Driving K-12 Innovation 2026: Hurdles (Part 1 of 3)

Innovation in K-12 education isn’t just about new tools—it’s about navigating the real challenges that shape how schools operate every day.In this first episode of a three-part series, we break down the Hurdles identified in the 2026 Driving K-12 Innovation Report, developed by the Consortium for School Networking and its global Advisory Board.Drawing directly from the CoSN webinar and report, this conversation explores what these challenges look like in practice—and why they continue to rise to the top across school systems.What You’ll Learn in This EpisodeWhy educator and IT staff retention remains one of the most persistent challenges in K-12How districts are balancing cybersecurity demands with instructional accessWhy critical media literacy is emerging as a foundational skill in the age of AIWhat practitioners are saying about workload, culture, and system-level pressuresHow these hurdles are interconnected—and why they all come back to peopleVoices from the Advisory BoardThis episode highlights insights from members of the CoSN Driving K-12 Innovation Advisory, including:John Heffernan – Professional Development Coordinator, Mayo, Sligo, and Leitrim ETB (Ireland)Jennifer Williams – Director of Instructional Technology and Media Services, Newton County SchoolsBeatriz Arnillas – 1EdTech Foundation, digital ecosystem and trust leaderThese are practitioners working directly in schools and systems—offering real-world perspective on the challenges districts are facing right now.Key TakeawayThe biggest challenges in K-12 innovation aren’t just technical—they’re human.From staffing and cybersecurity to media literacy, each hurdle ultimately comes down to how schools support, protect, and prepare people in an increasingly complex digital environment.Explore More2026 Driving K-12 Innovation Report2026 Driving K-12 Innovation Report: Hurdles, Accelerators & Tech EnablersCoSN Driving K-12 Innovation Summit 2026 Webinar RecordingK-12 EdTech InnovationComing NextThis is Part 1 of a 3-part series.In Part 2, we shift from challenges to momentum as we explore the Accelerators—the forces driving innovation forward in K-12 education.Produced in partnership with⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠edCircuit⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ CoSN is vendor-neutral and does not endorse products or services. Any mention of a specific solution is for contextual purposes. This episode was generated in part using AI tools. All content was reviewed and approved by CoSN and the edCircuit editorial team before publication.