On July 15, 2020, when the Board of Education made the difficult decision to return to school via distance learning (based on local and state recommendation), Julie Jenkins and her tech team quickly recruited and received an overwhelming response of teachers willing to lend their expertise to the tech team. Today, 26 members make up the team: 21 teachers/TOSAs, 4 key players from IT, and Julie Jenkins.
TEACHERS TEACH TEACHERS In MUSD’s Teacher Tech Team Twenty-one teachers doubling as technology trainers, teaching other teachers. Why? Apart from the pandemic that has impacted public schools like never before and has students interacting with their teachers in a full-time virtual learning environment, it simply works. “I speak teacher,” said Mr. Michael Williams, teacher at Weston Ranch High School and tech team trainer. “And if I’m helping teachers, I’m really helping kids.” MUSD’s tech team has offered over 250 training opportunities to educators, substitutes, and paraprofessionals; roles that play an integral part in distance learning. Over 815 educators have volunteered to take at least one training, and all 237 paraprofessionals and over 150 substitute teachers have been issued district devices and passed the essential trainings to support the
online classroom. Though MUSD has been a 1:1 technology integrated District since 2015, meaning one device per one student, Professional Learning Director Julie Jenkins explained teachers still needed great support transitioning to and sustaining a successful, fully online classroom.
Microsoft Teams (the District’s online classroom), many explain base curriculum and grade level standards, and others highlight best practices for student engagement and collaboration such as breakout rooms. Which is a feature that allows the online classroom to be divided into smaller, focused groups.
“We easily offer thirty trainings per week, all taught by our teachers in the tech team,” stated Julie Jenkins. “From what I’ve heard, other neighboring districts do not have a program that offers this much continuity in professional development, specific to distance learning.”
The attendance and response rates alone reflect the success of the program. There are both live and selfpaced trainings and this week alone (September 2125), trainings have averaged 100 attendees.
Every Sunday evening, Julie Jenkins sends an email to all certificated staff [teachers] with a schedule of trainings for the week. Some are focused on how to use
“I was blown away by the number of attendees in the session I hosted yesterday [September 23],” shared Peter Gale, teacher at East Union High School and tech team trainer.
Meet the Tech Team! Alicia Uecker Alyssa Telles Amy Williamson Christopher Courtney Colby Clark Corina Donovan Hans Schmitz Joshua Bowers
“This next week, I have been asked to share my most useful Excel techniques.” Mr. Williams fields anywhere between 15 to 30 1:1 video calls per week. He explained sometimes it’s a call for troubleshooting and other times it’s a teacher with a new student-engagement idea which requires him to do the research first, and might just prompt the next training session topic! Whatever the call, he loves that teachers are reaching out because they want to improve their online classroom for students. “Our trainings evolve and change weekly based on feedback and what
is needed,” stated Julie Jenkins. “Typically, the previous week will map the following week. We’re always listening, learning, staying current.” The growth and success of the program today happened organically, starting in spring 2020 when the crisis hit. Initially, the tech team was comprised of 3 teachers, Peter Gale (high school), Tammy Dunbar (intermediate), and Kristen Messer (primary) alongside the District’s 5 TOSAs (Teacher on Special Assignment) who specialize in subject areas and oversee K-12 curriculum: Lisa Schnaidt, Lesley Fontanilla, Lisa Snyder, Julie Thomas, and Kristi Novara.
On July 27, the tech team offered their first week of trainings to over 1,000 educators. Since the start of school on August 6, the team has offered over 7 live trainings for parents/guardians and families to become more familiar with the online classroom and MAP testing.
Testimonials Julie Jenkins Julie Thomas Kathy Cambra Kristen Messer Kristen Robertson Kristi Novara Lesley Fontanilla Lisa Schnaidt
Lisa Snyder Michael Williams Patrick Windschitl Peter Gale Regina Lopez Ronald Mariano Stephan Unterholzner Tammy Dunbar
“I am very appreciative of the Distance Learning trainings. The presenters have been very professional and knowledgeable about the course they are teaching. There is such a vast selection of course offerings The course “Short Cuts” has saved me so much time and I especially enjoyed the “Tabs in Teams” because it puts nearly everything that my students need right across the top of the page in Teams.” Patty Howard, George McParland Elementary
“This is my eighth year as an educator and I had to learn a whole new way of teaching. If it were not for the Professional Development trainings, I would be rowing upstream, against the current, with one paddle. I learn so much every time I log into a training session. I’m so grateful to have access to trainers who know what it’s like to be teaching Distance Learning. Thank you for giving me the other paddle, so at least now I feel like the current is my friend.” Veronica Raya, Joshua Cowell Elementary