Topic: Leadership

When was the last time you used the word “computer” in your practice?

I asked myself this question recently, and I honestly couldn’t remember. These days, I talk about Chromebooks, iPads, the Mac lab, VR headsets, machine learning tools. Even traditional “computers” are more likely to be referred to as desktops, laptops, workstations—anything but “computers.” That realization underscored my enthusiasm when I learned that CUE, the organization I’ve championed for 17 years, was evolving into CALIE: the California Association for Leading Innovation in Education.

And here’s the thing: I had absolutely no reservations about it. Not. One. 

That might surprise you, especially if you know my history with this organization. I’m a long-time CUE hype gal. I served as President of the San Diego CUE affiliate. I’m a CUE Gold Disk honoree, recognized for contributions in edtech. I’ve had that blue and gold sticker on every single laptop cover I’ve ever owned. CUE wasn’t just an organization to me—it was a lifeline.

The Personal Side of Professional Growth

CUE called to me from my first interaction at my local San Diego affiliate. I immediately felt inspired to attend conferences, download toolkits, connect online, and share resources. But it transcended checking boxes. My participation compelled me to bring technology into the classroom in ways my colleagues weren’t yet comfortable doing. As a result, I was able to amplify my strengths as a classroom teacher and translate those into becoming an instructional coach, school site administrator, and later a district administrator in instructional technology and then instructional services.

I’m not sure I would have felt competent enough to take the leap into each of those new chapters without the solid backing of my CUE experience. CUE was more than a location or a conference—it was about the people, the community, and that spark of innovation I always felt in March when I met up with the teams who had been my support system all year long.

So when I tell you I support the evolution to CALIE, understand that I’m not dismissing what came before. I’m honoring it by recognizing what it taught me about growth

So when I tell you I support the evolution to CALIE, understand that I’m not dismissing what came before. I’m honoring it by recognizing what it taught me about growth

Tiffani Brown

Program Specialist, CALIE

Five Truths That Made Me Ready for Change

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?

What’s Not Changing (And Why That Matters)

If you’re reading this and feeling uncertain, let me be clear: Nothing about the original value of CUE offered is going away. The incredibly talented, innovative, like-minded community of educators will still be the CPU of CALIE. (See what I did there?)

You’ll still find:

• The same Spring conference that’s been California’s premier innovation education gathering for decades 
• The same local affiliate support that elevated countless careers (including mine)
• The same spirit of collaboration, resource-sharing, and mutual encouragement
• The same people who’ve been your cheerleaders, your thought partners, your professional family

What’s changing is our ability to articulate who we are and what we do without apologizing for our name first.

A Call to My Fellow Innovators

To all the mentors, teachers, administrators, and coaches who have been part of the CUE journey: I’m asking you to lean into your own innovative spirit and see the need for this fresh perspective.

This rebrand isn’t about erasing history—it’s about honoring everything we’ve built by making it accessible to the next generation of educators. It’s about ensuring that when a first-year teacher googles “California education innovation,” they find us first.

CALIE isn’t asking us to become someone new. It’s giving us language that finally matches how we’ve been evolving for the last half a century: educators who integrate inspiring and innovative tech-based tools with a lens toward what sparks curiosity for students, what eases the burdens of teachers, and what enhances the culture on every campus.

Yes, students need to learn how to use technology in meaningful and strategic ways. But they also need crayons and scented stickers and outdoor play and physical interactions and conversations with peers—all the things that make a complete learning experience. That integrated, dynamic approach? That’s what CALIE represents. That’s what we’ve been fighting for all along.

Moving Forward Together

I know first-hand how uncomfortable change can be, especially when you didn’t ask for it. I’ve recently been through career tragedy and transition. I know how powerful nostalgia is. I know that saying goodbye to something that shaped you feels like loss, even when you know it’s right. In fact these sentiments parallel the last 3 years of my educational journey with uncanny connection. Circumstances have pushed me to grow. 

I also know this: the educators who changed my life through CUE didn’t get there by playing it safe. They took risks. They tried new things. They evolved.

Now it’s CALIE’s turn.

I’m so proud to share that I am not just a 17 year CUE member, former SDCUE Affiliate President, Gold Disk Honoree, And 24 time CUE Conference presenter, I am now a CALIE employee, working to support my cherished education community with stellar programs and learning experiences.  It’s giving transformation, like my own breaking open made room for this. Sometimes growth and loss arrive holding hands, and I can’t help but feel ilike I’ve come home—not to where we were, but to where we’re going.” 

Welcome CALIE. We Inspire learning! I hope you’ll join us.

Are you ready to embrace the evolution from CUE to CALIE? What questions or concerns do you still have? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Tiffani Brown
Program Specialist
CALIE