Award Recipient - Educational Leader: Tawny Reinhardt
Tawny Reinhardt
An edtech trailblazer at Sacramento County’s Office of Education. Tawny Reinhardt. Has nine years of experience in cutting-edge 1:1 middle school classrooms, Tawny’s passion for technology-infused learning has shaped her career. A USC English graduate with a credential from San Jose State and a master’s in educational technology from Cal State Fullerton, she’s thrived in Apple-distinguished and Chromebook-driven K-8 districts. Now SCOE's EdTech Coordinator, she coaches educators, fosters innovation, orchestrates interdepartmental collaboration, and champions free virtual EdTech development as a founding member of the Teacher Innovation Network hosting EdTech Playgrounds. She has been a returning presenter of innovative edtech strategies at conferences such as CUE and CITE as well as her county office's SCOE Schools annual professional development conferences. Tawny’s passion fuels her drive for the future of digital education and innovation, knowing that empowered learners are life-long learners. As a life-long learner herself, Tawny knows there's always something new to discover - you just have to be willing to chase it.
How long have you been a CITE member? What is your favorite memory from a CITE event?
“I have been a CITE member since 2022 when I first attended the conference in Long Beach. It was my first time traveling for work and connecting with a larger learning community. I remember feeling in awe of the presenters and so thankful that I had the opportunity to continue my own learning and education in such a collaborative space. CITE is a huge part of my journey in this role, and I'm thankful for the opportunities it has provided me. While it's not a single favorite moment, I would say the relationship that my IT department and I have cultivated is by far my favorite treasure from my time with CITE. We have collaborated through our regional meetings, learned from one another through challenges, and have come to deeply respect one another's roles. In fact, our nickname for one another is "frenemy for life," because while we seem like two sides of the same coin, what we've learned is that we're more similar to the surface of a sphere - it's hard to tell where one ends and the other begins. That's how integral we are to each other's work. Thank you, CITE, for helping cultivate such a powerful collaboration that has yielded friendship, a lot of laughter, and some really cool ideas.”
Nominator Information:
Nominated for this award by Tawny’s colleague, Andrew Brooks, he wrote:
“I am writing to enthusiastically nominate Tawny Reinhardt, an extraordinary educational leader, for the prestigious CITE Educational Leader Award. As the Coordinator of Educational Technology and Digital Learning at the Sacramento County Office of Education (SCOE), Tawny has demonstrated a visionary approach to integrating technology in education, and her leadership has had a significantly positive impact on our organization.
Tawny works hand-in-hand with our IT department to ensure the successful integration of new technologies into our classrooms, including some of the most challenging environments, such as juvenile hall. Her innovative approach is matched by a deep understanding of instructional needs. She consistently serves as a bridge between educators, program staff, and our IT team. Tawny ensures that all voices are heard, the right stakeholders are included in discussions, and that every technology implementation is rooted in real-world classroom needs and use.
Tawny has attended multiple CITE conferences to learn more about her IT colleagues. She also worked with our IT Director to co-develop a CITE presentation called “Frenemies for Life”, which humorously tackled the challenges and rewards of collaboration between Educational Technology and IT departments. The presentation was well received and sparked important conversations across the CITE community about how to build successful cross-departmental relationships.
Tawny is a regular attendee of the CITE Capital Corridor regional group and serves as Co-Chair of the EdTech job-alike group, where she helps lead important discussions on topics such as artificial intelligence, data privacy compliance, integrating SSO with learning tools, and supporting teachers through the creation of instructional videos. She was recently elected to be the Capital Corridor Secretary for the 2025–26 school year, and she has already contributed several amazing ideas that will make our meetings more engaging and collaborative… She exemplifies what it means to be a forward-thinking, solutions-oriented, and compassionate leader in the education technology field.”