Lamar CISD educator leads districtwide push on edtech and responsible AI

Stephanie Aluizo Giarratano, a computer lab paraprofessional at Terrell Elementary and district team lead in Lamar Consolidated ISD, is training elementary campus staff in digital learning, Adobe tools and responsible AI. Her rise from Pre-K paraprofessional to districtwide leader underscores how schools are building tech capacity through mentorship, certification and student leadership.

Why it matters: - Stephanie Aluizo Giarratano is helping shape how Lamar Consolidated Independent School District uses educational technology across its elementary campuses. - Her work reaches paraprofessionals, teachers and students, with an emphasis on digital literacy, creative learning and responsible AI. - The role highlights a broader shift in schools toward staff-led tech training and early exposure to emerging tools.

What happened: - Giarratano serves as Computer Lab Paraprofessional at Terrell Elementary and District Computer Lab Team Lead for Lamar CISD. - In that districtwide role, she supports computer lab paraprofessionals across all Lamar CISD elementary campuses. - She develops training plans, provides mentorship, leads professional learning and promotes technology integration. - Her focus areas include educational technology, computer lab training, Adobe Express and AI tools for teachers. - She began her education career as a Pre-K paraprofessional.

The details: - Giarratano earned an Associate of Arts in Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities from Wharton County Junior College. - She is completing a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and Teaching through Western Governors University. - Her certifications include Book Creator Certified Author, Basic Principles of Design and Adobe Lightning Learning courses on graphic organizers, sketchnoting and visible thinking routines. - She also completed the MagicSchool Foundational and Intermediate AI Certification Courses, Adobe Creative Educator live learning and the educators’ guide course Classrooms, Community, and Creativity. - She was the first educator in Lamar CISD to be named an Adobe ACE Innovator. - Giarratano has also been recognized as a MagicSchool AI Pioneer, MagicSchool AI Ambassador, Knowt Knight Ambassador and Aqua by Adobe Crew Member. - At Terrell Elementary, she has been named Staff Member of the Month and is a two-time Support Staff Member of the Year honoree. - The profile says she has received five awards total in six years in education. - Giarratano founded the first Adobe Leadership Club in Lamar CISD, and it is among the earliest elementary Adobe Leadership Clubs in the nation. - Students in the club built creativity, leadership, collaboration, communication and responsible AI skills while earning recognition as Adobe Student Ambassadors. - She co-hosts the podcast Off Campus with Jenn & G with Jennifer Russell, covering education, parenting, band life, personal growth and everyday life. - She also volunteers with the Gene Tomas High School Band Boosters and serves on the Sponsorship Committee. - In that role, she helps secure sponsorships and build community partnerships for the band program.

Between the lines: - Giarratano’s path from Pre-K paraprofessional to districtwide tech leader shows how schools can grow leadership from within. - Her emphasis on saying yes to new opportunities mirrors a career built on certifications, conference presentations and professional learning. - Her advocacy for paraprofessionals points to a staffing group she describes as essential but underpaid. - Her focus on AI and adaptability reflects how educators are being pushed to keep pace with rapidly changing classroom tools. - The Adobe Leadership Club suggests district tech strategy is reaching students earlier, not just adults.

What's next: - Giarratano says she will keep mentoring paraprofessionals, leading professional learning and encouraging educators to keep learning. - She expects continued change in education as budgets, campus structures and technology priorities shift. - She sees lifelong learning and adaptability as the best way for educators to stay effective in that environment. - Her advice to young women in education and edtech is to keep moving forward, pursue training and use rejection as motivation to grow.

The bottom line: - Giarratano’s work ties together district training, student leadership and responsible AI use, with a career arc that turns continuous learning into institutional impact.