RUSD represents at Google Innovator Academy

       The first Google Teacher Academy was held ten years ago with the idea that bringing together educators on the forefront of technology would allow for the growth of new ideas and projects. The program has since been modified and is now the Google for Education Certified Innovator program. Although renamed, the program is operating under the original goal of bringing educators together to explore and grow, to help to transform the organizations and communities they serve. 
       Last month, the revised program opened the application process to educators all over the world. The Innovator program will be a 12-month professional development experience for the selected teachers. Each individual is focusing on launching transformative projects to help improve education in their communities. Innovation and Learner Engagement had two applicants who were notified that they were accepted! Arianna Flewelling and Steve Kong will be visiting the Google campus for two and half days for an in-person Innovator Academy where they will be collaborating with other educators from the United States, Canada, England, India and South Korea. They hope to bring back some amazing ideas back to Riverside, as well as identifying the best implementation models and ideas for their own projects.

January 26, 2016 — Arianna Flewelling and Steve Kong have been selected as participants in the Google for Education Certified Innovator Program. The program begins with an Innovation Academy to be held at Google headquarters in Mountain View, CA on February 24-26, 2016.

34 participants worldwide were selected for the Google for Education Certified Innovator program based on their professional experience, their passion for teaching and learning, their innovative use of technology in school settings, and their potential impact on other educators. Arianna and Steve are honored to be selected to represent Riverside Unified School District in this prestigious program. In addition, Innovation and Learner Engagement is proud to be the only district to have two staff members participating in this inaugural Innovator Academy.

At the Innovation Academy participants will discover how to unlock creativity, translate insights into solutions, experiment rapidly, and build an effective innovation culture in schools and organizations. Participants will come away with practical approaches, valuable tools and techniques, and the beginnings of an Innovation Project. This project will drive change in education, impact educators and students, and be documented for other educators to follow.

The Certified Innovators are ambassadors for change and empower other educators and students. They strive to change the world of education by tackling complex opportunities to develop new-to-the-world solutions.

For more information on the Google for Education Certified Innovator Program, please visit www.certifiedinnovators.com