We strive to keep from jamming your inbox with too many emails, but some information is just too important not to send out to every STLP Coach. Check the archive below if you think you've missed any recent communications.
Happy February, STLP!
A quick note this month to give some updates and reminders about opportunities and deadlines on the horizon. Message topics include:
CDA Judging Update
State Info Page & Registration are LIVE
You Belong: Attendance Matters Contest
STLP E/As Visit KDE
Looking Ahead: What’s Next?
CDA Judging Update
The massive task of organizing the thousands of CDA entries and hundreds of volunteer CDA Judges into groups for scoring was an enormous undertaking. Some brilliant new workflows (via Google Classroom) this year promise to prove helpful at making the judging process as smooth and easy as ever for the CDA Judges. Thanks to Erin.Wofford@education.ky.gov for leading CDA for STLP Kentucky!
As of today, all judges have been contacted via email with their scoring assignments. STLP Coaches, this is your cue to reach out to the judge(s) you submitted with your CDA registration to make sure they’ve seen the communications from Erin and have started the judge training/scoring process. Don’t snooze on starting the judging assignments… the sooner we get scores back the sooner we can announce whose products will be moving on to Semi-Final judging as part of STLP26 State Championship!
State Info Page & Registration are LIVE
The 2026 STLP State Championship info page and registration forms are now live on the web at https://stlp.education.ky.gov/state
The State Info Page will be your go to resource for all things STLP State. Registrations forms for Level 2 Project, Challenges, and judges are live and ready for your submissions up until the March 20th deadline. Explore the different Challenges, check out the STLPx activities, access the optional lunch pre-order process, and use the planning resources to get ready for your trip to storied Rupp Arena in Lexington on April 24th!
Coming soon: the final minute-by-minute schedule (general schedule overview available now), venue maps, and parking/bus instructions will be updated. Bookmark the STLP State info page today for easy access later.
You Belong Attendance Matters Contest
Students from across Kentucky are being invited to use their creativity and voice to highlight what makes their schools special through the new You Belong! Attendance Matters video and poster contest, debuting at the 2026 Student Technology Leadership Program (STLP) State Championship on April 24 in Lexington. Open to K–12 public school students, the contest challenges students to create a short commercial or digital poster that promotes belonging, connection, and why showing up to school matters. The initiative elevates student perspectives while supporting the Kentucky Department of Education’s statewide Attendance Matters campaign.
Registration to compete closes February 13, and winners will be announced during the STLP State Championship on April 24. Selected student work will also be featured in future KDE statewide social media campaigns. Full contest details, rules, and resources are available in the official video and poster contest packet and on KDE’s Attendance Matters website. For more information check the STLP Super Sheet, STLP Discovery Hub and KDE’s Attendance Matters website.
STLP E/As Visit KDE
As mentioned last month, the STLP Engineer/Ambassador Team will be joining together for their first meeting of the year in Frankfort at the Kentucky Department of Education’s Office of Education Technology on February 26th. We’re looking forward to bringing this team of exceptional student leaders together at KDE ahead of their important roles as Conference Technical Support at KySTE Spring Conference and as student leaders at STLP State Championship.
Note for all STLP E/A’s and E/A Coaches: As discussed in our meetings, if inclement weather keeps your E/A from travelling to KDE on the 26th, we’ll announce an alternative virtual option. Stay tuned!
Looking Ahead: What’s Next for STLP?
Spring is always a particularly busy time of year for STLP… like everyone else. Next time we reach out, here are some of the topics we’ll be focusing on:
Join us at KAST in Louisville in March for a series of focused sessions in the STLP presentation thread
Several new big-time partnerships are coming to STLP and State with some names you’ll recognize
Tips, tricks, and ideas for planning your trip to STLP26 State.
…and much more!
Thanks for reading the February update. As always, reference the STLP website, STLP important dates calendar, the STLP Supersheet, and the different STLP event info pages (State, CDA) for details moving ahead. On behalf of Matt, Erin, and the whole STLP team, we hope you stay warm, dry, healthy, and safe!
STLP Kentucky Team
Jeff Sebulsky | Matt Kresslein | Erin Wofford
Office of Education Technology
Kentucky Department of Education
stlp@education.ky.gov | stlp.education.ky.gov
300 Sower Blvd. – 4th Floor
Frankfort, KY 40601
Watch here as more email communications are archived here as they are sent throughout the spring. Thanks!
