Math and technology teacher David Rodriguez from Hesperia, California, garners coveted Amazon Future Engineer Teacher of the Year Award.
I love to share stories about exceptional educators who have been recognized for their hard work and talent in the classroom. One of these is David Rodriguez, a math teacher from California who has garnered a coveted Future Engineer Teacher of the Year Award from Amazon. He is one of ten educators from around the country to be so recognized.
David teaches at Canyon Ridge High School in Hesperia in San Bernardino County, Southern California. The school offers an alternative program for students who were not succeeding in a traditional school environment. The Amazon prize comes with $25,000 of computer equipment and $25,000 in school supplies for his school.
“This is the first year that we brought coding to Canyon Ridge, and it was challenging,” explained David, “but the collaboration and discussions that happened in the classroom because of it were unforgettable. This award will allow me to expand the technology in my class,” he continued. “It means further access for students, stronger and more capable equipment for coding and ESports, and a potential for a deeper and richer learning environment.”
In his coding and Esports class, David teaches the fundamentals of coding while also bringing in the teamwork and competitive elements found within Esports. His students have built computers, competed in Esports tournaments, and developed successful lines of code as a team. “Many of our students have learned the importance of their core classes through the lens of coding and Esports, most importantly, statistics, number sense, and the reading and comprehension of informational text,” David revealed.
Amazon selects the recipients of the Future Engineer Teacher of the Year Award based on a variety of criteria. These include their commitment to promoting diversity and inclusion within computer science education, a recommendation from a school administrator, and compelling, personal anecdotes about their school and students.
To read more about David, see this article published in the San Bernardino Sun.
