My Opinion of Educator Preparation and Development

...as it relates to the Texas Long Range Plan for Technology, 2006-2020

The Texas Long Range Plan for Technology is a nice goal, laid out in a proficient and sensible way. I wish that I could have more faith in its sure progress. I have only been teaching five years, but having come from a business background I am aware that training doesn't guarantee success and that too many committee and over-planning can backfire in the long-run.
I believe that overall, the state of Texas is progressing in the area of preparing teachers. However not all teachers are meeting the SBEC standards, obviously. Many teachers are still lacking the development and training necessary to be capable and expert in presenting technology skills to their students. Training can be limited due to severe budget cuts and lack of available technology professionals available to instruct. Resources can be difficult to find if enough lesson preparation time isn't provided. Administrators expect teachers to use technology simply because programs and applications have be presented, but unless their are advanced technology people available, all is wasted.
Teachers, overall want to be able to give their students the best opportunity for education possible. Most teachers are aware of the need for vertical alignment and incorporation of Technology Application TEKS. Therefore, more professional learning communities are beginning to find ways to overcome the many obstacles hindering technology instruction. Teachers are finding ways to move through the challenges and take advantage of personal development found in online learning and other avenues.
Until more access to computers are made available, and a greater push for implementation of technology occurs, educators will continue to fluctuate in their levels of development. In order to insure success in this area, a scaffolding similar to that implemented with student learning will need to occur. Unless teachers are given the time and ability to make use of their knowledge, true development never takes place and educators become stagnate and jaded to the challenges laid upon them by the Long Range Plan.