"ONES TO WATCH" WINNERS
These individuals consistently show strong leadership in the areas of technology and technology integration; promote collaboration and provide advice, assistance and mentorship to others.
These individuals consistently show strong leadership in the areas of technology and technology integration; promote collaboration and provide advice, assistance and mentorship to others.
Kenyatta Forbes
Tech Innovator of the Year
Tech Innovator of the Year
Since 2011, Kenyatta Forbes has served as the Design Teacher/Technology coordinator at Fiske Elementary School championing technology integration. She currently teaches grades 6 – 8 and coaches faculty in technology integration. Kenyatta has developed technology curricula and integration strategies, led professional development for the school and District, and implemented 1:1 iPad programs.
Kenyatta is a leader within and beyond CPS. She has collaborated on efforts to shape the way the District views technology skills by helping to create REACH performance tasks. Also, she has led workshops at ICE and Common Sense Media interviewed her to acknowledge her work in digital literacy. Kenyatta is a Google Educator, Common Sense Certified Educator and a recipient of the 2014 CPS "Ones to Watch" award.
Contact Ms. Forbes: www.msforbestech.com.
Kenyatta is a leader within and beyond CPS. She has collaborated on efforts to shape the way the District views technology skills by helping to create REACH performance tasks. Also, she has led workshops at ICE and Common Sense Media interviewed her to acknowledge her work in digital literacy. Kenyatta is a Google Educator, Common Sense Certified Educator and a recipient of the 2014 CPS "Ones to Watch" award.
Contact Ms. Forbes: www.msforbestech.com.
Alahrie Aziz-Sims
One to Watch
One to Watch
Alahrie Aziz-Sims is the principal of William J. Bogan Computer Technical High School. She is in her third year of leadership at Bogan where she consistently focuses on transforming the school’s technology innovation and integration through the School Improvement Grant. Mrs. Aziz-Sims is a passionate leader who believes in meaningful technology. Under her leadership, Bogan started their tech integration efforts with an iPad pilot program, which over time developed into a 1:1 Chromebook environment. The 2014-15 school year was Bogan’s first year as a 1:1 high school.
Contact Mrs. Aziz-Sims on Twitter: @AzizSims and @BoganBengal79 to see Bogan's work up close. Check out her blog "Principal Instruction" on Google + or LinkedIn.
Photo credit: Potter Studios
Contact Mrs. Aziz-Sims on Twitter: @AzizSims and @BoganBengal79 to see Bogan's work up close. Check out her blog "Principal Instruction" on Google + or LinkedIn.
Photo credit: Potter Studios
Brian Myers
One to Watch
One to Watch
Brian Myers is a librarian at West Ridge Elementary School who continuously looks for new ways to use technology to transform learning, and to promote essential literacy skills. To accomplish this, he challenges students to explore the intersection between technology, information and meaningfulness in an increasingly persuasive digital media environment. For the past several years, he has organized a city-wide Robocode programming competition, and with his West Ridge colleagues has hosted Scratch Day Chicago, the largest annual Scratch Day event in the Midwest region.
In addition to teaching at West Ridge, Brian teaches computer programming and app development at Triton College and Northwestern University's Center for Talent Development. He also works for Code.org, providing teacher training workshops for Illinois school districts in the K5 curriculum. For the past 10 years, he has facilitated Code Phreaks, a free weekly out-of-school programming and robotics club for grades 5 - 12. Code Phreaks was awarded a Presidential Citation by the American Library Association in 2008.
Contact Mr. Myers: www.codephreaks.org.
In addition to teaching at West Ridge, Brian teaches computer programming and app development at Triton College and Northwestern University's Center for Talent Development. He also works for Code.org, providing teacher training workshops for Illinois school districts in the K5 curriculum. For the past 10 years, he has facilitated Code Phreaks, a free weekly out-of-school programming and robotics club for grades 5 - 12. Code Phreaks was awarded a Presidential Citation by the American Library Association in 2008.
Contact Mr. Myers: www.codephreaks.org.
Na'Tasha Nelson
One to Watch
One to Watch
Simply put, Ms. Nelson loves math and technology. She teaches IB DP and MYP Mathematics at Bogan Computer Technical High School and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics and a Master of Science degree in Technology and Education. Starting with the 2014-15 school year, she began assisting fellow teachers with implementing technology in their classrooms and has lead efforts (along with Principal Aziz-Sims) for Bogan to be a great digital resource for the District. So far, her catchphrase “I do not collect paper” has encouraged her students to submit all of their assignments except major unit assessments electronically.
Ms. Nelson notices that technology has made her job much easier in terms of reducing administrative tasks so that math is her profession. Ultimately, she will continue to show fellow teachers how they can transform their environments into paperless classrooms and keep steady with technology integration in the classroom.
Contact Ms. Nelson on Twitter: @ndnelson2.
Ms. Nelson notices that technology has made her job much easier in terms of reducing administrative tasks so that math is her profession. Ultimately, she will continue to show fellow teachers how they can transform their environments into paperless classrooms and keep steady with technology integration in the classroom.
Contact Ms. Nelson on Twitter: @ndnelson2.
Kristy Rieger
One to Watch
One to Watch
Kristy Rieger believes that technology is like a superpower: "with great power, comes great responsibility." As the Library/Tech Coordinator of the Marquette School of Excellence, she designs programming for over 1,300 students, including an ongoing 1:1 rollout of Chromebooks. Her library/media program empowers 400+ IB students in coding, Google expertise, Adobe design suite and information literacy. She has innovated the "TechCo-to-Teacher" tech support model by leading a Tech Cohort to mentor MRQ teachers and create a culture of digital citizenship.
Outside of school, Kristy participates in ICE-CAP, the CPS Dept. of Libraries U-Turn program, the ALA-Young Adult Library Services Association and the 2015 CPS Adobe Youth Voices Cohort.
Follow Kristy on Twitter at @msriegerreads and check out Marquette’s website: msoelibrary.com.
Photo Credit: Juan Zavala
Outside of school, Kristy participates in ICE-CAP, the CPS Dept. of Libraries U-Turn program, the ALA-Young Adult Library Services Association and the 2015 CPS Adobe Youth Voices Cohort.
Follow Kristy on Twitter at @msriegerreads and check out Marquette’s website: msoelibrary.com.
Photo Credit: Juan Zavala