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Announcements/Important DatesProfessional LearningTCEA Certifications

Congratulations to Our 2020-2022 Certification Graduates!

by Peggy Reimers
written by Peggy Reimers

The pandemic certainly threw a wrench in many plans, and one of those plans was our recognition of members who have completed certification programs with TCEA over the past few years. That said, TCEA would like to proudly recognize and congratulate the dedicated and hardworking educators who have completed certifications with TCEA in 2020, 2021, and 2022. 

These individuals have put in many long hours honing their craft, reflecting on their progress, and preparing a portfolio showcasing their new skills and tools. They did an amazing job and should be congratulated on their success!

Campus Technology Specialist Certification

2022

Satyendra Arora – Yew Chung International School, Beijing, China

Jennifer Baker – Kaufman ISD

Blaire Beathard – Richardson, TX

Amanda Bird – Greenwood ISD

Max Burman – Rutland Northeast Supervisory Union, Vermont

Leighanne Butler – Edgewood ISD

Dr. Chrisanne Christensen – Premier High School, Houston

Belinda De Jesus – Edgewood ISD

Curtis Depree – Potter’s House High School, Wyoming, Michigan

Oscar T. Galdeano – Edgewood ISD

Takiela Gallagher – Edgewood ISD

Edith Guerra – St. Joseph Academy, Brownsville, Texas

Breana Hendry – Whitesboro ISD

Lesley Johnson – Gadsden ISD

Jennifier Krnavek – Flour Bluff ISD

Kim MacKinnon – Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada

Gene Palyu – Gadsden ISD

Brittanie Payne – El Campo ISD

Deb Seger – Lee A. Tolbert Community Academy, Kansas City, MO

Theresa Upchurch – Howe ISD

Vanessa Wilson – Broward, Florida

2021

Amber Acosta – American International School of Egypt

Wanda Adams – The American School in Vietnam

Lynn Bolts – Taylor ISD

Jami Davis – Mansfield ISD

Katherine Garza – Hillsboro ISD

Kathryn Lamar – Southwest Region School District, Alaska

Kandice Lammert – Crawford ISD

Robert Mesazaros – Nam Wah Catholic Secondary School, Hong Kong

Kristy McAlister – Southwest Christian School, Fort Worth

Tammy Morales – Navarro ISD

Meghan Moran – Franklin ISD

Betty Nazarian – Merdinian School

Joseph Scale – St. Anthony of Padua Catholic School, The Woodlands

Nell Warnes – St Thomas High School, Houston, Texas

Carrie Valadez – Southwest Christian School, Fort Worth, Texas

2020 

Rena Bowden – Grandview ISD

Amanda Hawthorne – Fort Sam Houston ISD

Eowyn Johnson – La Porte ISD

Rebekah Johnson – Prosper ISD

Brittney Nabors –  Liberty Eylau ISD

Dr. Ashly Spencer – Birdville ISD

Destiny Wagner – John Paul II High School

Brian D. Williams II – Klein ISD

IT/Tech Director Certification

2022

Jeremy Coker – Woodville ISD

Alexander Garey – Wooster City Schools, Wooster, Ohio

Sarah Gunn – Sweetwater ISD

Lilly Jensby – Plano ISD

Stephenie Jordan – Katy ISD

Jarod Lambert – Conroe ISD

Amanda Lanicek – Springtown ISD

David Martin – Orleans Southwest Supervisory Union,, Hardwick, Vermont

Megan Miller – Winnsboro ISD

Betty Nazarian – Merdinian School, Sherman Oaks, California

Andrew Price – St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic School, Dallas, Texas

Antwone Robertson – Grand Prairie ISD

Melynn Smith – Gilmer ISD

2021

Christopher Bowen  – Georgia

Krissy Calhoun – Conroe ISD

Taryn Dungan – Harts Bluff ISD

Jeannine Freeman – Fort Sam Houston ISD

Brian Gray – Sanborn Regional High School, Kingston, New Hampshire

Jennifer Hazen – Aubrey ISD

Kiruba Janani – American International School Chennai, India

Alfonso Mendoza Jr.  – Sharyland ISD

Reaz Shaheed – Shattuck-St. Mary’s Forest City International School, Malaysia

2020

Leah Heerema – Plano ISD

Justin Lascsak – Mineral Wells ISD

Would You Like to Get Certified? 

TCEA offers two certifications to assist educators in becoming more proficient in specific areas. The CTS and IT/Director certifications consist of required coursework, a final project, and a portfolio. 

Advantages of Certifications:

  • Stand out among your peers.
  • Ensure your knowledge is up to date and that you are proficient in it.
  • Provide additional value to your school by holding a certification in a specific area, becoming the “go-to” in that area.
  • Show your willingness and initiative to continue your education.

