Greg Pardo knew he was ready for a change when he saw a job posting for a Verizon Innovative Learning Lab STEAM Specialist in New Brunswick, New Jersey. He’d worked for 23 years at the same level in a nearby school system — as a computer science teacher, a STEM interventionist and other roles — yet was unable to work his way into administration. “Always trying to move up, but never quite making it,” says Pardo. “It was frustrating.” In the three years since he took that role as a STEAM Specialist at McKinley Community School in New Brunswick, he’s advanced to District Supervisor of Instructional Technology for the New Brunswick School System. What helped him move up so quickly? Decades of tech education experience, natural people skills and professional training from Verizon Innovative Learning. “Working with Verizon Innovative Learning improved my confidence as an administrator, giving me the tools really to understand how we utilize technology in a classroom setting,” says Pardo. Now, in his role as District Supervisor of Instructional Technology, he shares wisdom about student-centered learning with educators throughout the New Brunswick school system, often suggesting changes in classroom methodology to increase student engagement. Verizon Innovative Learning is a key part of the company’s responsible business plan to help move the world forward for all. As part of the plan, Verizon has an ambitious goal of providing 10 million youth with digital skills training by 2030. Educators can access free lessons, professional development, and immersive learning experiences to help bring new ways of learning into the classroom by visiting Verizon Innovative Learning HQ.

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