 2011 LEADERS OF THE YEAR ANNOUNCED! Click here to read the press release.
Each year Tech & Learning honors K-12 administrators, technology coordinators, and teachers who use technology in innovative ways to help teachers teach and help students learn. During the call-for-entries period, we invite you to share your teaching, training, and managing success stories with our judges. Each of the finalists will win prizes, gain national recognition and be profiled in T&L's 2011 December Awards Issue.
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MEET THE WINNERS OF THE 2011 LEADER OF THE YEAR PROGRAM:
Della Curtis, Coordinator of Library Information Services,
Baltimore County Public Schools (BCPS)
It’s no surprise that Della Curtis received 19 nominations for Leader of the Year. This
longtime visionary has been singing tech's praises since 1981 and recognizes the role
technology plays in empowering students to develop their full learning potential. From the
professional development courses she teaches to the webcams she put into every library,
Curtis leaves no stone unturned. "Della continuously updates herself on what technology is
available and how it may be used to improve instruction. Through her efforts, the
achievement level of our students has continued to rise, the quality of education improve,
and preparation of our students to succeed in a world where an understanding of
technology important, but necessary," says Robert Zienta, a library information specialist at
BCPS.
Dr. Manuel L. Isquierdo, Superintendent,
Sunnyside Unified School District in Tucson, AZ
Most people in Tucson credit Superintendent Dr. Manuel L. Isquierdo for helping Sunnyside
USD to become the district for students seeking a better education. In July 2007, when Dr.
Isquierdo took on the top role, Sunnyside was known as a dropout factory. Dr. Isquierdo
immediately focused on reversing that reputation. Using research that showed the value of
classroom technology in reducing dropout rates, he worked with principals, teachers, and
counselors to develop Project Graduation: The Digital Advantage, a program that focused
the entire community on graduation as the primary goal. Through Project Graduation,
Sunnyside students have earned more than 2,000 netbooks, and the district expects to
award another 500 by the end of this school year. The total number of computers in the
district increased to nearly 10,000 last year, up from 844 in 2008.
David W. Brown, Chair of the Computer Science Department,
The Charter School of Wilmington (CSW) in Delaware
David Brown has been a teacher, department chair, vice president of technology, and
technology director. Today he chairs the computer science department at the Charter
School of Wilmington. Although he's been at CSW for only 15 months, Brown has already
revamped the computer science department and curriculum and written and received a
$50,000 co-authored grant from ING Direct Bank to upgrade the math and computer science
departments' technology programs. With some of the grant money, he installed a computer
science research lab in which students can conduct research and work on higher-level
technology projects. Thanks to Brown's diligence and perseverance, the school is now able
to advance computer science as a viable STEM option.
The following 16 educators were chosen as runners up in the program:
- Adam Scott Bellow, founder and president of eduTecher
- Mark Diehl, district technology, coordinator, Little Falls Community Schools ISD 482, Minnesota
- Yannis Grammatis, chief information officer, Chaminade College Preparatory, Chatsworth, CA
- Alan Haskvitz, social studies teacher, Walnut Valley USD, CA
- Jeffrey S. Janover, director of technology, Wall Township Public Schools, New Jersey
- Joseph Kinch, automotive collision repair, Medford Vocational Technical High School, Medford, MA
- Candace Marcotte, sixth‐grade teacher, Fortis Academy, Ypsilanti, MI
- Danielle Melfi, technology specialist, P.S. 55, Staten Island, NY
- David Onyango, teacher, Kisumu Girls, High School, East Kenya
- Karen Owen, director of staff development, Escambia County School District, Florida
- Amber Phillips, assistant professor of physical education, Ball State University, Indiana
- Jill Ross, library media specialist, Morris County School of Technology, New Jersey
- Sister Mary Ellen Tennity, administrator, Sister Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Pennsylvania
- Michael P. Thompson, technology director, Superior Central School District, Michigan
- Sean VanScoyoc, IT director, Seneca Valley School District, Pennsylvania
- Dale Wolfgram, principal, Lutheran West, Ohio
Thank you to the following companies who have graciously donated prizes to the three winners:
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