2024 CITE Award Winners
CITE's Awards program congratulates and celebrates CITE members, partners, and others for the work they do and the accomplishments they've made to the education community. We're excited to share more about each award recipient, including CITE Hall of Fame inductees!
Jump to:
- Technology Leader Award Recipient
- Technology Staff Award Recipients
- Educational Leader Award Recipient
- Hall of Fame Inductee
TECHNOLOGY LEADER AWARD
Jason Buchanan
Director of Information Technology
Apple Valley Unified School District
Jason Buchanan is an accomplished educational technology leader with over 26 years of experience in California's K-12 school system. He began his career as a Computer Lab Aid at Lucerne Valley USD, advancing to Director of IT. He then served as the Director of IT for Silver Valley USD before taking on the role of Chief Technology Officer at Monrovia School District. In 2016, Jason became the Director of IT at Apple Valley USD, overseeing technology initiatives for approximately 13,600 students. Jason holds a Bachelor’s degree in Organizational Leadership and a Master’s degree in Instructional Technology from California State University, San Bernardino (CSUSB). He has completed the CITE CCTO program as part of Cohort VI. In addition to his professional roles, Jason has contributed to the educational technology community by founding and chairing the San Gabriel Technology Exchange CITE regional group and serving on the CSUSB Instructional Design and Technology Program Advisory Board. He has also mentored CITE CCTO candidates, sharing his expertise and fostering the next generation of technology leaders. Currently, Jason continues to enhance technology integration in education as the Director of Technology for Apple Valley USD, where he remains committed to making a positive impact on students and educators.
Jason's Nomination:
Dear Awards Committee,
I am writing to nominate Jason Buchanan for the CITE Leadership Award. Jason’s dedication and contributions to CITE and the field of instructional technology have been exceptional and merit recognition.
Jason Buchanan has been integral to the CITE community since 1999 (then CEDPA). He was one of the founding members of the High Desert Regional Group, demonstrating his commitment to fostering collaboration and professional development within our community. His creation of document templates for regional groups has provided invaluable resources that have streamlined and enhanced the effectiveness of our regional operations. Additionally, Jason actively participates in the CITE online community, consistently collaborating with other districts and leaders to strengthen policies at Apple Valley USD, our region, and across California to ”shape the future of education through technology.
Jason has spearheaded a transformative overhaul of our IT infrastructure since becoming Director of Informational Technology at Apple Valley USD in 2016. Under his leadership, we have implemented new cabling and fiber, a new VOIP phone system, enhanced connectivity, and completed comprehensive upgrades to classroom audio/visual systems across the district. The latest project, the new audio/visual upgrade, has now set a classroom technology standard that easily enables all teachers to utilize the same equipment in each room to enhance our students’ learning experience.
Jason’s leadership extends beyond the technical upgrades and data protection. His visionary approach established our district’s Digital Learning Specialist (DLS) role, providing teachers with the resources and knowledge necessary to integrate technology effectively into their classrooms. He has designated 1-2 DLSs on each site to assist and train teachers using their technology equipment, software, and curriculum, thus significantly benefiting our students, enhancing their learning experiences, and preparing them for a technology-driven future.
Jason has also ensured strict adherence to the California Student Data Privacy Agreement (CSDPA), solidifying our commitment to best practices in IT management. These improvements have not only enhanced student engagement but also ensured the security of student data, reassuring our parents and community that we prioritize the students’ best interests.
As a graduate of CTOM Cohort 6 and a long-time CTO Mentor, Jason has shown a solid commitment to professional growth and mentoring. He uses extensive experience to inspire and guide his mentees, helping them become effective and competent leaders. Additionally, Jason’s talent for identifying and leveraging individual strengths within our team has created an environment of innovation and continuous improvement. He has elevated our collective knowledge and capabilities by restructuring our department to better serve our users and encouraging participation in CITE’s learning platforms and other professional development opportunities.
Jason Buchanan’s contributions to CITE and Apple Valley USD exemplify leadership, innovation, and dedication to educational technology. His efforts have resulted in substantive changes that have benefited our district and the broader academic community. With great enthusiasm, I nominate Jason Buchanan for the CITE Leadership Award, confident that his achievements and impact make him a deserving candidate.
Read more about the Technology Leader Recipient
TECHNOLOGY STAFF
Dana Beller
Student Information Technician
Apple Valley Unified School District
Dana Beller is a tech enthusiast with eight years of experience in the field. My journey began without any prior tech background or formal education, but I've thrived in this ever-evolving landscape. Currently, I'm dedicated to providing top-notch Aeries support and managing all things CalPads for my district. The role keeps me on my toes, which suits me perfectly as I tend to seek out variety and change. What truly drives me is the opportunity to help others. I find genuine joy in assisting my colleagues and stakeholders, and I'm committed to making positive changes within my district.