Campus Technology Specialist (CTS) Certification

This certification is designed to provide educators who wish to become, or already are, campus-level technology specialists. The emphasis is on developing skills to help classroom teachers successfully integrate technology into the everyday curriculum and build capacity at the local campus level. The certification is designed for teachers, librarians, and technology specialists. Attending the TCEA  Conference for Educational Coaches (CEC) in the fall will earn you 6 hours toward the CTS certification. 

Technology/IT Director Certification

The Technology/IT Director certification provides a program for educators who wish to become, or already are, district-level technology or IT directors. The emphasis will be on developing strategic leadership skills, as well as the ability to provide effective and engaging educational technology experiences for both staff and students. 

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Announcements/Important DatesTechnical Support

Educational Technology Appreciation Day: December 8, 2021

by Jennifer Bergland
written by Jennifer Bergland

Thinking about Educational Technology Appreciation Day brings a distinct memory to my mind. It was 30 years ago, and I was in my classroom staring at my Macintosh Classic computer screen.

To be honest, it was so long ago I don’t remember exactly what was wrong with the computer. I just remember the panic I felt when I saw the screen. Was I going to lose ALL of my work? I knew there was only one person who could help me: Henry. I ran down to the teachers’ lounge to call him. He was one of two computer repair technicians that worked for the school district at that time, and he was located at the district’s maintenance office. When he picked up the phone, I quickly told him what was wrong. He quickly said, “Whatever you do, don’t….” Again, it’s been a long time, so I can’t exactly remember what he told me not to do! But I remember that I let a student try to troubleshoot my computer before I called Henry (big mistake), and that student had done exactly what Henry told me NOT to do. Ugh!

He said he’d be right over. It wasn’t too long before Henry arrived, and sure enough, he knew exactly what to do. Henry took those types of calls daily. He quietly went from school to school, helping teachers, administrators, and office personnel with whatever kind of technology problems they were facing. 

Ed Tech Staff Is Vital

There are thousands of “Henrys” across the state of Texas. Every school district has employees who help their students and staff with a myriad of technology issues. These activities range from training on a new software application or device to telephone assistance, network outages, device repair, or software glitches. Since I made that desperate call to Henry in the early 1990s, our dependence on technology has only increased. These employees are essential to the instructional success of our students and the business operation of a district. This is why TCEA is proud to sponsor Educational Technology Appreciation Day on December 8. We celebrate this day every year on the Wednesday of Computer Science Week, which is December 6-12 this year.  

Ideas for Ed Tech Appreciation

To generate ideas for honoring these employees, I asked the TCEA staff and some technology directors for suggestions on expressing gratitude and appreciation to all the “Henrys” in your district. Below is a compilation of their recommendations. 

Food 

Who doesn’t love treats? You could provide:

  • Jars with snacks (healthy and/or candy)
  • Popcorn (a mixture of cheese and caramel is my favorite!)
  • Gift cards to their favorite beverage place: Sonic, Starbucks, etc. 
  • Homemade sweets (cookies, fudge, cake pops)
  • Breakfast or lunch (bagels or doughnuts with coffee, pizza or burgers with soft drinks)
  • Lunch, as your treat, off campus

Words of Affirmation

Ed Tech Thanks

Everyone likes to hear how their work has positively impacted others. Here are a few ways to say thanks:

  • Handwritten notes are always in style!
  • Commandeer the high school scoreboard and make their names flash all day long for the whole community to see.
  • Create a Kudoboard for each staff member and encourage the district staff to post notes on each board
  • Record a short interview with each tech staff about what they love most about serving others. Post it on various social media platforms, tagging them and bragging on them. 
  • Ask your superintendent to recognize the tech staff at each campus during a morning or afternoon meeting. 
  • Create a social media post for each staff member with their photo and what they do to help the district. Make them go viral! 
  • Create a FlipGrid for the staff and encourage the district to post short videos thanking them for all they do. 

Experiences

Ed Tech Appreciation Meal

Throw some type of event that lets them know how special they are!

  • Organize some type of unusual outing. At TCEA, we went to a place where we learned how to throw axes. It was so much fun! 
  • Create some type of digital scavenger hunt using Apps like GooseChase or Geocache. My staff used to love to go on Geocaching adventures. 
  • Give them an afternoon off!
  • Rent a local theater so you can enjoy a movie together. 
  • Find some place to take them where they can be together and have fun (zoo, a lake, a sporting event, etc.).
  • Get the high school band or choir to come serenade them for all of their hard work.

These are just a few ways to demonstrate your appreciation for your tech staff. I’d love to hear from you about how you have acknowledged this critical group of employees. Every one of us has had a “Henry” in our lives. They’ve not only made our lives easier, but at times, they have gotten us out of a big jam. Let’s show them how much we appreciate them, not just on Educational Technology Appreciation Day, but every day.

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