Awarded during the Great Computer Challenge
Old Dominion University
March 13, 2004
Technology Classroom Educator of the Year
Elementary School
Carl Peake, Computer Resource Specialist, Ocean Lakes E.S., Virginia Beach
Mitzi Fehl, Technology Integration Specialist, Poquoson Primary, Poquoson
The Elementary Technology Educator of the Year Award is presented to
the outstanding Educator who primarily works in technology, whether as a
classroom educator or a technology specialist.
This year for compelling reasons, the judges have identified two individuals to share the Technology Educator of the Year Award:
Mitzi
Fehl, Technology Integration Specialist, Poquoson Primary School and
Carl Peake, Computer Resource Specialist at Ocean Lakes Elementary in
Virginia Beach.
Mitzi Fehl is recognized for her outstanding achievements in working
with Poquoson Elementary teachers from the myriad of workshops she
conducts and the impact on student results. But she goes far beyond with
innovations such as organizing "Technology Night" for parents to see
what student's are doing with technology in their classes; she has
developed integrated classroom materials for "Math Keys" an innovative
math application; she serves as school webmaster, and she has
co-authored a book "Fun to Sing Math Learning Songs and Activities". She
is described as "tireless in her promotion of instructional
technology…she devotes all of her time, talent and energy into
supporting, encouraging, and instructing teachers in the effective use
of computers for instruction. " For these accomplishments the judges are
proud to award Mitzi Fehl, Technology Integration Specialist at
Poquoson Elementary School, the Technology Educator of the Year Award.
Sharing honors as Technology Educator of the Year is Carl Peake,
Computer Resource Teacher at Ocean Lakes Elementary School in Virginia
Beach. Carl is also outstanding in providing teacher workshops, but he
too also goes far beyond, including the creation of an Intranet for
Ocean Lakes Elementary. He has developed activities across disciplines,
including 27 activities in social studies as well as quizzes… and
teacher practice materials for the Technology Standards for
Instructional Personnel. He has helped develop website standards for the
Virginia Beach school system and prepared a basic template, files, and
tutorials for complying with division Web standards. As of last month 58
other Virginia Beach schools are using his work. For his exemplary
contributions within Virginia Beach, the judges are pleased to award
Technology Educator of the Year Award to Carl Peake, Computer Resource
Teacher, Ocean Lakes Elementary.
Middle School
Dawn Elaine Garvey, 6th Grade Social Studies Teacher, Corporate Landing Middle School, Virginia Beach
Dawn Elaine Garvey, The Middle School Technology Classroom Educator
of the Year, does far more than integrate technology in her classroom.
She generously trains fellow teachers during staff development sessions
and contributes her expertise to numerous committees. She is recognized
as a leader and innovator. She has creatively turned her summer tours to
national historical sites, into digital images posted on their website
for classroom use. She has received three grants in the past two years,
one of which placed quizzes and tests on-line where students could
log-in to take the test if they were not in school. Dawn is described as
an inspiration to at-risk students and to her admiring peers. For
innovation, excellence, and generosity of contributions it is the
judge’s pleasure to award the Middle School Technology Classroom
Educator of the Year Award to Dawn Elaine Garvey, 6th grade social
studies teacher at Corporate Landing Middle School in Virginia Beach.
Technology Educator of the Year
Elementary School
Carolyn Castano, 5th Grade Teacher, Newtown Road E.S., Virginia Beach
The Elementary Technology Classroom Educator of the Year award is
presented to the regional classroom teacher who significantly integrates
technology into the curriculum. This year the award goes to Carolyn
Castano, 5th grade teacher at Newtown Road Elementary School in Virginia
Beach.
Carolyn is a pioneer user of the interactive white board,
implementing a number of innovative technology applications and learning
strategies within her class. As one example, using Alpha Smarts,
students go before the class to list ideas on the white board where they
take turns proofreading them, use the electronic pen to find and
correct mistakes, and all of this is connected to the laptop. She deals
with living systems by dragging animals and plants into appropriate
boxes on the white board, she uses pictures of people and places that
students bring in to teach social studies and uses the technology to
create bookmarks for important Virginians during the Revolutionary War.