Dana's Nomination:
Dear Awards Committee,
I am writing to wholeheartedly nominate Dana Beller for the CITE Technology Staff Award. As a Student Information Technician at Apple Valley USD, Dana has consistently demonstrated leadership qualities and created a significant positive impact within our department and the broader educational community.
Dana regularly attends CITE meetings and has presented at the CITE conference on After-Action Reviews, showcasing her expertise and commitment to professional growth. Her dedication to data integrity is evident in her efforts to lead and teach all employees about its importance. Dana’s strong advocacy for data integrity ensures that our systems remain reliable and accurate. This has been particularly important in our reporting and Career Technical Education (CTE) programs to ensure that the processes in place are correct and the outcomes meet our needs.
She is meticulous in completing CALPADS certifications by deadlines, while also advising our schools to improve their timelines to ensure successful verifications. Dana has also created comprehensive documentation, including CALPADS, Aeries, ParentSquare and many others, streamlining processes for our end-users and enhancing overall efficiency. Furthermore, Dana has significantly improved working relationships across various departments. By effectively communicating, actively listening, and leading by example, her efforts have fostered better communication and camaraderie among our staff, contributing to a more cohesive and productive work environment.
Dana was also instrumental in the setup, implementation, and support of our district’s communication platform, ParentSquare. She assisted in the integration and has been the key support staff for any issues that arise. Dana has trained and led new staff to accommodate end-user requests and assist them, providing better service and response times. With her guidance, the use of this platform has now expanded to include digital report cards to parents, all-staff alerts, and parent-teacher communication, making this our best form of outreach to our students, parents, and staff.
Dana Beller’s contributions to Apple Valley USD exemplify the qualities recognized by the CITE Technology Staff Award. Her leadership, dedication, and positive impact make her a deserving candidate for this honor.
Read more about the Technology Staff Recipient
TECHNOLOGY STAFF AWARD
Claudia Cruz
IT Systems Administrator
Los Gatos Union School District
Claudia Cruz is currently the IT Systems Administrator for Los Gatos Union School District. She's worked in K-12 for over 8 years and previously worked in low-voltage as a project manager for 5 years.
Claudia's Nomination:
Claudia Cruz is the IT Systems Administrator for Los Gatos Union School District, which consists of five schools and roughly 2,700 students. Claudia has demonstrated outstanding leadership from her positions from technician to systems administrator. Not only does she ensure technology is running smoothly on a day-to-day basis, she also takes strides to make improvements to our team and the way we do business. She has taken the initiative to bring a project management approach to our department to improve our efficiency. With our new help desk system, Claudia is constantly looking for ways to improve our workflows and automate as much as possible. She is a lifelong learner and a contributor to the IT community. Last year she completed the TMAP program and brought lots of useful information back to our team. She is also active in our CITE Silicon Valley Regional Group.
Recently we replaced both our help desk and phone systems. Claudia took the lead on both projects and the vendor was so impressed with her skills, they jokingly wanted to recruit her!
Claudia is a proactive problem solver. She has the ability to anticipate tech needs from the school sites before they come up and she is a champion to bring ideas to fruition with a user-centered approach. Recently, a principal brought to her a vision of having multiple displays in one room to build an Innovation Lab. Claudia took that idea, added her own touches, and installed the displays in the room to make it usable by staff and students.
Despite the established help desk system, all staff know her as the go-to person for technology. Are students finding ways around the filter? Call Claudia. Having computer problems? Call Claudia. Need security cameras? Call Claudia. Even though staff know that they are supposed to use the help desk system instead of contacting her directly, they can’t help but call Claudia because of her outstanding service and support (she then dutifully logs help tickets in response). Claudia deserves recognition for her contributions to technology. She keeps a student-centered mindset, knowing that her support of staff and student use of technology is integral to student learning. Claudia deserves recognition for the CITE Technology Staff Award.
Read more about the Technology Staff Recipient
EDUCATIONAL LEADER
Bethany Thompson
Teacher on Assignment - Technology/Digital Learning Specialist - Lead
Apple Valley Unified School District
Currently serving as the AVUSD Digital Learning Coordinator, Bethany has over 25 years of experience in education, specializing in Edtech, digital learning, and French language instruction. As a French teacher she piloted Google Apps for the district and was the first non computer science classroom in the district to have its own set of Chromebooks. She has spent the past 5 years leading professional development for teachers, spearheading district-wide AI initiatives, and organizing, and running eSports tournaments for grades 3-8 in the district. In 2024 she was recipient of the San Bernardino County Expanded Learning Legacy Award for her work in eSports. In 2023 she asked to return to the classroom for one period a day to teach middle school French. Currently, she leads and collaborates with a team of site digital learning specialists to provide professional development and support across the district, fostering a technology-rich learning environment focused on student achievement.
