PUSD Teacher of the Year: Megan Power

The surprises came in sequence for Del Sur Elementary School kindergarten teacher Megan Power on Thursday.

First, a visit by her husband, San Diego police Officer Mike Power.

Then an appearance by her 3-year-old son Mason, taking a quick break from preschool.

And finally, the reason they were there: Flowers for being named one of three Poway Unified School District Teachers of the Year.

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Power had already been named the school site Teacher of the Year at Del Sur Elementary, and was then selected by a committee as one of three overall district honorees. She will go on to compete at the countywide program and, if selected as a winner there, move on to the state competition.

Her kindergarteners were just as excited as she was—if not more—about Thursday's announcement, wrapping Power in a waist-high group hug.

Here is the district's announcement about Power:

Megan Power says her greatest accomplishment in education is motivating her students to passionately pursue learning. She teaches her students—who are kindergarten youngsters at Del Sur Elementary School—not just curriculum and standards but to care, be responsible, and to feel empowered. She lets them know that they are important, and that their efforts can and will make a difference in their lives and others around the world. Megan encourages her students not to wait around for someone to tell them what to do, but to take their learning into their own hands, set goals, and use whatever tools are accessible to assist them in accomplishing their goals.

“When students are inspired to learn on their own,” said Megan, “they ignite their own passion for learning.”

Megan believes that individualizing learning for all students and utilizing technology and multimedia are instrumental in educating students in today’s high tech world. She tries to make learning come alive for her students through project-based learning units that inspire and motivate students to collaborate together and do their very best.

Whether the students are writing and filming a public service announcement to collect food for the San Diego Food Drive, creating stop motion films to teach other student the parts of an apple tree, or collecting, sorting, and setting up a classroom grocery store, they are learning that they are important members of our world while also improving their academic skills.

With project-based learning students are immersed in and take charge of their learning. Megan guides her young students, helping them make connections and highlighting areas of instruction. Reading, writing, math, science, and social studies are all integrated.

Recently the kindergarten students completed a unit on endangered animals. In groups they researched, scripted, and created persuasive public service video announcements to convince other students to help save their animals. After viewing the videos, the Del Sur student body voted to help the Javan Rhinos. The class created and sold trail mix at recess to raise money for the World Wildlife Fund. “This project transformed my young students from a group that previously demanded a lot of hand holding and teacher guidance to a group of independent passionate learners,” said Megan.

When Megan taught first grade, she welcomed a scared little girl who had just moved into the country from Russia. She knew how to say only one word in English (bathroom). Megan tried to keep her on task, but she needed one-on-one support. Turning to technology, Megan incorporated a voice thread tool. She pre-recorded herself reading lessons and stories which the little girl could listen to and then practice by recording and hearing herself. The little girl used this at home and would practice recording again and again until she got it right. By the time the class had their “Red Carpet Premier” after creating and producing a movie, this new student had gained success and independence and strolled down the aisle with her classmates so very proud and secure in her new country and school. She was now at grade level in her schoolwork and loves learning.

Innovative instructional methods have produced success for these young learners as measured by project outcomes, grade level assessments and benchmarks, report card marks, and primary Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) testing. Last year 100 percent of the students met and exceeded their expected growth on MAP in math and reading; 100 percent of the students exceeded their optimal growth in math, and 95 percent of the students exceeded their optimal growth in reading.

Del Sur Principal Doug Johnson said, “Megan serves as a catalyst for our school in integrating technological tools and applications within our classrooms. She is a dynamo who works tirelessly to bring real life lessons to her students in many forms. With Megan’s one-to-one laptop program, she is able to differentiate instruction for each student on a regular basis. Having served on the Leadership team in preparing to open Del Sur Elementary, her visionary and child-centered focus provided important groundwork for establishing the key initiatives that would form the foundation of our school.”

Megan and her students have won San Diego County Office of Education Innovative Videos in Education awards. She was chosen Time Warner Cable’s National Teacher of the Year in 2009 and is a teacher of teachers, giving workshops for district teachers, and sharing activities and lessons as a teacher blogger for Scholastic.com.

Megan began her career at Poway Unified in 2004 as a second grade teacher at Stone Ranch Elementary School. She taught K-1 at Sundance and first grade at Shoal Creek before going to Del Sur where she teaches kindergarten. Megan holds a Bachelor of Arts degree with a double major in Elementary Education and Speech, Theater, and Child Drama from Rowan University, Glassboro, New Jersey, and a Master of Arts degree in Teaching, Learning, and Leadership from Cal State San Marcos.