1. Hello,
Ian Smithis a teacherat Almonte DistrictHighSchool (7-12 School) withover30 yearsof
experience inthe classroom. Ian’sexceptional work withhighriskstudents, hiseffortstoenhance
technologyintegrationinhisclassesandourschool,andhis abilitytoengage anaudience are justa few
of hismostimpressivestrengthsandtalents.
Ian has spentmanyyearsworkingwithourmostat risk andhighestneedsstudents. He ranour
SystemDesignated Classwhichservedstudentswithsevere learningdifficultiesfromfourareahigh
schools.Ianworkedwithateam of educational assistantstoensure thathisstudentswere notonlysafe
and well takencare of but alsothat theyachievedattheirhighestlevel.Ianwasable tohelphisstudents
accomplishthingsthatpreviousteachers,andeventheirparents,didn’tbelieve were possible.He
managedthisbyemployingall hisskillsasaninnovative andcreative teacherandbecause he has
unflinchingoptimismandperseverance.Ianhasalsobeena championfor these studentsby ensuring
they were integratedwiththeirpeersand he worked tohelpothers tosee theirabilitiesratherthan
theirdisabilities.
Embracingand integratingtechnology hasbeenakeysecrettoIan’s successwithhisstudents.
In the SystemDesignatedClass, Ianembracedawide varietyof technologiestohelplevel the playing
fieldforhisstudents. The technology thatIantaughthisstudents how to use wasa game changerfor
manyof them.Theywentfrombeingpassive observersof learningtoactive participants. WhenIan
movedbackinto a regularclassroomlastyearhe continuedtoexplore how toeffectivelyuse technology
to improve studentoutcomes. He successfully pilotedaOne to One initiative inourmainstreamEnglish
classes.Hiseffective use of OneNote inthispilotgarneredaconsiderableamountof attentionatthe
school and boardlevel.Ian’sworkwassosuccessful thatit allowed ustolauncha One toOne
environmentinourentire humanitieswing thisyear. Teamsof teacherscome fromotherschoolsto
observe whathe’sbeenuptoand to learnfromhiswork.Ian was alsorecognizedbythe school board
for hisefforts onthisprojectreceivingthe Trustee InnovationAwardfor2015.
Ian isas much an entertainerashe isa teacher.He managestouse his passionandenthusiasm
for learningtoengage hisaudience inthe material he iscovering.Hiscapacityinthisareais not limited
to engagingyouth.DuringProfessionalActivity Daysatour school Ian hasbeencalleduponby
administrationtoruntechnologysessionswhere he presentsto40 staff membersaboutthe use of
existingandemergingtechnologyinwaysthatgo beyondsimple tool substitution.DuringIan’ssessions
staff memberswhoare oftenunengagedduringsimilarpresentations,orwhostruggle tokeepupwith
technologynatives,become activeparticipantswholeave feelingconfidentandcapable of using these
moderntools intheirclassrooms.Ian’ssuccess canbe attributedto his giftsasa presenterandhisyears
of experience asasecondaryschool teacher.Overthe yearshe hashonedhisskillsin boththe art and
the science of capturingand keepingpeople’sattentionandinterest.
In summary,Ican recommendIanwithoutreservationforwhateverhe choosestodointhe
nextchapterof his life.Anyorganizationorcompanywouldbe veryfortunate indeedtohave himjoin
theirteam.
Ron Ferguson
Principal - Almonte DistrictHighSchool