Who is Talk Tech With Me For?
Talk Tech With Me is a place where I reflect and share resources for other instructional coaches and teachers who seek technology integration, professional development, and school change support. I believe learning is social, so please Talk Tech With Me! Comment on posts with your own ideas, questions and thoughts.
My Bio
Dr. Katie Ritter is the Chief Learning Officer at Forward Edge. Katie was named one of the Top 100 Influencers in Edtech in 2023, and a finalist in the Visionary category for The EdTech Leadership Awards in 2023. She completed her Doctor of Education from Vanderbilt University where her research focused on instructional coaching and K12 educator professional development. She has served on several leadership teams including President of ISTE’s Edtech Coaching PLN and as a Future Ready Schools Instructional Coaches Thought Leader. She is a former instructional coach and high school educator. Katie is driven to empower others to realize their full potential, so they can make a positive difference on those around them!
A Little More About Me
From the moment I entered my first year of preschool at age three, I knew I wanted to be a teacher. I grew up holding on strong to this idea: playing “school” as a child, getting teachers’ advice for great undergrad programs and finally graduating from Northern Kentucky University with a B.A. in Secondary Education. Life had gone exactly according to plan!
And then reality hit.
The economy was down, teaching jobs were hard to come by, and I started wondering if I had made the right choice with my career goals as a three-year-old. Needless to say, panic mode set in and some serious soul searching began.
A couple years and jobs in higher education later, I realized K12 education was
precisely where I belong. That soul searching I mentioned earlier led me to realize my hobby and interests could turn into a career. So I began my M.A. in Education with a concentration in Instructional Computer Technology. I literally felt the weight of all my career worry and woes lifted from my shoulders. I could rest easy again knowing I had a worthwhile goal to work toward.
A few more months down the road, another opportunity came knocking at my door (or I went chasing after it, full speed ahead). I accepted the Director of Educational Technology position at Archbishop McNicholas High School.
After a couple of years in a 1:1 high school and completing my masters degree, I saw another opportunity working at the district level. I began working for Middletown City School District as an instructional technology and web presence specialist.
After some time in Middletown, I had another opportunity to affect change in even more teachers. In 2015 I began working for Forward Edge, in a K12 technology solutions company, as the Director of Curriculum and Technology Integration (C&I) to start the department and was promoted to Chief Learning Officer in 2022. Today, I oversee the C&I department, which is made of four inter-connected divisions: 1) a team of 15+ instructional design coaches that serve multiple school districts throughout the Cincinnati and Columbus, Ohio regions and lead professional development sessions for schools; 2)Google for Education (GfE) partner work where we lead events on behalf of the GfE team; 3) I created and oversee an anytime, anywhere teacher professional learning solution called Edge•U Badges that puts a ‘spark of joy’ in your PD; and 4) our coaching programs that support instructional coaches on a national scale through state-wide certifications, mentorship, training programs, and more.
I wrapped up my Doctorate of Education in Leadership and Learning in Organizations from Peabody College at Vanderbilt University in the fall of 2021. My capstone research focused on instructional coaching and I’m excited to put that work to good use here for my readers.
I’m also a co-host on the Restart Recharge Podcast for coaches by coaches. New episodes drop anywhere you pod every other Tuesday.
Let’s take this journey together!
Tech to You Later!
Katie Ritter, Ed.D.
I recently presented Classroom Bridges to my staff and now I can’t access the site. Is it temporarily down?
Hi Athena, I’m looking into this- I’m also having trouble. Thanks so much for letting me know. I’ll let you know when we’re back up and running!
Problem fixed, and Classroom Bridges is back up and running!
This is a very unique idea Katie Siemer Classroom bridge is awesome. Keep up the good work.
Hi, I only want to adjust page settings for one page on the google slide, and for it not to affect the other slide sizes, is this possible?
I just found your site and I am so hopeful! I have a problem I cannot figure out on Google Classroom. I am hoping you can help me. I am making Google Slides for distance learning and want to force copy a Google Doc that each student will show their learning on and one that I link into the Google Slide so students just click on that link. Problem is when students open the forced copy, they all edit the same Google Doc even though when I attach the Google Slide into Classroom I assign as create a copy for each student. What am I doing wrong to make it so students can edit their own copy and then they turn in the Google Slide when completed? I know you’re busy and thank you!