Summary: Rhode Island Society for Technology Educators (RISTE)

Rhode Island Society for Technology Educators (RISTE) is a professional organization dedicated to supporting Rhode Island’s educational community through the effective integration of technology. Its members include administrators, teachers across disciplines, technology professionals, and library/media specialists from K–12, adult education, and all school types statewide.

Founded informally in the early 2000s by isolated tech directors seeking peer support, RISTE formally incorporated in 2010 after intentionally expanding to include a broader range of educator voices. Since then, it has continued to grow by integrating diverse perspectives, including library/media professionals and adult educators. In 2026, we changed our business name to EdTechRI.

EdTechRI provides value in three main ways:

1. Cost savings through consortium purchasing, notably reducing technology costs via agreements with Microsoft and statewide Chromebook procurement.

2. Differentiated professional development, offering beginner-to-advanced, educator-led workshops and a dedicated training center to meet varied comfort levels and roles.

3. Community and collaboration, connecting educators across roles and districts through in-person and virtual networks, career opportunities, and shared problem-solving.

The organization is largely volunteer-driven and built “by educators, for educators,” emphasizing mutual support, collaboration, and continuous learning. At its core, RISTE exists to support technology, community, collaboration—and the educators it serves.