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Hi, I’m Megan Zara. I am finishing up my 7th year in education and my 7th year in Frisco. I started my career as an 6th grade ILA teacher, spent two years as the 6th Grade Tech Apps teacher, and have spent the last year as a Digital Learning Coach.
My interest in educational technology began very early in my career. I found that students were highly engaged when I integrated technology into lessons in meaningful ways and offered different avenues and opportunities for learning.
Even as I worked on my Master’s in Reading Education, I was always pulling educational technology into my research and practicums! Something said regularly in my small cohort was, “Got a tech question? Ask Megan!”
While I love technology and can appreciate how it can transform learning and make it dynamic, I also understand that there are some times when technology just doesn't fit. Tech is not the end-all-be-all in education and it is not a band-aid or quick fix. Technology integration should be purposeful and used to enhance, extend, support, and completely redefine learning when it is appropriate.
Sharing technology with other teachers is so exciting for me! I have enjoyed working with the core teachers on my team to integrate technology into their classes and make authentic connections for students. The relationships that I have built with my grade level team, through leading our Technology Campus Improvement Team, and as the Electives Team Lead are priceless and given me even more opportunities to learn from my colleagues and share great things other teachers are doing! I have enjoyed sharing ideas both formally (staff presentations, workshops, parent education) and informally though conversations and PLCs.
In my first year as a DLC, I have had the opportunity to do so much more than just share technology with teachers. The work that I have done with my building admin teams and teachers has been incredibly rewarding and I have found a passion for designing and facilitating professional development.
I don’t consider myself a “tech-expert,” or even an expert teacher. I feel that there will always be more to learn, room to grow, and mistakes from which to learn. Instead, I think that I am a skilled problem-solver, questioner, explorer, and researcher, and it's these qualities that make me the tech-nerd that I am!
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