Updated Award/Honors: Peabody Energy Leader in Education

Updated awards and honors page.

Named a Peabody Energy "Leader in Education"

2013-2014 Award winners

Article posted on CBS news webpage: http://stlouis.cbslocal.com/peabody-energy-leaders-in-education/

Article pasted below:

Local Educator Named Peabody Energy Leader in Education

St. Louis, Mo. November 7, 2013 – Dr. Chris McGee of Webster Groves School District in St. Louis was named a Peabody Energy Leader in Education for the 2013-14 school year, and awarded $1,000 for his dedication and commitment to students.

McGee’s philosophy of leadership in education is one that focuses on advocacy, enthusiasm and participation in order to ensure that everyone will succeed. As Webster Groves School District’s Curriculum Coordinator, McGee specializes in creating personalized learning for every classroom. He researches and provides effective instruction in order to create opportunities that are authentic and relevant to current events and that utilize the highest technologies available. McGee founded the nonprofit ConnectED Learning, which is designed to give teachers a completely free space to develop, share, learn and connect with other educators.

The Peabody Energy Leaders in Education program rewards dedicated education professionals—from teachers and coaches to librarians and counselors—who inspire and motivate youth to succeed. Award recipients are selected throughout the school year by a committee of top educators and business leaders.

“Outstanding educators like Chris McGee are the heroes who help students find their true potential to succeed,” said Greg Boyce, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Peabody Energy. “We are pleased to honor Dr. McGee as a Peabody Energy Leader in Education, and we thank him for working diligently to transform the lives of his students.”

The Leaders program was developed in Missouri in 2009, and reflects Peabody’s commitment to make a positive impact in the communities where the company’s employees live and work by honoring those who inspire students. The 2013-2014 award program is continuing to accept nominations and is open to educational professionals of public, private and independent schools in designated communities where Peabody Energy employees live and work.

Honorees are selected from a diverse group of educators. They can range from veteran teachers to individuals in support staff roles such as administrators, coaches or counselors. Each 2013-2014 Leader in Education will be honored at an awards gala after this school year, where one will be named Educator of the Year and awarded $5,000.

Featured in Webster/Kirkwood Times

For full article click here: http://www.websterkirkwoodtimes.com/Articles-Features-i-2013-10-25-190675.114137-Christopher-McGee.html#123

Article By: Jim Merkel

When teachers at Edgar Road Elementary School recently met bestselling author Daniel H. Pink by Skype, they learned about more than Pink's book about motivation entitled "Drive."

Besides receiving tips about how to motivate others, they got a nudge to use technology more in their classrooms.

The conversation at a staff development day on Aug. 30 was arranged by Christopher McGee, the Webster Groves School District's curriculum coordinator of science and social studies from kindergarten through eighth grade. McGee, 35, developed the relationship with Pink through Skype.

McGee, who started in the curriculum coordinator job at the start of the 2012-13 school year, serves largely as a coach to teachers. He has used technology heavily in the classroom ever since he started teaching chemistry and physical science at Oakville High School in 2001-2004. It's a major reason he received two awards for teaching in 2013.

McGee was one of two people in the St. Louis area and 2,200 in the world to win the Apple Distinguished Educator Award. To win, he had to write an essay and produce a video about how he uses technology for student learning.

"It was really a career recognition," McGee said. He told how he recorded his instruction early in his career and posted it on YouTube for his students to watch. "My students could look at it at their own pace," he said. 

McGee also took after Google, which allows its employes to spend 20 percent of their time doing projects of their own design.

The second honor, which McGee received in August, is the 2013-2014 Phi Delta Kappa Emerging Leaders Award. He is one of 24 educators who received the award from the international education organization.

To enter, he submitted two essays and three letters of reference. The contest was judged by a team of past winners and members of the organization itself.

	Chris McGee is one of two people in the St. Louis area and 2,200 in the world to win the Apple Distinguished Educator Award. photo by Diana Linsley (click for larger version)

Those who wrote letters of recommendation included Patrick Dempsey, an eighth grade science teacher at Hixson Middle School.

"He's really been a mentor to me, and I know a mentor to others as well. He really does his work with students in mind," Dempsey said.

Also submitting a letter of recommendation was McGee's boss, district superintendent for curriculum and instruction John Simpson.

"He just possesses a tremendous commitment to learning and education," said Simpson, who has long known McGee. 

In the job, McGee serves as a coach to help teachers improve their skills.

McGee started on the path toward being an educator when he grew up in Collinsville, Ill. He credits his fourth grade teacher and his chemistry teacher at Collinsville High School with giving him the desire to teach. His interest in the Internet and the Commodore 64 computer in their early days grew as he went into teaching.

He graduated from Collinsville High School in 1996, and from Webster University in 2001 with a double major in biology and secondary education. McGee is on the board of trustees of Webster University and is president of the alumni association board of directors. He received his master's degree in educational leadership from Lindenwood University and doctoral degree in educational leadership from Maryville University. 

