Michael Richards, District Technology Teacher/Integrator for the Mildred L. Day School in Arundel, has agreed to serve as ACTEM Vice President effective immediately, according to association President Crystal Priest. The ACTEM Board of Directors approved the nomination until the September 15 ACTEM meeting where Michael's nomination will be placed before the full membership for a vote.
Outgoing Vice President Trey Bachner has accepted a position with Apple Inc. to help support MLTI and will be leaving his position as Technology Director of Falmouth Schools in mid-July. " I have enjoyed my experiences with ACTEM over the past seven years and will always cherish the friends that I have made in this amazing organization," Trey stated in his resignation email. "Thank you all for the support and guidance you have offered me over the years. I sincerely hope that our paths will continue to cross in the future."
Michael got into education through the back door, business school. After graduating from Bentley College and not finding many career options in the early 90's Michael started substitute teaching in Scarborough and caught the teaching bug. He made teaching stops at Saco and Scarborough before coming to Arundel as a middle school math teacher in the fall of 1995. Besides his Technology Teacher / Integrator duties, Michael is the assessment data management person within the district as well as the professional development chair.
On his own time Michael was the Executive Director for Maine Academic Decathlon (1997-2005) and continues today as their official scorer at the state competition. He also served as a Teacher Leader and Content Leader in math for MLTI until 2005.
Active on the MAINEducation Technology Conference Committee the past two years, Michael presented two sessions and co-facilitated a box lunch session at the 2007 conference. He plans to present again in October.
Of his new role in the association Michael notes, "One of my goals will be to see how ACTEM can further reach schools at the classroom level. The professional development opportunities this year have been great, but most of our membership is in the classroom and I want to see how ACTEM can help impact student learning and technology at that level."
 Michael Richards, right, with other ACTEM members at the March 14 NEISTE dinner in Kennebunkport
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