The School of Education at SUNY New Paltz was among the first in the U.S. to sign the new Educator Preparation Programs (EPPs) for Digital Equity and Transformation Pledge, a partnership between the U.S. Department of Education and the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) designed for institutions that are committed to preparing future teachers to use modern learning technology in face-to-face, hybrid and online classrooms.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has shown how critical it is for educators to be proficient in technological pedagogy,” said Aaron D. Isabelle, interim dean of the School of Education. “Being one of the first institutions to sign the ISTE pledge is further demonstration of our long-standing commitment to excellence in educator preparation.”
Signing the EPPs for Digital Equity and Transformation Pledge signals that SUNY New Paltz and its School of Education share a vision for digital equity and transformation in learning based on five key elements:
1. Preparing teachers to thrive in digital learning environments
2. Preparing teachers to use technology to pursue ongoing professional learning
3. Preparing teachers to apply frameworks to accelerate transformative digital learning
4. Equipping all faculty to continuously improve expertise in technology for learning
5. Collaborating with school leaders to identify shared digital teaching competencies.
“Knowing how to use technology to support student learning is an essential skill for any teacher to thrive in a post-COVID world,” said Richard Culatta, CEO of ISTE. “I’m thrilled that SUNY New Paltz is committed to embedding tech skills into their program so all their teacher candidates will be prepared to hit the ground running!”
New Paltz was one of three institutions that signed the pledge at first opportunity in May 2022. Since then, the College has been joined by the likes of Johns Hopkins University, the University of Michigan, Howard University and Brooklyn College, among many others.
About the School of Education at SUNY New Paltz
The School of Education has a long-standing tradition of excellence in the preparation of educators. Our primary mission is to prepare reflective and critical educators and human service professionals who are well prepared, academically strong, pedagogically skilled, and responsive to the needs of a diverse society. Additional information can be found at www.newpaltz.edu/schoolofed.
About ISTE
The International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) is a nonprofit organization that works with the global education community to accelerate the use of technology to solve tough problems and inspire innovation.
ISTE sets a bold vision for education transformation through the ISTE Standards, a framework for students, educators, administrators, coaches and computer science educators to rethink education and create innovative learning environments. The organization’s professional learning offerings include online courses, professional networks, year-round academies, peer-reviewed journals and other publications. ISTE is also the leading publisher of books focused on technology in education. For more information or to become an ISTE member, visit iste.org.
