Can't wait to tell the crew this good news!
At the Board of Education meeting, Mrs. Korten will be honored for the unique instructional experiences she's providing her students. If you're available, please come to support your colleague.
Mrs. Antoinette Emden, Principal of Thomas Jefferson Middle School, informed the Board that last June, Thomas Jefferson Middle School began the task of planning for the 1:1 Chromebook initiative. The staff had varying responses to this plan. Some teachers were apprehensive and others looked forward to using technology to transport their teaching and learning. The building goal consisted of all teachers using technology to facilitate interactive, collaborative and authentic learning experiences for all learners. Mrs. Nicole Korten, a special education teacher of 17 years, took the building level goal and made it her own. With a deep level of commitment and enthusiasm, she began researching varied resources to increase her understanding of technological tools, apps and extensions that would help support, motivate and challenge her students. Her lessons included the required elements for a quality lesson (anticipatory set, purpose, modeling, guided practice, checking for understanding, etc.), but she also incorporated technology to enhance the learning of her students. Technology would be the tool she would use to light a fire under her students. Mrs. Korten’s ability to crease engaging lessons that use technology in an effective manner are many, and Mrs. Emden mentioned a few showing how Mrs. Korten manages to transform teaching and learning in her classroom. Her learners are skyping and learning with classes and authors around the globe. Her students created a classroom blog featuring their writing, book talks and classroom activities. Her students created videos and podcasts of their original stories. Because of Mrs. Korten, her students have a renewed love for learning. Every day, students display pride for their work.