Superior native honored by Google

By MONTE TURNER

Mineral Independent

Joseph “J.D.” Williams is a graduate of Superior High School (1998), Montana State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in elementary education in 2004 and then Wilkes University in northeastern Pennsylvania in Instructional Media for his master’s degree.

Work took him to Phoenix where he is a Technology Instruction Coach for the Laveen Elementary School District. His efforts there recently meant recognition from Google as its Trainer of the Month for North America.

“J.D. has played an important and impactful role in the tech and G Suite implementation of the Laveen School District. He has supported the development in Laveen's push to educate teachers on becoming Google Certified Educators by delivering awesome and engaging workshops and trainings”, reported Joseph Williams, Senior Google Technology Instructional Coach.

"J.D." is the son of Dale and Shana Williams, whom live on East Mullan near the Lozeau Crossing bridge and his grandparents, Doug and Neva Cummings and Carol Williams reside in Superior.

While Williams is far from home, he remembers his roots.

“I participated in a school to work program while in high school in Donna Chambers' classroom that helped me decide to go into elementary education. I also did my student teaching in St. Regis with Terri Barclay and she always supported technology use in her classroom.”

Williams explained his role at Laveen.

“As a technology instructional coach I provide professional development and support for teachers, either in small groups or 1-on-1 to help teachers integrate technology and the Google tools that we use into their instruction to make their online lessons engaging for students. Since our instruction for the first 9 weeks of school was all online, I also helped with our Parent Help Desk.

"When parents or students have trouble with their Chromebook or online curriculum I call and try to help them solve those problems,” Williams said.

In Mineral County, St. Regis Schools utilize Google tools.

“St. Regis Schools use Google Education as well," Superintendent Joe Steele said. "We teach our students a variety of tech related classes. We start with basic keyboarding with elementary classes, but also teach internet and social media safety. In junior high and high schools there are programming classes, Google Suite classes and other technologies like photoshop. In high school, students can compete through BPA (Business Professionals of America) in competitions using Word, Spreadsheets, Accounting, and other business-oriented tech tools. We have an emphasis on computer science as students are entering a world and workforce that relies heavily on tech tools. They need to have that exposure and basic knowledge.”

But for Williams, who plans on retiring from the Laveen Elementary School District, what does this award signify to him?

“Overall I think that being named the Google Certified Trainer of the month just shows how well our school board, district leadership, school leadership and teachers in the Laveen Elementary School District have prepared us for supporting our students' online learning.”