Debbie Grashin of Columbus, Ohio, was named one of ten Amazon Future Engineer Teacher of the Year award.
This year, ten amazing teachers from around the country have garnered an Amazon Future Engineer Teacher of the Year Award from Amazon. One of these is Debbie Grashin in Columbus, Ohio. This is the first year Amazon has award the prestigious award.
Debbie teaches computer science and math at KIPP High School. KIPP stands for the Knowledge is Power Program, a national network of public charter schools that opened a middle school in Columbus in 2008, followed by a high school in 2016. KIPP schools focus on educating students from under-served communities and preparing them for success in college. Debbie is a big believer in the program. “I liked the idea of being a part of something that was building and being able to work from the ground up,” she declared. “I liked their mission that they are creating a college prep-like school for students in communities where their local public school choice is just not a very good option for them.”
Debbie says she feels a great deal of gratitude for the Amazon award. “It means so much to me to know that the work I have been doing to build a growing computer science department for my students, who are traditionally underrepresented in CS fields, is valued by Amazon and the larger community,” she remarked. “I am grateful for the Amazon Future Engineers program for the work you do to increase access to computer science education for students from under-served communities,” she concluded.
Each of the ten honored educators received a prize package valued at over $50,000 to be used to benefit his or her school and students. Of that, Amazon donated $25,000 in school supplies, including Amazon Fire HD 8 Tablets, classroom essentials from AmazonBasics, and additional items from Amazon Essentials. Award recipients also received one full year of Amazon Music Unlimited and a 12-month Audible.com Gold Gift Membership. Debbie and her fellow award-winners also received a $200 Amazon gift card to celebrate her hard work.
To read more about Debbie Grashin, see this online story at Columbus Parent.
