There were many examples of innovation in the applications received for the 2017 Tech & Learning Leader of the Year. We plan to profile many of these stories in upcoming issues, but wanted to share some of the standouts:
KRISTEN ALBRIGHT, INSTRUCTIONAL MEDIA SPECIALIST, PENNS VALLEY AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT, SPRING MILLS, PA
Albright introduced robotics and coding in her small rural district and regularly offers tours of her school’s makerspace.
WILLIAM BRANNICK, DIRECTOR OF TECHNOLOGY, ARCHDIOCESE OF PHILADELPHIA, PHILADELPHIA, PA
Brannick helped establish a professional development webinar series that provided teachers with consistent opportunities to expand their skills in tech integration.
PATRICIA BROWN, TECHNOLOGY SPECIALIST, LADUE SCHOOL DISTRICT, ST. LOUIS, MO
Brown helped to develop the district Technology Leadership Academy for Teachers.
PJ CAPOSEY, SUPERINTENDENT, MCUSD 223, STILLMAN VALLEY, IL
Caposey led his small, relatively poor district to do more with tech, despite limited resources.
DIANE DOERSCH, CHIEF TECHNOLOGY & INFORMATION OFFICER, GREEN BAY AREA PUBLIC SCHOOLS, GREEN BAY, WI
Doersch led the Kajeet initiative in her district, making sure that all students without Internet access at home have the opportunity to check out devices.
WILLIAM HARRISON, SUPERINTENDENT, ALAMANCE-BURLINGTON SCHOOL SYSTEM, BURLINGTON, NC
Harrison spearheaded a global immersion program and a global education professional development platform in his district.
PHILIP HINTZ, DIRECTOR OF TECHNOLOGY, GURNEE SCHOOL DISTRICT 56, GURNEE, IL
Hintz works tirelessly to level the playing field when it comes to access to technology tools and access to the power of the Internet.
MICHAEL KUHRT, SUPERINTENDENT, WICHITA FALLS ISD, WICHITA FALLS, TX
Kuhrt developed a Digital Pilot Teacher Program as well as a Digital Principal Project, in which selected principals are sent to training to foster more tech infusion.
DEBORAH MARSHALL, TECHNOLOGY TEACHER, GRANBY HIGH SCHOOL, NORFOLK PUBLIC SCHOOLS, NORFOLK, VA
Marshall helped lead the efforts to expand her district’s Computer Science program.
MAUREEN MILLER, DIRECTOR OF TECHNOLOGY, WINNETKA PUBLIC SCHOOLS, WINNETKA, IL
Miller helped create makerspaces in all of the schools in her district, where students focus on the design thinking process to get through challenges in robotics, coding, construction, and circuitry.
PAUL SANFRANCESCO, DIRECTOR OF TECHNOLOGY, OWEN J. ROBERTS SCHOOL DISTRICT, POTTSTOWN, PA
Sanfrancesco has been able to cut costs in technology without hindering student learning. He is an effective communicator and is able to bring all types of different stakeholders together.
ADAM SCHOENBART, TEACHER/INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNOLOGY COACH, OSSINING UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT, OSSINING, NY
Through events like EdcampOHS, Schoenbart has helped his district shift the culture of professional learning.
RANDALL SQUIER, SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS, COXSACKIE-ATHENS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT, COXSACKIE, NY
Squier led a district-wide digital conversion that allowed flexibility in earning credit for non-traditional students so more students could graduate.
DONNA TEUBER, INNOVATION PROGRAM DESIGNER, RICHLAND SCHOOL DISTRICT TWO, COLUMBIA, SC
Teuber is a respected leader in the field of educational technology with a passion for using design thinking to help schools and districts implement innovative practices that support engaged student learning.
