Educator Alexander's Newsletter
SEPTEMBER NEWS
Google AI Educator Series (GES) Badge-a-thon: Day of AI Learning
On Saturday, September 19, 2026 (9:00 AM – 7:00 PM ET), we are hosting the Google AI Educator Series (GES) Badge-a-thon: Day of AI Learning.
The Badge-a-thon is a live, drop-in virtual festival featuring 20 distinct 30-minute sessions that is open to any educator. Each half-hour block pairs a 15-minute educator lightning talk with a 15-minute guided badging sprint supported by live Googler moderators, enabling participants to earn official, ISTE-aligned digital badges on the spot. Educators can register at goo.gle/GESBadgeathon.
Don't miss out on this day of learning—space is open to any educator, so register today and pass this invite along to your school network!
Digital Literacy & Well-Being Curriculum for Grades 9–12
25 new lessons to help your students build critical thinking, creativity, human connection, and curiosity.
Part of our reimagined 9-12th grade curriculum on digital literacy and well-being, these lessons tackle the topics students actually run into online—deepfakes, AI literacy, and more.
You don’t need to be an AI or tech expert. We built these so you can keep doing what you do best: getting your students to think critically.
Classroom Pen Pal Program by Kami
How to sign up for the Global Pen Pal Project
- Read this post and the teacher guide.
- Decide whether the project fits your class this term. If not, wait for Window 2 (see below).
- Complete the match-maker form during the matching window, the first window closes September 25, 2026. Completing the form opts you into the Kami Community.
- Wait for partner information, which is sent by September 30. A match isn’t guaranteed.
- Confirm the activity and weekly rhythm with your partner teacher.
- Use the teacher guide to prepare students, review privacy expectations, and start the first exchange.
Leveling Up Instruction for Louisiana Educators
Leveling Up Instruction is a free five-week online course for
- Louisiana teachers
- First three years of teaching or in an alternative certification program
As a thank-you, participants who complete the course receive a $25 Amazon gift card, and those who also take part in the optional end-of-course interview receive an additional $15 gift card.
Register here: https://forms.gle/88UnXTCUxR6bqY117
Seesaw Connect 2026
Join thousands of K–6 educators for free, flexible professional learning designed to help you save time, engage students, and start the year with confidence.
Choose what interests you, watch on your own time, and earn a certificate for every session you complete. Recorded Sessions Available from August 18 – September 30, 2026.
Learn with MagicSchool Webinars
In case you missed it — or just want to revisit a favorite session — all of the Summer Academy webinar replays and slide decks are available and waiting for you!
This summer, over 5,000 educators showed up for something special — and every session is still available for you to explore at your own pace. No FOMO here!
Also, here is an announcement about some new features: B2S FEATURE LAUNCH - TEACHERS - 1.pdf
✏️ Tips & Tricks To Get the Most Out of PBS LearningMedia This Year
New and Improved: A Better Way To Search PBS LearningMedia
We’re excited to share that search just got an upgrade, designed to make it easier for you to find trusted, high-quality, and engaging media for your students in less time!
Here is what’s new:
- Enhanced Resource Cards: Grade level, subjects, number of support materials, and full descriptions now appear on every result, so you can spend less time clicking around and more time planning.
- Improved Filters: Filters now sit at the top of every search, so they're easier to spot and faster to apply.
Try it out for yourself! Visit the new tutorial “How To Search and Filter Content” for a walk-through of the new and improved experience.
Video Overview: Get Started Using PBS LearningMedia
Start the new school year strong by exploring how PBS LearningMedia can enhance your instruction, spark student curiosity, and save you time all year long! Take a tour through the PBS LearningMedia platform alongside educator and PBS LearningMedia “Guide on the Side” Mister C as he shares his favorite features and top tips for getting started with PBS LearningMedia.
For more tips on using PBS LearningMedia and to view other tutorials, check out our Help pages.
10 Hacks for Making the Most out of PBS LearningMedia
As the new school year kicks into gear, make sure you’re up to speed on the types of content and features that PBS LearningMedia has to offer educators like you. This recently updated blog post provides time-saving, value-adding hacks that will help you make this the best year yet!
Are You Filtering PBS LearningMedia Resources by Standard Yet?
