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Makenna Akani, Alberton School District, Montana
McKenna Akane designs engaging, relevant, and meaningful lessons by connecting classroom concepts with real-world applications and experiences. Whether through field trips, guest speakers, or project-based learning activities, it helps students see the practical implications of what they are learning, sparking their curiosity and engagement.
Ms. Akani has developed a proposal for a virtual reality (VR) project and curriculum that will truly revolutionize the way students across the country learn and interact with Montana’s Indigenous community. Working with the University of Montana, Blackfoot Communications, and many other local partnerships, she has developed a K-12 project to provide meaningful Indian educational experiences for all. Using high-powered computers and 360-degree cameras, students will be able to engage with First Nations in Montana to record language, cultural traditions, ceremonies, and document tribal history from various nations. In partnership with a VR education company, its students will then create VR lessons and tours and upload them to the company’s course offerings where other students around the world will be able to connect and interact with Montana’s indigenous people virtually.
Frank Bugden, Loudoun County Public Schools, Virginia
Mr. Budgen uses a variety of materials, technology, and resources to promote the development of critical thinking, problem-solving, and performance skills in all students. Mr. Bugden has gone from creating Genius Hours in his classroom to creating a Makerspace complete with LEGO bricks, Ozobots, Makey Makeys, and two 3D printers! He is particularly proud of how he discusses and uses green screens for a myriad of uses for students. His lessons have inspired students to apply different green screens to create stories, present summaries, and create reports on a variety of academic topics.
Mr. Bugden is also credited with bringing Computer Science and Discovery Education resources to every classroom at the school! There were many teachers who did not know about Discovery Education and did not know that their students could complete many computer science projects and concepts. The innovative initiatives led by Mr. Budgen provide real-world connections, foster curiosity, and recognize the uniqueness of each student.
Rodney Cross, Guilford County Schools, North Carolina
Rodney Cross captures moments to hook students and leave them on the edge of their seats while teaching. He finds innovative and motivating ways to take students on an amazing learning journey. It spreads content across all core subjects to make learning time meaningful for all levels of learners.
Mr. Cross recently organized a virtual field trip touring a local museum, the Greensboro Museum of History. He knew that students might not be able to see or feel the artifacts and that it was important to get them as close as possible.
Mr. Krause’s nomination made it clear that he is looking for new challenges and ways to grow as an educator. It is as if he is on a real-time mission, searching for schools/students who need him, and working with district curriculum staff to create modules for teacher use. When you watch him teach, he interacts and connects with each learner in the process. This is how he writes units and plans lessons—With students in the learning center.”
Debbie Martin, Frederick County Public Schools, Virginia
Debbie Martin inspires other educators to use resources, including Discovery Education tools, to allow students to discover independently, work collaboratively, and access curriculum in a way that helps them understand the world. Ms. Martin cares about everyone she works with, both adults and students, to ensure they receive the highest levels of educational support and resources.
Ms. Martin has led the district to increase the use of Discovery Education as a meaningful and intentional resource that drives student learning, specifically in social studies and science. Ms. Martin has used her knowledge of Discovery Education tools, combined with her enthusiasm, to help teachers find valuable tools to provide direct instruction, independent student discovery, collaborative activities, and even peer reading.
As Ms. Martin ends her career as an educator, her growth is immeasurable. Her ability to coach teachers so that they lead their learning and discover resources is impeccable. Ms. Martin knows that everyone has different needs and continues to develop her strategies and resources to help others do the same!
Rita Mortenson, Verona Area School District, Wisconsin
Rita Mortenson is a technology coach who helps teachers develop their ability to use technology in equitable, innovative, and meaningful ways. She loves finding innovative ways to foster students’ curiosity and allow them to showcase their knowledge authentically.
In the Verona Area School District, Ms. Mortenson used Discovery virtual field trips to pair high school students with different grades in cooperative learning events. After watching the virtual field trip, high school students and students from different grades participate in activities that deepen understanding and make connections. For example, after students watched the Discovery Education/LEGO Play to Learn virtual field trip, students from a nearby elementary school came to the high school to work in a robotics class. They had the opportunity to build and play with LEGO bricks and robots.
When she first joined the Discovery Educator Network, Ms. Mortenson was an enthusiastic participant, and over time, she developed as a leader. She recently presented at the DENSI Institute Summer 2023, Fall 2023 Virtcon, “24+ Ways to Use DE in 2024” for 2024, and has a proposal accepted at ISTE that will focus on virtual DE field trips. Ms. Mortenson’s involvement in DE reflects her commitment to her learning and contributions to the development of educational technology in her community.
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