Kristen Brooks believes that technology in the hands of her most at-risk students might just be the way to finally narrow the achievement gap. A 27 year veteran educator, Brooks found her niche 17 years ago when she pioneered the first K-5 computer lab in her district. In 2014, Brooks was struck at the lack of smart technology - and its skill set- amongst her school's Title 1 students. Surely, she thought, there was a way to bridge the two worlds. Knowing she had to do something to meet the needs of her students, Brooks opened the first iPad lab in her district and the bridge was built. She worked with all 1175 K-5 students in her school using project learning. From coding to design, her students were given opportunities to grow their technological skill-set and enter the new digital literacy world with confidence. Brooks a self described lifelong learner loves supporting the CCSD students and teachers by learning as much as she can about the tools used in and out of the classroom. She accomplished this goal by becoming a Certified BrainPOP Educator, an OSMO ambassador, a Seesaw ambassador, a 2015 PBS Digital Innovator Award recipient, a 2016 Apple Teacher, an Apple Distinguished Educator Class of 2017, a Microsoft Innovative Educator Expert since 2019, an Adobe Education Leader since 2020, a Global Minecraft Mentor, an Adobe Creative Educator, an Apple Learning Coach, and just had one of her schools - Indian Knoll Elementary School accepted as a Microsoft Showcase School for 2021-2022 school year.
Ms. Brooks believe that sharing is caring and truly enjoys conducting workshops in school districts plus speaking at any Educational Technology Conference near you!