Did you know that PBS LearningMedia resources are aligned to national and state curriculum standards? Read this blog post to help you make decisions about which resources might work best for your lessons, learn how to check for standards alignment, and explore how easy it is to see all of the other PBS LearningMedia resources that match those same standards.
Explore New PBS LearningMedia Tutorials
- How To Create an Account and Create Class Rosters
- How To Favorite Content and Create Folders
- How To Use the Lesson Builder Tool
- How To Assign and Share Content
- How To Access Assignments and Student Results
- How To Find Spanish or Alternate Language Content
Frequently Asked Questions
- What are the benefits of logging in to my PBS LearningMedia account?
When you log in to your PBS LearningMedia account, you can see state-level curriculum standards, “Favorite” classroom resources, create playlists using “Folders,” create class rosters, use the Lesson Builder feature, and share content with your students with Google Classroom.
- Why do I no longer see a favorite resource I used in my classroom last year?
In an effort to ensure educators have access to high-quality PBS LearningMedia content, we have removed resources that have expired or no longer meet our editorial guidelines. If a resource you have previously used is no longer available, try a simple keyword search to find a similar resource that will fit your classroom's needs.
- Do I need to clear out old rosters and classwork?
Yes, we recommend that when you log in for the new school year, you clear out old rosters and classwork before setting up new class rosters. By doing so, it confirms that you are an active PBS LearningMedia account holder and helps us protect student data privacy.
Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month in Your Classroom!
Explore the History of Why We Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month
In the United States, Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated each year from September 15 to October 15. But do your students know why we honor this important month and how they can recognize the contributions of Hispanic and Latino communities? Use this video to introduce your class to the ways that Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated across the country, the origin of the holiday, and notable Hispanic American figures.
Note: This video is also available in Spanish!
Dive Into American Historia: The Untold Story of Latinos Collection
Come along with actor and film producer John Leguizamo as he takes students on a journey to explore forgotten and rarely told Latino contributions to American history. Your students will analyze Aztec history, meet New York’s first immigrant Juan Rodrigues, evaluate the narrative of westward expansion, and more.
Learn Louisiana's Hidden History: Spanish Louisiana in the American Revolution
Do your students know that Louisiana was once a Spanish colony? Or that diverse troops led by Governor Gálvez fought several battles against the British during the American Revolution? Use videos and lesson activities in this collection to help your students explore this lesser-known history and discover how Spanish Louisiana supported the American Patriots in their fight for independence.
Explore More PBS LearningMedia Collections
- Why Do We Say "Latino"? | Origin of Everything (6-12)
- Host a Party at Alma's | Alma's Way (PreK-2)
- Discover Dishes Inspired By Latin American Heritage | Relish (3-12)
- Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go For It | American Masters (6-12)
- How Migrant Workers Organized for Equality | Compact History (3-8)
- Introduce Students to Photographer Pedro E. Guerrero | American Masters (6-12)
- Dance Arts Toolkit: Dances of Latin America (PreK-12)
- How Décimas Carry History, Reflection, and Satire in New Mexico (6-12)
LAST CALL--DUE SEPTEMBER 11: Google Innovator Academies Announced
One More Academy to Apply For
Virtual Academy: Tue, October 6, 2026 - Tue, November 17, 2026
Application Window: Thu, January 22, 2026 - Fri, September 11, 2026
Applications for all Innovator Academy locations are now officially open. We invite you to visit our website, select the Academy you are interested in, and submit your application today.
Microsoft Publisher Update
Action Recommended: Before 10/1/2026, convert your existing Publisher files to PDF or Word format. After this date, you will no longer be able to open or edit these files with Microsoft Publisher.
Learn more about plans for Microsoft Publisher.
TCEA TECH BLOG GOODIES
Back to School: Five Reasons Getting to Know You Activities Are Worth the Time
Six Teacher Discounts Worth Checking Before You Pay Full Price
A Big Shout-Out to School Librarians
Starting the School Year Strong as an Instructional Coach
Turn Literature Study into an Investigation with PlotPoint
Claude for Teachers Is Free for a Year, but I Have Questions
Educators Can Get Office 365 for FREE
A Couple More Google Updates
Join our online Google AI Educator Series Badgeathon on Saturday, September 19th from 9am-7pm ET for practical tips on using AI in your K-12 or Higher Ed classroom. Drop in anytime throughout the day to gain AI strategies and earn official badges!
