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Reflection – Instructional Technology Graduate 2023
Kayla White
Introduction
My name is Kayla White, an eight-year general education teacher at Cass High School in
Bartow County. Bartow County is located roughly 45 minutes north of Atlanta. I obtained my
undergraduate degree from Kennesaw State University in 2017 in Post-secondary English
Education and continued to earn my master’s degree at Kennesaw State in 2023 in Instructional
Technology. I have also obtained my Gifted and Online Teaching Endorsements. I have been at
Cass High School my entire professional career and during my time here have taught on-level
and gifted English Language Arts to 9-11th graders. Last year, I was able to gain certification to
teach Advanced Placement English Language and Composition which has proven to be my
favorite course area thus far. I am currently the facilitator of my American Literature
Collaborative PLC team where we focus on increasing End-of-Course achievement levels by
creating common formative and summative assessments, analyzing data trends by tracking
student progress, and developing remediation and acceleration opportunities.
At Cass High School, we have a very diverse population with 60% white students, 20 %
black students, and 20% Hispanic and/or Asian/Pacific Islander. Over 60% of our students are
socioeconomically disadvantaged with 20% consisting of ESOL and ELL students. We have a
rather small, gifted population at 11%. Over 40% of our students struggle to read on level by
assessments confirming they are roughly 2-3 grade levels behind. Our county has initiated
literacy programs at the elementary levels to ensure these numbers decrease as years pass on.
Bartow County has been deemed a model PLC district by Solution Tree and utilizes Solution
Tree for most of its PLC networking.

Bartow County implements professional development bi-weekly where we meet with
stakeholders to learn new strategies for reading literacy and technology implementation. The
learning support specialist meets with the reading interventionist and in turn shares data to
promote a collective understanding and need of intentional changes for the classroom regarding
strategies and technologies to enhance higher achievement. The local technology plan also
encourages students and teachers to utilize a common learning management system and promote
learning opportunities through 1:1 technology.
Employing the ISTE-E Standards to Support my Role in Education
Throughout this two-year degree program, I have acted as an active learner by setting
professional goals, participating in professional learning networks (Solution Tree, Teams PLC
Team, Twitter, and Facebook groups), and completed many layers of applicable research to stay
abreast of technology trends and learning theory. I have served as teacher leader by facilitating
my American Literature PLC team, promoting a shared vision from within my school and
department focusing on technology hindrances using AI agents as well as other relevant
technology trends by way of stakeholder surveys and discussions, while modeling digital
productivity tools to colleagues to enhance engagement and literacy. I have focused on creating
new, positive learning experiences for my students to participate in the evolving digital world,
which is the 21st century, by teaching effective methods to evaluate resources for credibility
while understanding safe, ethical, and legal practices when employing resources. I have worked
tirelessly to collaborate with others to enhance learning by researching, learning, and sharing
digital tools to demonstrate cultural competency and rigor. I have designed lessons and online
learning modules to promote authenticity and meaning within the classroom setting while
accommodating for all learner styles and differences. I have also modeled and taught students
ways to be creative in their own design of products to display proficiencies and take ownership
of their learning while offering alternative assignments and using data to guide intentional
decisions in the classroom.
Changes in Practice from Employing the ISTE-E Standards
My design, pacing, structure, and development of the course materials utilized in the
classroom have been affected greatly by completing this program and incorporating the ISTE-E
Standards. I now rely more strongly on research and trends promoted by experts in the field of
technology. I am much more aware of the plethora of productivity tools available to teachers and
students to ensure more learning is acquired through various means of demonstration. I have
learned various teaching and working designs to ensure that students and teachers are aware of
computational thinking and how this strategy promotes critical thinking and reflection. I have
learned ways to personalize lessons and adapt curriculum to meet the needs of all my students to
enhance engagement by ensuring they are authentic and meaningful to all cultures and
demographics. I have explored ways to gather and track data through the use of item analysis
which has proven very helpful in my American Literature PLC. In conclusion, I have learned a
plethora of ways to integrate technology into my day-to-day educational career to enhance not
only my own learning but more importantly my colleagues and students.
I am Proud of the Progress I have Made
My portfolio is a compilation of the many moments throughout this program which have
assisted me in learning how to become a more effective teacher. I am most proud of the artifacts
which show my progress as a learner in the field of technology integration and how I have
adapted the 21st century English Language Arts classroom from traditional to modernized and
valuable. There have been many moments of weariness, but my artifacts prove that I have been
able to persevere to complete every assignment tasked to me with intentional efficacy.
Future Goals
Digital tools and engaging, culturally diverse curriculum are now my focus as I progress
onward from this degree. I plan to continue employing the many productivity tools I have
experimented with and teaching those around me how to incorporate them into their classrooms
as well. Many of these tools include but are not limited to Nearpod, Bubbl.us, Office 365
collaborative docs and spreadsheets, Canva, Kami, and Podbean. My ELA classroom will be a
place for student growth and expansion ensuring the implementation of modern innovations
which will prepare my learners for career and college success.

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Reflection – Instructional Technology Graduate 2023

undergraduate degree from Kennesaw State University in 2017 in Post-secondary English

Collaborative PLC team where we focus on increasing End-of-Course achievement levels by

student progress, and developing remediation and acceleration opportunities.

Tree for most of its PLC networking.

learning opportunities through 1:1 technology.

Employing the ISTE-E Standards to Support my Role in Education

department focusing on technology hindrances using AI agents as well as other relevant

decisions in the classroom.

Changes in Practice from Employing the ISTE-E Standards

only my own learning but more importantly my colleagues and students.

I am Proud of the Progress I have Made

able to persevere to complete every assignment tasked to me with intentional efficacy.

which will prepare my learners for career and college success.

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