Working on audio and producing podcasts has been one of my favorite professional activities for the past few years. Podcasts are places where anyone can tell their stories to a larger audience and be heard. I am lucky to get to produce this podcast with Kiera and this month’s podcast provides some great insight into one of the innovative teams in Utah: Utah State Board of Education’s Digital Teaching & Learning Team. As a team, they support so many activities throughout the state, but two key activities have played a key role in many educators’ lives: the Digital Teaching and Learning Grant, which has provided funding for Utah schools to provide updated tech to teachers and students, and the Personalized, Competency-Based Learning grant, which encourages student choice and voice in our schools. Check out the podcast to learn more about this group, their work, and how it has influenced technology use and culture in Utah schools.

Over the past few years, I have been privileged to be a part of the discussion surrounding Personalized, Competency-Based Learning in Utah. I started out as a teacher of record on the advisory committee meetings, now as a statewide trainer, I have been able to develop courses and lead sessions on PCBL and the framework within Utah and beyond. It is work that makes me proud to work in Utah education.