MENDON — Superintendent Dr. Maureen M. Cohen is pleased to announce that Mendon-Upton Regional School District Director of Learning and Innovation Ryan Robidoux received MassCUE’s 2026 Administrator Award for his leadership in educational technology.
Robidoux received the award at MassCUE's fall conference last week. His work includes developing guidelines for responsible artificial intelligence use and creating tools that help teachers meet students' individual learning needs.
The award recognizes a Massachusetts school administrator for leadership in educational technology and work that benefits educators within and beyond their own district.
"Ryan puts a great deal of thought into how technology can help our teachers and students," Superintendent Dr. Cohen said. "He asks good questions, develops practical tools and shares what he learns with others. We're proud to see his work recognized by educators from across Massachusetts."
As schools consider how to use AI, Robidoux has helped Mendon-Upton establish guidelines that address student privacy, academic integrity and the importance of students thinking for themselves. He developed the guidelines through MassCUE's Partnership for Educators Advancing AI Knowledge, or PEAK, and leads workshops on AI for educators across Massachusetts.
Robidoux also created Planning for All Learners, a tool teachers can use when preparing lessons. Teachers enter a student's learning needs, and the tool suggests accommodations to help that student participate and succeed in the classroom.
Another project gives students a greater role in tracking their progress. Robidoux built dashboards where students can document their work and reflect on what they have learned alongside traditional measures of achievement. The dashboards connect to the district's Portrait of a Learner, which outlines the skills and qualities students should develop during their education.
Robidoux also serves on the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's AI Task Force and the Massachusetts AI Hub's education working group. He was part of the first PEAK cohort and regularly presents at education conferences.
He is also the co-president of the Massachusetts chapter of the Computer Science Teachers Association, where he advocates for equitable access to computer science education.
"This work is a team effort, and I'm fortunate to work with teachers and colleagues who are willing to try new ideas and share honest feedback," Robidoux said. "They help make these tools better and put them to use with students every day. I'm grateful for their support and proud to share this recognition with them."
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