As I reflected on this transition, five key lessons from my CUE journey stood out—and each one reinforced why this evolution is necessary.

1. The language we use reveals the paradigm we’re trapped in.

For years, I found myself explaining CUE to people using air-quote peace signs and a slightly apologetic tone: “It stands for, Computer Using Educators.” The scrunchie gestures were my way of saying, “Yes, the name is outdated, but trust me, we do great work.” But here’s the uncomfortable truth: if you have to apologize for, qualify, justify your name before you can explain your purpose, your brand is working against you. We’ve known for nearly two decades that technology integration works best when it’s woven seamlessly into pedagogical practices—not siloed as “computer skills.” Clinging to being a Computer Using Educator in name somehow felt like a betrayal of that very principle. CALIE’s name puts innovation first and technology in its rightful place: as a powerful tool, not the end goal.

2. Students don’t need us to master tools—they need us to model evolution.

Our students are growing up in a world where the shelf life of any given app, platform, or device is measured in months, not years. What they need from us isn’t expertise in today’s technology; they need to see us embrace uncertainty, learn publicly, and adapt gracefully. Every time we resist change because “we’ve always done it this way,” we teach them that comfort matters more than growth. When we lean into something be it anew tool, a new role, or even a rebrand—anything that feels uncomfortable and unfamiliar—we model the exact mindset our students need to thrive in their futures. CALIE’s focus on “leading innovation” acknowledges that our job is to guide, not gatekeep.

3. The strongest communities are held together by values, not vocabulary.

One of my biggest concerns I’ve heard colleagues share about the transition is losing the community—those incredible educators who have shaped my journey (and theirs) and pushed the collective thinking of an industry. But let us not forget: the magic of CUE was never in the acronym. It was in the person who stayed late at the conference to troubleshoot my Google Form. It was in the colleague who shared their entire unit plan with me, no strings attached. It was in the administrator who believed in trying something new because they’d seen it work at Spring CUE. Those people aren’t going anywhere, rather, the mission is getting clearer: CALIE fosters a thriving community of educators and supporters that equips, engages, and inspires members to evolve and embrace better ways of learning. Same heart, sharper focus.

4. Real inclusion means meeting people where the work is, not where we used to be.

Here’s some real talk: the educators who need us most—those in under-resourced schools, those teaching multilingual learners, those fighting for equity every single day—they’re not sitting around wondering about “computer using.” They’re asking: How do I use this tool to unlock my students’ voices? How do I make learning more accessible? How do I prepare kids for careers that don’t exist yet? CALIE’s vision speaks directly to these questions: a transformative future—led by educators—where technology fuels educational experiences designed to unleash every learner’s potential. That’s the conversation I’m ready to help lead. 

5. Leaving the classroom doesn’t mean losing your compass—but people will question whether you still have one.

Throughout my transitions from teacher to coach to administrator, I heard it constantly: “Once you leave the classroom, you’ve lost touch.” Despite research to the contrary, there’s a contingent of educators who feel that anyone who steps out of the classroom has “gone to the dark side.” That criticism stung, especially because I’ve always been deeply concerned with how colleagues perceived my work. But here’s what I learned: the educators who questioned my commitment were often the ones most resistant to any change. And the ones who supported my growth? They were the innovators, the risk-takers, the educators who understood that impact sometimes means stepping into discomfort. CALIE’s rebrand is that same kind of courageous step—and the resistance it faces will come from the same place. The question is: which side of that line best represents you?