Voice, Visions, and Value

This post represents more than just a final project—it's the heart of a professional learning strategy I designed for the educators I support. As an Instructional Technology Specialist serving two diverse Title 1 campuses, I wanted to move beyond traditional “sit and get” PD. Instead, this strategy focuses on sustained, hands-on learning that is collaborative, relevant, and empowering.

You’ll find everything here—from the big-picture vision (our BHAG) to session materials, timelines, and the core principles that guide it all. This space is built for the teachers and leaders I work alongside—those who deserve meaningful support as they grow in their craft. My hope is that this becomes a true resource they can return to, use, and make their own.

Creating an Effective Learning Environment


This professional learning experience launches the school year by introducing Techultura—our campus-wide approach that blends technology integration with shared culture and expectations. Techultura reflects both the digital tools we use and the collaborative mindset we value. This course sets the foundation for consistent, effective tech practices across classrooms, ensuring alignment with instructional goals and communication systems.

Grounded in five key practices of effective professional learning, this experience provides a supportive, hands-on environment tailored to meet the real needs of our educators. By the end, participants will leave with the clarity, confidence, and tools needed to navigate campus systems and bring our vision of tech-integrated learning to life.


Why These Expectations Matter


At the heart of Techultura is the belief that technology and culture should work together to create meaningful, inclusive, and empowering learning experiences for everyone on campus. These learner expectations aren’t just a checklist—they’re a reflection of the kind of learning community we want to build together.

Each principle speaks to the values that guide our work: showing up with intention, collaborating with purpose, staying open to growth, and always supporting each other. We all come with different strengths, backgrounds, and levels of experience—and that’s exactly what makes our learning culture so powerful.

From asynchronous tech tutorials to live PD, coaching conversations, and peer modeling, Techultura creates space for teachers to engage at their own pace while still feeling connected and seen. These expectations are here to help us anchor our practices, build trust, and make tech integration something we do with one another—not just for compliance, but for collective impact.

¡Juguemos Techultura! Let’s make this year a celebration of learning, growth, and support—one login, one conversation, and one breakthrough at a time.

Vision & Learning Framework

To guide the Techultura learning experience, we developed a Big Hairy Audacious Goal (BHAG) and a detailed 3-Column Table using Fink’s Taxonomy. These elements frame the why, what, and how of our strategy—ensuring learning is purposeful, sustained, and empowering for every educator across both campuses.


Go and Show: Rethinking Professional Learning

I designed this Go and Show presentation to launch the school year with more than just information—I wanted to model what meaningful, relevant professional learning should feel like. As someone who supports two diverse, high-needs campuses, I know how quickly the year can fill with demands, and how often professional development becomes passive and disconnected from daily classroom realities.

This Alt PL (Alternative Professional Learning) approach reflects my belief that educators deserve more. They deserve support that is clear, collaborative, and rooted in real application. That’s what Techultura is all about—building shared expectations around technology and culture through hands-on learning and purposeful modeling.

By using the Go and Show model, I hope to set a tone of empowerment from day one. When teachers see it, try it, and talk about it together, they’re more likely to take ownership—and that’s when real change begins.

Click on the button for a video explanation. 


Google Classroom Professional Learning

Introduction Module

Starting with a clear introduction helps learners feel connected and supported. Meeting your ITS gives you a face to go with your tech support, and learning about the Techultura structure prepares you for a smooth, self-paced onboarding experience.

Your TA DA List Module

The TA DA List is your personalized, tech-powered checklist that guides your onboarding journey. By watching the introduction video, you'll gain a clear understanding of how to navigate the tasks, stay on track, and celebrate your progress. It’s a simple way to start strong and stay organized.

Preparing your Laptop Module

Your laptop is your central hub for planning, instruction, communication, and classroom management. Taking time to set it up correctly helps avoid technical issues later and ensures you’re ready to support students from day one.

IFP, Phones and Support Ticket Module

These tools are part of your daily workflow. Knowing how to set them up and use them confidently ensures you’re ready to engage students, communicate with families and staff, and quickly request tech support when needed.

Coming Soon

Digital Citizenship

Get ready to launch lessons that help students stay safe, think critically, and act responsibly online. This self-paced module will include ready-to-use resources for teaching core digital citizenship skills.

Coming soon to the Techultura Hub!

Coding and Storytelling

Bring creativity to life with code! This module introduces teachers to Scratch, a fun and easy way to integrate storytelling, sequencing, and student voice into the classroom through coding.

Launching soon in the Techultura Hub!

References

Bambrick-Santoyo, P. (2018). Leverage leadership 2.0: A practical guide to building exceptional schools. Jossey-Bass.

Duarte, N. (2010). Nancy Duarte uncovers common structures of greatest communicators {Video}. Tedx.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1nYFpuc2Umk

 

Gulamhussein, A. (2013). Teaching the Teachers Effective Professional Development in an Era of High Stakes Accountability. Center for Public Education. Retrieved from http://www.centerforpubliceducation.org/system/files/2013-176_ProfessionalDevelopment.pdf

 

How Teachers Are Learning: Professional Development Remiz. (n.d.). https://www.edsurge.com/research/reports/how-teachers-are-learning-professional-development-remix

 

Round Rock ISD . (2024, September). Anderson Mill Campus Improvement Plan. https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/0B13hERGxqDqDYUh6NzgwdkJaV1E?resourcekey=0-fHEmRVBC9i7JEZxe9yS8pw

 

Round Rock ISD Instructional Technology. Instructional Technology. (n.d.). https://insttech.roundrockisd.org/

 

Round Rock ISD . (2024, September). Wells Branch Campus Improvement Plan. https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/0B13hERGxqDqDYUh6NzgwdkJaV1E?resourcekey=0-fHEmRVBC9i7JEZxe9yS8pw