Faith West Academy Teacher Receives ISTE Certification for Technology

KATY MAGAZINE NEWS

April 29, 2019

by Katrina Katsarelis

Tiffany Barton, a 7th grade teacher at Faith West Academy, received the elite distinction as a Certified Educator from the International Society for Technology Education (ISTE). Less than 10 educators have received the certification so far.

The International Society for Technology Education is a New York based organization that promotes the use of technology in the classroom to transform learning in the digital age.

Through the ISTE Certification process, teachers participate in professional learning based on the ISTE Standards. After completing the training, educators have six months to apply their learning and compile artifacts and reflections into a competency-based portfolio in order to earn the prestigious ISTE Certification.

"As educators, we are preparing students for jobs that do not even exist yet," explains Barton. "When the opportunity for this certification appeared, I believed it was a natural step in confirming my beliefs of what a 21st century classroom should be – merging technology with good pedagogy."

Barton says she worked tirelessly on obtaining the certification while also teaching and working on her master's degree in curriculum and technology instruction. Barton is also a mother of two children and a soccer coach.

"We are so proud to have Tiffany Barton as a teacher, and we can’t wait to see what she brings to our staff and our students," says Jeanna Bickerstaff, M.Ed, Assistant Principal of Curriculum and Instruction at Faith West Academy. "Tiffany is a key part of our technology education and an excellent teacher leader."

"As an ISTE Certified Educator, Tiffany Barton joins a distinguished community of educators from around the world who share their commitment to lifelong learning and their passion for engaging students in active, authentic learning," says Richard Culatta, CEO of ISTE.

The ISTE promotes the use of technology in the classroom and standards that create a framework for innovative, 21st century classrooms. Educators use them to guide and transform digital age learning, teaching and leading. The seven major standards include Learner, Leader, Citizen, Collaborator, Designer, Facilitator, and Analyst. Under each major standard, there are 24 sub-standards. In order to achieve certification, teachers create a massive portfolio that highlights an artifact which demonstrates competency for each of the 24 sub-standards. According to the organization, less than 10 educators in the state of Texas have achieved this certification so far.

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