STEVENS POINT, Wis. (Mar. 16, 2017) – Educators, administrators, and industry experts from around the world gathered in St. Pete Beach, Florida for the 15th annual Skyward International Conference (iCon) last week. The three-day interactive event gave attendees access to the latest news in product development from the leading K-12 software provider, particularly Qmlativ, Skyward’s revolutionary SIS and ERP technology.
Based on the theme “Agents of Innovation,” attendees were given the mission of attending iCon sessions to learn how future-ready technology can be a focal point of a district’s strategy. Presentations focused on cutting costs, saving time, and doing more with information. In addition, attendees learned how Skyward's technology can support a district’s vision, create a more productive work environment, facilitate better engagement, improve accuracy, and build a high-performing culture with professional development opportunities for staff.
“Districts are continually trying to meet emerging trends to create a successful education experience,” said Scott Glinski, president of Skyward. “iCon brings administrators together with Skyward staff and technology experts to empower districts to be leaders in effective technology use. Our goal is to have every attendee leave with new strategies that will improve their district’s daily operations and long-term success.”
For the third year, Skyward honored the recipients of its Leader in Excellence Award, an accolade that recognizes K-12 districts and individual administrators using Skyward to improve education and inspire new ideas and initiatives.
Individual recipients:
- Jacque Deckard, data management coordinator at Mooresville Consolidated School Corporation in Mooresville, Indiana
- Jennifer Dossett, information systems specialist at Alcoa City Schools in Alcoa, Tennessee
- Scott Hansen, director of technology and information systems at Marion County School District in Ocala, Florida
- Birdville Independent School District, Texas
- Round Lake Area Schools District 116, Illinois
- Walled Lake Consolidated Schools, Michigan
In addition to awarding the 2017 Leader in Excellence winners, Skyward highlighted its next evolution of K-12 technology, Qmlativ, the company's SQL-based platform. Qmlativ improves user experiences by providing a simple design, flexible architecture, powerful reporting, unique personalization, and self-service support. After being implemented by early-adopters since 2014, more districts are transitioning to the ground-breaking solution.
- The latest technology and design which adapt to the user’s greatest needs
- System architecture that enhances security and interoperability
- An advanced user interface for current environments including multi-screen desktops and mobile platforms
- Customization and workflow tools to meet the needs of managing important tasks
“This was my second year attending iCon and once again I walked away with new tools and processes to help me with my position and share with my district,” said Kim Sipple, technology coordinator at Ottawa USD 290 in Kansas.
To see the social media moments captured at iCon 2017, go to https://storify.com/Skyward/icon-2017. Next year’s international conference is slated for Wednesday, March 7 – Friday, March 9, 2018 at TradeWinds Island Resort in St. Pete Beach, Florida. For more information on Skyward iCon, visit skyward.com/icon.