Teachers recognized as technology leaders

School of Environmental Studies (SES) math teacher Ana Clements and Dakota Ridge School teacher Shanna Gibas were selected recipients of the TIES Exceptional Teacher Awards in District 196 for 2012.

Sponsored by the education technology cooperative TIES, the awards are given annually to honor teachers in member districts who effectively integrate technology into the classroom. Clements and Gibas will be recognized, along with recipients from other TIES districts, at the annual TIES Conference in Minneapolis on Dec. 11.

Clements is successfully implementing a "flipped classroom" with her AP Calculus class. The flipped classroom is a model of teaching in which a student's homework is the traditional lecture viewed outside of class and class time is spent on inquiry-based learning which includes what would traditionally be viewed as a student's homework assignment. Clements is also a leader in the use and implementation of technology in the classroom at SES, including SMART Boards, student response systems and the district's Collaboration Station (Google Apps).

"Ana has taken it upon herself to learn about technology in our school and to help the staff with technology troubleshooting," Clement's nomination reads. "She has been an extremely valuable resource for many staff members. Students in Ana's classroom are intrigued and energized by her novel approaches."

Gibas is a teacher in the Students with Unique Needs (SUN) program at Dakota Ridge School. Most of her students are non-verbal. She has found innovative ways of using technology to communicate with these students that enable them to excel. Some of the technologies Gibas uses include assistive technology tools such as Dynavox as well as iPads and the SMART Board.

"Shanna is always looking for new ways to expand upon the use of technology in her classroom by seeking out district resources and trainings," Gibas' nomination reads. "As students progress in their skills and new students enter the program, she takes the initiative to figure out how to use technology to maximize the instructional experience for them. She is truly an extraordinary teacher."