The intent of ACTEM’s Educator of the Year award is to seek out exceptional educators who use technology to impact teaching and learning. This program rewards visionary educators for outstanding integration of technology into their curriculum. ACTEM recognizes four educators annually at our MAINEducation Conference each fall. Several outstanding educators were nominated by members throughout the state this past year. The selection committee had a difficult time narrowing down the field to our two winners and two runners-up.
Holly Smevog, the chair of the Educator of the year committee, stated that this year... “There were a dozen applications... and it was SOOOO close and very hard to decide the winners. There were basically twelve amazing demonstrations of technology and teaching.”
Two Educator of the Year winners for 2005-06 received cash awards of $2000 plus an additional $1000 gift certificate going to the recipients school to be spent on technology at the MainEducation conference this past October. ACTEM’s Educator’s of the year for 2005-06 are Cheryl Oakes and Bob Sprankle.
Let’s meet this year’s winners
Cheryl Oakes is the Technology Integrator at Wells Elementary School in Wells, ME.
Ira Waltz, Assistant Superintendent of schools states... Cheryl is an utmost professional that views every opportunity as a teachable moment. Her enthusiasm for technology is truly infectious. Cheryl is extremely cognizant of the fact that if teachers see a need and usefulness for technology that they will also integrate technology into their daily teaching.
Cheryl states... My instructional premise is based on constructivism. It is best summarized by the following... Constructivism is an approach to teaching and learning based on the premise that learning is the result of "mental construction." In other words, students learn by fitting new information together with what they already know.
As a technology integrator it is my job to infuse technology seamlessly into our curriculum. To that end I have designed developmentally appropriate activities in order that students explore their options, learn the tools and finally create their own model of understanding a concept by using these technologies. All students can be successful in my computer lab activities, including all special education students.
Cheryl’s Assistant Superintendent states... “Students are excited about attending her classes and transfer their skills to their everyday lives. This excitement is carried over to their classrooms and drives change within the classroom.”
Our second winner:
Bob Sprankle is a multi-age teacher (Grades3/4) at Wells Elementary School
A colleague describes Bob as... “the poster teacher for transformational technology use in his classroom. By this I mean that Bob is an action technology user. As soon as a new piece of software is available, a new type of hardware, or a new mode of communication, Bob finds an application for his students within the curriculum.”
“Bob’s students are in charge of their learning. He is a transformational facilitator! Bob creates activities based on student interest, and he develops student motivation based on technology. Bob’s students are constantly raising the educational bar for Bob, as the teacher and for themselves. He is an inspiration to his students and to the rest of the staff.”
Bob States... “Writing lessons are authentic learning opportunities as they find real purpose in the work they do. Things really took off when my class and I discovered the power of Podcasting! Having already created a weekly “script” by writing the Student News, the next natural step was to turn this into a performance product, with a Podcast show. Motivation, enjoyment, and confidence has even surpassed what students gained from the Blog. In short time, students started creating their own “niche” pieces for the Podcasts, realizing their own passions and interests and turning them into entertaining, “magazine-type” pieces for the show. With the Podcast, students have produced more incredible writing than I’ve seen in my eight years of teaching.” Room 208 podcast can
be downloaded to you iPod for listening. Check out his website at bobsparankle.com
Two additional educators are honored as runners-up from the nominees and are given a $500 cash awards. This year’s runners up for Educator of the Year are Nada Lepper and Matthew Peinado.
Let’s meet the runners up
Nada Lepper is a Classroom Teacher for Grades 3 and 4 at Brooksville Elementary School in Brooksville, ME. Rev. David Davis Brooksville’s Computer Coordinator states... “I am nominating Nada Lepper for ACTEM's Maine Instructional Technology Educator of the Year Award, because she exibits exemplary integration and use of many different technologies in her classroom. She inspires our school's faculty and staff as well as our students to use technology as a tool to enhance their learning. Her students know that they are empowered and rise to the occassion project after project, unit after unit, producing work beyond what one would expect at the third and fourth grade levels.”
Nada states... “Technology plays several very different, yet equally important roles in my classroom. At times technology supports learning by providing additional resources during research. Technology also enhances learning, as students are able to creatively show what they know. Frequently technology acts as a facilitator for encouraging independence. Students are able to problem solve and move forward at their own pace. Technology is always a motivator as students gain confidence and view their own successes. Technology in no way makes what we do easier; rather it makes it richer and deeper with more meaning and value for the students.”
Matthew Peinado is an art teacher at Wales Central School, Wales, ME. Christine Lajoie-Cameron principal of the Wales Central School states... “My primary reason for nominating Matthew Peinado is his dedication to our students and his tenacity in challenging students and staff to use technology as a tool. His unassuming ways and soft spoken manner can encourage even the most reticent learner and he is always available to support everyone in our school. He is also our resident specialist in using instructional technology as a tool and in integrating subjects across the curriculum. Matthew leads by example and his enthusiasm is contagious.”
Matthew states... “Instructional technology plays an integral role in the art program I have created at Wales Central School. The ways in which I employ technology to make my teaching more engaging and informative are countless. I have created a paperless classroom for my middle school students, giving them notes, worksheets, reminders, and assignments via the computer. I have created PowerPoint presentations and slideshows to teach concepts, show the work of famous artists, and demonstrate artistic techniques to students. Also students routinely use computers and LCD projectors for final presentations or informal critiques of their work. And finally I have designed and maintain a website which electronically displays works of art his students have created.”
Quoting his Principal again... “Using technology as a tool for reaching students and tapping their potential has become Mr. Peinado's passion.”
Congratulations to this years’ winners and runners up for ACTEM’s Educator of the Year. Watch for information on ACTEM’s website for details on the next nomination cycle. Nominate that outstanding technology using educator for next years Educator of the Year award.
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