First, I just want to say that you are not alone... 

I decided to leave the Teacher Ambassador Program I worked for after four years. This was not an easy decision for me, nor was it instant. Rather, it was a slow removal -- a peeling away. During this time I reflected deeply on my relationship to the company (you can read more about that here), and I decided that the Teacher Ambassador Program I was involved in wasn't actually serving me. Instead I was serving the company; I was helping them get richer and had little to show for it other than some swag and a digital badge.  

Opening my eyes to this reality has helped me to see how much private corporations are profiting from public education funds. So how do we move forward? How do we untangle the money that's wrapped up in private corporations, and put it back in the hands of teachers, students, and the community? How do we address the sticky situation of EdTech companies having a wide range of access to students, teachers, and power in public school spaces?

I don't have all the answers, but I have some ideas:

• Share your experience online using the hashtag #TeacherAmbassadorAudit

• Discuss the outcomes of this Teacher Ambassador Program Audit with your administrators or other leaders in your school

• Start asking questions. Go to your administrators, your district leaders, and your community, starting up a conversation around the ethics of all the EdTech tools and products being purchased for your school

• Check out the resource page for more information on thinking critically about EdTech's relationship to schools and find organizations where you can get more involved