1. Describe your Capstone Challenge and how you identified it.

My district currently has a new teacher mentor program, but nothing in place to guide new staff on the technology we utilize in our schools, specifically since COVID and our new knowledge and resources. With a small group of colleagues we want to design and implement our own training courses housed and awarded OPI renewal units through our district. My focus will be creating technology trainings on platforms such as Google and SeeSaw.

2. Describe your diverse stakeholders and how you selected them, such as colleagues, parents, students, association members, community members, state or local partners, etc.

I started with our small group of elementary tech coaches. This was a unique group that was created because of COVID and having to plan for offsite instruction. Once we developed the plan to create monthly professional development (PD) my stakeholders became administrative staff. When given the approval and praise from administration I began with a small group of colleagues. To be specific, my stakeholders were now my direct colleagues at our intermediate school grades 3rd through 5th. After the success of our first training our tech team met and our stakeholders then became the entire elementary staff of colleagues.

3. Why is it important for your diverse stakeholders that the Capstone Challenge be addressed?

The teachers and staff of our district were faced with a unique circumstance in teaching this year with COVID affecting our protocols and ability to educate like previous years. They were all needing to take their classroom teaching to an online platform with only the guidance of "here is what has been purchased". For them this challenge of utilizing online platforms in a meaningful and educational was at high priority for student success (Artifact #1). This whole group of educators also needed this challenge addressed to avoid overworking and burnout in a time of crisis. This was high priority and important.

4. In what ways will addressing the Capstone Challenge promote or support the foundational competencies?

With a range of educators experience also comes an inequity of technology knowledge or "know how". We know that the children of this day in age is much more tech savvy then those of older generations. I understand I grew up in the middle of these time periods. As technology was being developed I was learning and using it. I personally know my understanding and ability to manipulate technology is stronger than many. Knowing that there is inequity amongst ages, technology experience and exposure supports my development of meaningful instruction. Addressing these inequities within how the courses are laid out will give every one the opportunity to learn and develop what works for them in their own classrooms.

5. Is it your intention to broaden the existing vision, values and/or culture of the association or to create a cultural shift?  Explain.

I wouldn't say I am trying to create a cultural shift amongst my association, but absolutely amongst our staff and buildings. I am hoping to create collaboration and growth so everyone can feel successful this year. Because our buildings or separated by kindergarten, first and second, and then third, fourth and fifth; collaboration does not happen often between grade levels. Especially in our development of lessons and increased demand with COVID and offsite teaching, collaboration will be key to helping with work load and benefit our students. Giving everyone the access to the same technology exposure will increase everyone's knowledge and again, benefit all our students and families.

6. Why might this strategy be a viable solution for your Capstone Challenge?

The goal is to bring everyone together and help them feel successful in this new way of teaching. If we have only a few teachers rocking the online teaching, our families of a small town will be talking and criticizing. However, through collaboration our community will feel a sense of trust that their child and every child is getting the same valuable education.

1. On which two Overarching Competencies will you focus in addressing your Capstone Challenge?  Why are they relevant? 

My two overarching competencies are adult learning and technological facility. I have chosen adult learning because I want to help make Professional Development (PD) opportunities meaningful for those taking it so they get the most out of the training and can use what they learned right away. I want it to be a PD where my colleagues walk away and have something already created to use the next day.

I have chosen technological facility as there was a large need with COVID learning through different technology learning platform. We had transitioned to completely offsite learning at the end of the 2020 school year and we were beginning this school year as partial onsite and offsite days. This meant teachers would have to teach online using platforms they've never seen before. Technology comes easy to me but I wanted to learn what I could do to help others learn and help create meaningful tools (Artifact #2).

2. Why is the foundational competency Explore and Challenge Inequity important?

Looking at technology integration I tend to forget about my own personal bias. Technology comes easy to me, I have read the researched benefits of the use in classrooms, I have seen the growth students make, and I know the how to integrate in a purposeful matter. However it is not easy to all and some even do not desire to incorporate it into their classrooms. This year with COVID it has come at not a choice. Knowing our learning and technology differences helps me be sympathetic in my delivery to my colleagues. Overall student success and growth are by far the most important, and I know if I deliver the training and knowledge in an easy to follow, tiered set up, my colleagues will be receptive and appreciative.

3. Which Leadership Pathway competency will you focus in your Capstone Challenge?  Why is it relevant? 

I have chosen the instructional leadership pathway for my focus. Specifically to meet my challenge I am focusing on Coaching and Mentoring competency. Working with my tech team to provide formal coaching in the online platforms will assist our district staff in creating meaningful and purposeful lessons that will engage students. The task of completing work at home is undesirable by most students. Helping coach and explore interactive lessons so student engagement is high will lead to student success.

4. With whom will you work in addressing your Capstone Challenge?  Who else might you recruit beyond your own cultural and/or professional identity group?

I am working closely with three other tech team members. We have been assigned the role of technology coaches in our buildings to assist families and staff work through our online platforms. When determining our monthly professional development topic, we may pull in "experts" who have and are using the chosen platform or tool.

5. Which resources (such as, people, money, programs, time and space, etc.) do you have to address in your Capstone Challenge?   What resources will you need?  How will you obtain them? 

Due to COVID restrictions we will need to utilize Zoom Meetings to conduct these trainings, which means every person in attendance will need their own computer and webcam. People we will need in assisting with the monthly PD will be our team as well as administrators to avoid planning additional trainings on chosen "Tech Tuesday" days. Our curriculum director will also be assisting in the paperwork for OPI renewal units for those who attend. Programs to be used are SeeSaw, Google Products (Slides, Sheets, Forms, Classroom, etc.), and any additional tools staff are hoping to learn. As far as planning time, we are setting two, two-hour preps for planning and organizing our monthly PDs.