Scott Bricker has never felt prouder of his ongoing three year accomplishment.

Since the Lenovo Yoga tablets were introduced to SMCHS in 2014, the IT staff has continue to perfect and create an engaging environment for both students and teachers. As the overseer of the project, Bricker maintains a close relationship with Microsoft and constantly searches for new ways to improve the tablet program.

“We’ve found things that work which is awesome,” said Bricker. “Moving forward, we can keep those, tweak them and maybe add one thing a year that can make the program better. We can improve the program by finding out what’s out there by listening to students and teachers, learning from people, and then taking that feedback and putting it into play.”

SMCHS is 77 out of 850 schools from around the world recognized for integrating technology in the classroom and workplace. First introducing the program to teachers and students during the 2013-2014 school year, Bricker and the Microsoft Innovative Educator Experts were able to provide a more personalized educational experience to students.

“I am incredibly proud of this accomplishment,” said Bricker. “It’s emotional; I get really excited about being recognized for being one of 75 schools in the whole country known as a technology-run school.  It motivates me to want to keep the program going so that people want to continue to want to come and see us. I’m super proud and I love the school, and I feel that it’s a great honor.”

SMCHS won this title for not only thorough training of the staff, but for incorporating programs such as OneNote and the Learning Portal into the students’ everyday lives.

“A lot of schools, believe it or not, hand devices out and expect the teachers and the students to figure it out,” said Bricker. “Microsoft recognized us for the initial training and getting off on the right foot. Since then, it’s recognized us for just using technology.”

Bricker strives to be a model for fellow technology-run schools from around the country and seeks constant improvement in all aspects.

“My main goal is maintaining the relationship with Microsoft, but it’s really the teachers and the students that get the recognition because of the work they’re doing,” said Bricker. “I have a role in it but it’s mostly the community.”

Through the efforts of Mr. Bricker, students, teachers, parents, and the IT Staff, SMCHS has created a community where everyone works together and has the ability to interact through technology.

“Student feedback is so important to me,” said Bricker. “Students are the ones using it every day. We try really hard to listen to what students say – what’s working, what’s not working, what you don’t like and much more. We also want to get feedback from parents and we want to educate them.”

For additional information about the Microsoft Program, visit http://edtech.smhs.org/ or email [email protected].