
The
International
Society
for
Technology
in
Education
(ISTE)
has
recognized
Prince
William
County
Public
Schools
(PWCS)
with
the
2020
Distinguished
District
Award.
ISTE
is
a
nonprofit
organization
that
works
with
the
global
education
community
to
accelerate
the
use
of
technology
to
solve
tough
problems
and
inspire
innovation.
PWCS
joins
two
other
school
districts
nationwide
in
receiving
this
honor.
"The
2020
ISTE
award
honorees
represent
what
educators
are
able
to
accomplish
by
using
technology
with
their
students,"
said
Richard
Culatta,
CEO
of
ISTE.
The
Distinguished
District
Award
is
awarded
to
school
districts
for
their
use
of
educational
technology.
Districts
must
demonstrate
that
their
use
of
technology
is
innovative,
appropriate,
and
effective
for
its
students.
In
addition,
while
exhibiting
a
progressive
mindset,
the
district
must
also
act
on
these
ideas.
Diane
Harazin,
supervisor
of
instructional
technology,
and
Tim
Cruz,
coordinator
of
instructional
technology,
applied
for
the
award
in
January
2020.
"I
applied
because
I
had
seen
the
growth
from
where
we
were
[when
I
started
five
years
ago]
to
where
we
ended
up
[at
that
time],"
said
Harazin.
"For
a
district
as
large
as
[PWCS],
we
have
an
amazing
technology
department."
Since
applying
for
this
award,
the
Division
has
continued
to
grow
with
technology.
It
has
acquired
Learning
Management
System
Canvas
and
teleconferencing
platform
Zoom,
among
other
technology
tools,
to
help
navigate
through
the
COVID-19
pandemic.
All
award
winners
will
be
recognized
during
the
ISTE20
Live
on
November
29.
A
full
list
of
awardees
and
requirements
are
available
on
the
ISTE
website.