Photos of students and teachers

2008 Innovation in Education Award Finalist

Jeremy Davis

Award: High Impact Teacher of the Year
Magnolia School District (Instructional Technology, K-6 Ed Tech Trainer)

“My vision of innovation in education includes the applications of the latest technologies while ensuring all children have access to both the technology and to teachers who can teach them how to use the technology.”  Jeremy Davis, K-6 Ed Tech Trainer

Program Description

Jeremy Davis, an Ed Tech Trainer, teaches technology model lessons to the teachers in the Magnolia School District, and visits over 350 classrooms a year, showing teachers how to utilize mobile laptop carts in their classrooms. He envisions an education system in which all teachers are acquainted with the latest in educational technology, one in which technology is not seen as a burden, but as a way to make their jobs easier.

Mr. Davis strongly believes in using open source and free resources to engage students. For example, if a class can’t afford to take a field trip, he recommends they should design a virtual trip using Google Earth; if a class doesn’t have the funds to dissect frogs, they should use frogguts.com instead.

One project that Mr. Davis is especially proud of is his work with GATE students. In Magnolia School District, 4th, 5th, and 6th grade GATE students create projects using digital cameras, Power Point, video editing, and video pod casting software.  Recently, students podcasted from their 6th grade Science Camp!

Mr. Davis notes that he has been lucky enough to teach almost every child in the district.  As a result of the technology curriculum Mr. Davis implemented in the district, he notes some students have become so advanced that educators have to adjust the lessons to accommodate the students’ level of expertise, some students want to stay after school to play math games in the computer lab, and parents attend Parent-Teacher Conferences to hear more about the best science and math websites they can access for free at home.

What is the role of K-12 education in driving Orange County’s economic competitiveness?

It is education’s job to understand the technologies that our students will need to compete. We must insist that our schools keep up on technology, teach technology, and most importantly, integrate technology into the curriculum to get students excited about the subjects that will help them become successful professionals.

How can business and community members support your efforts?

  Arrange a student field trip at your workplace.
  Arrange a teacher field trip at your workplace.
check mark Help underwrite our science, math, or technology programs.
  Participate in a virtual career panel at our school.
  Provide college scholarships to our students
  Provide guest speakers at our school.
  Provide internships to our students.
  Provide scholarships for teachers to attend STEM-related conferences.
  Provide summer job opportunities to our teaching staff to help them understand workplace requirements.
check mark Sponsor a robotics team at our school.
  Volunteer as a STEM mentor to our students.
  Volunteer as a STEM mentor to our teachers.
  Volunteer to help with our Science Fair or Science Olympiad.
check mark Work with our teachers to integrate "real-world" skills into their classroom curriculum.
check mark Other: Help provide for 21st Century Classrooms.

 

© 2007 Project Tomorrow