I’m currently exploring the pathway toward becoming a Microsoft Elevate Educator Expert for 2026, and I would genuinely appreciate insights from educators and community members who have experience with the program.

My background is primarily in software engineering, AI, cloud technologies, and developer community leadership. Alongside teaching at FPT Schools Hue (Vietnam), I actively work on bridging real-world engineering practices with classroom learning.

Over the past few years, I’ve been focusing on:

• Teaching AI, Azure, DevOps, and Prompt Engineering to students and developers
• Integrating Azure AI services into learning activities and practical projects
• Mentoring students and participating in educational initiatives
• Building real-world applications using Microsoft technologies such as Azure OpenAI, Semantic Kernel, ASP.NET Core, Blazor, and Power Platform
• Contributing to the global developer community through technical writing, workshops, and mentorship

I’m also a global moderator at DEV Community and was fortunate to be ranked among the Top 3 .NET technical writers globally in 2024.

What I’m particularly interested in learning is:

• How Microsoft evaluates measurable educational impact for the Expert pathway
• How educators effectively demonstrate classroom innovation with AI
• Best practices for aligning teaching approaches with Microsoft’s vision for responsible AI and modern learning ecosystems
• What kinds of portfolios, evidence, or initiatives tend to stand out

One of my main goals is helping students move beyond theory and build practical AI/cloud solutions that reflect real industry scenarios.

If you are part of the Microsoft Educator ecosystem — or have gone through the journey yourself. I would truly appreciate any guidance, experiences, or recommendations you can share.

My DEV profile:
https://dev.to/dukeastro93
**Additional background and community activities:
https://nexus.io.vn/about