Anjeanette “Joyce” Bachert graduated from Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene, Texas with a Bachelor of Arts in Biology with minors in Spanish and Business Administration. She taught science to middle and high school students in Texas and New Mexico for nineteen years before she moved into an Instructional Technologist role.

 

In 2017, she learned how to teach her classes remotely when she was on family leave. When the schools closed in March 2020, she was able to use that knowledge to help her colleagues adapt to online teaching. She realized she enjoyed helping other teachers, and a new desire was born in her to do that full time. This led her to pursue a Masters in Educational Technology from Sul Ross State University, which she completed in 2023.

 

In her first two years as an instructional technologist, a new position for Baird ISD, she has developed self-paced professional development and onboarding modules for her district. She has been tech-support and coach for teachers, and she has begun working on a badging program for teacher professional development. 

 

During her course work, Joyce gave special attention to digital literacy in students. What she has observed in her students over the years has been backed up by research. Joyce has grappled with how to teach students how to be safe when they are interacting with others online and also how to help their parents understand the risks. She conducted research to explore parental involvement and students’ perceptions of internet behavior. This research will be the basis of a customized digital literacy program for the district.

 

Joyce, a native of Farmington, NM, currently calls Abilene home. She enjoys spending time with her husband and daughter and traveling.