Mimi Rowland is an educator who creatively uses the technology in her school for the benefit of all of the students.

Mimi is the sole computer teacher in her PreK-8 elementary/middle school which houses approximately 1300 kids and, though her position is only part-time, she manages to bring technology into the learning of all students.  One of the most creative projects that she has developed was having her middle school students create web pages to supplement and enhance the curriculum of the elementary school.  She started by collaborating with the other teachers.  Mimi surveyed teachers at every grade level to determine what areas of study they would like to have enhanced by technology.  She then taught her seventh- and eighth-grade students how to critically evaluate websites and view them from the perspective of younger students.  The older students then scoured the Internet for websites featuring the areas of study identified by the teachers and, using only Microsoft Word, learned how to create web pages for each subject.  These pages were made available to all students and teachers on the school's website to use in their classrooms when studying those subjects.

Mimi also makes herself available to all teachers for workshops, assistance, class support, and one-on-one training whether it means coming in early, staying late, or working during her lunch period.  Teachers are integrating the school's technology into their curriculum more than ever with her help.  She has also started a technology newsletter to keep teachers involved and informed about the resources available to them in the school and on the Internet.  She has applied for grants to enhance the technology resources within the school.  She has also been an active and instrumental member of the team piloting a program for technology assessment with the NJ State Department of Education.  She manages all this while teaching classes daily to grades one through eight.

Mimi Rowland is a creative and dedicated teacher who goes above and beyond to make sure that technology is a welcome part of everyday education in her school.

Carol Garguilo