“When the opportunity came to transition into this role, I had a lot of support from my principals because they saw something in me and because I shared a lot on social media,” says Alfonso Mendoza, instructional technologist at Sharyland Independent School District in Texas. “It did catch the eye of school leaders at the district level.”
In today’s perpetually online world, building out a network on Twitter can be nearly as valuable as making those connections in person.
WATCH NOW: Hear more on Mendoza’s transition in his Twitter reaction video.
Build Your Ed Tech Network Locally and Nationally
For educators who are already networking within their district and online, the next step is to connect with colleagues a bit farther away.
Going to conferences will provide new insights while adding value to an educator’s resume. Starting small may help to build confidence and connections.
“I started going to ed tech conferences, and they were really local at first,” says Chan of his time as an educator. “We would go to another school and share, ‘What’s the new tool you’re using right now?’ Then, I became more involved, not just as an attendee, but also as a presenter and then eventually as a conference organizer.”
Educators can take the same approach to joining professional networks. They should find their state or local affiliates — “In Illinois, it’s the Illinois Digital Educators Alliance,” Chan says — and then target larger groups such as the International Society for Technology in Education. These networks can help educators find and land jobs in K–12 educational technology.
UP NEXT: 5 things women should know about advancing in K–12 IT roles.