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University of Tennessee at Chattanooga alumna Nikki Russell has been named the state\u2019s Outstanding Technology Teacher of the Year by the Tennessee Educational Technology Association.<\/p>\n
Russell is a STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) teacher at Orchard Knob Elementary School in Chattanooga. She joined Hamilton County Schools as an elementary school teacher in 2005 and in 2018 became a STEM lab facilitator and science support lead teacher for the school system.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am so honored to have received the Tennessee Technology Teacher of the Year Award from TETA for 2019,\u201d Russell said. \u201cOur students will be looking to a future of jobs that do not exist currently. As an educator, I need to provide opportunities for them to explore their worlds and grow skills in a real-world sense. Integrating technology\u2014for all students\u2014in the future-focused environment of our STEM Lab is a must.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs an educator,\u00a0I am so grateful for conference opportunities like TETC, my colleagues and my professional learning community as I continue to grow my own skills. The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga provided a solid foundation, and I am grateful for continued opportunities to reflect and grow as I provide instruction to my own students.\u201d<\/p>\n
Russell earned a bachelor\u2019s degree in early childhood education at UTC, as well as her teaching and principal leadership certification.<\/p>\n
She has master\u2019s and educational specialist degrees from Tennessee Tech University in instructional leadership and administration and is licensed as a teacher and in professional instructional leadership in both Tennessee and Georgia.<\/p>\n
Russell also is certified as a Google Educator, Apple Teacher, Ozobot Educator and Microsoft Educator. She is a graduate of the Chattanooga Public Education Foundation\u2019s Leadership and STEM Fellows programs.<\/p>\n
In the 2018-2019 academic year, she organized more than 60 learning exploration field trips for students to have hands-on STEM experiences.<\/p>\n
Russell also is a facilitator for Tech Goes Home Chattanooga, part of The Enterprise Center\u2019s digital inclusion program for Hamilton County residents. Tech Goes Home partners with schools, libraries, churches and nonprofit organizations to offer free instruction in the use of smart technology and the internet.<\/p>\n
In January, she will be a featured presenter at the national Future of Education Technology Conference.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
UTC alum earns state’s Tech Teacher of the Year Award.<\/p>\n