IDEA is turning 40! 🥳

Share Your IDEA Story

Whether you’ve been with us since our early days as ICE or joined along the way, your voice is part of our story. We invite you to share your favorite memories or reflections on what makes this community meaningful to you. Your stories will help us celebrate our past, illuminate our present, and inspire our future.

Join Idea

IDEA aims to inspire, connect, and provide the educational community with opportunities that transform teaching and learning through innovation.


When you join IDEA, you’ll have a multitude of resources at your fingertips to support and promote innovative education for all.


Whether you are looking for certifications, needing professional development hours, or simply want to be a life-long learner, IDEA is here to help.

LEARN MORE ABOUT IDEA

Upcoming Events

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    Latest news from IDEA:


    Vote for the 2026-2027 IDEA Board

    Voting for open board member positions will begin on Monday, April 20 and remain open through Friday, April 24. Before you receive your ballot and submit your votes, take a look at the slate of candidates below.


    This year, we are providing members with additional one-pagers of candidate information to help you make informed decisions.


    IDEA members will receive an email with the ballot on Monday, April 20.

    2026-2027 Election Slate

    Join us in showing Legislators what innovation in the classroom looks like at our 2026 Students for Innovation: Advocacy Day

    Illinois educators and students are doing amazing, innovative things in the classroom every single day. At IDEA, our hope is to give these students and educators a platform to exemplify the importance of this innovative learning.


    This is event is open to the public and we encourage district leadership, parents, and innovation advocates to join us at the Capitol to support student Presenters.


    Join the IDEA Team!

    IDEA is entering into a phase of strategic realignment and we are looking for a passionate and driven leader to guide the organization into this new chapter. The IDEA Executive Director reports to the Executive Board, which acts in an oversight capacity, and will be the registered agent for the organization as well as the contact person for ISBE in relation to renewing Approved Provider status, etc. If you are interested in helping create the bridge to the next decade of our organization, click below to learn more and apply.

    Learn more!

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    THE IDEA BLOG

    New blog with Dr. DSNY in a white lab coat on a blue background, titled “The Changing Vendor Hall”
    By Dr. Mike McGowan April 29, 2026
    Vendor halls at conferences are seeing a shift. In this blog, Dr. Mike McGowan, aka Dr. DSNY, shares his personal opinions and insights regarding this change.
    A professional post from Illinois Digital Educators Alliance titled
    By Stefanie Crawford April 1, 2026
    Accessibility means more than addressing visible disabilities. While awareness of audiological needs isn't new, true inclusion requires active, equitable solutions.
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    By Jed Dearybury March 25, 2026
    Have you ever had a dream that you dared to dream? With his second book releasing soon, Jed shares his journey to encourage you to make your own dreams a reality.

    Partner with IDEA

    IDEA relies on partners to be able to achieve its mission: To inspire, connect and provide the educational community with opportunities that transform teaching and learning through technology.

    Learn More About IDEA Partners