Making New Tech Stick: The Power of User Superstars feat. Elaine Stiefel

How do schools make new technology actually stick? Discover how teachers drive successful EdTech adoption and long-term instructional change.Rolling out new technology is easy — making it stick is the real challenge. In this episode of Teach Your Way with BenQ, host Carly Burton-Sallay sits down with Elaine Stiefel, Director of Instructional Technology at West Ottawa Public Schools, to unpack what truly determines EdTech success. Drawing from a district-wide rollout of 500 interactive displays, Elaine explains why people — not products — drive long-term adoption.From building teacher buy-in and addressing fear of change to activating influential “super users” on every campus, this conversation explores how peer-to-peer learning transforms confidence, engagement, and instructional practice. Elaine shares practical strategies for identifying teacher influencers, supporting growth mindsets, and scaling adoption without overwhelming central IT teams.If your district is planning a major technology investment — or struggling to get teachers fully on board — this episode delivers actionable insights on creating a culture where technology enhances learning, not complicates it.What You’ll Learn in This Episode:✅ How teacher buy-in determines whether new technology succeeds or fails✅ Why peer influencers matter more than traditional tech training sessions✅ How to identify and empower “super users” across a district✅ Strategies for reducing fear and resistance to new classroom technology✅ What real signs of long-term EdTech adoption look like in classrooms👉 Try these strategies in your classroom today! Visit BenQ Education Solutions to explore interactive panels, guides, and training resources.https://www.benq.com/en-us/education.html Key Timestamps:00:00 Welcome to Teach Your Way with BenQ00:48 Why people, not products, determine EdTech success02:00 Teacher buy-in and the role of project management03:31 Why great technology struggles after rollout05:09 Who really drives adoption in classrooms07:00 Activating campus-based teacher superstars09:00 Growth mindset vs. technical skill10:00 Building peer-to-peer learning cultures13:51 What it looks like when education technology truly sticks16:25 The first step every tech rollout should take18:00 Final advice for scaling EdTech adoptionKey Takeaways:💎 Teacher influencers are the strongest drivers of EdTech adoption💎 Growth mindset matters more than technical expertise💎 Peer-to-peer support builds confidence faster than formal training💎 Long-term success shows up as student-centered instruction, not tool usageQuotes“When you walk into our buildings, you don’t see teachers centered on the tech—you see students centered on learning. Technology should enhance instruction, not replace it. If students are collaborating, problem-solving, and engaged, that’s how you know it’s sticking.”Elaine Stiefel – Director of Instructional Technology, West Ottawa Public SchoolsResources & Mentions:Learn more at BenQ Education Solutions: https://www.benq.com/en-us/education.htmlExplore BenQ Academy for video tutorials and step-by-step training: https://academy.benq.com/en-us/index.htmlLinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/benq-americaInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/benq_education/Private FB user group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/benqboardusergroupBen Q on Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/teach-your-way-with-benq/id1844449540Ben Q on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3DNT7aWkJmb0oae4YOMnx4?si=6be1bb7662404905Ben Q on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@benqeducation2476Elaine Stiefel – Elevated Learning Solutions: https://www.elevatedlearningsolutions.org/Guest Bio:Elaine Stiefel is currently the Director of Instructional Technology at West Ottawa Public Schools (WOPS) in Holland, Michigan. In April 2024, she graduated from Western Michigan University with her Educational Specialist degree in Educational Leadership with her Central Office certificate/endorsement from MDE. She earned a Master’s degree in Education with an emphasis in Instruction and Curriculum from Grand Valley State University in April 2016 and earned a School Administrator certificate from MASSP in 2022. Elaine taught in a project-based learning setting for six years, was an educational technology consultant for two, and has been the Director in West Ottawa Public Schools since 2018. During her time at WOPS, she has developed the WO Tech Team, creating sustainable instructional technology support for the district, and facilitated the implementation of Computer Science Standards grades K-12. In addition, she supported the Policy subcommittee for the AI Cohort for the state of Michigan. Her depth of experience in curriculum adoption, technology adoption, AI, student-centered learning, inquiry-based learning, and instructional strategies to support diverse backgrounds of students has been supporting districts to improve their instructional practices for years. To contact Elaine to learn more about the support she can provide for your district with professional development, coaching, or consulting you can reach her at - elevatedlearningsolutions.org or [email protected]: BenQBoard, BenQ Academy, EZWrite, FloatingTool, SplitScreen, InteractiveLessons, ClassroomTechnology, StudentEngagement, TeacherTraining, K12EdTech, Student Engagement, Tools for Teachers, Education, EdTech adoption, teacher super users, instructional technology leadership, BenQ Boards, teacher buy-in, classroom technology, peer learning, educational technology rollout