Five-year effort positions Arkansas as a leader in digital-age educator preparation
The University of Central Arkansas (UCA) has officially earned approval to offer International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) Certification for Educators through its Instructional Technology (ITEC) graduate program – making UCA one of only six universities in the nation to achieve this distinction.
(from left): Dr. Michael Hargis, UCA Provost; Dr. Jason Trumble, UCA College of Education Interim Associate Dean; Dr. Michelle Buchanan, UCA Interim ITEC and Digital Age Program Coordinator; Carolyn Sykora (on screen), Senior Director ISTE Standards Program; Dr. Allison Freed, UCA Teaching and Learning Interim Department Chair; Dr. Debbie Dailey, UCA College of Education Interim Dean.
“Achieving this certification underscores our dedication to preparing teachers who are not only fluent in educational technology, but who also understand how to use it to foster creativity, collaboration and digital citizenship,” UCA President Houston Davis said. “This will have a lasting impact on learning in Arkansas and beyond.”
This milestone follows a rigorous five-year process to meet the high bar of ISTE standards – global benchmarks for excellence in technology-enabled teaching and learning. UCA’s program received 100% alignment to ISTE standards, a rare and exceptional outcome.
“This certification was hard-earned and represents years of commitment to quality and innovation in educator preparation,” Dr. Debbie Dailey, interim dean of the UCA College of Education said. “Our faculty can now model and mentor best practices in technology for learning, ensuring our graduates are equipped to design the future of education.”
Through the new certification pathway, candidates in UCA’s ITEC program can earn ISTE Certification concurrently with their graduate degree, gaining a credential that signals they are on the forefront of digital learning and instructional design. UCA students will also receive a significant cost discount compared to completing the certification independently.
ISTE Certification for Educators is a competency-based, vendor-neutral credential that recognizes teachers who can design and implement meaningful, technology-rich learning experiences aligned with global standards.
“This is something our faculty, students and state can be truly proud of,” Davis said. “It reinforces UCA’s commitment to ensuring that Arkansas educators lead the way in creating classrooms that are innovative and future-focused.”
Additional information about UCA’s Instructional Technology program and ISTE Certification is available at uca.edu/go/instructionaltechnology.