ATLIS Announces 2026 Aspire Award Recipients

Following the successful launch of its inaugural program, the Association of Technology Leaders in Independent Schools (ATLIS) is proud to announce the 2026 recipients of the ATLIS Aspire Awards. This program celebrates the exceptional achievements of technology leaders and innovators who are transforming the independent school sector through visionary leadership and innovative practices.

“The Aspire Awards continue to showcase the remarkable work being done in our community,” said Dr. Aggie Malter, ATLIS board chair. “These individuals and teams are driving transformative change and inspiring us all to reimagine the possibilities of technology in education”.

The ATLIS Aspire Awards encompass five distinct categories designed to recognize the diverse contributions of technology leaders, educators, and students:

• Aspire Visionary Excellence Award: For disruptors who spark change through the imaginative use of technology.

• Aspire Breakthrough Leader Award: Celebrating those new to their role or independent schools who have already raised the bar.

• Aspire Excellence in Educational Technology Award: For leaders driving instructional innovation through educational technology.

• Aspire Strategic IT Leader Award: Celebrating the IT leaders behind outstanding initiatives or projects.

• Aspire Achievement Award: Celebrating those who achieve great things with fewer resources.

This year’s winners are:

Aspire Visionary Excellence Award

Danelle Landgraf and students Brennan, Jackson, Gisele, and Minhee, Mid-Pacific Institute

Danelle Landgraf and her students at Mid-Pacific Institute in Honolulu, HI, are recognized with the Aspire Visionary Excellence Award for fundamentally redefining how artificial intelligence leadership functions in schools. Through the AI Prompts to Problem Solving course and a student-driven AI Council, they shifted authority and expertise around generative AI from adults to students, positioning young people as policy shapers, faculty trainers, and ethical innovators. 

Students led professional development for teachers, presented at national conferences, developed the “Am I Bias” app to examine algorithmic bias, and shared personal stories about how AI supports neurodivergent learners, transforming faculty understanding and accelerating responsible adoption. Initiatives such as the AI Innovators Club and Owlgorithms Club further embedded student voice into governance and innovation, while outreach to local organizations expanded the impact beyond campus. By reimagining technology as an empowerment tool and elevating student lived experience as the driver of change, this team has built a scalable model that inspires schools to trust students as ethical leaders and creators in the age of AI.

Aspire Breakthrough Leader Awards

Jennifer Parnell, Director of Innovation and Student AI Projects, The Lawrenceville School, and Ling Lam, M.Ed., Director of Educational Technology and IT, Helios School

Jennifer Parnell, director of innovation and student AI projects at The Lawrenceville School in Lawrenceville, NJ, is recognized as an Aspire Breakthrough Leader for redefining what student-centered AI leadership can look like in an independent school setting. In just four years, she has evolved from a history teacher and residential faculty member to the school's leading voice on artificial intelligence, shaping strategy, curriculum, governance, and community engagement. Parnell founded and chairs a groundbreaking AI Council composed of students and adults, positioning student voice at the center of AI innovation. 

Under her leadership, students have developed predictive models and AI-driven tools that help solve problems across departments, including Admissions, Finance, Student Life, and Alumni Engagement. She has designed and taught one of the first generative AI courses at an independent school, advised national policy through the College Board's AP Educator Advisory Committee on Generative AI, presented to trustees and international school leaders, and guided students to present their work at major conferences.

Through her bold vision, cross-campus collaboration, and commitment to authentic student leadership, Parnell has built a culture where innovation is mission-aligned, ethical, and deeply empowering for the school community.

Ling Lam, M.Ed., director of educational technology and IT at Helios School in Sunnyvale, CA, is recognized as an Aspire Breakthrough Leader for her immediate and transformative impact during a pivotal post-COVID transition. Stepping into significant personnel turnover and institutional change, she stabilized operations, rebuilt trust, and modernized IT systems through automation, cybersecurity enhancements, and full asset transparency, reducing device deployment time from one day to under 30 minutes. 

With a secure foundation in place, Lam launched a strategic edtech vision aligned with Helios’s mission, shifting digital tools toward active, high-agency learning for gifted and twice-exceptional students. She integrates DEI into infrastructure and AI governance, co-leading an AI Task Force that examines bias, accessibility, and representation while educating students to think critically about emerging technologies. By co-teaching with faculty, modeling ethical technology use, and personalizing digital citizenship education for students and families, Lam has built a secure, innovative, and deeply human technology culture that serves as a powerful model for new leaders across independent schools.

Aspire Excellence in Educational Technology Award

Aisha Bryant, TLIS, Associate Director of Informational Technology, Germantown Friends School

Aisha Bryant, TLIS, associate director of informational technology at Germantown Friends School in Philadelphia, PA, is recognized for her leadership in advancing thoughtful and teacher-centered AI integration. Building on years of trusted edtech coaching at McDonogh School and previously at Roland Park Country School, Bryant led a strategic partnership with Flint K12 that empowered faculty to reimagine how AI can enhance teaching and learning. She met teachers where they were, cultivating trust, confidence, and a shared sense of purpose rather than applying a one-size-fits-all approach. 

As a result, faculty moved from hesitation to enthusiasm and created more engaging, AI-supported classroom experiences for students. Her work was featured in a Flint case study and serves as a model for schools seeking to integrate emerging technologies through strong relationships, intentional implementation, and meaningful partnership.

Aspire Strategic IT Leader Award

Nikita Desai, Head of Innovation and Artificial Intelligence, GEMS Founders School Dubai South

Nikita Desai, head of innovation and artificial intelligence at GEMS Founders School Dubai South and EdTech Excellence Fellow at GEMS Education,is recognized for leading a comprehensive, high-impact transformation of teaching, learning, and operations through the strategic implementation of technology and AI tools. She established a dedicated Innovation Lab, led school-wide EdTech and AI policy and curriculum development, and served as an EdTech Excellence Fellow, collaborating with teachers, leadership teams, and students to inspire excellence in AI curriculum across GEMS schools and foster a culture of continuous improvement. 

Under her leadership, 100 percent of teachers, TAs, and LSAs completed certification in Seesaw AI, resulting in measurable gains, including a 35 percent increase in successful assignment submissions, a 40 percent rise in high-quality digital artifacts, and a 20–30 percent reduction in planning workload through shared AI-assisted resources. Alongside her team, she hosted and managed initiatives such as the Global Innovation Challenge, AI for Sustainability projects, and community-wide Hour of AI experiences, engaging more than 300 students and 400 families. 

By aligning innovation with the school’s Grow, Flourish, Discover framework, strengthening collaboration across departments, and streamlining workflows through automation and centralized systems, Desai has improved operational efficiency, deepened digital confidence, and built a sustainable culture of innovation that supports long-term strategic growth.

About ATLIS

The Association of Technology Leaders in Independent Schools (ATLIS) is a growing association of independent schools dedicated to empowering schools to thrive through technology leadership. Founded in 2014 to address the unique challenges of independent school technology directors, the organization has now expanded to support all aspects of technology at schools, ensuring that they are equipped for the future. Across all dimensions of its practice, ATLIS is also dedicated to creating a welcoming and inclusive association.