Clara J. Alaniz
Digital Learning Specialist
Leadership
Dedicated
I have worked in public education since 1999 and I have over two decades of experience in teacher education. I am dedicated to developing interactive, engaging learning experiences that are customized to the needs of the campus community. I am a fervent believer in digital citizenship education and developing digital fluency in staff and students. My goal is to support educators as they integrate effective digital learning into their classrooms so their learners are not only consuming but also creating with technology.
Qualified
I am a certified principal, a certified teacher, a certified technology director, an ISTE Certified Educator, a Google Certified Trainer, and a Google Certified Educator- Level 1 and Level 2. These on-going certifications and qualifications prepare me to develop and deliver high quality, impactful professional learning for educators.
I have served on district committees to develop Technology Plans, Strategic Plans, Digital Learning Plan, and AI Guidance. I have lead the New Teacher Onboarding at my school district for the last decade and have co-lead the Educational Technology Success Initiative (ETSI) since 2014. Most recently, with my team I co-lead the inital year of the PLANners in our schools.
In 2017, I was selected by the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) to serve on the Technical Working Group to refresh the Standards for Teachers. In 2019, I was invited by ISTE to serve on the Technical Working Group to refresh the Standards for Coaches.
Creative and Innovative
The landscape of education has changed since I first began teaching in the late 90s. These exciting changes included the use of digital tools to enhance learning. Adapting, adjusting, un-learning, and re-learning have been some of the best parts of my daily work life. What makes digital learning so energizing for me is the need to adapt with creativity and innovation as things change.
Professional learning for educators can take many forms. In some instances, it is a quick one-hour meeting and other times it is a comprehensive multi-day workshop. With over twenty years of experience, I have designed, developed, and delivered hundreds of engaging professional learning sessions for educators. All of my sessions are designed to empower teachers to cultivate creativity and innovation in their classrooms.
Empowered teachers will empower students. The goal is to empower students to design, create, and solve problems using digital tools while demonstating strong digital citizenship. By working together, we can equip students with lifelong skills for a digital world.