Tag: Rob Sparks

#KPBSD Rob Sparks is 2017 Alaska Studies Educator of the Year

The Alaska Humanities Forum and the Alaska State Council on the Arts announce
Mr. Rob Sparks, Soldotna Prep School
is the 2017 Governor’s Awards for the Arts and Humanities,

Alaska Studies Educator of the Year!

so-prep-april-2016-1s

“Teaching Alaska Studies is so relevant because we are such a young state that many of the issues from Statehood are still issues today…so you can study the present to understand the past better! The diversity of the state—geographically and culturally is fascinating for students to discover since many of us are not originally from Alaska.” –Rob Sparks, 2017 Alaska Studies Educator of the Year

rob-sparks-2013“This honor came as a complete surprise to me,” said Sparks. “I’ve been fortunate to have the support of administrators and colleagues who support some of the unique approaches we take studying Alaska in my classroom. Special thank you to Greg Zorbas for the collaborative work we do and the videoconferencing skills which have allowed me to connect my room to other Alaska classrooms. It is an honor to be recognized as a teacher who is trying to make a difference!”
 
“Mr. Robert Sparks has been an outstanding Alaska History teacher at Skyview High School and Soldotna Prep School for well over a decade,” said Curtis Schmidt, Soldotna Prep principal. “His influence on the lives of KPBSD students is immeasurable. In the past nine years I have worked with Mr. Sparks he has transformed his curriculum and teaching methods into a classroom without walls (CWOW) in order to increase student engagement, interest, and connection to Alaska and the many communities and cultures that exist within the state. He has been recognized locally, statewide, and nationally for his efforts (see his website) to incorporate video conferencing into his classes, which include Alaska History. He uses this, and other online technologies to connect his students with other students around the state and the globe to develop a better understanding of what it means to be “Alaskan.”
Sean Dusek, superintendent, said, “Mr. Sparks continues to be a great teacher and seems to get better with age. This is another well-deserved award and I truly appreciate his passion, commitment to continuous improvement and the positive difference he makes for kids every day.”
rob-sparks-s
The Governor’s Awards for the Arts and Humanities is an annual partnership between the Alaska Humanities Forum, the Alaska State Council on the Arts (ASCA), the Alaska Arts and Culture Foundation, and the Office of the Governor to recognize and honor noteworthy contributions to the arts and humanities in Alaska. The awards recognize Alaskan artists, educators, historians, and institutions for their enduring impact on people and communities across our state.
The Governor’s Awards ceremony will be held in Juneau on January, 26, 2017 and is open to the public to attend – further details and tickets are available at akgovawards.org.
Contact Jann Mylet, Alaska Humanities Forum, 907-272-5302, jmylet@akhf.org
http://www.akgovawards.org/awards
http://www.akhf.org/

KPBSD educators honored by United States Distance Learning Association

Kenai Peninsula Borough School District
Contact: Pegge Erkeneff, 907.714.8888

News Release
Prestigious Videoconferencing Technology Award

Soldotna, May 12, 2016—Two KPBSD educators were honored by the United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA) in St. Louis, Missouri, on May 10, 2016. USDLA awarded Rob Sparks [Soldotna Prep School] and Greg Zorbas [Kenai Central High School] with the Best Practices Gold Level award for excellence in distance learning teaching, for their innovation and excellence in “Videoconferencing Technology – K-12 Education.”

Educator Greg Zorbas, Kenai Central High School, videoconference in Classroom Without Walls (CWOW), and Global Nomads, May 13, 2015, 6:00 AM
Educator Greg Zorbas, Kenai Central High School, videoconference in Classroom Without Walls (CWOW), and Global Nomads, May 13, 2015, 6:00 AM

“Greg and Rob have long been leaders in utilizing technology to expand learning opportunities for our students,” said Sean Dusek, Superintendent. “They have also worked very hard to meet individual student needs every day and have leveraged videoconferencing to do this. I am very proud of their efforts and accomplishments. They are very deserving of this award and I appreciate their efforts very much.”
“Although it is the United States Distance Learning Association, it is actually an international organization recognizing efforts from around the world,” said Rob Sparks. “It has been humbling the number of people who have come up to me and Greg to say ‘Oh, you’re the Kenai guys….’ The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District is recognized worldwide as a leader in innovative and effective uses of video telecommunications!”
“We put our students in front of twenty-two industry professionals interactively this semester and they all told the students they will be ahead of their peers at the next level—this validates what Rob and I are doing,” said Greg Zorbas. “Professionally every time we connect with a guest presenter or connect to another classroom everybody has to bring their A game. Lessons get better and better because in this environment we are constantly getting feedback on what worked, but also how we can make it better. I have been gone for three days to attend this conference and receive this award, and I can’t count the number of emails and instant messages I’ve received from students—this tells me they are engaged in what we are doing.”
“As a premier organization for the entire distance learning profession, we are honoring the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District as a leader in the industry,” said Dr. John G. Flores, Executive Director of USDLA and Program Professor at Nova Southeastern University. “KPBSD has raised the bar of excellence and we are truly honored by KPBSD contributions within all distance learning constituencies.”
“This year’s USDLA Awards recipient, Kenai Peninsula Borough School District, represents the finest examples of online courses, best practices, and leadership in our field. The depth and breadth of the USDLA membership allows us to engage with leaders from higher education, K-12, industry, military, and government who daily demonstrate the power of distance learning. We are so very proud and excited to be able to recognize this level of excellence,” said Mr. George Collins, President of USDLA.
Link

Educator Rob Sparks, Soldotna Prep, video teleconference (VTC) certificate students with KCHS and students in Palestine, April 11, 2016, 8:00 PM
Educator Rob Sparks, Soldotna Prep, video teleconference (VTC) certificate students with KCHS and students in Palestine, April 11, 2016, 8:00 PM

ss 2016 May Zorbas and Sparks
United States Distance Learning Association awards, 2016

###