Bethany's Nomination:
Dear Awards Committee,
I am writing to nominate Bethany Thompson for the CITE Educational Leader Award. Bethany’s dedication to integrating technology into the educational process and active involvement in the CITE community make her an outstanding candidate for this honor.
Bethany Thompson is a Digital Learning Specialist and Teacher on Assignment for Technology Services at Apple Valley USD. She is essential to our district, heading up and coordinating many staff training opportunities in addition to our Summer TechFest, all while still teaching. Bethany’s efforts have ensured that our staff is well-equipped to use the latest technological tools to enhance learning.
Bethany’s contributions to the CITE community are substantial. She regularly attends regional CITE group meetings offering advice and assisting other districts with educational technology-related questions and problems. Her commitment to professional growth and collaboration extends beyond our district. She creates and promotes events, such as our Summer TechFest on our DLS website and CITE regional group, to increase engagement among teachers and staff from all districts. Concentrating on teachers’ needs, she provides sessions that encourage innovation, develop new teaching strategies, and incorporate cutting-edge tools to expand learning opportunities for our students.
Additionally, Bethany has led numerous in-house professional development initiatives, offering training to teachers and staff to ensure they can effectively use the technology provided. Her efforts have resulted in a marked improvement in the technological proficiency of our staff and the overall learning environment for our students.
One of Bethany’s significant achievements is her crucial role in creating and implementing the E-Sports program at Apple Valley USD. This innovative initiative has enhanced student engagement and provided valuable lessons in strategic thinking, technology proficiency, and educational integration. Through this program, students have developed critical thinking and problem-solving skills, gained familiarity with various technologies, and experienced an engaging blend of gaming and education. The students even participated in their first E-Sports tournament this year, securing wins for our district!
Furthermore, Bethany is a steadfast advocate for student data security. She has established practices for our teachers and staff regarding the California Student Data Privacy Agreement (CSDPA). Her commitment to data security is evident in her efforts to educate teachers about third-party applications and programs, informing them of the legalities and risks of sharing student information. This information is easily accessible to anyone on our AVUSD Digital Learning Services website.
In summary, Bethany Thompson exemplifies the qualities of a CITE leader through her dedication, innovation, and commitment to professional development. Her contributions have led to substantive changes within our district, significantly enhancing the use of technology in the learning process. I am proud to nominate Bethany Thompson for the CITE Educational Leader Award.
Read more about the Educational Leader Recipient
HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE
Todd Finnell
Imperial County Superintendent of Schools
Imperial County Office of Education
Dr. Finnell was elected as Imperial County Superintendent of Schools in 2014, and has served 34 years in K-16 education as a classroom teacher, counselor, and administrator, and more than 19 years as faculty at San Diego State University preparing new teachers for the profession. His California credentials and certifications include Multiple Subject Teaching, Pupil Personnel Services, Administrative Services, and Chief Technology Officer.
In addition to his work in TK-12, Dr. Finnell served four years as Vice President for Student Services, Technology, and Research for Imperial Valley College. While in the college system, he championed access and equity for all students, and worked to strengthen collaboration among K-12 and higher education institutions.
Dr. Finnell earned his Bachelor’s in Criminal Justice Administration from San Diego State University, his Master’s in Education from University of Redlands, and his Doctorate in Educational Leadership from San Diego State University.
A sampling of awards and recognitions include ACSA Administrator of the Year, CCSESA Innovation in Technology Award, SDSU Exemplary Research and Practice Award, AESA Brian L. Talbott Award, CUE Technology in Learning Leadership Award, and the CENIC Gigabit or Bust Award.
Dr. Finnell was appointed in early 2024 to the Intergovernmental Advisory Committee (IAC) of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) where he helps guide policy related to broadband infrastructure and adoption. He currently serves as the President-Elect for the California County Superintendents and will serve as President in 2025-2026, and currently serves on the Boards of the California K-12 High Speed Network (K12HSN) and the Fiscal Crisis Management Assistance Team (FCMAT) along with several regional and local initiatives.
He has previously served as a board member and President (2012) of the California Education Technology Professionals Association (CETPA - now CITE) from 2006 to 2013, along with the Corporation for Education Network Initiatives in California (CENIC) from 2008 to 2015.
Dr. Finnell is pragmatic in his approach, and he’s passionate about serving families in pursuit of improving the quality of life for others. His high school sweetheart and wife of 34 years, Lillian (Garcia) Finnell, serves as CalWORKS Coordinator for Imperial Valley College. They have been blessed with three wonderful adult children who have also chosen education as their career field. They spend much of their time now spoiling their two young grandchildren and their fur-child, Kira (a rescue dog that has trained them well).