Josh Harris has a personal mission in public education. That goal is to use constantly honed professional development skills and educational technology to change the face of American public education so that more students discover, and gain access to the things they value most, feel connected to their community and the wider world, and have equity of opportunity.

After a year (1999) as an ASL interpreter for a deaf/hard-of-hearing student, Josh became a middle school teacher. From 2000 to 2013 he taught nearly every subject available in a middle school except PE or Special Education. Mostly, he was a History and ELA teacher.

In October of 2013, he left the classroom to become an Educational Technology Specialist, which is an instructional coach for teachers in grades 2 thru 12 in Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District. He worked at 4 schools, grades 2 through 12. He also lead over 60 hours professional development sessions per year.

In 2014, Josh qualified as Google for Education Certified Trainer. He presents at GAFE Summits held by EdTechTeam (www.edtechteam.com) and various CUE conferences.

In the Summer of 2016, He was accepted to the COL16 cohort of the Google Innovator Academy. This was a fantastic experience that enabled him to connect with educators and technology professionals from all over North America. This is when he earned the title Google for Education Certified Innovator.

In August of 2016, Josh was hired by the Alisal Union School District to originate the position of Director of Educational Technology. AUSD is a TK-6 grade district of about 10,000 students, with a high Latino & English Learner population with 100% free & reduced lunch. He is energized and excited about serving in a district of great diversity and heart. He oversees everything from professional development and PD program creation to device deployment, and professional efficiency practices.

Josh is motivated by the belief that access to technology and the internet is an educational civil right that belongs to all students. His vision is that educational technology will be a quintessential part of the teaching and learning process; teachers will use edtech as facilitators of learning relevant to the students’ lives, and students will use edtech to become self-directed learners who realize their potential to impact their community and the wider world. His philosophical goal is to help teachers move kids toward intellectual curiosity.