Education
Sophia Mendoza, the director of the Los Angeles Unified School District’s Instructional Technology Initiative, has led the implementation of digital learning tools in over 400 schools. In doing so, she has implemented several innovative professional development models for the district’s 25,000 teachers. In introducing technology, Mendoza says the district aims to meet teachers where they are, to ensure that they feel successful and supported as they learn to use edtech tools. The district’s PD programs, she said, “provide multiple entry points for learning opportunities so that there are these easy wins and that they feel successful, that they feel supported as they venture out and take those risks … ” Part of the district’s strategy is to create “change agents” at school sites, such as principals who embrace professional development as learners first and then model their learning in ways that are meaningful for their staff. The aim is to avoid a top-down approach and create grassroots learning led by people who are leaders in their school communities. The school district has also made the ISTE Standards a centerpiece of its implementation efforts. The district has developed curriculum that has the ISTE Standards woven into it. It has also created teams of teachers that develop lessons according to the ISTE Standards and then test them to find what works and what doesn’t. The district has also developed “practitioner schools,” where an ISTE Standard is instituted across all subjects and then can act as a model for other schools in the district. Mendoza has also worked with teacher preparation programs to ensure the ISTE Standards are part of their curriculum. That ensures new teachers coming in the district are familiar with the standards.