Conversations from ISTE Live with Rick Ballew

In this short conversation from ISTE, Jeremy sits down with Rick Ballew, a Minnesota educator, computer science teacher, ISTE certification facilitator, and self-described badge collector.

Rick shares his perspective on the ISTE/ASCD certification process, including the differences between the edtech leader, instructional leader, and edtech teacher certifications. He also talks about why the certification process is meaningful, rigorous, and valuable because it is grounded in real educator work, reflection, and feedback from human evaluators.

The conversation also explores Rick’s professional learning journey from teaching beginning band across multiple elementary schools to becoming a digital learning leader and middle school computer science teacher. Rick shares how a need for better systems led him into Google tools, certifications, educational technology, and eventually computer science instruction.

Jeremy and Rick also talk about teaching middle schoolers, facilitating adult learners, and how the two groups may have more in common than we sometimes admit. Rick also offers practical advice for first-time ISTE attendees: wear comfortable shoes, make a plan, and make time to connect with your edtech “summer camp” community.

This episode is part of our Conversations from ISTE series, featuring short interviews with educators, leaders, and innovators from the conference.

Connect with Rick Ballew on LinkedIn to learn more about his work. https://www.linkedin.com/in/frederick-ballew-iv/