New EdTech Role Drives Innovation

A bold new role is reshaping how technology supports teaching and learning at Crescent. As the newly appointed Director of EdTech and Innovation, Natalie Vera has the opportunity to co-create the playbook for this evolving position, bringing both excitement and a sense of purpose.

“This is a new role and I get to help co-create the playbook for it,” she explains. The role sits at the intersection of pedagogy and technology, where innovation is not about chasing trends but aligning tools with purpose. Vera’s primary responsibility is clear: to support Crescent’s strategic plan by ensuring that technology is implemented in meaningful, intentional ways.

Crescent’s decision to create the Director of EdTech and Innovation role reflects a deep understanding of the world students are stepping into, where adaptability, curiosity, and digital fluency are critical. The School’s aim extends beyond academic excellence to preparing students for careers that haven’t even been imagined yet.

One of Vera’s first tasks is introducing an AI framework for each division so that the school has a consistent language and shared understanding of usage. “It will be helpful for parents and teachers to be on the same page so that we can teach the boys how to be ethical, responsible and safe consumers of technology, especially AI,” she says. “I’ve developed it with an advisory committee, and it’s a living document—I’ve already received and responded to feedback and will continue to do so.” Vera believes in the power of participation and is working to include students in the advisory process. 

She’s also taking lessons from the classroom and applying them to Professional Learning. “I think it's really important that faculty and staff collaborate and go play in the sandbox, so to speak,” she says. “People in every department can participate, and the sessions are delivered in a variety of modes.  Some of the best learning happens in classrooms when boys are asked to sit in groups and ‘think, pair, share.’ That's what I'm trying to instill in our professional learning.”

Vera’s qualifications for this pioneering role are deeply rooted in her teaching career. With over 20 years in the classroom, her approach has always emphasized exploration, hands-on learning, and technology as a tool for inquiry—not as a replacement for great teaching. In 2020, Vera received the Prime Minister’s Award (PMA) for Teaching Excellence in STEM. Recipients were honoured for their leadership, exemplary teaching practices and commitment to helping the next generation gain the knowledge and skills they need for future success in a world inspired by ideas and driven by innovation. 

While they have been colleagues since 2013, Deputy Headmaster Rich Prosser has worked closely alongside Vera for the past four years. “Natalie is an outstanding educator with experience in all three divisions at the school,” he says. “She has a phenomenal understanding of and curiosity around educational technology tools. She’s willing to scrutinize what's out there and how it best serves our community, which I think is really important.”