Rachel Goldstine is a Digital & Collaborative Learning Postgraduate Alumni
Rachel Goldstine began her teaching career in 2020. One month in, the country locked down. Her classroom closed. And her students disappeared into screens.
For most new teachers, that moment would be a setback. But Rachel saw something else: a chance to lead. As her five-year-old students logged in from kitchen tables and lounge floors, Rachel quickly noticed that the greatest challenge wasn’t technology. It was equity.
"Students were falling behind not because of ability," she says, "but because teachers didn’t have the tools or time to learn what they needed fast enough."
While many were still figuring out Zoom, Rachel stepped up to help others. She hosted daily calls with colleagues, shared digital tricks she’d taught herself, and even swapped skills with more experienced teachers, trading tech hacks for teaching strategies. It was the start of a new kind of leadership.
From Makeshift Zooms to Mastery
Rachel’s early insight was clear: digital fluency wasn’t just about knowing the tools. It was about having time, support, and a mindset to use them meaningfully. That led her to enrol in the Digital & Collaborative Learning programme at academyEX. The goal? To sharpen her skills not just for herself, but for her school.
"There’s so much out there, but teachers don’t always know where to start. DCL gave me time, tools, and a community to grow."
In a cohort of educators ranging from early childhood to tertiary, Rachel found what traditional PD often lacks: a space to learn from peers. Week by week, she gained new tools for planning, collaborating, and communicating, and, just as importantly, shared what she learned with others.
Her approach was never about replacing teaching with tech. It was about enhancing it. That meant:
Finding AI tools to reduce planning time
Exploring apps to bring five-year-olds’ ideas to life
Leading change from inside the classroom, not outside of it
And through it all, Rachel never lost sight of her core belief: that teaching is a deeply human endeavour.
Teaching the Teachers
As her DCL journey continued, Rachel became the go-to tech lead in her school. But she didn’t just train others. She listened. She helped older colleagues navigate digital platforms while learning classroom management from them in return.
"We built this informal barter system. I taught them how to duplicate slides. They taught me how to hold the attention of 30 kids. Everyone won."
She brought her learnings into her classroom, too. Gone were the weekends buried in planning. In their place were smart workflows and AI-powered drafts that let her spend more time where it mattered: with her students.
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What Comes Next
Rachel has now finished her Digital & Collaborative Learning postgraduate certificate and is stepping into the Master of Contemporary Education programme to keep going. For her, study is not an escape from teaching. It’s how she stays engaged.
"The Zooms were actually fun. Every session, I walked away with something I could use the next day. It didn’t feel like school. It felt like community."
What started as a crash course in lockdown has become a launchpad for transformation. Rachel is reimagining how young learners explore the world—and how educators can lead with curiosity, creativity, and care.
She is part of a new generation of educators proving that leadership doesn’t always come from the front of the room. It comes from those brave enough to ask better questions.
Rachel Goldstine is a graduate of the Digital & Collaborative Learning programme at academyEX and is now studying towards her Master of Contemporary Education. Her work supports early learners and educators alike to thrive in a digital-first world.
Your Future at academyEX
For those ready to begin their own transformation journey, academyEX offers various programmes, from full masters degrees to micro-credentials, all designed to empower the next generation of change-makers.
In a world seeking solutions, Louise's journey from corporate strategist to environmental pioneer shows us that with the right education, mindset, and support, we can redesign our world for the better. Visit our programme page to learn more about our programs and join our community of exceptional innovators.
This article is part of our Student Series celebrating remarkable journeys in technological innovation. If you are keen to share YOUR learning story, send us a message - we would love to hear from you.