2026 CITE Volunteer Award

Josh "Josue" Valdez
Director of Technology
Rialto Unified School District

We are pleased to nominate Josue “Josh” Valdez for Volunteer of the Year in recognition of his exceptional contributions and sustained dedication to the CITE community. As a CITE Certified CTO (CCCTO) alumnus, Josh has consistently gone above and beyond in his service, demonstrating professionalism, expertise, and a genuine commitment to supporting fellow technologists across education environments.

Josh has made a significant impact through his work as a facilitator in CITE Education Programs, where he delivers high-quality learning experiences in areas such as team management, technology procurement, networking, and cybersecurity. What sets Josh apart is his ability to connect theory to practical applications, ensuring participants leave with actionable insights they can immediately apply.

Beyond his technical expertise, Josh is an exceptional thought partner. He listens carefully, asks meaningful questions, and provides thoughtful, relevant recommendations that elevate discussions and support peer learning.

Josh’s leadership extends to his role on the Member Engagement Committee, where he has been instrumental in shaping and strengthening Collaboration Labs. As a moderator, he creates space for diverse perspectives, guiding conversations that are both forward thinking and grounded in real world challenges. He consistently pushes discussions toward emerging technologies and practical solutions, ensuring relevance for today’s IT professionals.

Importantly, Josh also invests in others. He actively encourages and mentors peers to step into facilitation and moderation roles, positioning Collaboration Labs as opportunities for invitational leadership. Through this, he has helped expand engagement and empower more members to contribute meaningfully to the community.

Reliable, insightful, and always willing to step up, Josh exemplifies CITE’s mission to build a collaborative, supportive community of K-12 IT professionals. His contributions have strengthened programs, increased engagement, and positively impacted countless members.

Q&A

How long have you been in your current role and what career opportunities shaped your path? 

“I have served as Director of Technology for Rialto Unified School District since May 2025. My technical career spans more than 20 years across multiple public sector organizations, with more than 15 of those years dedicated to K–12 education. My K–12 journey began as a Site Technician and progressed through roles as a Network Specialist, Network Engineer, and IT Cybersecurity Manager before moving into technology leadership. Working directly with schools taught me to understand and serve the people behind the technology, while my experiences in networking, cybersecurity, and technology management strengthened my problem solving, communication, and decision making skills. As I moved into leadership, I learned that success goes beyond solving technical problems, it means developing people, building trust, and bringing teams together around a shared purpose. These experiences shaped my belief that when we invest in our people, we create better outcomes for our students.”

Can you share a specific moment when CITE had a meaningful impact on you or your organization?

“CITE has played an important role in my leadership development and personal growth. As a TMAP Cohort 1 and CTOM Cohort 18 “No Limits” graduate, I gained leadership perspectives, relationships, and experiences that continue to shape how I lead and serve others. Today, I serve as a facilitator for multiple CITE educational programs and committees. These opportunities allow me to continue developing my leadership and facilitation skills while giving back to a community that has invested in my growth.”