Sneak a peek at 8 eSN K-12 Hero Awards contenders

Nominations for the annual eSchool News K-12 Hero Awards are open by September 1, 2023, and this 12 months, we’re providing you with a look at a number of the entries that got here in by our early-bird deadline.

The 2023 K-12 Hero Awards program is devoted to recognizing the nation’s greatest examples of K-12 success utilizing progressive schooling applied sciences.

Companies are encouraged to nominate the colleges and districts utilizing their services and products–this provides a probability to share success tales and impart priceless classes realized with the schooling neighborhood. Education professionals throughout K-12 departments are eligible for nomination, together with IT, curriculum, instruction, and administration.

Let’s take a look at a number of the 2023 K-12 Hero Awards nominees:

Cumberland County Public Schools, nominated by EPS School Specialty
Jhone M. Ebert, nominated by Discovery Education
Tamiko Hatcher, nominated by Edmentum
Dr. Jesus Jara, nominated by Edmentum
Johnston County Public Schools, nominated by Savvas Learning Company
Tom Lamont, nominated by Tech Ed Concepts, Inc.
Rod Ruth, nominated by Edmentum
Aaron Schwartz, nominated by IPVideo

Nominee: Cumberland County Public Schools
Nominated by: EPS School Specialty
For Cumberland County Public Schools, the strategic use of Structured Literacy made all of the distinction for each college students and lecturers in addressing disrupted studying because of the pandemic. “These last two years have been rough,” stated Catherine LeCleir-Salas, Instructional Specialist for Ok–5 distinctive college students. She credit the usage of EPS School Specialty’s S.P.I.R.E. studying intervention program for his or her success in sustaining a secure, high-quality studying program despite profound disruptions. LeCleir-Salas additionally gave excessive marks to S.P.I.R.E.’s versatile skilled studying program. “We have used both in-person and virtual professional development for S.P.I.R.E. and found the trainers to be very knowledgeable and supportive,” she stated. Cumberland County had 85 % to 90 % instructor participation in utilizing S.P.I.R.E. studying intervention program.
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Nominee: Jhone M. Ebert, Superintendent of Public Instruction, State of Nevada Department of Education
Nominated by: Discovery Education
The shift to distance schooling precipitated by the COVID pandemic highlighted challenges together with entry to know-how, skilled studying for educators, and high-quality educational supplies. To meet this problem, Jhone Ebert, Nevada State Superintendent of Public Instruction, in the summertime of 2020 introduced the launch of the Nevada Digital Learning Collaborative (DLC). An progressive initiative designed to bridge the digital divide throughout Nevada, the Digital Learning Collaborative seeks to make sure all college students and educators have entry to rigorous, standards-aligned curriculum, reminiscent of that offered by NVDOE associate Discovery Education, to help instruction in each face-to-face, on-line, and blended environments. While initially created to fulfill the challenges of educating within the COVID period, the DLC has grow to be an integral a part of educating and studying in Nevada within the post-COVID world. Through its best-in-class digital assets and highly effective skilled studying alternatives, the DLC is future-proofing the state’s school rooms as it’s connecting the schooling college students are receiving within the classroom to the world past the varsity yard.
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Nominee: Mr. Tamiko Hatcher, Director of Special Programs, Akron Public Schools, Ohio
Nominated by: Edmentum
Mr. Tamiko Hatcher, a devoted educator and the director of Special Programs at Akron Public Schools in Ohio, shows visionary management and steadfast dedication to implementing progressive schooling applied sciences to rework the tutorial expertise for the scholars in his district. Mr. Hatcher’s dedication to offering equitable alternatives for all college students, together with these with various wants, led him to supply providers that cater to each conventional and on-line studying environments, recognizing that some college students require totally different help constructions for tutorial success. Under Mr. Hatcher’s steerage, Akron Public Schools partnered with Edmentum to combine cutting-edge studying applied sciences, harnessing their full potential to boost studying outcomes. “Our entire partnership has really helped our district to continue to thrive. Our online school and EdOptions Academy, Edmentum Services, has really provided us with the flexibility to meet the needs of families as soon as they arrive. We’ve had families who just needed some layer of support or to continue to access their education, and the online environment provided immediate response to that,” shared Mr. Hatcher. With EdChoices Academy, over 18,000 college students are given the choice to entry their schooling by a digital setting, permitting the district to proceed to thrive within the face of distinctive challenges. The implementation additionally helped tackle challenges with certifications and staffing for his or her early school highschool and STEM highschool–after they not had a college associate offering bodily schooling credit, Edmentum stuffed that hole with highly-qualified, state-certified lecturers and award-winning curriculum.
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Nominee: Dr. Jesus Jara, Superintendent, Clark County School District
Nominated by: Edmentum
Dr. Jesus Jara is a passionate educator who serves as Superintendent of Clark County School District (CCSD), the Fifth-largest college district within the nation, educating greater than 300,000 college students–64 % of the coed inhabitants in Nevada. Since assuming the function of superintendent in 2018, Dr. Jara has been on a mission to maneuver the district from pockets of excellence to a superb college system the place each scholar can thrive. It was clear to Dr. Jara that, post-pandemic, his college students have been struggling. Dr. Jara collaborated with Edmentum to introduce a program targeted on accelerating studying in core topic areas, particularly to enhance math and studying scores. Elementary and highschool college students from throughout the district have been a part of the preliminary program. During the 2022-2023 college 12 months, CCSD carried out a analysis examine on Exact Path with greater than 20,000 college students spanning kindergarten by grade 10 to evaluate and enhance math and studying scores. Students who used Exact Path confirmed a statistically important affect on math achievement throughout all grade ranges studied. In kindergarten by grade 2, college students who accomplished at least eight abilities exceeded math development norms by 3 factors, a 30 % enchancment over anticipated development on NWEA MAP assessments. In grades 3-5, college students finishing at least 16 abilities had the most important enchancment total, rising 8.7 NWEA MAP factors on common. Finally, throughout ninth and tenth graders, those that accomplished at least 16 abilities elevated 5.4 NWEA MAP factors on common.