After teaching at Oakville High School, he taught sixth grade science at Nipher Middle School in the Kirkwood School District from 2004-2012. In the past, he's also coached football and track in the Oakville, Lindbergh and Kirkwood school districts.

Outside of school, McGee and his wife, Patricia, live in Crestwood, where their newborn daughter, Isabela, is keeping them up late.

He also is busy preparing for the edcampSTL, a one-day conference set for Feb. 8, 2014 at Affton High School, where people interested in education can share their ideas. McGee started the conference in 2012 with Robert Dillon, director of technology in the Affton School District. Dillon was the third person to submit a letter of recommendation for McGee for the Pi Delta Kappa Emerging Leaders Award.

McGee is chief executive officer of a non-profit organization called Connected Learning. It runs edcampSTL and provides learning opportunities for teachers.

For all the great things technology does, McGee acknowledges there are limits.

"Computers are only one of the pieces. They never will replace good teachers," he said.

Read more: http://www.websterkirkwoodtimes.com/Articles-Features-i-2013-10-25-190675.114137-Christopher-McGee.html#123#ixzz2iljsm300
Follow them: @WKTimes on Twitter | WebsterKirkwoodTimes on Facebook

Updated Awards and Honors

Updated Awards and Honors page here: http://chrisrmcgee.com/p/awards-and-honors.html



Highlighted blog post written about me:

What might be better than any award or honor is recognition from a colleague.  Outstanding post via his blog from an educator and curriculum coordinator in Hong Kong. See his post here: http://curriculumguy.wordpress.com/2013/10/04/to-a-mentor/

PDK Emerging Leaders Press release

Award announced.

See website for official press release: http://pdkintl.org/programs-resources/scholarships-awards/emerging-leaders/emerging-leaders-class-of-2013-2014/

About me

Created an About.me page....


http://about.me/cmcgee200


Added it to the About me page

Add "Infographic"

Create a Infographic Resume using the site re.vu

Check it out here or by clicking the link on the menu above labeled "Infographic."

View my profile page on re.vu page!

Updated Programs/Presentations

Updated page on Programs/Presentations

Social Media Panel: Use of Social Media in the Educational Setting

Updates Awards/Honors

Updated Awards/Honors page

Named 2013 Phi Delta Kappa "Emerging Leader"

Updated Programs/Presentations

Updated Programs/Presentations page

Presented Keynote at opening day for Lutheran North and South High Schools

Handout: https://docs.google.com/file/d/0Bwz1J6fj2c9rb3ptWmJXU3dtQ1U/edit?usp=sharing

Slides:

Lutheran keynote slides from cmcgee200

Updated Awards/Honors

Updated Awards and Honors page here: http://chrisrmcgee.com/p/awards-and-honors.html


Added:

• Google Power Searcher
• Google "Qualified Individual"

• 2014 Midwest Spotlight Educator

Updated Programs and Presentations

Updated Programs/Presentations

Presented to Maryville University Advanced Communications class.  Doctorate Level EDL 711

Students completed form below to determine interest/need:


I used this presentation below to guide conversations:

Program/Presentation Opportunity

Presented at Maryville University to Doctoral Program in Educational Leadership

• Capstone culminating project
• Chapter 4 data
• How to use Excel to graph data, show trends and save time

Updated Community Service

Elected President Webster University Alumni Board of Directors
http://chrisrmcgee.com/p/community-service.html

• President Elect: 2013-15
• Homecoming Weekend Chair 13-14
• Vice President: 2010-11
• Technology Committee Chair, 2010-11
• Student Alumni Award Chair 2009, 10, 11
• Alumni Award Committee Chair: 2008

Updated Programs/Presentations

Presented: "Is it Just Technology?" at TEDxMRH

Building Sustainable Communities is an evening of ideas and conversation for those concerned about growing Maplewood and Richmond Heights as lasting communities. There will be 12 speakers discussing a variety of topics including: schools, technology, public health, and much more. The event is being hosted by Schlafly's Bottleworks in their Crown Room on April 18 from 6:30-9:30 p.m. TEDx events are limited to 100 attendees.

Updated Awards/Honors

Listed at Number 22 of the top 100 Leaders in eLearning and Edtech

List here: http://bestcollegerankings.org/elearning-edtech/

Updated Awards/Honors

Featured in "Daily Edventures"

http://dailyedventures.com/index.php/2013/03/12/mcgee/

Updated Community Service

Updated Community Service Page

• Founder EdcampSTL 

• Board of Directors Secretary: Disruption Department

Updated Awards/Honors

Updated Awards and Honors

Named Apple Distinguished Educator 2013

“The Apple Distinguished Educator (ADE) Program began in 1994, when Apple recognized K-12 and higher education pioneers who are using a variety of Apple products to transform teaching and learning in powerful ways. Today it has grown into a worldwide community of over 2,000 visionary educators and innovative leaders who are doing amazing things with technology in and out of the classroom. Apple is pleased to welcome you to the ADE Class of 2013.  Learn more about this group of innovative educators online at http://www.apple.com/education/ade .”

