The ISTE Making It Happen award is meant to honor visionary educators and leaders who empower learners and solve tough problems in education. ISTE, in collaboration with 60+ partner organizations, work together to identify and spotlight amazing education leaders through the Making It Happen awards program. Each year, participating organizations select educators who are making an enormous impact on their schools or communities. Making It Happen awardees receive the coveted Making It Happen jacket and free ISTE membership for a year.
Because this award is an organizational award and is meant to increase awareness of both ISTE and WEMTA, the recipients will come from recommendations made by WEMTA Members and decided upon by the WEMTA Board. Due to the fact that we will use this to increase awareness of our organizations, the recipient does not have to be a current WEMTA member. It is our hope that through the award process, attendance at the conference, and seeing how awesome we are, anyone who isn’t currently a member will become an active member.
If you know someone who would be a great candidate for the ISTE Making It Happen Award, complete the Awards Nomination Form.
A discussion on potential recipients will be held at our January (2025) Board Meeting and a winner will be chosen based on the criteria below. Each nominee will be scored from the criteria listed. Recipients will be notified immediately following that meeting. Those recipients will be invited to attend the 2025 WEMTA conference with WEMTA covering the cost of registration (any other costs would be up to the person receiving the award). In order to encourage the recipient’s district to cover other costs, a letter will be sent to the superintendent announcing the award.
Recipients receive:
- ISTE Making IT Happen certificate
- ISTE Making IT Happen award jacket
- One-year membership to ISTE
- Letter to Superintendent
- District and Community recognition
- WEMTA conference registration and membership for one year
Award Criteria:
Award Candidate Nomination Criteria:
This award is meant for those impacting the educational technology community and is open to any educator. Award recipients are educators who . . .
Attend and present at conferences :
- Author articles, books, or keep a using social media
- Organize educator events
- Achieve recognized certifications (Google Certification, CETL (CoSN) Certification, Microsoft Innovative Educator, Apple Distinguished Educator)
- Attend national or out-of-state events (ISTE, FETC, CoSN, AASA, ASCD). Actively participate on social media events (X/Twitter, Google Spaces, Listservs or other Collaborative Communities)
Teaches through relationships - inspiring, encouraging and nurturing (provide examples):
- Create programs that foster technology use in schools
- Facilitate learning initiatives in their districts
- Use social media to share resources and ideas
- Recognized as leader in his/her educational community and beyond
Realize that teacher empowerment is the key element to technology integration (provide examples):
- Provide ongoing PD and support for teachers
- Create and share PD resources for teachers
- Tuesday Tech Tips
- YouTube PD channel
- Lead Twitter chats
- Create opportunities for larger educational community to learn
- EdCamp organizer
- Organize statewide networking events (like GEG or Coaching network)
- Organize parent nights
- Organize community learning events
Motivates through awareness and access to information (provide examples):
- Provide students and staff with suggestions and resources
- Make information resources and technology accessible to all
- Share resources in a public forum (social media, library events, etc…)
- Author articles, books,or active on social media and professional networking sites
| 
