Joshua M. De Lao

Certified to teach all subjects from pre-K to sixth grade, Joshua M. De Lao has found success as an elementary educator and an instructional technology coach at Clint Independent School District in Texas. A fourth and fifth-grade teacher at the school from 2015 to 2022, he has since helmed the role of technology coach. Among his responsibilities is to integrate technology applications and websites across all the major subject areas like reading, math, and science; mentor teachers that are new to the profession by using technology; oversee live broadcasts of students throughout every classroom first thing in the morning daily; and conduct classes with students that are related to technology. In addition, he’s involved in several student enrichment programs, such as working with student journalists and photographers and sponsoring three fifth-grade robotics teams competing in the school district. He says, “When you least expect it, students will always surprise you.”

Mr. De Lao’s gravitation toward his professional path began in high school. When he was a senior, he felt immense pressure from his parents to decide on his college major, figure out his career plans, and establish a structure for himself in the subsequent four years. In lieu of a physical education class, his school counselor suggested he take a child development lab, which counted for PE credits. It was that class, in which he worked with 3- and 4-year-olds throughout the year, that inspired him to become a teacher. Upon graduating, he earned an Associate of Arts in teaching from El Paso Community College in 2012 and a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies, elementary education, and teaching from the University of Texas at El Paso in 2015. As a full-time teacher at Clint, he pursued and ultimately attained a master’s degree in instructional technology from Grand Canyon University in 2019—which he considers his most notable achievement.

As a testament to his skills as an educator, Mr. De Lao has been named Teacher of the Month at the school district multiple times between 2016 and 2017 and is a dedicated member of the Association of Texas Professional Educators and the American Federation of Teachers. Looking toward the future, he aspires to become more proficient with his range of technology skills to offer to students and teachers, as well as move up as a technology coordinator for the school district. Lastly, he plans to apply for an education-related doctoral program.