Randallstown Staffer Named PBS Innovator All-Star

From Baltimore County Public Schools: PBS selected Joquetta L. Johnson, library media specialist at Randallstown High School, as one of 30 educators, representing 28 states and Puerto Rico, to serve in its inaugural PBS Digital Innovator All-Star Program.

“Ms. Joquetta Johnson is truly an innovator,” said Principal Aubrey P. Brown. “She pushes all of us at Randallstown High School to embrace the ever-changing and ever-growing digital landscape. The faculty and students of RHS are so fortunate to have such a passionate advocate in their corner. Ms. Johnson applies her knowledge, experiences, and skills to equip members of the RHS community with the tools that empower, engage, and prepare them to think critically about the digital world in which they live and learn.”

Johnson and the others selected were previously recognized as part of the PBS Digital Innovator Program, which began in 2013, for doing innovative work in their schools and districts. The PBS Digital Innovator All-Star program expands on this influential work, deepening these educators’ roles as leaders in integrating technology and digital media into the classroom —supporting students’ learning through increasingly important media literacy skills.

“PBS is committed to recognizing and celebrating educators for the immeasurable work they do in their communities,” said Sara Schapiro, PBS vice president of education. “We have been continually impressed with our PBS Digital Innovators and were truly in awe of the nominations we received for this All-Star program — so much so that we expanded the number of awardees. We’re excited to see the new and inventive ways these educators will support students’ learning through this program.”

PBS Digital Innovator All-Stars will spend the 2018-2019 school year deepening engagement among students, families, educators, schools and their local PBS stations. As an exclusive part of the program, they will have access to virtual and in-person events, including the PBS Digital Innovator All-Star Summit, to connect and learn with their peers and station representatives from across the country.

The PBS Digital Innovator All-Stars were chosen based on a variety of criteria, including passion for their role as an educator, outcomes from their time as PBS Digital Innovators, connections to their communities and service to under-resourced families.

Joquetta L. Johnson

Johnson, whose nickname is “The Digital D.I.V.A.,” is a national presenter, Google Certified Innovator, Microsoft Innovative Educator Expert, and Flocabulary Master Certified Educator with more than 20 years of experience in librarianship, instructional technology, K-12, and post-secondary education. She is pursuing her doctoral degree in curriculum and teaching at Nova Southeastern University and is an adjunct instructor at Morgan State University. She has served on the Maryland Advisory Council for Virtual Learning, and in 2012, she was an invited panelist at the congressional briefing on the Project Tomorrow report, “Personalizing the Classroom Experience.” As a national presenter for the Bureau of Education and Research, Johnson leads full-day seminars that provide attendees with practical strategies for teaching, learning, and creating with iPads and web applications. She also serves as an advisory board member for the H.W. Wilson Senior High School Core Collection.

Top image via Shutterstock; Photo of Joquetta L. Johnson courtesy of Baltimore County Public Schools