EdCircuit Staff 
Desiree Alexander 
Table of Contents
Desiree Alexander, Ed.S. is the founder and CEO of Educator Alexander Consulting and Regional Director of North Louisiana for the Associated Professional Educators of Louisiana. As Alexander’s career progressed from her role as a librarian through earning multiple master’s degrees, she found herself drawn to technology and an increased desire to support teachers with improved tech integration. There’s a “less is more” approach that Alexander embraces that promotes simplicity in the classroom. As she explains, “When I’m teaching teachers about technology, my aim is to stop trying to use everything. There’s too much out there. There are too many products that do the same thing. Just stop. Stop the craziness. Stop trying to use the hottest thing and use what’s good.”
The Importance of Collaboration
There is a fine line between exposing teachers to new technology and genuinely providing meaningful, lasting professional development. Alexander learned the hard way that it was about teaching to the teacher rather than the content. “When I first started presenting, I was all about the content. I have an hour. I need to get to a certain point. I need everyone to be quiet and listen to what I’m saying. That was where I was. I look back and kind of laugh at myself and say, ‘That is where I was as a presenter.'” She soon learned that giving space and allowing teachers time to talk, collaborate, and take a moment to work with the product created professional development with the most impact.
Viewing Diversity from Two Different Lenses
Recently, Alexander has become interested in taking a deeper dive into the technology space by examining the relevant effects of diversity. The digital divide in tech needs better examination, and she is excited about leading a session at FETC centered around the subject. Alexander views diversity through two different lenses. One is the student lens and the other, the adult. “From the student lens, it’s about digital equity and the digital divide. It’s talking about students not having access to assignments and homework and trying to be progressive. If they don’t have the Internet or the device itself, then how are we equitable?”
Becoming a Diverse Voice in EdTech
It’s the adult lens that piques Alexander’s interest the most. “I’m really interested in diversity in technology from the adult side. We go to conferences, workshops, seminars, and summits, and we see the same people discussing technology ─ the same topics, keynote addresses, the same, same, same. And because the field is led by white males, we’re not seeing the diversity that we need to see in technology. How do we change that? How do we continue a movement of seeing more diverse voices in technology?”
Diversity in Technology
Alexander is excited to see a growing interest in the subject of diversity in technology. Her sessions have increased in attendance, and many technologists want to know more. Leaders are beginning to ask, “How will I get more diverse people? How do we fix this problem?” Alexander finds the trend to be uplifting and hopeful as long as the focus remains on answering the most important question of all, “How can we do better?”
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