Ms. Sciortino Named 2026 ISTE+ASCD "20 to Watch"

Xaverian is proud to announce that Ms. Catherine Sciortino, science teacher and AI Coordinator, has been selected as a recipient of the 2026 ISTE+ASCD 20 to Watch Award. 

This award recognizes 20 innovative early-career educators who are making an impact through transformative teaching and meaningful technology integration. Selected from a global pool of nominees, honorees are commended for their efforts in advancing digital learning, STEM education, AI literacy, and equitable access to transformative learning opportunities.

Ms. Sciortino’s strong commitment to helping the Xaverian community adapt to a rapidly changing educational landscape captured the notice of ISTE+ASCD. As the school’s AI Coordinator, her role combines research, coaching, and hands-on experimentation. She works closely with faculty to determine when and how artificial intelligence can meaningfully enhance classroom learning while promoting responsible and ethical use. She also evaluates AI tools, pursues ongoing professional learning, offers AI office hours, and tests instructional strategies with her own students to stay ahead of emerging trends. 

“Winning this award is such an honor, especially having seen the other incredible educators who have been included.” says Ms. Sciortino. “Moving forward, I'm excited to expand our AI initiatives to include more student-facing programming and find ways to involve families and other important groups within our community.”

In addition to being formally recognized at the joint ISTE and ASCD Annual Conference later this year, award recipients will have ongoing opportunities to share their expertise through webinars, podcasts, and featured articles in educational publications.
 
For more information about the ISTE+ASCD 20 to Watch Award, visit the ISTE+ASCD website.