July 2026

Can you hear that? It’s the steady, sizzling sound of the July countdown.

Most people think school districts completely shut down for the summer, but we know better! While the classrooms are still quiet, the fuse is officially lit. Our IT admins, tech coaches, library-media specialists, and educators are working incredibly hard behind the scenes right now to power our schools. You’re doing the massive heavy lifting required to ensure that when the clock hits zero and the buildings are flooded with students, Day One runs seamlessly. July is all about the preparation behind the performance.

We see you. We appreciate you. Grab an iced coffee, take a deep breath, and let’s make sure you are ready to launch!

⏰ The countdown isn't just for the first day of school—registration is officially open for Oklahoma's premier educational technology event! Join hundreds of peers at the Arvest Convention Center in Tulsa on November 4 & 5 for IGNITE: Embrace the Possible.

We are thrilled to welcome an incredible lineup of keynotes speakers this year, including Gerry Brooks, A.J. Juliani, Richard Culatta, and featured speaker, Dr. Monica Burns! Whether you are looking to accelerate student success, dive into AI frameworks, or network with the brightest minds in Oklahoma education, this is the place to be.

🚨 ATTENDEE CRUCIAL NOTE: You must have an active, renewed OKATE membership BEFORE you can lock in your conference registration spot at a reduced rate! If you haven't taken care of your July 1 renewal yet, please email treasurer@okate.org first so your path to Tulsa is completely clear.

REPORT: The CoSN 2026 State of EdTech Leadership Report

Want to see how your district's summer priorities line up nationally before the school year hits? CoSN’s brand-new annual report shows that cybersecurity remains the top summer priority for K-12 IT leaders, driven heavily by new AI-enabled cyber threats. Grab a copy to benchmark your district's infrastructure roadmap.

• [Link: Download the 2026 CoSN State of EdTech Report]

ARTICLE: How School-Based Kindness Training Can Help Support Students' Mental Health (The 74)

A powerful reminder for district leaders planning back-to-school initiatives. This piece highlights the measurable, long-term impact of integrating social-emotional support structures at the systemic level, proving that culture is just as critical as hardware for a successful school year.

• [Link: Read the Mental Health Feature]

ARTICLE: Microsoft Copilot Study and Learn Gets High Marks (Tech & Learning)

Essential summer reading for IT administrators pushing out software updates across district devices. This review breaks down the safety parameters, data privacy configurations, and student-facing features of Microsoft's tools, giving admins the technical insight they need to manage network configurations before day one.

• [Link: Read the Copilot Infrastructure Review]

Did you know that OKATE (OKSTE) is the CoSN State Chapter leader?

For more information, contact Donna Campo, executivedirector@okate.org

ARTICLE: Drop the Subscriptions Vibe: Code Your Own Library Tools (TCEA)

A brilliant, budget-conscious concept for library-media specialists. It introduces "vibe-coding" (using generative AI to build functional web tools without coding knowledge) to design free, custom library solutions—like random book pickers, genre filters, or interactive digital displays—bypassing high vendor subscription costs.

• [Link: Read the Vibe-Coding Guide]

RESOURCE HIGHLIGHT: Wonderful Picture Books to Assuage Back-to-School Jitters (School Library Journal)

Perfect for elementary and middle school librarians mapping out their August orientation themes. This curated guide features resonant, engaging titles designed to tackle common back-to-school anxieties, turning the media center into a safe harbor on day one.

• [Link: Access the Booklist]

PODCAST/ARTICLE: AI Prompts for Families (Class Tech Tips, Ep. 378)

A plug-and-play template resource for tech coaches and librarians designing back-to-school family engagement strategies. It offers clear prompt frameworks to help media specialists guide families on using digital tools constructively and safely at home.

• [Link: Access the Prompt Kit]

Check out Monthly Updates, PD opportunities, On-Demand videos, and more from the Office of AI and Digital Learning at the Oklahoma State Department of Education

ARTICLE: Build Student-Ready Study Kits with AI Prompts (TCEA)

A major time-saver for classroom teachers spending July building out their course materials. It provides actionable AI prompt loops to generate custom vocabulary study guides, mock quizzes, and review sheets before day one.

• [Link: Get the Prompt Loops]

ARTICLE: 5 Powerful Math Strategies for Multilingual Learners (Edutopia)

A highly tactical guide for core educators looking to design inclusive layouts, offering clear routines that lower the language barrier for math instruction while keeping the academic rigor high.

• [Link: View the Math Strategies]

ARTICLE: Student Choice in Final Projects (Edutopia)

Gives teachers early inspiration on how to build student agency directly into their first-semester curriculum designs by giving learners diverse, tech-infused pathways to show mastery.

• [Link: Read the Edutopia Article]

Nominate your district, someone you know, or yourself for an OKATE Award! For more information about the nomination process, click the buttons below: 

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