Monica Beglau (right), ISTE’s 2011
Outstanding Leader, is pictured
with ISTE Board President Holly Jobe.
Monica Beglau, Outstanding Leader
Executive director of eMINTS (Missouri Instructional Networked
Teaching Strategies) National Center, University of Missouri, USA
Monica Beglau is all about bringing educational technology to the masses. She is executive director of Missouri’s
eMINTS Program, an intensive two-year technology professional development program designed to help teachers
learn how to integrate a specific suite of technology into
their classrooms using instructional strategies that promote inquiry-based learning and encourage collaboration
and community building among students and teachers.
Colleagues laud her for her ability to forge partnerships
with businesses and other organizations to stretch dollars
and extend programs to reach more students.
In addition to her role with eMINTS, she oversees
eLearning for Educators, a self-sustaining online professional development program in Missouri that has trained
more than 1,200 teachers.
As if that weren’t enough, Beglau is the project director for a $12.2 million Investing in Innovations (i3)
grant, awarded to the University of Missouri to implement eMINTS at 60 middle schools in the state.
What her nominator says: “Dr. Beglau’s entire career has
been focused on the effort to improve the quality of education for students. She views the eMINTS Program as a way
of leveling the playing field for students who may be at a
disadvantage.” —Cathie Loesing, program coordinator of
eMINTS National Center
The Outstanding Leader Award
goes to an administrator—at the
school, district, state, or national
level—who improves education
through the effective use of
technology.
What her colleague says: “Monica’s work at the state,
national, and international levels has made a significant
difference in the educational opportunities students are
offered through technology in their schools. Monica was
an early advocate for the ISTE NETS. She promoted changes in state and national standards for the instructional use
of technology to mirror the ISTE standards. Her strong
beliefs about the role technology can play in supporting
student achievement have translated into changed educational practices.” —Barbara Treacy, director, Ed Tech Leaders
Online
What the judges say: “Impressive record of facilitating the
use of technology for teacher preparation programs. This
nominee has also forged international partnerships.”
What she says: “Schools with strong eMINTS programs
are exciting, lively, and interesting places to be. Students
and teachers alike are fully engaged in learning and use
technology as a way to explore the world, learn new ideas,
and solve real-world problems. Students in eMINTS classrooms use technology to become independent thinkers
who are also active team members and creators of knowledge.”
