Howell Teacher Honored For Technology Efforts In School

HOWELL, NJ — A Howell Township teacher has been lauded for his efforts to improve the use of technology in the classroom.

Stephen Rao, a computer teacher at Ramtown Elementary School, was recently named the Ambassador of the Year by Schoology, which promote the use of technology in education.

The award, given by Schoology at the company’s annual user conference, honors members of the education community who are making a measurable impact in teaching and learning with technology.

Rao, who is one of 75 Schoology ambassadors across the country, said Howell's elementary schools brought the program in last year, and through it, he worked to help other teachers see how to put the technology to use one-on-one with students.

"I looked at ways to implement this to raise the educational value for the student," Rao said, "to be purposeful in the use of technology in education."

Rao, who's in his fifth year teaching in the district, produced tutorials that he shared on Twitter, and worked with teachers to help them with the learning management system.

"The district was supportive, from the other teachers to the principals," he said. "I'm in a phenomenal district."

And Rao said the teachers he was working with were motivated to learn about it, which reaches his ultimate goal: the students.

"The more teachers I can help, the more students I can help," he said. "That's what matters, helping students."

Here's one example of his efforts:

Stephen Rao with Kellie Ady, Schoology's director of Instructional Strategy, at the awards ceremony. Photo provided by Schoology