The black graph board is used to make math exciting. She integrates
videostreaming into her powerpoint presentations. And finally, she takes
advantage of the technology for whole class review of quizzes. For her
innovation and integration of technology in the classroom, the judges
are proud to present the Elementary Technology Classroom Educator of the
Year Award to Carolyn Castano from Newtown Road Elementary School in
Virginia Beach.
Middle School
Mary Morgan, Middle School Technology Teacher, Chesapeake Bay Academy, Independent
Mary Morgan’s focus is on using technology to enhance student skills
and achievement. She has personally developed technology curriculum for
integrated projects, taking students from Microsoft Word, to an
extensive array of technology and software where students ultimately
develop a short video presentation. Through the use of her technology
curriculum and her coaching of the school Lego Club, their school
successfully entered their first Robotics Challenge Regional Tournament
where they advanced to the State competition. As Great Computer
Challenge team coach, she is described as knowing how to get the best
out of students regardless of learning ability. For her contributions to
technology advancement at Chesapeake Bay Academy, and for the impact on
student learning and achievement, the judges are pleased to award the
Middle School Technology Educator of the Year Award to Mary Morgan,
Middle School Technology Teacher, Chesapeake Bay Academy.
High School
Charles Monroe, AP Computer Science Teacher, Heritage High School, Newport News
The Technology Teacher of the Year Award recognizes the achievements
of Charles Monroe, AP Computer Science Teacher at Heritage High School
in Newport News Public Schools. Charles Monroe is an outstanding veteran
mathematics teacher who literally integrated his teaching career with
computing. He currently teaches advanced courses in computing as well
has a rich history of developing curriculum for courses that include
Visual Basic, Pascal, and C++ programming languages. He considers his
Cool Math application among his greatest contribution, writing the
software for a mastery based mathematics program that helps students
understand general math and basic algebra concepts. He brings amazing
talent to his classes as well as assisting other teachers to advance
their skills through his workshops. He has written programs that can
instantly grade tests, print worksheets with answer keys, maintain a
database of school band uniforms, and a voting system for student
elections, among a long list of creations. A consistent sponsor for
Great Computer Challenge teams, and one of the originators of the
Newport News Computer Challenge. Charles Monroe is described as
“generously helping both students and adults when needed. Technology is
not only is career, but is a hobby – his whole life”.
It is therefore with great pleasure the judges recognize Charles
Monroe, AP Computer Science Teacher at Heritage High School in Newport
News Public Schools, as High School Technology Teacher of the Year.
Technology Administrator of the Year
Elementary School
John Caggiano, Principal, Asbury E.S., Hampton
The Elementary Technology Administrator of the Year Award is
presented this year to John Caggiano, Principal of Asbury Elementary
School in the Hampton Public School Division. John impressed the judges
with a systematic analysis of his existing school environment, a
thorough diagnosis of what was needed to effectively integrate
technology within the school, and his day to day accomplishments that
effectively changed his school environment. As just one example while
half of the teachers were proficient in technology standards when John
arrived as Principal two years ago, today the entire staff has achieved
the technology standards. John is described as a hands-on leader,
working with each grade level individually, introducing teachers to a
wide variety of applications. He leads by example in his own daily use
of technology; further, he designed a database for his staff to access
critical information, developed a pioneer spreadsheet in Excel for
schools to disaggregate data; designed the school website, and a
template for an electronic report card. For his vision and his action to
transform a school learning environment we are proud to present the
Elementary Technology Administrator of the Year Award to John Caggiano,
Principal of Asbury Elementary School in the Hampton.
