Strategic Levers for Innovation in Teacher + Leader Prep Programs

Outline

1. Introduction (5 minutes)
Content:
Welcome and session objectives: “Preparing a new generation of teachers and leaders in a tech-driven ecosystem.”
Brief overview of challenges and opportunities in teacher preparation or hiring new teachers.
Engagement:
Quick poll (device-based): “What’s your biggest challenge in preparing educators for tech integration?” (Mentimeter)
2. Why Change is Needed (10 minutes)
Content:
Current trends in preservice & in-service educator technology and leadership.
The gap between traditional preparation and future-ready skills
Engagement:
Pair-and-share: “Discuss one skill you think every future teacher needs.”
(Padlet)
3. Examples of Strategic Levers for Transformation (25 minutes)
Content:
Strategies to drive change, build faculty expertise, and competency-based learning experiences

Systems-level view of standards-aligned curriculum.

Faculty expertise and competency-based learning. Share stories and examples of how expertise was built.
Engagement:
Small group discussion: “Which lever would have the biggest impact in your program?”
Groups share highlights in chat or on a collaborative padlet.

4. Sharing & Reflection (15 minutes)
Content:
Groups share their strategies.
Facilitators highlight common themes and innovative approaches.

5. Wrap-Up & Resources (5 minutes)
Content:
Summarize key takeaways.
Provide links to resources (ISTE standards, curriculum examples, and planning templates).
Engagement:
Exit ticket: “Name one skill you’ll prioritize in your program.”

Outcomes

Identify strategies for preparing preservice educators to lead in technology-rich learning environments.

Analyze the skills and practices that enable preservice educators to effectively integrate technology as classroom leaders.

Examine a standards-aligned curriculum model that supports technology integration and leadership development.

Develop a plan to apply these strategies for collaborating with districts to ensure curriculum reflects skills that district needs and to address teacher shortages.

Supporting research

Evidence of the ISTE Standards for Educators leading to learning gains (Crompton, 2023) Demonstrates that educator practices aligned with ISTE standards result in measurable student outcomes. (https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/epdf/10.1080/21532974.2023.2244089?needAccess=true)

Teachers Can Use It with Their Littles: Using Case Studies to Explore Preservice Teachers’ Perceptions of Technology (Beisly & Mudiyanselage, 2025) Uses case studies and SAMR model to help PSTs reflect on technology's transformative potential. (https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7102/15/3/366)

Evaluating and Improving Teacher Preparation Programs (National Academies, 2025)
Identifies the critical role of faculty expertise, practice-based coaching, and standards-aligned curricula. (https://naeducation.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Evaluating-and-Improving-Teacher-Preparation-Programs-Executive-Summary-FINAL.pdf)

ISTE Standards for Educators & Coaches
A global framework emphasizing high-impact, sustainable, and equitable technology integration in education (https://iste.org/standards)