I’m hoping for some guidance as I’m thinking about transitioning into EdTech but in a bit of an unusual way. It might be a simple idea, or maybe it’s unrealistic—I’m not sure.
A bit of background: I taught pre-K for 7 years while getting my degree in elementary education. After working in a school district for 3 years, I was pushed out (traumatic experience, long story) and left teaching altogether. I switched to IT, starting with help desk roles, eventually becoming a Help Desk Administrator at the University of Washington, and now I’m working as a Network and Systems Administrator at a high school district. I like being back in education, but this role feels isolating. I don’t interact much with staff or my own team.
I miss the passion I had when I was teaching. I used to be really driven—got involved in the community, led projects, and dreamed of making a difference in education on a larger scale. I wanted to make the system better for teachers and students. But now I feel disconnected.
I’m considering going for a Master’s in Educational Technology, but I’m not sure if that’s the right path. I don’t want to work in sales, consulting, or curriculum design at the district level. I’m thinking bigger. I want to combine my tech skills with my passion for education. It feels like all we’ve done for teachers so far is swap out books for Chromebooks. We need to innovate more, especially when it comes to digital literacy and integrating tech in classrooms in a more meaningful way.
Right now, it feels like a pipe dream. Am I being naive? I feel like there must be something more out there for someone like me.
You might find it fulfilling to help teachers integrate existing technology into their classrooms more effectively. This is often an instructional technology or curriculum technology integration role. It’s about bridging the gap between what tech can do and what teachers are currently doing. In this role, you’d be helping train staff on new platforms and providing support. It’s usually a school-based or district-level job with a salary similar to a teacher’s.
You’ve got big dreams, but it sounds like you’re not fully aware that digital literacy standards already exist in many states, and organizations like ISTE publish standards for students.
What you’re describing falls more into education policy and advocacy, not EdTech sales or product development. It might help to separate what you want to do as a job from your passion projects. You’ve got a solid job in IT; maybe look for roles where you can have more face time with staff, and pursue your advocacy efforts in your spare time.
Luchivya said: @Donna
Got it, I guess I was being naive. Thanks for the feedback.
Sorry for being in the wrong place.
You’re not in the wrong place. EdTech is a broad field that’s growing fast, especially after COVID. What you’re talking about—developing digital standards—is part of EdTech. Putting yourself out there like this is a big step.
But to give better advice, we’d need more info. Are you location-dependent? Do you have financial limitations? Do you want to work with students, teachers, government, or the community? What specific issues are you passionate about solving? It’s also important to think about your mindset—do you prefer working with small teams or large ones? Do you have time and resources for further training or certifications?
These are questions to ask yourself to narrow down your options. I love talking about education policy, so feel free to reach out if you want to discuss it in more detail.
I also left teaching and became an Assistant Technology Director in a school district. It’s tough sometimes because it doesn’t feel the same, but I’ve found my new passion in creating and leading professional development sessions for teachers. It’s rewarding to support them beyond just giving them tech and saying, ‘Good luck.’ You could combine your classroom experience and tech skills in a similar role.
I got a Master’s in writing pedagogy and a certificate in instructional design. Now I work as an instructional designer at a community college and teach one or two classes each quarter. I love it, and it might be a path worth looking into.
I have a degree in technology in education, which is great for school district jobs. But if you’re looking at EdTech companies, it might not help as much.
fionamathews said:
I have a degree in technology in education, which is great for school district jobs. But if you’re looking at EdTech companies, it might not help as much.
It depends on the program. My Master’s in technology in education had a strong design focus, which helped me land a product management role at an EdTech startup.
If you’re aiming high, check out Harvard’s Learning Design, Innovation, & Technology program. I went through it 6–7 years ago, and a lot of my classmates are doing amazing things in tech and education.
Who else is on your team? My district’s Network Admin works under the Director of Technology, who also oversees the instructional technology team. It sounds like you’d enjoy that side of things more. Could you start learning from people in those roles?
I’m sorry you got some backlash here. I work in EdTech, and I’ve found that many people are resistant to the idea of further digitalization in schools. A lot of schools prefer to stick with paper products rather than embracing things like ChatGPT, VR, or Web 3.0. I believe modernizing traditional schools is the key to making education more effective, especially for underserved students.
I have several projects where your insight could be valuable. Don’t get discouraged. Sometimes you’re in the wrong group, but your intentions are still valid. Feel free to message me if you’d like to discuss ideas.