ISTE President Helen Padgett Points to a New Frontier in Education Technology at ISTE 2010

DENVER, June 28 /PRNewswire/ -- Helen Padgett, president of the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE®), summoned Colorado's legacy of exploration and encouraged educators to chart a new frontier of excellence in education. She delivered an opening address before a packed auditorium on Sunday at ISTE 2010. The conference for education professionals from around the world is being held through June 30 at the Colorado Convention Center.

"You are explorers, pioneers and visionary educators," Padgett said. "Your passion for transforming education, your desire to explore new avenues for learning and teaching, your expertise in the classroom and as education leaders, and your unwavering focus on the educational needs of our children is making a difference."

A former K-12 teacher and administrator with a passion for integrating technology into education, Padgett spoke of ISTE's expanding global influence. She said the desire to ensure the future well-being of our children served as a common denominator that bridged religious, cultural and political divisions between nations.

Some of the issues Padgett covered in her speech included:

• The expansion of the ISTE's NETS standards for technology integration and student achievement across the globe
• The continued use and ongoing update of performance assessment standards for new teachers using technology
• ISTE's ongoing efforts in the realm of education advocacy
• The launch of ISTE Learning, an online learning community and professional development marketplace.

"I've said that ISTE members have global reach and local impact. Those aren't hollow words," Padgett said. "With ISTE serving as a connector, convener and facilitator, you form a global community of educators who have gone beyond talking about the potential of technology to transform education and have moved to demonstrating that technology can improve student learning."

Padgett's address on Sunday included the presentation of the Outstanding Young Educator Award and the Public Policy Advocate of the Year Award and the recognition of several dedicated individuals and organizations that have made substantial contributions to the ISTE 2010 conference.

About ISTE

The International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE®) is the premier membership association for educators and education leaders engaged in improving teaching and learning by advancing the effective use of technology in PK-12 and teacher education.

SOURCE International Society for Technology in Education