Middle School
Janice Richison, Assistant Principal, Lindsay M.S., Hampton
Janice Richison exemplifies the characteristics of an award worthy
technology administrator. She serves first and foremost as a role model
demonstrating the use of technology in her daily routine. She is
described as always seen carrying a digital camera around her neck and
rarely seen without her I-book in her hands and in use. She is the
Disagregator Training Instructor for her school. She actively supported
their I-book pilot program for on-line textbook use by students. Her
contributions extend from spreadsheets on SOL Assessment data to
digitized photographic student assault folders, brochures for Guidance, a
technology manual for laptops, computerized bus maps, computerized
locker lists, and inventory spreadsheets to monitor 6th, 7th, and 8th
grade laptop teams. It is with great pleasure that the judges award the
Middle School Technology Administrator of the Year Award to Janice
Richison, Assistant Principal, Lindsay Middle School, Hampton Public
Schools.
High School
Tim Krier, Principal, York River Academy, York
The Principal sets the tone for technology integration within a
school, and Tim Krier, Principal of York River academy, demonstrates
just how important the role of the Principal can be when influencing and
contributing to technology integration. Tim has many of the
characteristics that one would expect of an exceptional leader:
infectious enthusiasm, stamina, persistence, a deep concern for student
learning, an intense desire to create a suitable learning environment,
and constantly striving to make the most of the resources his school
receives. But Tim goes further: he created from ground up, a charter
school for 9th and 10th graders, establishing IT career focused
curriculums and compelling instructional technology. He launched an
extensive school handheld computer initiative, and published a web-based
newspaper to build community rapport and partnerships. His school sends
home progress reports via e-handbooks. His teachers manage their own
digital portfolios. Almost half of his students have a 1:1 student to
computer ratio. Tim is described as a special administrator, and as
testimony, his accomplishments can be seen in the integration of
technology by teachers and students of York River Academy.
Therefore, it is with great pleasure the judges award the High School
Technology Administrator of the Year Award to Tim Krier, Principal,
York River Academy, York County Public Schools.
Technology Supervisor of the Year
Mark Burnet, Technology Supervisor for Middlesex County, Middlesex High School, Middlesex
Mark Burnet demonstrates that no matter how limited a
rural school division may be in size or resources, a creative,
talented, and dedicated professional can make a significant difference
in the availability and use of technology. Mark is described as a
visionary and master planner in helping to establish the best
environment possible for SOL achievement. He installed a fully
functional LAN for Middlesex County Public Schools and replaced all
computers for the school division that enjoys an amazing 2:1 student to
computer ratio at the high school level, and 2.5:1 ratio at the
Elementary level. He provided each teacher with a laptop for school and
home use. Further he obtained grants to support significant teacher
training on computers and helped create large scale partnerships to
leverage benefits for his rural school division. Mark goes beyond the
extra mile to enable others to succeed.
It is with great pleasure that the judges award the School Division
Technology Supervisor of the Year Award to Mark Burnett, Technology
Supervisor, Middlesex Count Public Schools.
Gail Henrich, Coordinator of the Visually
Impaired Assistive Technology Outreach Program, Virginia School for the
Deaf & Blind & MD, Independent
Gail Henrick demonstrates the ability of one person
to magnify impact of technology to a grand scale: locally, regionally,
statewide, and nationally. Gail is a teacher and Coordinator for
Visually Impaired Assistive Technology Outreach at the Virginia School
for the Deaf, Blind, and Mentally Disabled. Gail provides resources and
information to teachers across the region, while operating an assistive
technology lending library specific to blindness. She partnered with the
Virginia Space Grant Consortium to provide two significant professional
development programs to raise educator awareness of cutting edge
assistive technologies to enhance teaching and learning experiences in
space and earth sciences for students who are deaf, hard of hearing,
blind, or visually handicapped. She coalesced exemplary partnerships to
help create a statewide conference focusing on assistive technologies in
Space Science. She further influenced NASA Langley to add descriptive
video to their educational programs, impacting special needs students
across the nation. Described as a powerful advocate for assistive
technology, Gail generously helps others within and beyond her home
school, while at the same time, serving as a classroom teacher.
It is therefore the pleasure of the judges to award the High School
Regional Technology Educator of the Year award to Gail Henrick,
Coordinator for Visually Impaired Assistive Technology Outreach, at the
Virginia School for the Deaf, Blind, and Mentally Disabled.
