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Montevideo Teacher of the Year Monica Stueck has worn many hats in her 18 years at Montevideo schools. In addition to her role as a business teacher, she has served as building technology representative, union co-president, district assessment coordinator, and service organization treasurer. This year she has added another title to her resume: educational technology integration specialist.
Beginning with the start of school this fall, Stueck adjusted her schedule, retaining only her accounting class. For the rest of the time, she spends her days outside the classroom both as the district assessment coordinator and the new educational technology integration specialist.
In the technology integration position, she is to “help teachers integrate more technology into their classrooms,” Stueck said. “I am available during the day to work with them during their prep time so they can learn the technology and then available when their students are trying out the technology the first time.”
Stueck’s new position differs greatly from that of Scott Ripley, whose role with computers the district expanded four years ago. Ripley addresses the district’s infrastructure issues including software operations as well as network reliability, connectivity and security.
“My job is to work with the teachers to learn and incorporate the technology we have available,” Stueck said. “I am also there to help research for them. Sometimes they have an idea of what they want to do but no idea what is the best tool, software or website to use.”
For this year, the technology integration position is funded using one-time federal stimulus dollars, points out Superintendent Luther Heller. Heller, though, will look to extend the position beyond this year with the passing of the second school referendum question pertaining to technology.
Heller points out that technology integration positions are not new to schools. In fact, Stueck fulfilled a similar role several years ago. Many area schools have contracted with the local service cooperative to share such a person, but Heller felt that Montevideo needs someone who is more available.
The rationale for this position became clear when Ripley surveyed teaching staff about ways the district should invest in technology. He found that staff was underusing the technology available, most often because they didn’t feel comfortable with what they didn’t know.
As Heller points out, “No one wants to look like they are not knowledgeable when they are in front of the kids.”
By adding the position on-site and combining it with the district assessment coordinator job, the schools now have a person who can respond when teachers have the time to work on specifics in the classroom. Stueck’s schedule allows her the flexibility to work with teachers when they are planning lessons and be on-site when the teacher first uses the technology with students.
Montevideo Teacher of the Year Monica Stueck has worn many hats in her 18 years at Montevideo schools. In addition to her role as a business teacher, she has served as building technology representative, union co-president, district assessment coordinator, and service organization treasurer. This year she has added another title to her resume: educational technology integration specialist.
Beginning with the start of school this fall, Stueck adjusted her schedule, retaining only her accounting class. For the rest of the time, she spends her days outside the classroom both as the district assessment coordinator and the new educational technology integration specialist.
In the technology integration position, she is to “help teachers integrate more technology into their classrooms,” Stueck said. “I am available during the day to work with them during their prep time so they can learn the technology and then available when their students are trying out the technology the first time.”
Stueck’s new position differs greatly from that of Scott Ripley, whose role with computers the district expanded four years ago. Ripley addresses the district’s infrastructure issues including software operations as well as network reliability, connectivity and security.
“My job is to work with the teachers to learn and incorporate the technology we have available,” Stueck said. “I am also there to help research for them. Sometimes they have an idea of what they want to do but no idea what is the best tool, software or website to use.”
For this year, the technology integration position is funded using one-time federal stimulus dollars, points out Superintendent Luther Heller. Heller, though, will look to extend the position beyond this year with the passing of the second school referendum question pertaining to technology.
Heller points out that technology integration positions are not new to schools. In fact, Stueck fulfilled a similar role several years ago. Many area schools have contracted with the local service cooperative to share such a person, but Heller felt that Montevideo needs someone who is more available.
The rationale for this position became clear when Ripley surveyed teaching staff about ways the district should invest in technology. He found that staff was underusing the technology available, most often because they didn’t feel comfortable with what they didn’t know.
As Heller points out, “No one wants to look like they are not knowledgeable when they are in front of the kids.”
By adding the position on-site and combining it with the district assessment coordinator job, the schools now have a person who can respond when teachers have the time to work on specifics in the classroom. Stueck’s schedule allows her the flexibility to work with teachers when they are planning lessons and be on-site when the teacher first uses the technology with students.
Heller said that Stueck is a great fit for the position. “The benefit of choosing Monica is that she served in the capacity before. She is respected and she understands what is going on in the classroom.”
As for other technology changes in store, Stueck, Heller, Ripley and the district technology committee are working on a four-year plan they will submit to the state in the coming months. They are not ready to share any proposals yet, but Heller does want to see an expansion of the district’s wireless capacity.
For Stueck, she already notices some available technology she’s helping staff integrate. “I would like to see more teachers and students using Google Docs (cloud computing) and Moodle. As I talk to the returning college students, they mention how important it is to know about those two items.”
Stueck does see some general needs for long-term investments. “Most of the technology in our classrooms is in great need of modernization,” she said. “The passing of the referendum is going to make it possible to bring each classroom into the 21st century.”
As for the new position, Stueck is excited to have the chance to help teachers and students better utilize whatever technology is available. “The most exciting part of this job is seeing the kids get excited about an assignment because we are using something new and they get to be part of it.”
