Making New Tech Stick: The Power of User Superstars feat. Elaine Stiefel
Teach Your Way with BenQ · 2026-01-28 · 22 min
Episode notes
How do schools make new technology actually stick? Discover how teachers drive successful EdTech adoption and long-term instructional change. Rolling out new technology is easy — making it stick is the real challenge. In this episode of Teach Your Way with BenQ, host Carly Burton-Sallay sits down with Elaine Stiefel, Director of Instructional Technology at West Ottawa Public Schools, to unpack what truly determines EdTech success. Drawing from a district-wide rollout of 500 interactive displays, Elaine explains why people — not products — drive long-term adoption. From building teacher buy-in and addressing fear of change to activating influential “super users” on every campus, this conversation explores how peer-to-peer learning transforms confidence, engagement, and instructional practice. Elaine shares practical strategies for identifying teacher influencers, supporting growth mindsets, and scaling adoption without overwhelming central IT teams. If your district is planning a major technology investment — or struggling to get teachers fully on board — this episode delivers actionable insights on creating a culture where technology enhances learning, not complicates it.