550,000 annually and introducing chatbot support in 2024. His leadership enhanced operational service levels and strengthened collaboration with internal service desks. ?Steven Moy Steven Moy has over 20 years of experience supporting NYC Public Schools. He is recognized for his technical knowledge, ability to resolve complex issues, and dedication to ensuring smooth technology operations for staff and students. ?George Stydahar George Stydahar works on the Galaxy Budgeting System for NYC Public Schools. Known for his professionalism and responsiveness, he consistently listens to client needs and delivers effective solutions. Congratulations to the winners for their contributions to advancing technology and supporting NYC’s communities! ?? From left: Aaron Ju, Charles Liang, Matthew Fraser, Joan Fraser-King, Millie Santiago, Jose Barreto, David Pena #NYCTechForum #PublicService #NYCSchoolsTech #NYCPublicSchools #DIIT

?? Congratulations to Lisa Nielsen! ?? We’re excited to celebrate Lisa Nielsen, Executive Director of Technology in DIIT’s Office of School Planning, Modernization, and Partnerships, for being named Outstanding Leader of the Year by the New York State Association for Computers and Technologies in Education (NYSCATE)! Each year, NYSCATE honors New York educators who have made exceptional contributions to improving education through technology. Lisa was recognized for her remarkable work in promoting digital citizenship awareness, leading large scale technology events, and establishing a program to provide staff with technology certifications. In her introduction, NYCPS colleague Celine Azoulay-Lewin shared: “Working with Lisa has always been an inspiring and fun journey…Lisa never stops. She’s always exploring, refining, sharing, ensuring her knowledge benefits us all.” Congratulations on this well-deserved recognition! #NYCSchoolsTech #NYSCATE #OutstandingLeader #EdTechLeadership #NYC #PublicService #NYCPublicSchools #DIIT