In the Township of Ocean School District, our educational technology specialists are an essential element to modern learning. They are at the forefront of implementing cutting-edge technology for student and teacher use.
Our ed-tech specialists ensure that digital tools are not only accessible but are thoughtfully incorporated with instruction to maximize student learning and engagement beginning in preschool and up to grade 12 at our district’s three elementary schools, one middle school and one high school.
The district employs five educational technology specialists. Two of them balance their roles as both ed-tech specialists and media specialists, managing the libraries at the high school, middle school and one elementary school. Of the remaining three, one is dedicated solely to the high school, another to the middle school and the last splits their time between the two remaining elementary schools.
Educational technology specialists serve as both guides and collaborators, working closely with teachers to enhance lessons, co-teach and model best practices in digital instruction. Their role is to bridge traditional teaching with digital resources, making technology a seamless part of the instructional experience. Through their coaching, they enable teachers to create lessons that are interactive, engaging and personalized to meet diverse student needs. By introducing adaptive learning tools, supporting the use of AI-driven platforms and helping implement innovative practices, these specialists empower teachers to craft learning experiences that cater to each student’s pace and level.
Beyond their hands-on work in classrooms, the educational technology specialists contribute significantly to district initiatives. They participate in the technology committee, where district leaders discuss emerging trends and tools to keep the district at the forefront of educational technology. This committee work helps ensure that districtwide technology integration aligns with broader educational goals and supports a cohesive vision for technology use in every grade level.
Educational technology specialists analyze assessment data alongside educators and supervisors to identify learning gaps, improve student outcomes and ensure students meet grade-level expectations. They collaborate closely with district instructional coaches to provide individualized support through one-on-one sessions and co-taught lessons, ensuring alignment with the New Jersey Student Learning Standards. This collaborative coaching model reflects the district’s commitment to empowering teachers with the tools, strategies and shared expertise needed to navigate the multifaceted demands of their roles effectively. By fostering teamwork and shared responsibility, the model ensures no teacher shoulders these challenges alone, ultimately enhancing instructional practices and student success.
To foster a culture of continuous learning and support, educational technology specialists provide regular professional development for district staff. They introduce new tools, offer training on best practices and share insights through a monthly technology newsletter, which has become a favorite resource among teachers. This newsletter highlights the latest digital tools, teaching tips and success stories from classrooms across the district, making it a valuable go-to for educators looking to enhance their own practices.
Ultimately, the work of these educational technology specialists goes far beyond simple tech support. They are essential partners in reshaping the educational experience, creating pathways to future-ready skills. Through their expertise and collaboration, Ocean Township’s educational technology specialists help shape a learning environment where students are equipped to succeed in a technology-driven world.
The Township of Ocean School District assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction, Dr. Kalisha Morgan, highlights the importance of our educational technology specialists by noting: “Our educational technology specialists play a crucial role in our school district by bridging the gap between technology and pedagogy. They support teaching and learning by providing professional development, assisting in the integration of digital tools into the curriculum and ensuring that teachers have the resources and knowledge they need to enhance student engagement and achievement. By aligning technology initiatives with educational goals, our specialists help create an environment where technology empowers both educators and students to reach their full potential.”
Elementary In our elementary schools, educational technology specialists ensure technology is accessible and meaningful for young learners, working closely with teachers to develop hands-on, tech-based activities that deepen students’ understanding. Often, teachers request one-on-one sessions where coaches can introduce specific tools or platforms. In this setting, ed-tech specialists might help get a new teacher set up with the necessary platforms for lesson planning or student data collection. They also might brainstorm strategies within district supported educational platforms such as IXL or Reading Eggs to support the students in reinforcing curricular content.
Outside of one-on-one teacher sessions, educational technology specialists spend most of their time co-teaching lessons with the classroom teacher. In a co-taught lesson, a coach might help students use Canva to create presentations as part of a research project, guiding both students and teachers in enhancing digital literacy and presentation skills. In the primary grades, educational technology specialists support teachers and students with learning foundational technology skills like how to use a trackpad, copy and paste and log into their Chromebooks and essential educational technology platforms.
The ed-tech specialists also support classroom differentiation. After a lesson, a coach might use an assessment tool to analyze student performance, aiding the teacher in forming small groups for targeted instruction. They may then facilitate a technology station as part of this differentiated setting, enabling students to deepen their understanding of the subject matter through interactive, tech-enhanced activities. By being embedded within each school, these educational technology specialists foster a collaborative, tech-friendly environment that meets students where they are and supports teachers in reaching diverse learning goals.
Each year, Ocean Township’s fourth-grade students participate in the New Jersey School Boards Association’s STEAM Tank Challenge, guided by the expertise of our elementary educational technology specialists. They support students as they brainstorm, design and develop innovative solutions to real-world problems, fostering creativity and critical thinking.
Meghan Doyle, one of our fourth-grade teachers, said, “The ed-tech coaches play an integral part in the STEAM Tank initiative, and their involvement is invaluable. In addition to sparking students’ interest in the design process, the coaches work with teams to create engaging presentations using Canva. They also collaborate with individual teams to extend their designs and promote effective group problem-solving. The efforts of the ed-tech coaches play a crucial role in building students’ confidence and ensuring they feel prepared to share their ideas.”
Throughout the process, ed-tech specialists facilitate skills in research, prototyping, presentation and public speaking, helping students prepare to showcase their projects to a panel of judges. This experience not only enhances students’ STEAM skills but also builds confidence and teamwork as they bring their ideas to life.
