Newsworthy

Ken Wall, Director of IT, was honored with a Top Tech Award on Thursday, September 22 at Snapdragon Stadium.  Top Tech Awards celebrate San Diego’s technology innovators who bolster the business, academic, governmental, and non-profit communities within our region.  Honorees are considered local outstanding executives as nominated by their peers and clients.    This video highlighting some of Ken’s accomplishments was played in the stadium during the announcement. 

State Superintendent Tony Thurmond announced Poway Unified School District as one of the District winners for the 2022 California Pivotal Practice Award.  This new program for 2022 is in place of the California Distinguished Schools Program to celebrate schools and districts that implemented an innovative practice during the 2020–2021 school year and during the COVID-19 pandemic.  PUSD identified our pivotal practice as “Equity and Access for All: Creating Culture and Conditions to Empower World Class-Learners,” where we strategically focused on the following key areas: distribution of technology equipment; standardized practices around educational technology: innovative professional learning; and outreach to families. PUSD was honored to receive the recognition.

February 2022

The Association of California School Administrators (ACSA) recently announced Lana Nguyen, Director of Educational Technology, as the 2022 Technology Administrator of the Year for Region 18 (San Diego and Imperial counties). Lana Nguyen has served as the Director of Educational Technology in Poway Unified since 2017. Over the past four and a half years, Ms. Nguyen has transformed student learning and staff professional development in PUSD.

Ms. Nguyen helped launched the award-winning PUSD Voyager Program, a research-based coaching model, that provides teachers professional development in the areas of blended learning. Ms. Nguyen promotes the success of all students by advocating, nurturing, and sustaining the use of new educational technology. This includes coordinating districtwide professional learning, training, and support in and out of classrooms. She also has been instrumental in supporting multiple school sites in the development of their new innovation spaces.

February 2022

 

PUSD was officially recognized for the Edu Jedi Innovator Award 2021 by the Learning Counsel at the 9th Annual Edu Jedi Leadership Society virtual event. The District received this award for leadership and learning achievements during 2021. The work was showcased during the Learning Counsel’s virtual event where Dr. Phelps, Dr. Burks and Ed Tech Director, Lana Nguyen presented on “How PUSD Pushed Innovation Despite a Pandemic” this past September. The Learning Counsel recognized Poway Unified for our ongoing Ed Tech initiatives, distinguished schools, and the “Try Everything” music video, which highlights our personalized interests in supporting real world applications for all students. The Learning Counsel stated, “This kind of leadership is what other Districts should be doing.” A follow up press release is planned. 

Through the support of the Technology and Innovation team, the Pomerado Launch Lab has received an Honorable Mention for their work in impacting students with their lab. The Innovation in Education Awards highlights champions of educational innovation in the com- munity, as well as exceptional students pursuing careers in STEM education throughout San Diego. On October 28, the Launch Lab was recognized at the virtual awards event that brings together educators and business leaders to honor classrooms and individuals making a difference in education. 

June 2020

 

The Educational Technology Team was honored for their dedication to teaching and learning with technology. Over the past three years, the Educational Technology Team has launched multiple innovative initiatives, including the Voyager Program, Tech Cafes, and the Education Technology Webpage. The team offers learning opportunities Districtwide and has transformed educational technology. In March 2020, the team was abruptly tasked with switching gears to provide distance learning, coaching, and assistance. They quickly created a Virtual Teaching Website, video tutorials, professional development sessions, and quick guides. Coaches hosted online office hours to offer individualized support to teachers who needed one-to-one assistance. The team adapted seamlessly to their new role as distance learning coaches and has proved invaluable to teaching and learning both virtually and face to face. Watch the APSM virtual celebration highlighting service award recipients by clicking here.

April 2020 Jennifer Burks, Ed.D, Associate Superintendent of Technology and Innovation, was named Technology Administrator of the Year by The Association of California School Administrators (ACSA) for Region 18 (San Diego and Imperial Counties).

Upon her arrival to Poway Unified in 2017, Dr. Burks created the District's new educational technology department from scratch. As the first-ever Associate Superintendent of Technology and Innovation for Poway Unified, she oversees both the Information and Education branches of technology. Her vision for creating future ready classroom learning environments has come to life in pioneer initiatives like the Voyager Program, Digital Citizenship Program, i-Ready, and the first Launch Lab at Pomerado Elementary School. “The fact that she accomplished so much in such a short period of time speaks to her incredible work ethic and commitment to professional growth,” Superintendent Marian Kim Phelps said. “Jennifer’s dedication to creating inclusive, innovative learning environments for all students is just one of the many reasons why she is deserving of this award.” Dr. Burks, in addition to the other 2020 recipients, was featured in EdCal Magazine and honored at the Leadership Summit Statewide Awards Ceremony in San Diego. 

 

District Administration (DA) Magazine featured Poway Unified School District as a “2020 District of Distinction” in its February 2020 issue. DA honors ten school districts each year in this nationwide program.

PUSD was selected in the category of educational technology for its Districtwide Voyager Program. Launched in the 2017-2018 school year, the Program combines rigorous in-class professional development training for teachers, with revolutionary techniques for students to learn and engage with technology.

“We developed a system of support for teachers to learn how to integrate and use the latest technology in the classroom. Ed tech allows our students to connect with the world and engage with ideas that help them ask more organic questions,” Superintendent Marian Kim Phelps said.

The Voyager Program focuses on blended learning practices in the classroom to increase engagement and interest. Teachers who participate in Voyager learn best Ed Tech practices from District technology and innovation coaches, and begin to integrate these concepts into their lessons. This way, students can decide how and what they learn.

“We eliminated the top-down model where District leaders tell teachers what to do, so educators are encouraged to share ideas that they’re excited about,” Superintendent Phelps said. “Teachers feel more supported this way, and when you feel supported, you’re more inclined to try an untested, innovative approach.” To read more about PUSD’s Voyager Program go here.

At the 2021 Future of Educational Technology Conference, Poway Unified was recognized as the District of Distinction winner in the Professional Development category for its excellence in innovation in K-12 education.  

The Poway Unified School District was accepted into the League of Innovative Schools, a national coalition of forward-thinking K-12 school districts organized by Digital Promise, a nonprofit organization with the mission to accelerate innovation in education and improve the opportunity to learn for all through technology and research. PUSD was selected from a competitive national pool of applicants based on its leadership, evidence of results, innovative vision for learning, and commitment to equity and excellence. 

“As Superintendent of Poway Unified School District, I am committed to ensuring that we are creating culture and conditions to support world-class learners. Partnering with the League of Innovative Schools will allow us to innovate through people-driven networks to promote positive changes in education and ensure that all children have access to an equitable and high-quality learning experience,” Superintendent Marian Kim Phelps said. “As a member, Poway Unified will bring research-based, cutting-edge initiatives, which drive innovative and unique learning opportunities for students to ultimately maximize each student’s potential for greatness. I believe in learning forward through a cycle of continuous improvement, and I am excited for the opportunity to learn from and with a network of forward-thinking leaders in education.”