ISTE 2025: Bright Spots, Goose Feathers & Everything in Between

In case we haven’t met yet, I’m Theresa, your friendly K-12 Account Manager and go-to-goose here at Goosechase for all things K-12 (Literally…  look at this photo of me as a goose)!

I’ve spent the past 10 years working with educators across all kinds of experiential learning spaces... from creating concepts for an interactive children's show, to guiding student groups across North America, to helping schools plan life-changing trips abroad.

PS - Travel is still one of my favorite things to honk about, so if you’re ever looking for tips or destination ideas, my goose brain is always happy to share the best spots and insider advice.

I recently had the opportunity to fly south to San Antonio, Texas for the 2025 ISTE Conference, and let me tell you: it was one for the books!

If you’re not already familiar with ISTE, here’s a quick honk about them: The International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) is a nonprofit that helps educators use technology to transform teaching and learning. They offer PD, resources, and standards to support innovative, student-centered education all around the world. They also throw ONE HECK of a conference.

While I’ve worked with educators in a variety of ways over the past 10 years, this was my first time attending the ISTE conference and my first time going to a conference as an attendee rather than a vendor. 

My goals for ISTE were:

1. Learn how Goosechase can be even stronger, more supportive partners to the schools and districts we support across North America.
2. Share smiles and connect with educators, all while in our iconic Goose costume and riding an e-scooter.

Let's honk about it.

When I stepped into the ISTE welcome ceremony, my jaw quite literally dropped. The sheer size and energy of it all? Electric. It was a sea of passionate educators and innovative ideas.

From ISTE CEO Richard Culatta’s energetic welcoming speech to Miral Kotb, founder of iLuminate, kicking off the conference by lighting up the stage with a mind-blowing dance and light show, the conference energy was BUZZING. The teacher I had the pleasure of sitting next to shared that Miral inspired her daughter to explore technology and dance, and that Miral was such an inspiration to them both. Her fusion of coding, dance, and storytelling was jaw-dropping, but it was her openness about navigating neurodivergence that made her message truly powerful. A beautiful reminder that embracing what makes us different can lead to our greatest adventures.

Top Tips for ISTE First-timers

And if you’re heading to ISTE for the first time next year, here’s my quick “goose-to-goose” prep talk:

Give yourself time, if you can: I got there nice and early on day one and breezed through registration. The exhibitor hall was massive, and when it’s that big, I love to take a slow lap first just to get the lay of the land and flag the booths I want to come back to. Sessions varied in size, and with the conference spread across such a large space and multiple buildings, it’s worth planning extra time to walk between them. I found myself spending 10 - 15 minutes just getting from one room to another, so definitely note your must-attend sessions and give yourself enough time to get there without stress.

Be open to making connections: Meeting people is honestly one of the best parts of a conference (to me), whether you’re in line for coffee, sitting waiting for a session to start, or exploring the expo floor. Bring a way to quickly share your info (business card or a digital link), as you never know when those quick chats will turn into a lunch, a brainstorming session, or even tacos with new friends (like it did for me!).

Dress comfy, you’ll walk a lot: Think supportive shoes, layers for summer heat outside and AC cold inside, and a small tote bag for water, snacks, and swag. And don’t forget to pace yourself: ISTE can be BUSY with so many amazing sessions to join, so take breaks to recharge to ensure you can enjoy it all!

Finally, be ready to have FUN: The opening and closing ceremonies were such a vibe, the DJ at the closing had the entire front row dancing. Between 90’s night, EdTech Karaoke, and endless networking opportunities, there’s no shortage of ways to connect with amazing people. Everyone I met was so welcoming, so I would invite you to put yourself out there and say yes to those events, you never know who you’ll meet!

One theme rang through every hallway, session, and conversation: Educators are some of the hardest-working, most relentlessly curious people out there. Even amid rapid technology changes, school policies, and sometimes limited resources, they’re still dreaming up ways to make learning unforgettable for their students.

At one point, I asked a few Goosechase creators what they’d be doing if they weren’t teaching. Without hesitation, every single one answered with a version of the same thing:

“I’d still be helping people learn, just in a different way.”

A testament to how deeply these humans love inspiring others to grow and learn.

Also? Conferences are BUSY. Picking one session to attend felt like choosing a favorite Goosechase Mission (impossible). But here are a few highlights that really stuck with me:

Key Takeaways from ISTE 2025 Speakers (that apply to everyone, not just educators)

1. Find the Bright Spots (Dan Heath)

Dan Heath’s session was such a standout for me. He challenged us to shift our mindset from constantly trying to fix what’s not working to focusing on what is working, and understanding why. Bright spots exist in every classroom, every school, and every workplace.

It’s so easy to get stuck in problem-solving mode and focusing on the things that aren’t going well (GUILTYYYY!), but what if we zoomed in on the bright spots instead? What’s going well? Understanding why it’s working? And how can we bring more of that energy into the rest of what we do? This mindset shift applies both internally and externally, whether you’re supporting yourself, a student, a teacher, or a teammate. When we learn how to spot what’s working and turn up the bright spots, we create more room for growth, understanding, and success!

Ask yourself: What’s going well? Why? And how can I make that bright spot even bigger?

2. Curiosity Builds Connection (Scott Shigeoka)

Scott Shigeoka’s session was such a heartfelt reminder that real connection starts with real curiosity. Not the surface-level “how are you?” or “how was your weekend?” kind of curiosity, but the kind that makes people feel seen, heard, and safe enough to actually share.

He invited us to get more intentional with the way we connect, to go beyond autopilot questions and instead ask things like, “What’s been the best part of your day so far?” or even, “What’s been unexpectedly hard this week?” Questions like that open doors, they invite depth, and they let people know you’re not just listening, but that you care.

This hit home for me, not just in work, but in life. Whether it’s chatting with a teacher about their goals, talking to a teammate, or connecting with someone in my personal life, curiosity creates space for trust. It builds bridges. And it reminds us that beneath all the busyness and responsibilities, we’re all just humans trying to feel connected and understood.

3. Don’t Be Afraid to Be Humbled (Jason Reynolds)

Jason Reynolds spoke about the importance of humility in the classroom, especially when students know more than you do. It’s not a threat; it’s a gift. Those moments of being humbled? That’s where real learning (for all of us) begins.As someone who loves to be right (and sometimes.. *maybe all times* fears getting it wrong), this one really hit me. I feel it constantly in my own work. Whether I’m supporting a school or co-creating something with a team member, I’m learning that the willingness to admit when I don’t know something and to learn out loud can be a kind of superpower. When we lead with this mindset, we make room for growth, trust, and collaboration with everyone we interact with.

See you next year? Or in your next Experience?

ISTE 2025 reminded me just how much educators give every single day. It left me inspired, energized, and so grateful to be a small part of their work. To every teacher, tech coach, librarian, admin, and edtech partner I met: thank you for the joy, the honesty, and the laughs.

I can’t wait to keep supporting you through Goosechase Experiences and helping to continue making learning unforgettable.

What is Goosechase EDU?

Goosechase is an online platform that helps educators create and run interactive learning experiences in their classrooms and beyond. Sign up and try creating an Experience, or contact us to learn more about our school and district-wide solutions!