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Nominee: Johnston County Public Schools
Nominated by: Savvas Learning Company
While latest statistics from NAEP (The Nation’s Report Card) present important declines in math scores throughout the nation, Johnston County Public Schools in North Carolina has defied that development. Data launched at the tip of the 2021-22 college 12 months confirmed the district elevated math scores by double digits in grades 3-8, outperforming pre-COVID ranges. These beneficial properties led the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction to single out Johnston County as probably the most improved college district within the state. Johnston County Public Schools elevated its districtwide math scores to above state averages by implementing a year-over-year plan for high-quality arithmetic instruction, which included the adoption of Savvas Learning Company’s enVision® collection for grades K-12, an evidence-based, classroom-tested core math curriculum delivered on the Savvas Realize studying administration system platform. After months of analysis and a profitable pilot, the district selected enVision due to its rigor, digital studying elements, and interesting classes. After one 12 months of utilizing enVision, Johnston County noticed actual development. From 2021 to 2022, it gained 16 proportion factors in math proficiency for grades 3-8, and 9 proportion factors for grades 9-12, outperforming statewide averages of a 10-point acquire in grades 3-8 and an 8-point acquire in grades 9-12.
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Nominee: Tom Lamont, Educator, Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical High School
Nominated by: Tech Ed Concepts, Inc.
Tom Lamont is the Painting and Design Technology teacher at one of many prime 25 excessive faculties within the U.S., Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical High School (BVT), in Upton, Massachusetts. Mr. Lamont provides his vocational highschool college students a distinctive hands-on alternative to be taught in regards to the design trade and to arrange for jobs within the workforce. He integrates as we speak’s high-tech coaching into a visually-engaging curriculum utilizing a number of methods and inventive instruments. “We have an opportunity to do some amazing things every day at BVT,” stated Mr. Lamont. “Through our co-op program, we have placed students in full-time jobs within our trade area. Our students serve our district communities through their work on Eagle Scout projects, Gold Awards, sign production for churches and nonprofit organizations, as well as continuing to support our veteran groups with painting and sign projects.” Mr. Lamont’s program has earned him the Massachusetts Vocation Association (MVA) New Teacher Award in 2020 and plenty of different trade recognitions. The Painting and Design Technology program at BVT makes use of Roland TrueVIS printer/cutters bought from Tech Ed Concepts, Inc. (TEC) in Concord, NH. According to Mr. Lamont: “Rolands are the best – you can’t beat the quality,” he stated. “The TrueVIS has amazing speed and accuracy, and the print/cut feature streamlines our workflow.” TEC is the Roland DGA Academic Representative in New England and is acknowledged for superior service, help, and coaching.
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Nominee: Mr. Rod Ruth, Principal, Clover High School, Clover School District
Nominated by: Edmentum
With a wealth of expertise spanning over 22 years within the subject of schooling, Mr. Rod Ruth, an excellent educator and principal of Clover High School in South Carolina, constantly demonstrates unwavering dedication to scholar achievement and has left a lasting affect on the scholars and the neighborhood of Clover. Mr. Ruth’s management has been instrumental in positioning Clover High School as a standout establishment. Under his steerage, Clover High School has embraced personalised studying and progressive options to cater to the varied wants of the scholars. By leveraging Edmentum packages, Mr. Ruth has offered versatile choices which have remodeled the tutorial expertise. Students at Clover High School can entry preliminary credit score, credit score restoration, and condensed credit score packages, enabling them to obtain tailor-made instruction and excel academically. Mr. Ruth’s dedication to scholar success is clear within the spectacular commencement charge of 96 %–the best within the college’s historical past. Through his collaborative strategy and efficient utilization of Edmentum’s assets, Mr. Ruth has empowered college students to succeed in their full potential. His dedication to excellence and regular help have created a tradition of accomplishment and development at Clover High School.
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Nominee: Aaron Schwartz, Associate Principal, North Scott High School
Nominated by: IPVideo
In his function, Aaron Schwartz is at all times searching for the scholars at North Scott High School and investigating options to maintain a secure and safe studying setting. From lively shooter drills to safety options, he’s appeared upon by the district to seek out options to maintain college students secure. In the 21-22 college 12 months, the district has obtained over 20 EMS calls for college kids who have been struggling at numerous ranges together with seizures. The suspicion was this was associated to vaping in the highschool restrooms. Determined to determine and forestall the issue Aaron discovered a resolution within the HALO Smart Sensor from IPVideo Corporation. Since set up, the HALO units served as a deterrent to vaping within the restrooms and no additional EMS calls befell. Aaron’s efforts recognized a drawback, discovered a resolution to guard his college students, and offered for a safer studying setting.
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