Why GroupMe Became an Essential Tool for Professional Development at Lincoln Tech
Aug 4, 2025
How Educator Yaritza Uses GroupMe to Keep Her Community Connected and Engaged
When it comes to fostering connection and organization, educator and community leader Yaritza Villalba knows the power of simple, effective communication. As the CEO and founder of McKenzie’s Adventures LLC, Yaritza works closely with instructors at Lincoln Technical Institute in Queens NY to enhance their teaching practices and build a collaborative learning environment using GroupMe.
Turning Professional Development Into a Community
Yaritza led a comprehensive professional development program at Lincoln Technical Institute’s Queens campus, where 47 instructors needed to stay aligned on culturally responsive teaching strategies, lesson planning, and the integration of educational technology. Instead of relying on scattered emails and disconnected platforms, she introduced GroupMe as a central hub to keep everyone in sync.
Why GroupMe Worked
Centralized Organization: GroupMe became the go-to place for sharing instructional materials, workshop updates, and resources all in one accessible app.
Real-Time Collaboration: Whether it was weekly coaching sessions or quick check-ins, GroupMe allowed instructors to stay connected between meetings.
Community Engagement: Through dedicated GroupMe chats, instructors could share feedback, swap teaching tips, and celebrate milestones, creating a supportive professional network.
Fostering Engagement Beyond the Classroom
The program wasn’t just about lesson plans and tech tools it was about building a sense of community among instructors. With GroupMe’s group chat features, Yaritza encouraged peer collaboration and open communication, making professional development feel less like a formal requirement and more like an ongoing, supportive conversation.
A Model for Other Educators
Yaritza’s approach shows how GroupMe can help educators and teams stay organized and connected—whether you’re coordinating professional development, managing student events, or simply keeping a busy group on the same page.
How Educator Yaritza Uses GroupMe to Keep Her Community Connected and Engaged
When it comes to fostering connection and organization, educator and community leader Yaritza Villalba knows the power of simple, effective communication. As the CEO and founder of McKenzie’s Adventures LLC, Yaritza works closely with instructors at Lincoln Technical Institute in Queens NY to enhance their teaching practices and build a collaborative learning environment using GroupMe.
Turning Professional Development Into a Community
Yaritza led a comprehensive professional development program at Lincoln Technical Institute’s Queens campus, where 47 instructors needed to stay aligned on culturally responsive teaching strategies, lesson planning, and the integration of educational technology. Instead of relying on scattered emails and disconnected platforms, she introduced GroupMe as a central hub to keep everyone in sync.
Why GroupMe Worked
Centralized Organization: GroupMe became the go-to place for sharing instructional materials, workshop updates, and resources all in one accessible app.
Real-Time Collaboration: Whether it was weekly coaching sessions or quick check-ins, GroupMe allowed instructors to stay connected between meetings.
Community Engagement: Through dedicated GroupMe chats, instructors could share feedback, swap teaching tips, and celebrate milestones, creating a supportive professional network.
Fostering Engagement Beyond the Classroom
The program wasn’t just about lesson plans and tech tools it was about building a sense of community among instructors. With GroupMe’s group chat features, Yaritza encouraged peer collaboration and open communication, making professional development feel less like a formal requirement and more like an ongoing, supportive conversation.
A Model for Other Educators
Yaritza’s approach shows how GroupMe can help educators and teams stay organized and connected—whether you’re coordinating professional development, managing student events, or simply keeping a busy group on the same page.
How Educator Yaritza Uses GroupMe to Keep Her Community Connected and Engaged
When it comes to fostering connection and organization, educator and community leader Yaritza Villalba knows the power of simple, effective communication. As the CEO and founder of McKenzie’s Adventures LLC, Yaritza works closely with instructors at Lincoln Technical Institute in Queens NY to enhance their teaching practices and build a collaborative learning environment using GroupMe.
Turning Professional Development Into a Community
Yaritza led a comprehensive professional development program at Lincoln Technical Institute’s Queens campus, where 47 instructors needed to stay aligned on culturally responsive teaching strategies, lesson planning, and the integration of educational technology. Instead of relying on scattered emails and disconnected platforms, she introduced GroupMe as a central hub to keep everyone in sync.
Why GroupMe Worked
Centralized Organization: GroupMe became the go-to place for sharing instructional materials, workshop updates, and resources all in one accessible app.
Real-Time Collaboration: Whether it was weekly coaching sessions or quick check-ins, GroupMe allowed instructors to stay connected between meetings.
Community Engagement: Through dedicated GroupMe chats, instructors could share feedback, swap teaching tips, and celebrate milestones, creating a supportive professional network.
Fostering Engagement Beyond the Classroom
The program wasn’t just about lesson plans and tech tools it was about building a sense of community among instructors. With GroupMe’s group chat features, Yaritza encouraged peer collaboration and open communication, making professional development feel less like a formal requirement and more like an ongoing, supportive conversation.
A Model for Other Educators
Yaritza’s approach shows how GroupMe can help educators and teams stay organized and connected—whether you’re coordinating professional development, managing student events, or simply keeping a busy group on the same page.
