The Vanguard Coaches are educators who participated in a professional development program led by Apple Foundations Trainer Kara Eckert during the 2014-15 school year and received certification through the Apple Vanguard program earlier this summer.

Shaler Area’s Vanguard Coaches were selected as a group of leading innovative teachers and administrators. The Shaler Area Apple Vanguard Coaches will be an additional resource for the school district to provide training to staff and to support Shaler Area’s Project ACE (Advancing Classroom Education).

The Vanguard Coaches were required to complete a series of Apple Foundation Apps training sessions as well as demonstrate their level of expertise in work samples. In addition to training, they had to offer professional development trainings to their colleagues for a set number of hours. Once all requirements were completed, they created an iTunes U course and submitted their work to Apple for review.

As certified Apple Vanguard Coaches, the teachers can continue to provide training services to the staff of Shaler Area School District.

This Apple Vanguard program is only available to districts that have an embedded Apple Foundations Trainer. Shaler Area is one of the only districts in Allegheny County, outside of the Pittsburgh Public Schools, to have certified Apple Vanguard Coaches.