Jamie Candee
President & Chief Executive Officer

Jamie Candee leads Edmentum’s strategic vision and long-term growth as President, CEO, and Board Director. In this role, Jamie has continuously focused on putting educators at the forefront of Edmentum programs and services, all of which are designed to identify and support unique learning styles while improving student outcomes. Providing educators with flexible digital curriculum and assessments for learning allows them to personalize instruction and create equitable learning opportunities for all students.

In her time leading Edmentum, Jamie has received numerous awards including 2025 Global Leader of the Year from the EdTech Awards, Calibre One’s Top 25 Women Leaders in US PE-Backed Software for 2025; the 2023 Tech Edvocate Best Global EdTech Leader award; the 2022 POW! (Power of Women) Award from ASU+GSV, which recognizes influential female leaders providing equal access to the future through education; the 2021 Entrepreneur of the Year Heartland Award by Ernst & Young; and one of EdTech Digest’s Top 100 Influencers in EdTech in 2018.

Meet Our Panelists

Dr. Glenn Wood

Superintendent, Plainfield 202

Dr. Glenn Wood is Superintendent at Plainfield Consolidated School District 202 in Illinois, the fifth largest district in Illinois. Dr. Wood has demonstrated the ability to be a leader with strategic vision who has managed large-scale initiatives, navigated the politics of municipalities, and worked with bargaining groups to improve student achievement. Before working in Plainfield, Dr. Wood has experience in numerous roles, including a mathematics teacher and later, a high school principal.


Dr. Andalib Khelghati

Superintendent, Oswego Community Unit SD308

Throughout his decades of educational experience, first as a teacher and then as a school and district administrator, Dr. Khelghati has demonstrated a commitment to creating equitable learning environments, enabling all children to excel and develop their full capacities.

Dr. Khelghati’s doctoral degree work from the University of Illinois at Chicago focused on understanding the transformative power of trust in instructional improvement.


Dr. Teresa Polson

Superintendent, Valley View SD 365U

Dr. Teresa Polson joined the VVSD staff in 2005 as a science teacher at Martinez Middle School. She has held multiple vital leadership roles within the district and surrounding region, including serving as the VVSD Special Education District Coordinator, Extended School Year Principal, and Dean of Students at Brooks Middle School. She later served as assistant director of student services for VVSD before transitioning into building leadership as the assistant principal and then principal of Jane Addams Middle School.


Dr. John P. Price

Superintendent, Indian Prairie 204

Dr. John P. Price brings 25 years of experience in education leadership to his new role as superintendent of Indian Prairie School District 204, which he assumed in July 2026. He previously led North Chicago School District 187, where he stabilized district leadership, strengthened teacher retention, raised high school graduation rates, and maintained a consistent annual budget surplus.

Dr. Price also helped establish the North Chicago Public Education Foundation, which has awarded more than 100 full-ride scholarships.

Earlier in his career, he served in various leadership roles within Chicago Public Schools.


Dr. Martina Smith

Superintendent, Community Unit D300

Dr. Martina Smith is superintendent of District 300 in Algonquin, with 28 schools serving pre-K through 12th grade. Her leadership focuses on three areas: student voice and leadership, Professional Learning Communities (PLCs), and partnerships. In 2026, she received the Regional Superintendent Award at the 50th Kane County Educator of the Year Awards Banquet.

Before becoming superintendent, she was deputy superintendent for District 300. Additional roles included assistant superintendent of Title I schools, principal of Carpentersville Middle School, and principal of Meadowdale Elementary School. She also held positions as principal, assistant principal, and teacher at Rockford Public Schools.


Dr. Janice K. Jackson
Edmentum Executive in Residence
Executive Director, The Aspen Institute Education and Society Program

Dr. Janice K. Jackson, former CEO of Chicago Public Schools, led the nation’s third-largest district to record graduation rates and launched Learn. Plan. Succeed. to ensure every senior had a concrete postsecondary plan. As the former CEO of Hope Chicago, she built debt-free college and career pathways for Chicago students and families in partnership with local employers.

Dr. John Burkey
Co-Host and Moderator
Executive Director LUDA, Former Superintendent Huntley CSD 158

Dr. John Burkey joined LUDA as executive director in January 2018. Prior to his current role, he served as superintendent of LUDA-member Huntley Community School District 158 for 12 years.

 


Dr. Janice K. Jackson

Edmentum Executive in Residence
Executive Director, The Aspen Institute Education and Society Program


Dr. Janice K. Jackson, former CEO of Chicago Public Schools, led the nation’s third-largest district to record graduation rates and launched Learn. Plan. Succeed. to ensure every senior had a concrete postsecondary plan. Now as CEO of Hope Chicago, she’s building debt-free college and career pathways for Chicago students and families in partnership with local employers.

In addition to her groundbreaking work in education, Dr. Jackson has forged strategic partnerships with the business community, driving economic growth and innovation.

Discover How Wonderful Is
Our App In Your Hands.


Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry.

Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book.

It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software.

AGENDA

10:00 – 10:15 AM
| Arrival, Check-in, Coffee, and Networking

10:15 – 10:25 AM | Welcome & Opening Activity - Gallery Walk

10:25 – 10:40 AM | Opening Presenter - Janice Jackson

10:40 – 11:40 AM | Superintendent Panel: What’s Actually Working

11:40 – 11:50 AM | Transition

11:50 – 12:50 PM | Lunch (networking only, no agenda)

12:50 – 1:30 PM | Breakout Session

1:30 – 2:00 PM | Large Group Discussion, Q&A, and Closing Reflections