Updated Programs and Presentations

Added to Programs and Presentations page:

Added to District Level:  How to log on to District Server flip video

Added link to "Best Practices of Connected Educator"  from the Best Practices conference

Added and updated "about Me" page

Added "About Me" page:

Abstract Biographical Statement

Christopher R. McGee, EdD

Dr. Chris McGee is a curriculum coordinator for the Webster Groves school district located in the St. Louis suburban area.  His thesis was entitled “The Correlation of Standards-Based Grading and the Performance on Standardized Assessments.”  Dr. McGee is passionate about technology.  Since his first year of teaching he has been a leader in technological advancement in education within each of his school districts.  He currently serves Apple Inc. as an Apple Professional Development Specialist.  For more information on Dr. McGee visit his website www.chrisrmcgee.com, or connect with him on twitter at https://twitter.com/cmcgee200.

Full Biographical Statement

Christopher R. McGee, EdD

Dr. Chris McGee is a curriculum coordinator for the Webster Groves school district located in the St. Louis suburban area.  Dr. McGee completed his bachelor’s degree at Webster University in biology with an emphasis in secondary education in 2001.  He completed his masters degree in educational leadership at Lindenwood University in St. Charles, MO.  His doctoral degree was completed at Maryville University in 2011.  His thesis was entitled “The Correlation of Standards-Based Grading and the Performance on Standardized Assessments.”  Further information about his education can be found: http://chrisrmcgee.com/p/education_15.html

Dr. McGee began his educational career in the Mehlville school district at Oakville High School.  While at Oakville, Dr. McGee taught classes which ranged from freshman physical science to junior and senior level chemistry.  In addition to his work as a teacher he chaired the grant writing committee and served as lead technology trainer for Microsoft product integration into the classroom.  His classroom innovation led him to acquire five classroom computers and thousands of dollars in donations.  These resources were used to run a water quality unit for his chemistry class.  The class traveled to an area park located off the Missouri river and tested the water quality.  The students then formulated reports, presented them to the community at an open house, and sent the results to the state of Missouri Department of Conservation. 

Dr. McGee began teaching sixth grade science in the Kirkwood school district at Nipher Middle School in 2004.  He chaired the professional development committee and led a number of technology professional development workshops.  Dr. McGee strives to be an innovator in education.  While at Nipher he led a district changeover to a standards-based grading environment.  His work alongside assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction Dr. Deborah Holmes led to his desire to pursue a doctoral degree and learn more about the role of grading in education.  Dr. McGee left Nipher Middle School in 2012.  Further information about Dr. McGee’s teaching and leadership experience can be found here: http://chrisrmcgee.com/p/teaching-experience.html and http://chrisrmcgee.com/p/administrative-experience_15.html

Dr. McGee serves his alma-mater Webster University as the vice president of the Alumni Board of Directors, and chairman of the student awards, alumni awards, and technology committees.  Dr. McGee uses strategies focusing on collaboration and innovation to move the organization forward.  Under his leadership video web conferencing using collaborative document and data storage has been utilized to increase engagement and communication within the organization.  Further information about Dr. McGee’s participation in community service can be found here: http://chrisrmcgee.com/p/community-service.html

Dr. McGee is passionate about technology.  Since his first year of teaching he has been a leader in technological advancement in education within each of his school districts.  He currently serves Apple Inc. as an Apple Professional Development Specialist.  He travels the country training teachers to use Apple products and integrate them seamlessly into their day-to-day operations.  He is a certified “Power Searcher” through Google Inc. and is pursuing certification in Google Apps for Education.  Dr. McGee can be found on Facebook, Twitter, and Google Plus.  In each of these areas he is dedicated to connecting with other educators and finding new and innovative ways to improve student learning.  Further information about presentations and programs facilitated are found here: http://chrisrmcgee.com/p/programspresentations.html

Dr. McGee has over a decade of experience in coaching both football and track.  He believes his leadership in adult learners stems from his reflection and focus on making athletes better.  He is devoted to learning, leading, and making the whole of education better for students worldwide.  Through this dedication he has created an annual conference named EdcampSTL: http://edcampstl.wikispaces.com/edcampstl. This conference is free for educators and provides a wealth of opportunities to learn together, grow, challenge one-another, and develop a professional learning network.

Dr. McGee is married to Dr. Patricia Navarro McGee and currently lives in Crestwood, Missouri.  They have a cat named Brodie.  He is an ESTJ on the Myer’s-Briggs assessment and based on the Strengthsfinder 2.0 assessment his top five strengths are: Focus, Relator, Strategic, Achiever, Self-Assurance.  For more information on Dr. McGee visit his website www.chrisrmcgee.com, or connect with him on twitter at https://twitter.com/cmcgee200.