Middle School In the middle school setting, educational technology specialists are instrumental in supporting data-driven instruction in classrooms, grades 5-8. They focus on implementing district-supported ed-tech tools that enhance targeted instruction, helping teachers analyze and respond to student data effectively.
IXL, a prominent tool in the district’s current math, ELA and science initiative, allows ed-tech specialists to guide teachers in using diagnostic and assessment data to identify specific student needs. Ed-tech specialists guide teachers within the platform on how to create leveled instructional groups and assign remedial or advanced material in an effort to have all students meet or exceed grade level expectations. By embedding data insights into everyday instruction, ed-tech specialists empower teachers to tailor learning experiences that meet students where they are academically.
Educational technology specialists also contributed to a districtwide “ML Academy,” a full-day professional development event aimed at equipping teachers with the skills and strategies necessary to support multilingual learners. Through workshops on technology integration, ed-tech specialists provided practical guidance on how to support both teachers and students, providing guidance on how to use translation tools and AI-powered resources to align curricular material with student needs. This professional development has strengthened teachers’ ability to support multilingual students by identifying learning gaps and leveraging digital tools to bridge them.
Cecilia Vila Chaves, the district’s supervisor of English as a second language, emphasized the importance of this work, saying, “Ed-tech coaches are great examples of how to face the changes in our demographics as an opportunity, not a challenge. Their ongoing commitment to all learners manifests in every lesson they support content-area teachers with: from using new AI tools to create differentiated yet rigorous materials to teaching multilingual learners how to use tech as a bridge to communicate with their teachers and classmates.”
High School At Ocean Township High School, the educational technology specialist plays a vital role in integrating AI tools into classrooms in ways that prioritize safety and optimize learning. With the rapid expansion of AI’s capabilities, the high school ed-tech specialist provides crucial support by guiding teachers in how to incorporate AI platforms in a responsible, ethical manner, ensuring students gain valuable skills while maintaining critical standards for information accuracy and student privacy.
A central component of this work has been helping teachers leverage the AI platform Perplexity, particularly in English and history classes, to conduct research. Perplexity allows students to access AI-generated responses grounded in reputable sources, reducing the risk of misinformation, a key concern with AI in the classroom. As our high school educational technology specialist, Timothy Spaeth, noted, “I think it is our job to not only teach students how to harness the new power of artificial intelligence, but also — and maybe more importantly — consider the ethical questions and application as well. We want students to leave our building knowing how to use it, but also be able to think critically in terms of when, why, and what they will be using it for.” By using Perplexity, students can explore topics with confidence in the reliability of their sources, promoting critical research skills and thoughtful AI use in a safe digital environment.
The OTHS educational technology specialist has also introduced AI-enhanced features in platforms like Magic School and Padlet, fostering increased engagement and depth in students’ understanding of course material. In Magic School, AI functions support differentiated activities that adjust to students’ learning goals, making lessons more interactive and personalized. Padlet’s AI capabilities, on the other hand, enable students to brainstorm ideas, collaborate and synthesize complex topics visually and creatively. This blend of technology and content helps students connect with the material more deeply, enhancing their retention and comprehension.
In the math and English language arts departments, the educational technology specialist has been instrumental in strengthening the use of IXL’s diagnostic tools. By providing guidance on how to interpret the platform’s data and analytics, the OTHS educational technology specialist has empowered math and ELA teachers to set individualized learning targets for students, pinpointing areas where they need more support. This data-driven approach enables teachers to tailor their instruction to align with specific student learning goals, making math lessons more relevant and effective.
In addition to classroom support, OTHS’s educational technology specialist serves as a resource for ethical considerations surrounding AI use in education. Teachers have access to ongoing professional development on topics such as data privacy, bias in AI and the ethical implications of using machine learning algorithms in learning environments. This proactive stance on AI ethics ensures that Ocean Township High School students are not only technologically skilled but also aware of the responsibilities that come with these powerful tools.
By guiding teachers in safe, effective AI integration, the educational technology specialist at Ocean Township High School is helping create an innovative learning environment that prepares students for the future while upholding the district’s high standards for digital citizenship and ethical technology use.
The work of Ocean Township’s educational technology specialists exemplifies the transformative power of thoughtfully integrated technology in education. By collaborating directly with teachers, coaching on best practices and modeling digital tools in action, these specialists bring a visionary approach to every classroom they touch. Their efforts go far beyond troubleshooting; they empower educators to leverage technology in ways that resonate with students’ individual learning needs, driving engagement and fostering academic growth across all grade levels.
Whether introducing AI tools in high school research projects, facilitating differentiated tech-based activities in elementary classrooms, or supporting multilingual learners through targeted data-driven practices, each technology coach contributes to creating a cohesive, future-ready educational environment. Through continuous professional development, including district initiatives like the ML Academy and a monthly technology newsletter, they provide essential, ongoing support to staff. This enables teachers to stay informed and adaptable in a rapidly evolving tech landscape.
As Ocean Township moves forward, these educational technology specialists stand at the forefront of educational innovation, bridging the gap between traditional instruction and the digital demands of tomorrow. Their dedication helps cultivate a districtwide culture that values adaptability, inclusivity and ethical use of technology — preparing students with skills they need to succeed in an increasingly interconnected world.
Erin M. Leahy serves as the supervisor of educational technology (preK-12), applied technology (5-12), and visual and performing arts (5-12) for the Township of Ocean School District.
