Blair Huggins and Alison Ward from St. Michael-Albertville School District were recently recognized as TIES Exceptional Teachers at the TIES 2015 Education Technology Conference in Minneapolis.
The award recognizes teachers who model the best practices in their classroom and engage students in learning with technology. Following is the nomination submission explaining why Huggins and Ward are exceptional teachers:
BLAIR HUGGINS
As a social studies teacher at the St. Michael-Albertville Middle School East, Blair Huggins provides leadership in the building and is a strong advocate for technology integration within his classroom and building.
He has been an early adopter of technology at St. Michael-Albertville Middle School East for the past several years and embraces technology. In addition to the responsibilities related to the classroom, he assists in the planning, training, and implementation of technology on his team and throughout the middle school. Two years ago, he piloted a Bring Your Own Device initiative called “Project Phoenix” in his classroom.
He helped plan, implement, and present the findings of the pilot to the STMA School Board. Project Phoenix has now expanded to grades 7-12. Huggins provided training for staff in the summer as well as during workshop days prior to the start of the school year on using student owned devices in the classroom. His communication with parents regarding Project Phoenix increased engagement and these connections contributed to a successful implementation. Principal Jennifer Kelly describes Huggins as being “an asset to our staff whose excitement and personality has allowed him to assume a leadership role in the area of technology integration and the students in his classes are engaged, active learners.”
Blair is always willing to be a technology resource and leader for the staff in his building. His teaching is a shining example of how the tools of technology positively impact student learning at the middle level.
ALISON WARD
Alison Ward teaches kindergarten at the Albertville Primary in the St. Michael-Albertville School District. She embraces technology and is determined to see it make a difference for the students in her class.
Ward was instrumental in researching and piloting iPads in her classroom to determine how they could be used to further the learning of her kindergarten students. She helps train staff before and after school to use technology with kindergarten students. Alison has also taken on the role of technology integration specialist for her building and is a member of the St. Michael-Albertville District Technology Committee.
Principal Dr. Ann-Marie Foucault describes Ward as “a dedicated teacher who strives to integrate as much technology as possible into her teaching. Her students are consistently fully engaged during instruction. A huge strength for Alison is her ability to connect with every student and provide a learning environment that is welcoming and comfortable in which every student is able to achieve success. She is also a resource and trainer on new technology for all of our staff. As a valued member of our school, Alison always demonstrates the highest level of professionalism.”
TIES is an educational technology solutions collaborative owned by 48 member districts. ITs mission is to leverage collective wisdom to make technology work across school communities. For more than four decades, TIES has proven to be a reliable partner to K-12 educators. TIES represents more than 400 schools with about 40 percent of Minnesota’s students.
As a key technology source for its member districts, TIES provides software systems, professional development, and technology integration training for teachers, administrators, transportation outsourcing, technical consulting, hardware and software support, and ISP services.