Jerri Kemble, superintendent of USD 397, was one of 400 educational leaders in North America who were selected to attend the Apple Leadership Summit April 20 through 23 in Dallas, Texas.

The summit is a participatory gathering of education executives dedicated to bringing innovation in learning to their institutions.

The agenda included keynote speakers, breakout sessions, discussions with thought leaders, introductions to the latest Apple technology, and opportunities for networking with educational leaders.

The conference focused on helping participants gain a better understanding of how mobile technology, digital content, and social media are transforming learning.

The featured speaker was Malcolm Gladwell, who is known for his provocative ideas and groundbreaking insights. He is a regular contributor to The New Yorker and author of the best-selling books “The Tipping Point,” “Blink,” and “Outliers.”

John Couch, vice president of Apple Education, led discussions on challenge-based learning and how it provides students with powerful new learning processes that challenge them to make a difference.

One of the highlights of the conference was a panel discussion of young students who are using social media, technology, and the Internet to create successful businesses.

The conference concluded with an interactive learning challenge led by Randy Nelson, Dean of Pixar University.