Type "@Classroom" in Gemini, securely connecting your Google Classroom to draft communications, see which topics need re-teaching, create last-minute sub plans, and more. Get started with these practical use cases in our new guide, created by and for educators.
Read Along in Google Classroom is now available to all educational institutions. Select or create stories tailored to student needs, while getting class- and student-level insights into accuracy, speed, comprehension, and more. Students get real-time reading support when reading aloud.
THINGS TO KNOW
Get started with the Google AI Educator Series
Got 15 minutes? Want to leverage AI tools for teaching, but not sure where to begin? Get started with the Google AI Educator Series—bite-sized, standards-aligned learning that builds practical AI literacy during your workday.
Meet the new Google Classroom homepage
Google Classroom users can now see a new homepage designed to help teachers, students, and admins easily find relevant content, resources, and tools tailored to their specific roles. Learn more and head to classroom.google.com to see it for yourself.
Extra Credit
Best back-to-school content on YouTube
Set your students up for success this August with ready-to-share curated content on YouTube. Share the Ultimate Guide for School & Beyond to help teens navigate time management and college prep, or the Best Studying Tips playlist to help build healthy study habits from day one.
Back-to-school on YouTube Kids: Playlists for early & elementary learners
Big steps start small! Head over to YouTube Kids for two new playlists packed with school-ready prep and gentle mindfulness and emotional wellness videos to set little learners up for a fantastic year.
Beyond the Device: CTL's latest education resources
CTL has two education initiatives that demonstrate how ChromeOS partners can deliver value beyond the device. CTL's Student Chromebook Repair Program empowers students with technical skills while helping schools sustainably manage their fleets, and a recent case study showcases how targeted hardware solutions bridge the connectivity gap for students experiencing homelessness.
Dr. Desiree Alexander, Educator Alexander Consulting
Dr. Desiree Alexander is an award-winning, multi-degreed educator, speaker, and author who has been in the educational field since 2002. She is the Founder CEO of Educator Alexander Consulting, LLC and the Deputy Director for the Associated Professional Educators of Louisiana. She consults with members of several schools/businesses and presents at conferences globally.
Dr. Alexander is lifetime certified in Louisiana in Secondary English Education, as a Reading Specialist, as a School Librarian, as an Educational Technology Facilitator, as an Educational Technology Leader and in Educational Leadership 1. She is certified in Texas as a Principal, in English Language Arts and Reading for grades 4-8 and grades 8-12, as a Reading Specialist for grades EC-12, and as a School Librarian. She holds multiple technology certifications, including, but not limited to, IC3 certification, Google Certified Trainer, Innovator and Partner, Apple Teacher, and Microsoft Office Specialists.
She holds a Bachelor, a Master + 30, and an Education Specialist Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Louisiana State University, a Master of Library Science from Texas Woman’s University and a Master of Educational Leadership with a concentration in Educational Technology Leadership from Nicholls State University. She also holds a Doctorate in Education with a concentration in Educational Leadership from Lamar University.
She is the author of Ready to Be an Educational Leader: Your Guide for Passing the SLLA 6990, the 2024 Common Sense Education Ambassador of the Year, a 2024 Common Sense Ambassador of the Year, a 2024 Illinois Digital Educators Alliance Conference (IDEAcon) Thought Leader, 2023 Louisiana Association of Computer Using Educators (LACUE) Conference Featured Speaker, 2022 & 2021 Texas Computer Education Association Conference (TCEA) Featured Thought Leader, 2020 International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) Featured Voice, 2020 Future of Education Technology Conference (FETC) Featured Presenter, 2019 Customer Commitment Award Honoree from Better Business Bureau's (BBB) Torch Awards for Ethics, a 2019 Shreveport National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) Mover and Shaker, a 2017 Young Professional Initiative 40 Under 40 Awards Honoree, 2017 Center for Digital Education Top 30 Technologists, Transformers & Trailblazers, 2017 Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) Learning Media Digital Innovator for Louisiana, 2016 Associated Professional Educators of Louisiana Member of the Year, 2015 Librarian of the Year for Louisiana Librarian Association, 2015 Campus Teacher of the Year in the Zachary Community School District and 2014 Leader of the Year for Region 2 Louisiana Association of Computer Using Educators.
Email: educatoralexander@gmail.com or desiree@educatoralexander.com
Website: https://www.educatoralexander.com
Phone: 318-759-7591
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