Keller ISD Principal Carrie Jackson of Timberview Middle School has been named a 2013 NASSP Digital Principal by the National Association of Secondary School Principals for her success in incorporating technology into her school to improve instruction, communication and student engagement.

The NASSP is the leading organization of and national voice for middle level and high school principals, assistant principals and all school leaders from across the United States and 36 countries around the world. The association provides research-based professional development and resources, networking and advocacy to build the capacity of middle level and high school leaders to continually improve student performance.

Since helping open Timberview Middle School in 2010, Jackson has worked with staff members to set a tone of collaboration, flexibility and novelty that would support 21st century teaching and learning. From the physical design of the classrooms to the systems and processes, everything was carefully organized to promote personalized learning and teacher collaboration.

At TMS, students own the learning spaces, and teachers' desks are placed in team office areas that inspire collegial sharing and planning. Risk-taking is encouraged and rewarded, but everyone is given the chance to adopt technology at their own pace.

“Carrie is among the vanguard in maximizing the opportunities new technologies provide for student learning and professional learning communities,” said NASSP Executive Director JoAnn Bartoletti. “Her leadership ensures that technology is not episodic in a student’s education, but woven throughout the school program. We are proud to recognize her.”

NASSP launched the Digital Principal Award program in 2011 as part of its recognition of the annual Digital Learning Day, this year to be held on Wednesday, Feb. 6. Jackson is one of three 2013 honorees in a class that includes Dwight Carter of Gahanna (Ohio) Lincoln High School and Ryan Imbriale of Patapsco High School and Center for the Arts in Baltimore.

More than 70 principals were nominated by their colleagues. A panel of experts in technology leadership then reviewed the portfolios submitted by applicants and identified the three honorees.

The Digital Principals will formally receive their awards during the NASSP conference – Ignite 2013 – Feb. 28 through March 2 in National Harbor, Md., where they will be panelists on a presentation about digital media in leadership and learning. They will also be featured in the October 2013 issue of Principal Leadership magazine.

Visit www.nassp.org/digitalprincipal for more information about the award.

Story courtesy of Keller ISD