Crystal Priest, a technology integration specialist in M.S.A.D. #4 (Abbot, Cambridge, Guilford, Parkman, Sangerville, and Wellington) has been awarded $2,500 by the Association of Computer Technology Educators of Maine for her selection as Amines Instructional Technology Teacher of the Year for 2001.
The intention of this $2,500 award was to seek out an exceptional educator who uses educational technology to impact student learning. Priest is certainly a visionary who has done an outstanding job helping teachers integrate technology into the districts curriculum. Individuals from around the state frequently visit S.A.D. #4's schools to view firsthand how students use technology throughout the day. For example, thanks to generous donations in 1999 and 2000 from Guilford of Maine, coupled with a State of Maine Technology Grant, all grade eight students in S.A.D. #4 have daily one to one access to an Apple "iBook" laptop computer. Furthermore, there is also one "iBook" for every three grade seven students. This one to one technology resource for grade eight students captured the attention of Governor King and was instrumental in setting the stage for the Maine Technology Endowment Fund. Priest has played a leading role in helping teachers develop high interest technology-based instructional units. For instance, S.A.D. #4 students have used laptop computers to write, illustrate, and publish storybooks, researched weather-related data and presented daily reports on the schools broadcasting system, created clay animations using digital cameras and "iMovie", engaged in computer animated drawing and technical drawing, and used Legos Robolab to create computer controlled robots.
Crystal Priest is a vital member of M.S.A.D. #4's team of educators and will undoubtedly play a central role in ensuring the district provides students with a "Great Place to Learn" for many more years. Those interested in visiting the district and seeing students actively use technology throughout their school day are cordially invited to e-mail Crystal or call 876-3444.
Comment from Crystal: The superintendent said I had to put this press release on the web site. I would like to take this opportunity to add my own comments. First, I want to thank Ann Dall, one of the people who has been working with technology for years and does not get the credit she deserves for all the extra time and effort she has put into the computer programs at PCMS. I want to wholeheartedly thank all the teachers at PCMS who have worked so hard at making the laptop program a success. I also want people to understand that while my name is on this award, I believe it belongs to the school as much as it belongs to me. Without your support and hard work, this program would not be where it is. Thank you all!
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