The Innovative Solutions Consortium (ISC) announces the Loudoun County Public School Technology Challenge

Established in April of 2011, the Innovative Solutions Consortium (ISC) is a non-profit 501(c)(6) organization that provides thought-leadership and delivers innovative solutions to the toughest problems facing government and commercial industry. Now the ISC is tackling an event that is the first of its kind in the nation. The ISC with its partners Loudoun County Department of Economic Development (LCDED), Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce (LCCC), and the George Mason Enterprise Center (MEC) will be working with Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS) to help them address some of their most challenging issues, bringing global open innovation to the local level and creating innovation in communities by providing Loudoun County Students and Citizens the opportunity to submit solutions to the challenge areas.

Loudoun County, Virginia, located just outside of Washington, D.C. is home to approximately 340,000 residents (80,000 students) and is one of the fastest growing counties in America. The center of the largest technology corridor on the East Coast, seventy-percent of the world’s internet traffic flows through the county. “ISC has proved to be a tremendous asset to Loudoun County. The LCPS technology challenge is just another example of how ISC continues to be a remarkably valuable community partner of ours,” said Steve Hargan of the Loudoun County Department of Economic Development.

After direct input from LCPS administrators, conducting research, interviews, and one-on-one discussions with LCPS staff, ISC has identified 4 main areas for the challenge:

• Safety and Security
• Administrative Decision Support Systems
• Developing the 21st Century Classroom
• Technology and Tools to Support Education Solutions

The LCPS Challenge will include guest speakers and live demonstrations of all of the Finalists’ solutions to be judged by a panel of LCPS stakeholders, academic, and industry leaders. The awards will include:

• Most Disruptive Technology
• Most Innovative Technology
• Future Innovators (an award for students only)

Michelle Chance, ISC Director of Operations, states, “This collaborative challenge is something that has never been done before. We are bringing in the top innovators from around the globe to help solve some important issues for Loudoun County Public Schools and asking students to be a part of the problem-solving team. It is exciting to see the number of students interested in being a part of this effort and I can’t wait to get the challenge underway!”

The ISC focuses on collaboration and bringing the best organizations together to deliver innovative solutions for “hard-to-solve” problems. These efforts are supported through a wide range of activities that include:

• “Hard Challenge” Events—tackling a unique requirement in government or science

• Strategic Collaboration Sessions—inviting the best in industry to share ideas and innovations

• Student Mentoring—building a future where innovation and collaboration are a mindset

• Innovation and Technology Events—seeking, evaluating, recognizing and rewarding up and coming champions of disruptive innovation

• ISC’s VIVID Framework—teaching organizations to apply this Framework to quickly and successfully advance ideas into solutions

The ISC, in collaboration with its community partners, will use its open innovation process to bring in potential solutions from around the world. The top Finalists will compete on October 22nd, demonstrating how their solution will help LCPS address their toughest challenges.

ISC Founder, Ken Spedden, states, “We are excited to bring the challenge home to Loudoun County and help our public schools address their most difficult problems. With our proven ability to lead the way in executing innovative challenges both at the U.S. government and community level, we are hopeful that this challenge will serve as an inspiration for other communities and school systems throughout the nation. Special recognition belongs to the forward thinking of LCPS Administrators, our community partners in this challenge, and the ISC leaders that have helped make this special event a reality.”

While this event has far-reaching potential that can benefit students across the country, the immediate impact will begin in Loudoun County.

For more information participating in this challenge or sponsoring these exciting endeavors, please visit the ISC website. For additional information and interview requests please contact Elysa Leonard with Splash Communications via email at elysa@splashmarcom.com or by phone at 571-426-5145.